#168 - I think it's fair to say that many of us spend too much time comparing ourselves to others, often coming up short! A lot of first time mums that I speak with face this issue and it's easy to go in a downward spiral isn't it, particularly when you're getting started in your parenting journey.

If you can relate to this, then you're going to find what Blanka Falk my guest in this episode has to say very interesting. Blanka is the host of the Renew Motherhood podcast and a mum of 4 located in Germany who faced her biggest challenge when child number 4 came along!

During our chat you'll hear us talk about:-

• The importance of going within and getting in touch with your intuition.
• The importance of being 100% present for your baby and how it will help deepen the bond between you for life.
• Being honest and allowing yourself to be vulnerable and accepting that you don't always have the answers.

And much more...

Check out the show notes here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast/168. If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

#167 - In this episode, I'm talking with Sukie Baxter, an equestrian, entrepreneur, and healer who is deeply passionate about how we humans craft a vibrant and meaningful existence in our complex, imperfect world.

We talk about anxiety and I'm sure that you'll find her take on this topic very interesting. During our chat you'll hear us talk about:-

• How being with animals and spending time in nature can help relieve states of anxiety or stress.
• The importance of becoming self aware, developing your internal compass and being in tune with your surroundings.
• The importance of developing sensory skills and being attuned to your body.
• Why it is so important to encourage movement in your little one and to challenge society's norms.

And much more...

Check out the show notes here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast/167. If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

#158 - In this episode I'm chatting with birth healing specialist and pelvic health physical therapist, Lynn Schulte. Lynn is on a mission to improve postpartum care worldwide and her passion is in helping moms have smoother births and faster recoveries.

With more than 30 years experience, you'll hear Lynn talk about topics including:-

• What happens to the pelvic bones in order for a baby to be born and what keeps them from returning to their original position?
• How this affects the pelvic floor muscles?
• How can you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles after giving birth?

Check out the show notes here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast/158. If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

Feelings and emotions such as anxiety, stress, overwhelm or burnout are no stranger to many of the mums I speak with and indeed, many an episode of First Time Mum's Chat has provided tips and strategies to manage them.

This week's guest Naomi Buffery, is a certified emotional health coach, mum and postnatal depression and anxiety survivor and I really like her approach to these topics. She's very much into helping people identify and deal with the underlying associated subconscious thoughts that trigger their responses and reactions.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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In this week's episode of First Time Mum's Chat, I'm doing something a little different!

In a recent podcast episode I spoke with eco-home chartered architect, Jane Leach. Before our interview, the topic of baby massage came up, since this is what I do and Jane explained that this was an important part of her daily routine when she was raising her son.

I thought it would be an excellent opportunity for you to hear from a mom, who practiced baby massage techniques from a very early age, talk about her experiences and how it helped her little one sleep better.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Many of the mums I speak with find the planning and hassle, each time they want to take their toddler out stressful and off putting. Their little one's often unpredictable behavior leaves many mums fearful they won't enjoy their outings.

It doesn't have to be this way. Going out with young kids doesn’t need to be chaotic, stressful, upsetting, or disappointing. As parents, you deserve to enjoy time with your children and the company of other families, just as much as your kids need that stimulation for proper growth and development.

If getting out the door with your toddler frustrates you then you'll want to listen to the many pearls of wisdom this week's guest Sharon Systad has shared. Sharon is a mom of two, an elementary school teacher and parent coach. Whether you need to pick up groceries, or hope to participate in a playdate at the park, you can anticipate a smooth activity if you begin implementing some of Sharon's suggestions.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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When it comes to planning for childbirth, many of the moms that contact me are well organised when it comes to their medical needs. However, what I've noticed is that often a lot of simple planning gets missed, resulting in stress, worry and overwhelm once baby has arrived.

