Shows
Life After Birth with Yara HearyNaomi Chrisoulakis: Expectations vs. Reality in Motherhood, Embracing Self-Compassion, and the Journey of Trial, Error & AttunementHi everyone, this week I chat to Naomi Chrisoulakis, certified post-natal Doula, podcast host and founder of Cocoon by Naomi, a beautiful resource through which Naomi offers mothers the nourishment they need and the nurturing they deserve. In this discussion, we delve into Naomi’s upbringing and her reflections of it, discussing how various elements of her childhood and early adulthood has affected her on her mothering journey. We discuss Naomi’s optimistic expectations of motherhood prior to becoming a parent, and the jarring contrast between this and her lived reality of the experience, resulting in feelings of fa...
2023-08-151h 05
Ready or NotWriter and postpartum doula Naomi Chrisoulakis on the frustration of being at the mercy of motherhoodNaomi Chrisoulakis is a freelance writer, postpartum doula, and a mother of two.In the early days of her career, she cut her teeth in the magazine industry, working for the likes of Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan before a move to Los Angeles would lead her down the freelance route.Moving home a year earlier than her husband to take an editor role at Women’s Health, it was during a four-day trip back to LA that Naomi fell pregnant, and her two births and postpartum periods couldn’t have been more different.Here...
2023-08-011h 05Ready or NotWriter and postpartum doula Naomi Chrisoulakis on the frustration of being at the mercy of motherhoodNaomi Chrisoulakis is a freelance writer, postpartum doula, and a mother of two.In the early days of her career, she cut her teeth in the magazine industry, working for the likes of Marie Claire and Cosmopolitan before a move to Los Angeles would lead her down the freelance route.Moving home a year earlier than her husband to take an editor role at Women’s Health, it was during a four-day trip back to LA that Naomi fell pregnant, and her two births and postpartum periods couldn’t have been more different.Here...
2023-08-011h 05
Boob to Food - The Podcast29 - Postpartum planning and getting the support you need with Naomi ChrisoulakisAre you pregnant? Or wanting to support someone close to you who is? Then look no further than today’s episode. There is so much emphasis on the pregnancy and everything that baby needs once they arrive, but what about the mother? In this huge time of transition and change it is VITAL that we focus our attention back on mum’s needs - not just when they arise, but before baby is even here. And our beautiful guest Naomi Chrisoulakis has all the wisdom on how we can do this.Naomi is a postpartum doula and cook...
2023-07-301h 08
Tales From The Fourth Trimester10 | Business, babies and birthing a new identity, with Rachael RoseI have so much respect for Rachael Rose - mother, women's circle facilitator and educator - and I loved hearing her reflections on what postpartum changed for her, from how she saw herself in the world to how it changed how she works. NAOMI will get you $150 off her women's circle facilitator courseYou can find her on Instagram @the_rachael_roseAaaaaand you can find my new postpartum cookbook here for the special launch price of $29!
2023-07-231h 09
Big things. Little things.What if we reclaimed postpartum as a critical rite of passage? with Naomi ChrisoulakisWhat if we reclaimed postpartum as a critical rite of passage?Today I speak with the wonderful Naomi Chrisoulakis, postnatal doula, mentor, podcaster and master of the kitchen about: Naomi's sphere of work and offerings; How Naomi became a postnatal doula; Defining postpartum; What is a rite of passage? Why is it important?; What are the issues with how industrialised society approaches postpartum? How we could approach postpartum differently; Naomi's experience with postpartum; How creating an appropriate support network is crucial;How things could be different. Show links: Naomi's website: https://cocoonbynaomi.com/ About Naomi: http...
2022-12-1742 min
PUMPED PodcastEP 36: (Part 2) Naomi Chrisoulakis- Postpartum Doula, No BS Planning, Food to Fuel Motherhood , Podcaster and Mother Shares It ALLNaomi Chrisoulakis is a certified postpartum doula who lives with her husband and two beautiful children in the Illawarra region. She believes every woman deserves a postpartum period that's restful, rejuvenating and respectful of the massive transition into Motherhood. Naomi has a new online postpartum preparation and fourth trimester cooking course coming in November, and a wonderful podcast ‘Tales from the 4th Trimester’ which is dedicated to the beauty and brutality of new parenthood. We talk about:The 4th Trimester and transition to two kidsBeing...
2022-10-2437 minPUMPED PodcastEP 36: (Part 1) Naomi Chrisoulakis- Postpartum Doula, No BS Planning, Food to Fuel Motherhood , Podcaster and Mother Shares It ALLNaomi Chrisoulakis is a certified postpartum doula who lives with her husband and two beautiful children in the Illawarra region. She believes every woman deserves a postpartum period that's restful, rejuvenating and respectful of the massive transition into Motherhood. Naomi has a new online postpartum preparation and fourth trimester cooking course coming in November, and a wonderful podcast ‘Tales from the 4th Trimester’ which is dedicated to the beauty and brutality of new parenthood. We talk about:The 4th Trimester and transition to two kidsBeing...
2022-10-1038 min
The She Births® PodcastS5, Ep 3 - Planning A Great Postpartum, Life after birth with Doula Naomi ChrisoulakisPlanning A Great Postpartum, Life after birth with Doula Naomi Chrisoulakis
Today I chat with Naomi, a mum of two and postnatal Doula. She, like us at She Births, believes that every woman deserves a postpartum period that's restful, rejuvenating and respectful.
We talk about what postpartum care looks like in our culture - and how broken we can all feel at times during this extremely vulnerable stage.
In this episode we discuss:
* The key factors in preparing for a truly great postpartum experience.
* The discomfort of change in this time
* Our inner blocks and resistances
* Allowing our partners in
...
2022-03-2357 minTales From The Fourth Trimester86 | "I wanted my baby born into an Aboriginal context" - Bridget Brennan on Indigenous maternal care, grief, and birth during COVIDIn this week's episode, Bridget Brennan, journalist and former Europe correspondent for the ABC, tells her story of returning from London mid-pandemic to become a first-time mother. Despite moving back in large part for family support, border closures put an end to that plan. And after the crushing realisation that her mother wouldn't be able to be with her for the birth and postpartum, her father passed away just a day after her little boy was born.We talk about everything from the incredible Malabar midwives program for indigenous women, breastfeeding struggles, mothers group, what happened when...
2021-03-281h 15Tales From The Fourth Trimester85 | Siblings and babies and big feelings, oh my! With respectful parenting coach Alex EmmsGoing from one child to two was without a doubt the hardest part of my fourth trimester this time around, and I know I'm not alone. Whether it's your second child or your sixth, the change of family dynamics is a big shift that is keenly felt by our older children (and us!). In this episode, respectful parenting coach Alex Emms (@kidsflourish) shares her wisdom as she goes through this shift herself, as a mum of a 3 year old and an 8 week old. Find Alex at www.kidsflourish.netIf you loved this episode, please consider s...