This week's guest, Amanda Gorman is a mother of two and is a certified birthing from within childbirth educator. Amanda is passionate about helping moms prepare for childbirth and postpartum and offers loads of resources to help ease the load.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Often when I'm speaking with moms the subject of their home comes up with frustrations often vented about why certain aspects of their home space simply don't work for them!

This isn't something I've given much thought or consideration to over the years, until I recently spoke with Jane Leach, who is an eco-home chartered architect. I learnt a lot during our chat about why moms so often experience these problems.

Since most architects and builders are male, women often feel ignored during the home design process. This is even more of an issue for moms who need a home that will help ease the daily battles getting everyone washed, dressed, breakfasted and out of the house.

Jane has created a way to help families design a vision for their home so they get a home that supports them in living their version of their best lives. She knows all about helping her clients begin their days without feeling frazzled, often by making simple changes to their homes.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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When it comes to the topic of pregnancy and childbirth, our society has a lot of preconceived ideas as to what is considered acceptable and what isn't.

I always enjoy talking with women on First Time Mum's Chat who put society's general expectations to the test and this week's guest is no exception. When it comes to childbirth, mother of 9 Angie Taylor has done it all!

As you'll hear from her during our interview she refers to herself as a Fairy GodMentor which was suggested by her clients. She is a midwife, birth insider, an international board certified lactation consultant, a birth doula, life coach and more!

Angie's aim is to be there for families and help them navigate their way through all birthing options to create the best experience for their unique situation.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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A lot of the moms I talk with often ask me about ways they can improve their posture since they're often put to the test particularly whilst pregnant.

I know from experience that my posture is far from ideal and there is much I could do to improve it. In my opinion, one of the mistakes that many moms make is looking to attain a perfect posture!

This week's guest, Courtney McManus who is a personal trainer, has what I feel is a more realistic, practical approach and encourages moms to find different ways to move through postures so they are truly mobile and able to move.

You'll hear Courtney share easy to follow tips including:-

• Ways to improve your posture and feel more comfortable whilst bottle feeding or breastfeeding your baby.
• The benefits of 360 breathing and how to get started.
• How to exercise your feet to improve your balance and reduce aches and pains.

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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With the many stressors in our lives, it is hardly surprising that many of us find comfort in food and struggle with emotional eating.

I feel that the media has a lot to answer for with the typical images of women they portray. Any time I glance over at a magazine whilst shopping, they're full of images of beautiful and gorgeous women! Many of the women I speak with suffer because they feel they don't measure up!

As a new mum, this can be highly challenging as you adapt to life with your baby and the changes to your body during and after your pregnancy.

I am delighted to be speaking with Jillian Lama in this week's episode. Jillian is a certified life and weight loss coach and she teaches women how to end emotional eating and lose excess weight eating foods they love.

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Being sleep deprived isn't fun, is it! Let's face it, if your little is not sleeping then neither are you.

This will take a huge toll on you and your family, particularly when it is an ongoing issue. This week's guest, Kim Davis, knows all about being sleep deprived after being unable to get her son to sleep for more than 20 minutes at a time for naps or sleep overnight.

And Kim went through this for more than two and a half years and finally reached the point where she needed answers and to find a better way. This led Kim into her career as a pediatric sleep consultant.

Kim shares loads of tips and insights in this episode and I learnt lots from her. You'll hear Kim and I talk about topics including the following:-

• Why you need to be consistent and respond the same way every time to avoid confusing your little one.
• How to avoid overstimulation when it is approaching their bedtime so they know it's their calming time.
• Why an early bedtime is beneficial and doesn't mean your little one will wake up earlier!

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Have you found that sometimes when organising activities for toddlers and children that it is easy to over complicate it? Whether it's looking for the Lego or craft materials or something else it can all get too hard when you're busy and just want to get something going now, to keep them occupied for a while!

If this sounds familiar then you're going to love this week's episode where I'm talking with guest Rachel Strivelli. Rachel is an Intuitive, writer and organic gardening coach.