2021-03-1458 min
Anna Asks5. “Somehow I was failing”: Mothering the new mother and moving beyond people pleasing with Naomi ChrisoulakisNaomi Chrisoulakis is a postpartum doula from Sydney with a focus on postpartum food and emotional nourishment. With her background in journalism, Naomi is spreading the message of mother care on her supremely popular instagram account @cocoonbynaomi, via her website www.cocoonbynaomi.com and her podcast "Tales From The Fourth Trimester".
We talk postnatal anxiety, desperately seeking sleep and mustering support from the right people at the right times. We hope you enjoy this episode, and the background gurgles from her seven month old baby.
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
www...
2021-03-1131 minTales From The Fourth Trimester84 | "The body keeps the score" - Jess, on sexual trauma, PNDA and conquering her pastJess, a mum of one with another little one on the way, shares her rollercoaster postpartum and how she conquered anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. With the help of a counsellor, she found the link between a past sexual trauma in her twenties and her birth trauma, processed it and is now expecting her second child. If this brings up anything for you, please consider talking to a counsellor on the PANDA helpline: 1300 726 306 (Monday-Saturday 9am-7.30pm AEDT)
2021-03-071h 04Tales From The Fourth Trimester83 | "My postpartum transformed me" - Mel RichardsonMelanie Richardson shares how she went from a self-confessed control freak to surrender in this episode. We talk bedsharing, mother guilt, sex (or lack thereof), overactive pelvic floor and lots more.
2021-02-281h 06Tales From The Fourth Trimester82 | Starting solids with Boob to Food's Luka McCabeWhen should you start a baby on solids? What are the best first foods? How do you time it with milk feeds? What's the deal with baby led weaning and purees?I asked Luka McCabe--midwife, mum and nutrition consultant--to share some of her extensive wisdom on how to feed our tiny people and I learned a ton! Order her book, Milk to Meals, at www.boobtofood.com and follow her on Instagram @boobtofood
2021-02-2159 minTales From The Fourth Trimester81 | "I felt like I'd failed as a mother" - Kate HassettKate is the deputy editor of Insight Out and a mother of two. In this episode, Kate generously shares her experiences with endometriosis, surprise pregnancy, c-section, attempted VBAC, tongue tie, mixed feeding and more.
2021-02-071h 26Tales From The Fourth Trimester80 | Sleep and reflux myth busting with Dr Howard ChiltonI'm thrilled to have renowned neonatal paediatrician Dr Howard Chilton join me for this episode. He's a wealth of knowledge, so I asked for his take on two questions that occupy new parents' minds: what's going on with my babies sleep? And do they have reflux?I found his take on both these issues both reassuring and revolutionary when I first came across his work when Margot was small. I hope you find them interesting too!Apologies for the change in sound halfway - our Zoom call dropped out repeatedly so I had to continue...
2021-01-311h 04Tales From The Fourth Trimester79 | "The second time, I allowed everyone to do everything for me" - Gabby WoodwardIn this ep, Gabby - an old friend and yoga teacher - discusses her two really different first and second births (one hospital and one home birth) and postpartums (one that she didn't feel ready for and the next that she was very supported through). We chat about everything from placenta previa to breastfeeding and mum guilt, birth trauma and the stretch from one child to two. Thank you Gabby xx
2021-01-1853 minTales From The Fourth Trimester78 | "We kept things simple and supported" - Rosie Ricketson on her positive postpartumRosie Ricketson is an artist and mother from Braidwood, New South Wales, and she offers women holistic pregnancy and postpartum support, education and coaching. In this episode, she shares the work she did and the support she set up to have a positive postpartum period with her daughter. To find out more about Rosie and how you can work with her: www.rosierick.com or @_rosierick_Side note: Rosie took the SheBirths course - if you're keen to do the online course I have a discount code (cocoon10).
2021-01-031h 04Tales From The Fourth Trimester77 | Postnatal depletion: the signs, symptoms and how to get it sorted, with naturopath Kate HarrisonOkay, you're past the first few months of motherhood, and you're just feeling... a bit crap. Listen in to hear the signs of postnatal depletion, what the physiological markers are and what exactly to do about it with naturopath, postpartum doula and mum of two, Kate Harrison. Because, as Kate says, you don't want feeling like crap to be your new normal. Find Kate:www.littleyarrow.comInstagram @littleyarrow
2020-12-2738 minTales From The Fourth Trimester76 | "I didn't have that love bubble, and I wasn't myself" - Amber GilesAmber Giles is a journalist and mum of one, and in this episode she shares her experience of discovering pre-eclampsia during labour, successful breastfeeding, postpartum anxiety - and what happened when she didn't feel that in-love buzz she'd expected. Amber chats about how she got through a tricky start with the help of her partner, family, friends and professionals and how she navigated the huge identity shift that motherhood brought. Oh and keep your ears peeled for her UberEats hack for avoiding the dodgy hospital food!
2020-12-211h 11Tales From The Fourth Trimester75 | "The best way to deal with trauma is to talk about it" - Kyra LeeKyra Lee is a social worker who specialises in working with pregnant women and new parents in difficult circumstances - and when she fell pregnant herself, she had to work hard to let go of all the trauma and worst-case-scenarios that she'd seen and heard. In this episode, we talk about hypnobirthing, her labour (induction, postpartum haemorrhage, fourth degree tearing), birth trauma, recovery complications and PTSD. But it's not all grim! A positive breastfeeding experience, good physical recovery and a masterclass in asking for help from professionals, friends and family (including the importance of debriefing) have all helped Kyra...
2020-12-131h 08Tales From The Fourth Trimester74 | "New motherhood was the loneliest time of my life" - Rhiann McGarryRhiann McGarry describes her fourth trimester as "treacherous". An older first time mum, she endured multiple losses before having an ultimately successful and smooth IVF pregnancy... only to be faced with a lonely and shocking fourth trimester - shocking, she says, because her expectations were way off, her baby was unsettled and not fond of sleep, and her friends had had kids a decade before she had. Listen in to hear the wisdom she's earned from her rocky but ultimately rewarding transition to motherhood.
2020-12-061h 10Tales From The Fourth Trimester73 | 10 top birth and beyond tips from nurse, midwife, Calmbirth educator and mother Jen TroyHow does a nurse, midwife and Calmbirth educator do birth and beyond? In this week's episode, Jen Troy of Seasons of Mama joins me to share it all - and her top tips.If you're pregnant, this ones a must listen! Find Jenna (and her beautiful products, including affirmation cards) at @seasons_of_mamaShe's kindly shared a 15% off code for listeners, too: cocoon15
2020-11-291h 08Tales From The Fourth Trimester72 | "Nurturing myself was the best thing I did for my postpartum" - Elle BlanksICU nurse and mum of one, Elle Blanks, had an "amazing" first three months of motherhood, thanks to investing in her postpartum period, both by nurturing herself and allowing others to nurture her. In this episode, Elle chats to me about her experience with IVF, the birth of her little boy, and how despite breastfeeding issues, sleep deprivation and limited family support she had a wonderful postpartum period.
2020-11-0845 minTales From The Fourth Trimester71 | "Home birth transformed my postpartum experience" - Zoe Roxon-HunterIt's home birth awareness week, so I wanted to share this story - one of the many positive home birth stories i soaked up as I prepared to birth my son. Zoe's two postpartums were quite different, and she attributes a lot of that to the way she birthed. Enjoy!
2020-11-021h 19Tales From The Fourth Trimester70 | How to heal your pelvic floor, with Bernadette LackBernadette Lack is a midwife, personal trainer, mum and pelvic floor expert--she has helped hundreds of women sort out their post-baby pelvic floors with her Core and Floor Restore programs. Here, she shares her own experience with incontinence, pregnancy, home birth, and restoring her pelvic floor health... and gives plenty of tips on how you can too.Side note: when we recorded this ep, I was still pregnant and B was newly pregnant (but not publicly sharing that!). She's now in her third trimester! Follow her @coreandfloorrestore and find her programs at www.coreandfloor.com.a...
2020-10-2459 minTales From The Fourth Trimester69 | Emmeline Tyler: "How having Asperger's helps me mother"Fellow postpartum doula and mother of one Emmeline Tyler shares her experience of what it's been like for her to go through pregnancy, birth and postpartum as an autistic woman. Tune in to hear about her surprise pregnancy, living and working in Arnhem Land, and her positive birth experience.Emmeline has a background in anthropology and linguistics, with experience working and living in remote Aboriginal communities. Through this experience, she has witnessed an authentic community and has seen what it looks like for parents and children to operate within a strong network of support. Her vision is...
2020-10-1856 minTales From The Fourth Trimester68 | Robin McLeavy: "Pregnancy, birth and motherhood is a profound spiritual journey"Robin McLeavy is a doula, hypnobirthing educator and actor who is able to articulate the experience of becoming a mother like no one else. Our conversation spans birth and postpartum, of course, but then we went into home birth, feminism, matrilineage, the mother wound, raising boys, parenting styles, gender politics, relationships and oh so much more. This conversation absolutely lit me up. For some reason my voice is a bit muffled on this recording - my apologies. But fortunately, the person who has the most interesting stuff to say (not me!) is nice and clear. Please note t...
2020-10-071h 18Tales From The Fourth Trimester67 | Anne-Marie Cheney: "Going from a full-on career to the slowness of motherhood was a hard transition"So often we think of postpartum as a six week period that ends with a GP check. Why aren't we talking more about the massive shift that occurs for women way beyond those early weeks? Whatever you want to call it: psychological, spiritual, psychic... the identity shake up is real, and so is the change of pace.This week Anne-Marie joins me for a chat about her transition to motherhood and how she's handled a busy, successful career with parenting her two girls.
2020-09-271h 02
The Nurtured Village PodcastEpisode 8 - Planning for Postpartum with Naomi ChrisoulakisAs a postpartum doula and soon to be mum of 2, Naomi Chrisoulakis opened a bank account and put money aside to enable her and her husband to create the postpartum that they hoped for. Naomi is 6 weeks into her postpartum with her son Cormac and shares her plan for postpartum in episode 8 of the podcast. I was living for Naomi’s daily updates on her instagram @cocconbynaomi, the raw and honest side of postpartum. The body aches, breastmilk coming in, the postpartum poo and anxiety. We can do so much more in Australia and in we...
2020-09-1451 minTales From The Fourth Trimester66 | What my (second) first forty days taught meA little six week update from me! I'm chatting about what I've been eating, the amazing meal train organised by friends, the role of my midwife and doulas, my physical recovery, breastfeeding, sleep, how my anxiety and mental health has been and lots more.
2020-09-1444 minTales From The Fourth Trimester65 | What food your body really needs during pregnancy and postpartum, with dietician Renee JenningsDietician Renee Jennings joins me on the podcast to chat about all things nutrition - she specialises in maternal health and is a mum herself. When she was pregnant with her first baby, she thought she knew all the right things to eat, but she's since discovered some surprising menu items that she's now incorporating into her second pregnancy, and she's sharing it all with us. As well as all her expert advice (including how to make the best porridge and all her tricks for making the most of freezer space), Renee shares her own postpartum experience, including how...
2020-08-301h 04Tales From The Fourth Trimester64 | The birth of Cormac ChrisoulakisIt's taken me a few weeks to get my head around Cormac's birth: after a long, slow wait for his arrival at 42 weeks (on top of the pregnancy that took me through the horror bushfire season and the start of the pandemic) and a measured start to labour, at the end it was all fast and furious. Amazing but also confusing: what just happened? How did I not know he was coming? Wait, was I in transition? In this episode, my lovely doula Jerusha Sutton (www.jerusha.com.au) talks me through this amazing, intense, surreal, ecstatic h...
2020-08-241h 17Tales From The Fourth Trimester63 | Tara Ali: navigating a relationship breakdown during pregnancy and postpartumTara Ali is a writer and mother of two, and in this episode she shares her two very different postpartums: her first baby was born after eight years of trying to conceive, and five rounds of IVF. When she fell pregnant with her second child, she found herself facing serious relationship challenges. Listen in to hear how she navigated complex issues as her pregnancy progresses and separated from her partner during her postpartum period, all while managing the needs of a toddler and a newborn. Tara, I take my hat off to you: you are amazing.
2020-08-171h 00Tales From The Fourth Trimester62 | How to navigate new motherhood like a boss: maternity leave planning with Arianna TaboadaArianna Taboada is a Maternal Health Consultant for entrepreneurs: she helps make their maternity leave and transition to motherhood smoother – while keeping their business thriving. Whether you work for yourself or someone else, what we're focusing on in today's episode could totally change the way you think about planning for your postpartum... it did for me! Her eco map is a brilliant way to plan your move into parenthood (whether for the first or third time). We also talk about harnessing the right kind of support, the different layers of support you need, and how to set boundaries. F...