You'll hear us talk about:-

• How introducing your kids to gardening gives them that all important connection with the earth and nature.
• How spending time in your yard or garden with your kids is an activity in itself requiring no planning or materials.
• How your child will learn to calm themselves and relax in their outdoor surroundings.

And much more.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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#157 - In this episode of First Time Mum's Chat, I'm chatting with Dr. Emily Guarnotta. Dr. Emily is a licensed clinical psychologist specialising in maternal mental health and will shortly be launching an online practice aiming to reduce the barriers that mums often face when looking for support and therapy in areas such as postpartum anxiety or depression.

During our chat you'll hear us talk about the challenges of returning to work after maternity leave, which is often a hard time of readjustment for mums.

Check out the show notes here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast/157.If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

There's never been a more important time to ensure you eat well than when you're pregnant! After all, during pregnancy, your baby is taking much of your nutrition, so it's extremely important to ensure that your body gets what it needs.

You need to ensure that what you consume fuels both you and your baby and sets the scene for after they're born and your breastfeeding.

It's also going to set the groundwork towards your own recovery, making it increasingly likely that you'll have an easier and quicker recovery post birth.

In this episode, I'm talking with nutritionist and food scientist, Kate Boyle who shares some great tips and insights on how to ensure your diet during these early stages, supports your recovery and nurtures your little one as they begin their precious journey.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Self care for moms is something that many moms I speak with find challenging. With insufficient time in the day to deal with everything, particularly with the latest addition to the family, this is of course completely understandable.

I was thrilled to recently meet Charlotte Caunter who has a remarkable story to tell. Charlotte's experience for me is a reminder of the importance of looking after yourself and ensuring that you live your life, without the modern tendency to burn the candle at both ends.

For some years, Charlotte has been a holistic burnout coach for moms but she came from a background in mental health and lived a life that was go, go, go. At just 32, Charlotte found herself faced with one of the scariest things any of us can face, cancer!

I'm sure you'll find Charlotte's journey and how she turned her life around as amazing as I did. She's an amazingly positive lady with an amazing zest for life.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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One of the biggest challenges that many of the parents that I speak with face is being constantly tired or exhausted due to restless nights and time needed to settle their little one.

After looking after babies for many years I'm familiar with a lot of the traditional sleep programs and the practices they encourage such as crying it out. I don't know about you, but I've always found this practice heartbreaking.

I just think it's so sad to leave a baby to cry!

I was thrilled to recently meet Cara Tyrrell since we share a childcare educator background with similar experiences. Cara founded her business Core4Parenting an online community and course platform for parents and caregivers that follows the developmental path of the young child, while educating, empowering and engaging parents and caregivers to be their child's brain architect between birth and 5 years old, setting them up for success in school and life.

In this episode Cara talks about her sleep soothing system which is all about teaching babies their first life skill that they can do by themselves. I found what she has to say fascinating and wow, this is such a welcome change to the traditional sleep training programs!

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Have you ever noticed yourself reacting in a certain way to your child's behavior, felt ashamed and then thought to yourself "where on Earth did that come from"?

Many of us have triggers from our past that influence how we behave as parents and I've always felt that having an awareness of their origins is an important starting point in any healing.

After all, you want to be present for your kids as the "best you", right?

Today's guest, mother of 3, Laura Linklater is a Cycle-Breaker Parent Mentor and has been there, having been brought up in a household with alcoholism.

You'll hear Laura talk about many topics including:-

• Seeing your child as your awakener.
• The importance of having a connection with your child.
• Her collaborative problem solve method.

Laura shares loads of great tips and insights in this episode to help parents break their cycles so that they can support their children to flourish.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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When you're a new mom it's hard finding time for yourself isn't it! You hardly have a minute to breathe! Many of the moms I speak with yearn for opportunities to get out and enjoy the great outdoors again and they often reminisce about hiking and other adventures.

Those with family either interstate or overseas also face the logistical challenges of finding the time and coping with the cost associated with visiting them.

Today's guest, Jodi Fried who is an empowerment coach for women, is no stranger to these challenges! Jodi lives in the United States but is originally from South Africa and with four children and a 30 hour flight to contend with, to visit great grandparents and other family, she's had some challenges to overcome!

In this episode Jodi shares some great tips and insights on how to find that spark again and to build that adventurous life you crave with your new family.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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In this episode I'm speaking with Kristin Mallon, who is a board certified nurse midwife, breast health expert, published author and a mother of four.

Kristin has attended over 1,000 births so has a huge wealth of knowledge when it comes to all things childbirth.

I used the opportunity to ask Kristin some of the burning questions that I'm often asked by mums who are just embarking on their parenting journey and there's some great tips and insights in this episode on topics including the first hour after birth and latching.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Not surprisingly, many of the moms I speak with are often nervous and frightened about the next stage of their lives after having their baby.

After all, there's lots for them to consider including caring for their newborn, recovering from birth, particularly where there's been any trauma and adapting to caring for their little one. And to add to the stress, their relationship is often put to the test as more and more time is demanded of them.

A postpartum doula provides crucial essential emotional, physical and mental support to new moms, easing the stress in their lives. Kristin Revere is the co-owner of a doula agency located in Michigan in the US and provides birth support and classes for new moms, including a new online course and they have students located all over the world. You'll hear from Kristin about their amazing community and the support they can provide to mums like you.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Not surpisingly, healthy eating and nutrition are topics which often come up on First Time Mum's Chat and I've interviewed a number of wonderful ladies on these topics.

My observation is that the focus is often mainly on weight and of course for new mums, ensuring that their intake is beneficial to breastfeeding.

However, something that I feel is often neglected when eating regimes are being revised and planned is the topic of brain health. Too often, this takes a back seat and you'll hear from today's guest, holistic nutritionist and Brain Health Coach, Julie Gervais about why this is so important.

After all, by feeding our brains healthy nutrient dense foods, we are providing it what it needs to help us live fuller and richer lives.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Welcome to a very special episode of First Time Mum's Chat. Yes, this is the 50th episode of the podcast and I'm excited to have reached this amazing milestone! I'd like you to picture me blowing out the 50 candles on my virtual birthday cake.

Since January, 2021 I've talked with loads of amazing ladies from countries including Australia, the UK, Ireland, Canada and the US from all walks of life.

My goal is to help mums embarking on their parenting journey with helpful useful tips and insights to help them support their little ones and we've covered many great topics over these 12 months to help you!

In this episode I'm doing something different. Firstly, I'm going to look back over this year by sharing some snippets with you from some of the episodes and then to whet your appetites, you'll also hear some snippets from some episodes that are coming in the first few months of 2022.

As someone whose background includes many years as a childcare educator, I've always been big on encouraging children to use their imagination and explore their world through play.

Perhaps with our modern tendency towards busyness, I've observed a tendency for parents to overcomplicate play.

If you've listened to some of my other podcast episodes, you'll know that I'm a fan of simplicity and being in touch with nature and this is no different when it comes to play.

I'm thrilled in this episode to be talking with Sarah Bolitho, who is a therapeutic play practitioner. Sarah and I have similar attitudes to play for children and you'll hear some great insights in this episode on areas including pretend play and how to use it to build the parent-child relationship and simplify the idea of what it means to play.

Play is an incredibly important part of your child's life and you'll hear why in this episode.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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#156 - In this episode, I'm bringing you an amazing woman, ThetaHealer and mother of one, Emily Miotto. Emily helps moms work on themselves to release any limiting beliefs around motherhood and to connect with their inner selves to trust their intuition and heal both themselves and their little ones!

During our chat, you'll hear Emily talk about:-

• Her postpartum depression journey and how understanding why she manifested it, helped break the cycle.
• Why your little one may be hypersensitive to everything happening around them and may have trouble sleeping.
• Why children coming into the world today are different and why moms need to do everything possible to support them as they grow up.