2020-08-0938 min
KIDDO ChatsEp 4 - What is the Fourth Trimester with Naomi Chrisoulakis and Lex TeasdaleOn this episode we talk to Naomi Chrisoulakis of Cocoon about how new mums can prepare to nurture themselves as well as baby. Naomi is a post partum doula, cook, writer and mother. She also hosts a podcast called Tales From The Fourth Trimester. Naomi cooks and delivers delicious and wholesome food to mums with a new baby in the house, also doing in-house visits to offer support when families need it most. We talk about the concept of a Fourth Trimester, easy ways to prepare for life after the baby arrives, which foods will nourish you when y...
2020-08-0534 minTales From The Fourth Trimester61 | Emma Emmanuel: IVF, ovarian hyperstimulation, kidney defect and postnatal anxietyHow do you prepare for postpartum when you know your baby will be born with health challenges? In this episode, I chat to Emma Emmanuel, who's a mum to a one year old little boy and has had a bumpy ride to parenthood. She went through IVF, followed by severe ovarian hyperstimulation... and then found out that her little one was going to be born with a kidney defect. A difficult birth--for both Emma and her baby--was followed by her son developing sepsis at 10 weeks old. Add surgeries into the mix and Emma and her family have been through...
2020-07-2547 minTales From The Fourth Trimester60 | What does the ultimate postpartum care look like? A chat with postpartum doula and chef, Rachael HollingerRachael Hollinger is a postpartum doula and chef who lives and looks after women in Pennsylvania - and she's one of the loudest advocates for the nourishment and nurturing of new mamas. In this episode, we chat about the state of postpartum care, what we'd love to see happening for women at this sacred time, what new mums can do to look after themselves and what we do as postpartum doulas with a strong food focus.I highly recommend Rachael's postpartum cookbook which you can find at https://www.nourisherdoula.com/ and following her for fan...
2020-07-191h 03Tales From The Fourth Trimester59 | Nadine Richardson: the She Births founder on how to have an empowered birth and postpartumNadine Richardson is Australia's leading birth educator and the founder of She Births, the only scientifically proven antenatal course that demonstrates significantly reduced need for pain medication, ceasarean section and tears. In this episode, I'm chatting to Nadine about her own birth preparation and postpartum, as why she believes the principles that ground an empowered birth (however it happens) are also key to a calm and confident postpartum period and parenting journey. To explore She Births birth education and support, go to shebirths.com, and enter the code cocoon10 to receive 10% off the full online pr...
2020-07-1248 minTales From The Fourth Trimester58 | Arabella Hampshire: a surprise pregnancy, anxiety, disordered eating and learning how to look after the pelvic floorArabella Hampshire is a health coach, Pilates teacher and mum of two--and in this episode, we chat about how she unexpectedly fell pregnant just five months into a new relationship, her two very different births and postpartums and how anxiety and disordered eating have impacted her motherhood experiences. Plus! Don't miss her advice on exercising after having a baby, and how to best protect your pelvic floor. Thank you Arabella!
2020-07-0547 minTales From The Fourth Trimester57 | How I'm prepping for birth and beyond: a third trimester updateMy third trimester has been a ride! In this ep, recorded at 38 weeks pregnant, I'm talking (to myself) about what's been going down over the last three months or so, and how I've been preparing for birth and postpartum on a practical, emotional and psychological level. From what I've bought and what birth education I'm doing to who I've enlisted for support, what I've read and the differences between this pregnancy and my first (coronavirus aside), I hope this is helpful!I chose the SheBirths online course for my birth education, and if you'd like to get...
2020-06-2953 minTales From The Fourth Trimester56 | "I felt out of control and sad and lonely" - Ashe Davenport on parenthood and writing about it in her new book, Sad Mum LadyI've never met Ashe in person, but I'm quite convinced she's the funniest woman I know. Because I am sure I know her, in a weird way - the way she writes about mothering, and her kids and her partner and her mother and her life is just so uncomfortably familiar that I'm quite sure we're destined to be best friends, if only she'd realise Sydney is better than Melbourne. Please enjoy this rambling, fan girling (on my part) chat about babies and postpartum and leaky orifices and feeling lonely. Follow Ashe on Instagram @ashedavenport and buy her v...
2020-06-211h 17Tales From The Fourth Trimester55 | Why pregnancy and postpartum nutrition advice needs an overhaul--and what to eat instead--with Lily NicholsLily Nichols is an influential prenatal/postpartum dietician and nutritionist who has made a name for herself by diving deep into the research and rethinking evidence-based ideas for eating in pregnancy and beyond. What she's discovered is that much of the advice given to pregnant women and new mums is outdated, not tailored for the needs of motherhood and doesn't help women build healthy babies. But she has some (delicious) solutions. Listen in on our chat and find Lily's work here: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/Instagram: @lilynicholsrdnThis episode is sponsored by Modibodi, Australia’s favourite underwear fo...
2020-06-1447 minTales From The Fourth Trimester54 | "I didn't expect the challenges that having a second child brought" - Sarah GrantCareer-focused but keen to start a family, Sarah Grant found herself having a whirlwind romance, engagement and pregnancy within a year. She found first-time motherhood a little tricky to adjust to - but it was nothing compared to when she subsequently welcomed her second daughter into the world. In this episode, she shares how she dealt with having a very different baby to her first, what happened when postnatal depression hit her, why she pushed for answers around her daughter's unsettledness--and how a diagnosis of silent reflux changed everything.
2020-06-071h 22Tales From The Fourth Trimester53 | "I was so scared of birth and babies but my experience was beautiful" - Kate ByronIn this episode, Kate shares just how worried she was about getting pregnant, giving birth and becoming a mother - and how it all turned out better than she could have hoped. While she hadn't put much thought into her postpartum, circumstances put her into a position where she was able to ease into early parenthood with a quiet and peaceful fourth trimester. Thanks Kate!
2020-05-3149 minTales From The Fourth Trimester52 | "I exclusively pumped for 5 months--and then my baby began breastfeeding" - Alana Adye's amazing feeding journeyThere are many ways to feed a baby, and while many of us hope to breastfeed, it's not always the easiest thing. Alana Adye had breastfeeding issues from the beginning--nevertheless, she persisted. She sought help, eventually deciding to exclusively pump her milk for her little one... and then, by the time we had our chat, her baby finally learned how to breastfeed. I hope you find Alana's determination as inspiring as I did!
2020-05-241h 11Tales From The Fourth Trimester51 | "Motherhood shook me to my core" - Chanelle A tricky birth, breastfeeding struggles and the lack of that instant in-love feeling left Chanelle feeling "like a failure". We chat about how the first few months of motherhood shook her, and how she came out the other side.