Check out the show notes here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast/156.

If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

I think it's fairly safe to say that parenting children and bringing them up is a challenging time and I've interviewed many amazing people on this podcast who've shared great insights and tips to help with this! This week I'm going in a different direction and I'm interviewing an extraordinary lady whose journey I'm sure you'll find fascinating.

Tanya Hackney is a mom of 5 and I was thrilled to meet her and find out all about her life. Tanya and her husband followed a dream they had from when they were teenagers of doing something unusual with their lives. They wanted to hop on a sail boat and sail the world! Not only did they follow their dream but they did it with 5 children aboard the sail boat!

In this episode you'll hear Tanya talk about their lives on the high seas and how she brought up one of her children from when they were only a baby on the sail boat.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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Many of the moms I speak with find their postpartum recovery a difficult time, with often a lack of resources and information readily available to them.

For many, this is a scary, uncertain time and there's no instruction manual or welcome package to help you along is there?

Getting used to the new normal is hard and there are so often questions you need answers to, right!

This week's guest knows where you're coming from and has some excellent tips to help you. Leslie Abraham is a perinatal osteopath who is originally from France where she did her training and has lived in the USA since 2016.

When Leslie moved there, she noticed a lack of help and information available to women and decided to offer her wealth of knowledge to them.

You'll hear from Leslie on topics such as how to help heal tearing after birth. Be sure to listen to the end of the interview so you don't miss any of Leslie's excellent tips.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

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When you're postpartum, it's important to continue being mindful of what you are eating since you've also got your little one's health to consider.

It's also important to be alert and constantly on the look out for evidence of any allergies or problems so that you can adjust your diet if needed to suit your baby.

In this episode, I speak with Nava Simkah a certified holistic health and nutrition coach, maternity coach and massage therapist who had some great tips and insights on nutrition for new moms. You'll also hear tips on how to help them when they are experiencing problems such as bloating, diarrhea and constipation.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

Subscribe now!

Can you think of anything more fun than dancing with your baby?

I must say that when mother of 3, Audrey Bready first told me that this is what she did I was impressed. During our chat you'll hear Audrey talk about loads of ways that dance is beneficial to your postpartum healing, including how it strengthens your musculature and pelvic floor and it's advantages over a reliance solely on using kegels.

Audrey also talks about how it helped her heal from a traumatic birth that caused her injury.

As you will know if you've listened to my podcast previously, I'm all for anything that will help build a closer bond with your baby and you'll hear Audrey talk about how she uses dance to connect and do this and how it helps her kids free their emotions and let them out.

And don't worry if like me, you can't spin like Najinsky or even the thought of doing splits makes your eyes water, Audrey has lots of ideas to help you get started.

So go ahead, my dear mum. Click to listen and get started.

Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

"I love Helen and First Time Mum's Chat." <-- If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people -- just like you -- for a smooth journey into the exciting world of parenthood. Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select "Write a Review." Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Also, if you haven't done so already, subscribe to the podcast.

Subscribe now!

Many of the parents that I speak with often feel guilty when they yell at their kids. At times, being patient and not losing it is easier said than done and we've all been there.

Of course it leaves you with feelings of guilt and regret when you see the effect that it has on your little one and you're often left thinking, there's got to be a better way for me to handle this next time! Unfortunately with the stresses of modern life and with next time often occurring too soon, you do exactly the same thing and so it continues...

Meanwhile your little one is learning new ways in life to get you flustered and annoyed and on and on it goes.

In this episode I am talking with Debbie Godfrey who knows her stuff when it comes to parenting education. She's been doing it for over 30 years and through her business, Positive Parenting, she's served schools, community centers and organisations throughout the world.

You'll hear Debbie and I talk all about positive parenting and how you can implement it and you'll hear some great examples of how to discipline your children in a positive way that doesn't damage their self-esteem.

Take a listen now because this episode has got some great insights for you.

👉 Check out Debbie's website here: https://www.positiveparenting.com

Now, if you're really serious about building a magical bond with your baby and enhancing your confidence as a new parent, I've got just the thing, it's my 4 simple baby massage routines cheatsheet, just click right here to get your hands on it.

👉 https://www.mybabymassage.net/babymassageroutines

👍 In the mood to tell about your experiences as a first time mum? Shoot Helen an email at support@mybabymassage.net

You were someone before pregnancy - but where did that person go? Motherhood is a gift of unimaginable love and happiness but in between playdates and naptime, you can't help but miss certain things from your old life and answering to your real name instead of "mom".

In this episode I am speaking with Zelmira Crespi a mother of 5 and co-author of Happy Mom, Happy Kid. Between them Zelmira and her friend Maria Montt who has a background in child psychology, have 9 children and decided to write a book answering their question, what really happens to moms when they go into motherhood.

Checkout this episode now because we've got some great insights for you.

👉 Check out the Happy Mom Happy Kid website here: https://www.happymomhappykid.com

Now, if you're really serious about building a magical bond with your baby and enhancing your confidence as a new parent, I've got just the thing, it's my 4 simple baby massage routines cheatsheet, just click right here to get your hands on it.

👉 https://www.mybabymassage.net/babymassageroutines

👍 In the mood to tell about your experiences as a first time mum? Shoot Helen an email at support@mybabymassage.net

Having a baby is a traumatic event in so many ways, right! Your body adjusts and changes so much during your pregnancy and now you've given birth, you need to ensure you take care of you and do what you can to return to normality.

For many women, issues such as bladder incontinence, pelvic floor weakness or prolapse occur and it's a difficult time. In this episode, I'm speaking with Tonie Lough, a personal trainer and author of "Getting to the Core of Postpartum Fitness".

Tonie talks about specific exercises you can use to retrain your natural system of core strength and bladder control. I hope you enjoy the insights that Tonie shares. 

Listen now because this episode has got some great insights for you.

👉 Check out Tonie's website here: https://www.momathomefitness.com

Now, if you're really serious about building a magical bond with your baby and enhancing your confidence as a new parent, I've got just the thing, it's my 4 simple baby massage routines cheatsheet, just click right here to get your hands on it.

👉 https://www.mybabymassage.net/babymassageroutines

👍 In the mood to tell about your experiences as a first time mum? Shoot Helen an email at support@mybabymassage.net

Having a baby is an enormously stressful event on families in lots of ways. Of course there is the physical toll on the mother both before birth and postpartum but one area that is often neglected and underestimated, is the stress that the new arrival often causes to the parent's relationship and harmony.

In this episode, I'm talking with marriage coach, Tiffany Tuttle, who had her baby during COVID. You'll hear Tiffany talk about the stress it put on her relationship and how it almost led to the breakup of her marriage.

Tiffany and her partner refused to give up and together they brainstormed and came up with strategies to make their lives work whilst raising their baby. Tiffany is passionate about helping parents navigate their early stages in parenting to ensure their relationships continue to flourish and do not suffer and you'll hear some excellent tips and strategies in this episode which you won't want to miss!

So listen now because this episode is going to be a really important one for you.

👉 Check out Tiffany's Facebook Group here: https://facebook.com/groups/betterafterbaby1

Now if you're really serious about building a magical bond with your baby and enhancing your confidence as a new parent, I've got just the thing, it's my 4 simple baby massage routines cheatsheat, just click right here to get your hands on it.

👉https://www.mybabymassage.net/babymassageroutines

✍️ In the mood to tell about your experiences as a first time mum? Shoot Helen an email at support@mybabymassage.net

In the hectic, chaotic world that we live in today, it's very easy to forget about the wonderful human beings we are and the qualities we are born with and the skills we acquire and develop throughout our lives.