2020-05-1653 minTales From The Fourth Trimester50 | The money ep! How to prep for a baby with financial advisor Rebecca PritchardBabies cost money - but how much exactly, and whether it will stress you out or you'll sail through, depends on your choices and planning. In this ep, I chat to financial advisor Rebecca Pritchard, a mum of one who takes us through what she did and offers advice on where to save and what conversations to have that will help avoid common relationship pitfalls. She's helped me a ton! If you'd like to chat to Rebecca: https://www.rebeccapritchard.com.au/
2020-05-1059 minTales From The Fourth Trimester49 | Fiona MacDonald: "I became a CEO while I was pregnant and returned to work when my baby was 8 weeks old"Fiona MacDonald is a journalist and CEO of ScienceAlert - a job she was offered when she was 10 weeks pregnant with her first baby. It meant she would need to return to work, slowly, before her baby turned three months, but Fiona embraced the opportunity... and thrived. She shares her experience with an elective caesarian, avoiding visitors, choosing the right care for her daughter and how a supportive work culture has made her decision the right one.
2020-05-021h 29Tales From The Fourth Trimester48 | How to have a beautiful postpartum during COVID-19: a conversation with Julia JonesOkay, so having a baby in the midst of a global pandemic wasn't exactly what you'd planned. Now what? Join me and Julia Jones, my postpartum doula teacher and wise woman, as we talk practical ideas, emotional support and mindset shifts that can help you have a truly lovely first few weeks and months with your little one.Find out more about Julia's new course, head here, and her postpartum doula training can be found here
2020-04-2750 minTales From The Fourth Trimester47 | "I went into labour the same day as my city locked down": Meg Frawley's birth and postpartum during Covid-19Meg Frawley had her birth and postpartum all planned: the Australian had booked in a doula to help her navigate the American medical system in her new home of San Francisco, her parents would fly in from Sydney to help her and her husband adjust to life with a new baby and she'd joined all the local mother's groups.But as Covid-19 hit America, hard, her parents cancelled their trip. And the day her labour niggles began, she received a phone call from her doula: no one would be allowed to attend her birth, including her husband.
2020-04-191h 19Tales From The Fourth Trimester46 | Pregnancy and maternity leave in the age of self-isolationThis week, Josie Rozenberg-Clarke, editor of pedestrian.tv and mama of a nine week old, messaged me with an idea for an episode: how new mums are dealing with self-isolation during what is often a quite lonely season. "The days feel so long, it's lonely, we're all going stir crazy and if it rains you're literally just cooped up inside," she wrote. "I've had to cancel my mum in law's regular Wednesday visit, and my mum is coming this week but that will be the last time for a while. The things I looked forward to that broke up...
2020-03-2950 minTales From The Fourth Trimester45 | Becoming more self-sufficient and sustainable with a babyI recorded this episode a few weeks back with Monique Llewellyn, a mama of one who runs @holisticluxeliving and https://www.holisticluxeliving.com/, because I wanted to share ideas for people who are interested in becoming more eco-friendly in their family practices. Well, now, with covid-19 meaning there are restrictions and shortages on disposable nappies, wipes and other options that were previously easy, more people are interested in becoming self-sufficient, even just a little bit. From period undies to homemade wipes, we cover some ideas that we hope you'll find helpful and empowering during these weird old times.
2020-03-2257 minTales From The Fourth Trimester44 | Kelly Hume: "I'm still recovering from birth three years down the track"I knew I wanted to have my friend Kelly on the podcast since I started it--not only is she smart and articulate, she's bloody hilarious. A fashion stylist by trade, we bonded while working together at Stellar and I loved how she applies her sense of humour to birth injuries that she's still feeling the effects from. I hope you enjoy Kel's unique perspective on birth and the fourth trimester and find her story as interesting as I did.
2020-03-1556 minTales From The Fourth Trimester43 | Your breastfeeding questions (part 2), answered by IBCLC Cathy ShorttThanks for bearing with me while Cathy and I lined up a time to finish our chat! In this second episode, we talk about breastfeeding while starting bottles, introducing solids, returning to work and weaning your little one, plus heaps more.
2020-03-0844 minTales From The Fourth Trimester42 | Caitlin Kay-Smith: "I vomited 15 times a day until my baby was born"What would it feel like to be ill, not just in your first trimester, but throughout your entire pregnancy? To vomit 15 times a day, not be able to keep anything down and continue chucking throughout labour? Caitlin Kay-Smith, of Hyperemesis Gravidarum Australia, shares her experience and how it affected her postpartum (and beyond). Listen in to hear how she had to fight to be believed, why she tried to get herself sectioned in order to receive care and how she's now fighting for other women who have HG.
2020-03-011h 14Tales From The Fourth Trimester41 | Returning to exercise - without ending up with postnatal depletion or a prolapse!Exercise and movement is vital for our mental health, energy levels and getting strong and fit. BUT. If you just have a cursory 6 week check by a GP (who isn't a specialist in pelvic floor health) and then throw yourself back into your beloved pre-baby workouts, you could be in for trouble. I asked Sarah Fehlberg, a personal trainer and naturopath, to tell us exactly how to get back into exercise so we end up feeling great, not even worse than when we started. And! I'm running a giveaway - I have 5 packets of my delicious organic g...
2020-02-2339 minTales From The Fourth Trimester40 | Sheree: Parenting in a same-sex couple, prolapse, relationship challenges & co-sleepingA couple of months ago, Ree sent me a sweet DM saying how much she loved this podcast - and sharing her thoughts in response to something I'd wondered about being in a same-sex relationship. "I'm in a same-sex relationship, and for us the dynamic is much the same as a heterosexual couple..." But then there's the roles they play, how family and society sees them, and how her lovely baby boy came to be. Of course I wanted to hear all about it - and, more broadly, how new motherhood has been for her - and this is...
2020-02-161h 08Tales From The Fourth Trimester39 | Jen Dawson's pre-eclampsia, prematurity, separation at birth, reflux and doing it differently second time around: "I didn't feel that in-love feeling for six weeks"A complicated pregnancy, a premature baby and a very difficult birth that led to both of them fighting for their lives: Jen Dawson started postpartum first time around very much on the back foot (and that's before she found out she was going to be posted overseas to a country where she didn't speak the language or know anyone). Yet her postpartum with her next child, a daughter, was "both sacred and an unravelling". Listen in to hear what changed for her, and what she chose to do differently.
2020-02-091h 11Tales From The Fourth Trimester38 | Top tips and troubleshooting from lactation consultant and midwife Cathy ShorttCathy Shortt helps mums on their breast and bottle feeding journeys every day of the week - and she's a midwife, too. I asked her to share all her best advice, recommendations and tips for mamas to be, mums in the thick of it and mothers down the track whose feeding journeys are evolving. Plus, she answers your questions - although we didn't get a chance to talk about all of them, so look out for another episode where we get to those ones! You can find out more about Cathy at milkandmumsco.com.au
2020-02-0258 minTales From The Fourth Trimester37 | My pre-conception and first trimester experienceI'm 15 weeks pregnant! In this episode, I'm talking about how I tried to mentally and physically prepare to get pregnant again (including dealing with some birth trauma and finding great care providers) and how the last few months have been going.
2020-01-2654 minTales From The Fourth Trimester36 | "Parenting was a rebirth for me" - Courtney Fletcher on navigating relationship changes and mothering stylesA self-confessed "anal Virgo", Courtney found herself veering away from her own expectations of parenthood after she gave birth to her daughter. She'd imagined order, routine and schedule; she found something quite different. And despite being in a relationship with her husband for 15 years before having her baby, it didn't insure the couple from the changes and challenges most of us experience during postpartum.
2020-01-1946 minTales From The Fourth Trimester35 | "It was exquisite, difficult bliss" - Jessica Chapnik Kahn on creativity and motherhoodJessica is a singer-songwriter, author and poet. She's also a mum - and an example of how motherhood and creativity don't need to be mutually exclusive. In fact, her experience shows just how becoming a parent can open up a new layer of inspiration. Madre, the book of poetry that Jessica began during her postpartum (available here) is a raw account of the magic, mystery and unravelling that motherhood brings - it's bloody beautiful.
2020-01-1251 minTales From The Fourth Trimester34 | How to make parenting choices with confidence"How can you be confident when your parenting methods and values don't align with the "norm"?" When this question popped up on my Instagram, I knew that it would make a great podcast topic--and that Jade Cottee would be a great person to help me answer it. Whatever choices you make in your parenting, learning how to feel good about them--and how to deal with any flak you may cop, well-meaning or otherwise--can be a steep learning curve. Hope you enjoy the ep!
2019-12-1753 minTales From The Fourth Trimester33 | Sonia Shoukath: "I didn't leave my parents' house for four weeks"Sonia Shoukath is a physiotherapist, mum of two and one of my mother's group alumni. When she told me about her postpartum experience, I remember feeling envious: her Indian mother lavished her with care, attention and food, with Sonia moving in with her parents to experience a modern take on the traditions her mother had herself experienced in Kerala. Here Sonia shares that period in her life, the transition from one child to two and how motherhood shifted her identity.
2019-12-0855 minTales From The Fourth Trimester32 | Leigh Campbell: "How can the best possible thing and the worst possible thing happen at once?"Many of you will know Leigh Campbell through her popular podcasts (This Glorious Mess Little Kids and You Beauty), via her work for Mamamia and from Instagram, where she "snackfluences" and shares snippets of life with her delicious baby, Alexander. In this epsiode, we dive deep into her fertility struggles, perinatal anxiety, breastfeeding challenges, relationship changes and the strange combination of heartbreak and happiness that she's found while dealing with a new baby and the terminal illness of her father at the same time.
2019-12-0155 minTales From The Fourth Trimester31 | Postpartum sex + relationships, part 5The final episode in this series, I sit down with my husband for some real talk on how our relationship changed after having a baby--and why it ended up being the best thing that could have happened.
2019-11-241h 14Tales From The Fourth Trimester30 | Postpartum sex + relationships, part fourEmily Fishman is a mother of four, including a set of 18 month old twins. While she's had three different postpartum experiences, the common theme has been a big strain on her relationship - both with her ex-husband and current partner. Emily and I chat about how birth and breastfeeding can result in an overwhelming sense of responsibility and loss of freedom, feeling resentful when partners returned to work and the "I can cope" attitude that left Emily feeling isolated and unsupported. Having a birth injury which left her unable to walk for four months after he...
2019-11-101h 11Tales From The Fourth Trimester29 | Postpartum sex + relationships part 3Eavesdrop on a candid conversation with one of my oldest (and most honest) girlfriends, Chloe. We talk all things sex and relationships around bedsharing, military marriages, libido loss, kids walking in on you, getting back in your body, love languages, prolapses, queefing and SO much more.
2019-11-031h 02Tales From The Fourth Trimester28 | Postpartum sex + relationships, part twoOoft. This was hard to record, you guys - but I did it, and I wasn't even drunk! In this episode, I (over)share about how I navigated sex and my relationship after I had my daughter in this second part of this special series. Show notesThe mental load article: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a12063822/emotional-labor-gender-equality/The Esther Perel book:https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-state-of-affairs-esther-perel/book/9781473673540.htmlThe Drop the Ball book:https://www.booktopia.com.au/drop-the-ball-tiffany-dufu/book/9780241973127.html
2019-10-271h 00
A Muse MeHeart to heart with Naomi ChrisoulakisThe very first guest on the Heart of Relating is a beautiful soul, Naomi Chrisoulakis. Naomi is a postpartum doula and cook fuelling postpartum mamas in Sydney with her nourishing meal delivery service and nurturing home visits. We had a great chat about the significance of the postpartum period and the importance of valuing the other work we do in that space.
2019-10-2242 minTales From The Fourth Trimester27 | Postpartum Sex and Relationships Part 1You asked for it, so here it is! A series of podcasts deep diving into what happens to your intimate relationship and sexual life after you have a baby (or three!). In this episode, I asked Dasha Clarke, a relationship doula, to share her thoughts on what the hell goes wrong when you have a baby, the particular stresses on a postpartum relationship - and the silver lining/opportunity that postpartum provides to completely rethink and reshape your relationship.
2019-10-2045 minTales From The Fourth Trimester26 | Jo Chan: "I had to rethink who I was"Jo's a get-shit-done kind of woman, who prides herself on being up with the latest restaurants, talks and cultural happenings around town. At least, she did. Then she stopped work, had a baby and her mum moved in with her and her partner. Faced with the Chinese tradition of confinement, Jo found herself in a very different world all of a sudden. In this episode, she shares why her mum's traditions were some of the best things about her postpartum, why Instagram lies and how she had to come to terms with her new identity as a mother.
2019-10-131h 29Tales From The Fourth Trimester25 | Christina Palmer "My husband got six months paid parental leave"You might have heard me talking about Annabel Crabb's fantastic Quarterly Essay on the state of working parenthood. There was plenty of hope and one particular case study stood out - of a man whose work offered him a whopping six months of parental leave on full pay when his fourth child was born. Well, that man's wife reached out to me on Instagram, describing it as a miracle - and now she's sharing here what it was like to have that amazing experience.