Today's guest, Sinead Kavanagh, has found clarity in her life and lives and breathes this and is committed to helping parents on their journey. Sinead is The Holistic Parent and in this episode, you'll hear about the four cornerstones that have built her life, her business and her relationships and the importance of maintaining an even balance amongst them. These are:-

1. Self-awareness/self-efficacy
2. Resilience
3. Autonomy
4. The locus of control

In this episode Sinead asks you to consider do you know who you are, do you know what triggers you, do you know how you cope with life when it throws you lemons and are you fulfilling your own needs?

When you love yourself, it's easy for others to love you and today you'll hear Sinead give many valuable tips on how to do this.

So listen now because this episode is going to be a really important one for you.

Check out Sinead Kavanagh here 👉 https://theholisticparent.ie

Now if you're really serious about building a magical bond with your baby and enhancing your confidence as a new parent, I've got just the thing, it's my 4 simple baby massage routines cheatsheat, just click right here to get your hands on it.

👉 https://www.mybabymassage.net/babymassageroutines

I often reminisce back to my childhood where we always spent our dinners together as a family, free of distractions such as the television, internet and social media.

Dinnertime was a fun and precious time and we all enjoyed mum's cooking. I was brought up on a farm in a remote part of Scotland so there was no golden arches, KFC or other fast food available.

In this episode, I talk with Linda Lederman, a kitchen confidence coach. Linda helps busy moms with meal planning, prep and cooking lessons and you'll learn some great ideas from her how to take the pressures of cooking away so you can sit down with your family and enjoy the time together without feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.

#155 - In this episode, I'm chatting with Tessia Watson, the author of the international bestselling book, Rejuvenated Mums Make Happy Kids who shares her journey into parenthood.

Tessia is a big advocate for mums to create their support system to ensure they are well supported and to appreciate that "it takes a village to raise a child". The bottom line is that you can't do this journey alone!

Check out the show notes here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast/155.

If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

Giving birth is a very traumatic and stressful event for women. It is a time when you often feel vulnerable and scared and it is important to create a safe space for both you and your baby.

In this episode I speak with Tricia Murray, who is an anxiety and trauma coach and mother of four. Tricia is passionate about helping moms work through their birth trauma and she shares some great tips and strategies you can implement right now to begin that healing journey.

Nearly all of the moms that I speak with feel guilty that they are either not doing enough as a parent or that they aren't getting things right with their little one.

Guilt can be very destructive when left untreated and it's important to learn to eliminate guilt and shame in your life so you can be fully present to take care of your little one and move on!

In this episode, I speak with Alysia Lyons who is a mom's support coach. Alysia talks all about guilt and encourages you to examine your beliefs and how they might not be serving you. You'll hear some great tips and examples from Alysia in this episode.

During their baby's earliest days, many mums are spooked by the different colors of poop they are faced with and they often ask me about first foods and what to give their baby.

Today, I'm delighted to welcome back Bekah Shephard, nurse and author of 'a Nurse in Your Purse' and we talk all about baby led weaning first foods and poop. Bekah shares some of her vast knowledge on these topics and you'll hear lots of insights from the front lines including:-

• What colors of poop to expect and when you are advised to seek outside help.
• Foods to give your baby to help them with constipation.
• When should you start your baby on solids.
• How to test their first foods to ensure there are no allergic reactions of any kind before including them in their diet.

During my many years working as a childcare educator I've come across kids with ADHD on many occasions and I've often found it tough knowing how best to support them.

Mother of twins Ashleigh Tolliver knows all about ADHD, since both her twins have it! I was thrilled to speak with her this week and she shared some innovative ways that parents can use to improve their interactions with kids with ADHD and achieve a win-win!

Through Parenting That Kid, Ashleigh helps parents find new ways to manage meltdowns, anxiety, stress, and brain differences.

It's very important that you begin interacting with your baby in a way to ensure they develop and can achieve their maximum potential. This is important to implement from day one and throughout their early years whilst their brains are still developing.

In this episode I speak with Elizabeth Agrapidis, a pediatric physical therapist, teacher and mother of two. Elizabeth helps parents with their children's physical development and we talk about why encouraging movement is so important to your baby's brain development.

When it comes to the topic of children's development and behavior, there's lots of labels and we all have our own ideas of what's normal, don't we!

I was thrilled this week to speak with Dr Nerissa Bauer, a behavioral pediatrician and the owner and blogger of Let's Talk Kids Health.

Nerissa had some great insights and shared some fascinating experiences from her own parenting journey and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with her. I really like how she thinks outside of the box and encourages parents to be creative and meet their children where they are.

Many mums feel scared, alone and overwhelmed when it comes to caring for their newborns. There's so much going on and it can quickly become exhausting.

Yes, they've got access to medical practitioners and midwives but who can they turn to for non-medical help?

I wanted to find out more about the whole world of doulas and I was thrilled to speak with Erin Carroll-Manning who helps mums recover from childbirth, manage household chores as well as anything else helpful in their postpartum recovery.

As a baby massage instructor, I'm a big fan of holistic health and the many wonderful ways it can help. Women's holistic health is no exception and there's some great help on offer for fertility, pregnancy and postpartum.

In this episode, women's holistic health practitioner Holly Leever talks about practices she uses including yoni steaming, alvedo abdominal massage and acupuncture.

There's nothing more frustrating than when your baby is suffering from problems such as eczema is there?

In this episode I speak with Renee Harris, a mother of 9, who helps moms fix their baby's skin without the use of lotions and drugs that can irritate them.

Renee is passionate about skin care and how it has helped her family and you'll hear some great tips.

It's very important that you begin interacting with your baby in a positive, engaging way from when they are newborns to ensure they develop and can achieve their full potential in life. This is important to implement from day one and throughout their early years whilst their brains are still developing.

In this episode I discuss ways you can achieve this with Michelle Mintz, who has over 25 years experience and lots to share. Michelle is a Personal Baby Bloomer who telecoaches unique pro-active strategies for parents to integrate throughout their day which enhance brain connections and enrich early attachments which helps their baby bloom.

#154 - I've spoken with a lot of great women on First Time Mum's who help families with their sleep but what's different about Kim Hawley who I'm chatting with today, is that her focus isn't just on helping your little one.

She helps entire families, which is so important because we all need our sleep right!

During our chat you'll hear Kim talk about how her holistic sleep support helps entire families optimise their daily routine, daily rhythms and environment to help improve sleep for all members of your household.

Visit me here at https://www.mybabymassage.net/podcast.

If you'd like to reach out and say hi, you can find @firsttimemumschat on Instagram.

The dark thoughts that often accompany becoming a mother are often kept private and not discussed. Many prefer to put on a brave face and find it challenging, openly discussing dark or negative thoughts or seeking help.

In this episode I speak with Kaila Maguire who talks about her journey as a first time time mum and the challenges she faced with postpartum issues and depression.

As a mum, there's nothing more upsetting than watching your baby suffer with skin conditions such as eczema or diaper rash, right?

In this episode I speak with Bekah Shephard the author of 'A Nurse in Your Purse' and you'll hear some great tips on how to feel more empowered and prepared to care for your baby with their skin problems.

Bekah is a pediatric nurse and has seen what works in the trenches in her years of experience.

First time mums will get some great nuggets from this episode.

I am so excited to be speaking with Onnie Michalsky who is a licensed therapist and wellness coach for busy moms who desperately need a break but refuse to take one.

Onnie shares some strategies about how to handle the inevitable worries that accompany becoming a parent. It's not unusual for feelings of inadequacy to arise when you bring home a new baby and as you face each new stage of development.

In this episode, Onnie walks new parents through the process of identifying and challenging the worries and thoughts that are contributing to all the self-doubts.