2019-10-0649 minTales From The Fourth Trimester24 | Friendships after baby: when you feel let down and how to find a mama tribeI'm chatting to myself this episode! A lot of you wanted to hear my thoughts on what happens when you feel let down by the people close to you and how to deal with it. I'm far from an expert, but I'm sharing some of my experience and what I'd do differently. Plus! You wanted some ideas on how to make new parent friends - after all, one of the big bonuses of having kids is that you're opened up to a whole new social world! - so I'm giving you some ideas, along with suggestions from women who...
2019-09-2941 minTales From The Fourth Trimester23 | Heidi Sze: "If you're supported you can fully embrace how much your baby needs you"What a pleasure it was to have Heidi Sze of Apples Under My Bed--and new book Nurturing Your New Life--join me in this episode to talk about her two, quite different postpartum periods with her children Joan and Walt, the food that's fuelled her motherhood journey and how she uses her blog and Instagram to get real about motherhood. We cover everything from building community to dealing with prolapses; frankly, we could have talked for much longer!Heidi's book, Nurturing Your New Life, is out this week and you can find her on Insta @heidiapples or at applesundermybed...
2019-09-221h 03Tales From The Fourth Trimester22 | "We have the village" - Nikki Kinstlinger on motherhood as an observant JewI learned so much from my conversation with Nikki, an old work friend who converted to Judaism after meeting her now-husband. She lets us in on what life is like as an observant Jewish woman, and we talk about everything from sex and periods to rituals and the mental load. I could have talked to Nikki for HOURS - I hope you find her perspective as interesting as I did.
2019-09-151h 19
Mother / other"Rhythms & rituals" with Naomi ChrisoulakisNaomi Chrisoulakis is a postpartum Doula delivering nourishing food to new Mums and offering in-home support that helps women ease into Motherhood. She also runs her own excellent podcast called ‘Tales from the Fourth Trimester’. In this episode, we discuss Naomi’s shift from glossy magazine journalist to Mother & postpartum Doula, the importance of rest and recovery during the elusive fourth trimester, creating rhythms and rituals as a family, the difficulty of maintaining catch-ups with friends whilst running a business AND being a Mother, and learning to surrender. A really insightful conversation for any pregnant Mothers out there, or people who are...
2019-09-1554 minTales From The Fourth Trimester21 | Sophie Gleitzman: "Starting motherhood in the NICU changed everything"It took four years for Sophie Gleitzman to fall pregnant. It took only moments at her 19 weeks scan for her to realise that her much-wanted baby's life might be at risk. As it turned out, her son, Jack (now a happy and healthy two year old) needed heart surgery soon after he was born and Sophie's motherhood journey began in the NICU. But while the intensity of life in the NICU was often heart-wrenching, Sophie says it gave her a priceless perspective that she believes has changed her approach to parenting, and life. In this episode, Sophie shares her...
2019-09-081h 05Tales From The Fourth Trimester20 | Rachael Rose: "I thought life would just continue as normal"Doula, mother and kickass writer of Instagram captions, Rachael Rose has long been my Instagram crush. I'd heard bits and pieces of her motherhood story, I'd slid into her DMs but for this episode I met her in person to hear the whole story. From standing up against the hospital system to becoming a badass breastfeeder despite a rocky start (and a foray into 'anxiety death bubbles') Rachael shares it all. Find her at rachaelrose.com.au and on Instagram @the_rachael_rose
2019-09-0159 minTales From The Fourth Trimester19 | Claire Obeid: "Motherhood floored me"Can motherhood be a spiritual journey? How does becoming a parent act as a catalyst for personal growth? Claire Obeid, life and wellness coach and mother of two, joins me to share how becoming a mother humbled her and gave her new power.
2019-08-2533 minTales From The Fourth Trimester18 | Is bedsharing dangerous? What you need to know--whether you plan to co-sleep or not*Trigger warning: SIDS and infant mortality* In years gone by, the message has been loud and clear: bedsharing kills babies. But what does the science say? And why are big organisations like Unicef and the UK's Lullaby Trust now promoting safe bedsharing? Can you ever be safe when you sleep with your baby? And if you're part of the 75% of parents who do fall asleep with their babies at some point, exactly how do you reduce the risks? I invited Carly Grubb, creator of The Beyond Sleep Training Project, to break down the research behind bedsharing and w...
2019-08-181h 19Tales From The Fourth Trimester17 | Dr Harvey Karp: the world-famous paediatrician shares his tricks for soothing and settling (so everyone can get more sleep)This man has done so much for our understanding of the way newborns develop, what their needs are--and how to meet them without losing our minds! He brought the term 'the fourth trimester' into the mainstream and his ideas on the famous '5 S's' are to thank for the resurgence in swaddling babies, white noise machines and more. And now he's taken it to the next level with a smart bassinet, the Snoo, that claims to help babies and their parents get more sleep. I loved chatting to Dr Karp and could have gone on for hours if only...
2019-08-1146 minTales From The Fourth Trimester16 | Dasha Clarke: "My four week old was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis"Dasha Clarke is a relationship doula who specialises in coaching couples through the challenges of early parenthood, and a mother of two boys. I was so moved that she chose to share her story of coming into motherhood, redefining her relationship and then being hit by a bombshell when her second baby was just a month old and he was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. The way Dasha handled and continues to handle parenthood is a constant inspiration to me. If you'd like to find out more about her coaching services, visit www.dashaclarke.com.au and follow her on...
2019-08-041h 00Tales From The Fourth Trimester15 | Naturopath Hannah Boyd's top tips on having a better postpartum periodHannah is my naturopath in Sydney's inner west and she formulated the Milky Tea that we're releasing this week! (Orders open on Tuesday). I only wish I'd found her sooner: I didn't meet her (or see a naturopath since before I fell pregnant) until Margot was four months old. She's got no-nonsense advice on how to set up for a great postpartum and super practical suggestions for getting through it with your mental and physical health intact. Hope you enjoy our chat! You can visit www.new-leaf.com.au for more info on Hannah and her services.
2019-07-2834 minTales From The Fourth Trimester14 | Alana Saphin Polchleb: "I had to build my village from scratch"In this week's episode, I interview Alana, a mum of two living and working in New York City. During her twenties, Alana imagined that having a baby wouldn't interfere much with her life and career--she'd schedule a c-section and get on with it. But yoga teacher training just before her wedding--and an introduction to natural birth--changed her plans. Alana shares how, with the help of hypnobirthing, she had a 'euphoric' first birth in Singapore. Yet despite having a good support system, she reverted back to that "getting on with it" mindset during her postpartum, pushing herself with exercise, being...
2019-07-211h 19Tales From The Fourth Trimester13 | Jocelyn Brewer: from screen time to sharenting, how this digital psychology expert makes devices work for her familyJocelyn Brewer is a psychologist and expert in "digital nutrition". She's also a mum to a two and a bit year old, so she's navigating the same challenges most of us are: how much screen time is too much? Is all our mindless scrolling while breastfeeding doing damage? And is it okay to have a crush on Bandit, Bluey's dad? Our chat covers a lot: we start with Jocelyn's positive birth and postpartum (and the biggest reason she thinks the latter went as smoothly as it did). Then we dive deep into the guilt-inducing topic of kids a...
2019-07-1454 minTales From The Fourth Trimester12 | Megan Gale: "I felt like I was failing"Megan Gale is one of Australia's most recognisable faces, having graced our screens, billboards and magazines for two decades. But while her life might look shiny and perfect, Megan's the first to admit that first-time motherhood tested her like nothing else - and when it came to falling pregnant a second time, her experience changed the course of her life and career. In this episode, Megan shares how she dealt with grief and loss during her first postpartum, why she wonders if she had postnatal depression, how breastfeeding challenged her and the way a miscarriage made her reassess her...
2019-07-071h 22Tales From The Fourth Trimester11 | Sophie Lazarski's top tips on staying nourished as a new motherSophie Lazarski cooks for new mums over in Paris - yes, like I do for the mamas of Sydney! I was thrilled to discover Sophie and her work and despite the prohibitive time difference she's become a great sounding board and buddy... we love talking about what to make for new mums. So I wanted to get her on to talk about how she got into this work (hint: she has two boys and is an ex-pat) as well as her top tips for eating well and harnessing help. Know a mama in Paris? Have Sophie cook for her: h...
2019-06-3036 minTales From The Fourth Trimester10 | Laura Hoare: "I thought I was going crazy"When Laura and her new husband decided to get pregnant, things started off smoothly. Having type 1 diabetes she knew she'd have to be extra careful, but all seemed well. As you'll hear in this episode, though, the road to having a baby had a few bumps. What was to come once Laura, an architect, welcomed Freddy into the world was the most unexpected part: trauma from an accident resurfaced when she faced complications during childbirth. Laura never expected to face mental health issues, but when Freddy was still small she found herself having intrusive thoughts, anxiety and OCD tendencies...
2019-06-231h 04Tales From The Fourth Trimester9: Yoga teacher Monique Blackwell chats unfiltered about three babies, therapy--and being my first client!When I first met Monique, I was six months postpartum. Her yoga classes really helped me find my feet, get moving and ease into motherhood--so it was a huge honour when she asked me to be her postpartum doula for her third baby, Artie. In this episode, Mon and I have an unfiltered chat about mental health, yoga, food, pelvic floor control (or lack thereof!), therapy and what changed for her over the course of three babies.
2019-06-161h 15Tales From The Fourth Trimester8 | Karlie Rutherford: "We need to talk about the identity shift motherhood brings"Karlie Rutherford is a journalist for one of Australia's biggest daily newspapers. When pregnancy complications forced her to slow down before her first daughter was born, she thought it had a silver lining: she was being placed in good stead for a life beyond deadlines and hectic schedules. Nevertheless, she was surprised by the huge identity shift motherhood brought. Karlie shares how she harnessed support from family and friends to make her postpartum relatively smooth - but how she wishes she'd known more about 'matrescence' - the transition into motherhood that's one of the most significant physical and psychological...
2019-06-091h 03Tales From The Fourth Trimester7 | Caitlin Dyer: "I felt really out of my depth"Caitlin was prepped for birth and breastfeeding - but admits when it came to beyond that, she just hadn't thought about it. Without any family in the country, a husband who even take the day off when their son was born, recovering from an episiotomy and adjusting to life with a new baby without that support - it all took it's toll. But as Caitlin shares, it was a whole different story the second time around. These days, Caitlin is a Hypnobirthing Australia practitioner and a postpartum doula up in Brisbane (she makes food too!). You can find h...
2019-05-2637 minTales From The Fourth Trimester6 | Midwife Alicia Ferris shares her top tips for the first few days with a babyIf you're an expectant mama, you neeeeeed to listen to this episode! I chatted to Alicia, a gorgeous midwife in the Victorian public health system, about how to get the best from the first few days after you've given birth - and how to make the most of hospital care.
2019-05-1936 minTales From The Fourth Trimester5 | Rachel Gill on postpartum after an emergency c-section and doing it very differently a second time aroundRachel Gill is a birth and postpartum doula and yoga teacher who found herself facing a very different birth to the one (and only one) she planned for. With her husband heading back to work just a day after she was discharged from hospital and next to no support, Rachel didn't exactly have the easy peasy postpartum she expected. Fast forward a couple of years and a whole lot of education later and she discovered new strategies to make her birth and postpartum a more peaceful one.
2019-05-1235 minTales From The Fourth Trimester4 | Chloe Tobin: postpartum after lossChloe's an old friend of mine who's had two beautiful daughters and is pregnant with another baby due later this year. But before this pregnancy, Chloe experienced two miscarriages, including a late loss. We talk (and cry) about having a newborn when your partner's in the armed forces, what people don't tell you about losing a pregnancy and how you still go through a postpartum period - without a baby. Thank you for sharing your story with me, Chloe. You are braver than you know.
2019-05-051h 00Tales From The Fourth Trimester3 | Shez Lee and her live-in confinement nanny from MalaysiaA woman who cooks special food for you, takes care of the baby so you can rest and plays with your toddler: no, not an angel but a confinement nanny in the Chinese tradition. I chat to mum of two, Shez Lee, about her experience with hiring live-in help and how it utterly transformed her postpartum period the second time around.
2019-04-2243 min
Tales From The Fourth Trimester2 | Home visiting midwife Bronwyn Davies Fry's advice on how to find your way with a new babyBron was my home visiting midwife and beacon of hope in the early days of bleary-eyed motherhood - she's a bloody gem. We chat about all things postpartum, including her advice for sleep and settling, feeding and finding your way.
2019-04-2238 min
Tales From The Fourth Trimester1 | My StoryIf you've checked out my Instagram, you've probably seen evidence of my less-than-picture-perfect postpartum. The first weeks at home with my new baby were beautiful, brutal and, ultimately, what set me on an entirely new career path. I'm Naomi Chrisoulakis and I'm a postpartum doula and cook. This podcast is dedicated to the fourth trimester--sharing stories and wisdom about what happens after you bring the baby home. So let's go back to where it all began for me...
2019-04-2247 min