Archives | Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson PhD

Episode #16: The Power of Positive Births with Alana Swain

by Jennifer Pearson | Apr 30, 2021 | Brain health, Childbirth, Maternity, Matrescence, Mental health, Mom to-be, Motherhood, Mum to-be, Neuroplasticity, Pregnancy, Selfcare, Support, Tough Mothers, Truth

For information, tips and support in your journey into and through motherhood follow Tough Mothers on Facebook and Instagram

“Motherhood ripped me apart and put me together with light”.

Alana Swain contacted me a couple of months ago and said: “I really want to share my birth stories with you. I had two incredibly empowering births, and I feel that people don’t talk about birth being a positive experience.”

I was so pleased for her email, because Alana is right! We don’t talk about positive birth experiences enough. Maybe this is in part due to the fact that most women don’t have positive birth experiences. Or also, as Alana mentions, because people think a positive birth is something to be ashamed of. Whatever it is, I believe that we need to share ALL the experiences. So, today I am honoured to share Alana’s story of her two births with you.

Alana’s conversation with me is so timely, as the amazing documentary Birth Time has just been released. If you get a chance, please watch it. Let’s all work together to give every woman an empowered birth experience. Not only because she deserves it, but because childbirth is the gateway into matrescence. And what better way to start our journey into motherhood than by feeling truly empowered.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV, Alana reveals how she prepared herself mentally for childbirth and how hypnobirthing played a big part in her birth experiences. She also tells us about how her motherhood struggle transformed her, and we delve into how every mother needs to consciously prepare herself for matrescence.

Matrescence is the developmental transition women go through when we become mothers.
It is all encompassing – physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual.
Matrescence transforms us, that is why we feel different when we become mothers.

**Key takeaways from this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV:**

♥ Every woman must have the opportunity to have an empowered birth. This will set mothers up better to thrive in motherhood.

♥ We actively must prepare ourselves for the transition into motherhood.

♥ Give your preparation for postpartum at least as much time and energy as your preparation for birth.

Hear the full episode. Simply click on your favourite podcast app below.

Or hit the play button below and watch the full episode on YouTube

In this episode you will learn [podcast, TV]:

[4.48, 4.18]
If you can get your brain out of the way your body knows what to do. Do you agree?

“Preparing yourself for anything to happen is important in childbirth”.

Check out my book I Wish Someone Had Told Me… to find out the things 1000 mums want you to know before you have your baby. More info below in Mentions in This Episode.

[7.06, 6.36]
The importance of mindset when giving birth – Alana talks us through her series of positive mindset exercises she used to train her brain and mind to be ready for a positive birth.

“At the end of the day the baby will be delivered. So that should be your primary plan to get the baby out safely, while caring for yourself at the same time.”

[11.32, 11.02]
Should I have a doula at my homebirth? – Know your boundaries and be clear with your caregiver what situations will lead to what outcome. For example, what situation will lead to a trip to the hospital.

“Having a home birth was the most empowering experience of my life!”

[22.59, 22.29]
Transitioning into motherhood is a time of great change – matrescence transforms women. Alana shares how becoming a mum of two came with challenges and resulted in “the 2 baby wobbles”.

“I don’t think we grieve the pre-mum us enough”

[28.58, 28.28]
There is so much information and talk leading up to the birth of our baby, but we really need to talk about motherhood more, and the transition that comes with it. Alana shares her tips for managing the matrescence transition.

“Childbirth is a blip in our lives compared to motherhood. Let’s talk more about motherhood.”

[36.00, 35.30]
The importance of finding your people/ your tribe / your village. Not just the ones going through it with you, but the ones that have already been through it.

“We need to talk about all of postpartum, not just postpartum depression.”

Mentions in this episode:

♥ I Wish Someone Had Told Me… – unspoken truths about what really happens to women during labour childbirth and the first few weeks of motherhood.
Get your FREE E-book with the top 7 truths from the book HERE

♥ Tough Mothers courses implement a three-step framework to:

1) help mothers understand how motherhood changes their brain
2) how to strengthen their brain by training it to thrive in motherhood.
3) Teach simple, specific exercises mothers can fit into their busy day to train their brain to thrive in motherhood

Alana’s business Me-Moir was inspired by Alana’s grandmother who created beautiful photo albums for each of her nine grandchildren. Me-moir creates gorgeous albums where you can clip in photos at any stage – even later in case you missed anything! This system was designed to remove mum guilt and get photos off devices into a top-quality album that will last for years. It is an heirloom piece you can add to, so it grows with your kids.

You can find out more about Alana’s amazing albums at www.me-moir.com or on Facebook, or Instagram

Alana offers a free Facebook group for photo-keen mums which you are welcome to join HERE.

Who is one person that would benefit from the information in this episode?

Forward it to them! There are icons at the top of this page to make that really easy.

Check out the Tough Mothers Library for more episodes

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Mental Health Support Services

If the topics in this episode are triggering for you, or if you feel you need support, please contact you doctor or local mental health line.

In Australia: www.healthdirect.gov.au
In New Zealand: www.mentalhealth.org.nz
In the USA: www.mhnational.org
In the UK : www.mind.org.uk
In Ireland: www2.hse.ie
In South Africa: www.safmh.org.za

If your country is not listed please search “Mental Health Line” in google in your country.

Episode #15: The 50 Shades of Motherhood spectrum – every mother sits on it, but did you know you can change your location?

by Jennifer Pearson | Apr 13, 2021 | Brain health, Childbirth, Maternity, Matrescence, Mental health, Mom to-be, Motherhood, Mum to-be, Neuroplasticity, Pregnancy, Selfcare, Support, Tough Mothers, Truth

“Taking the time to train your brain to thrive in motherhood, is the most important self-care”

Download your FREE E-Book How to be a Happy Mother

For information, tips and support in your journey into and through motherhood follow Tough Mothers on Facebook and Instagram

This episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV is about as action-packed as motherhood.
It was such a pleasure to speak with Dr. Melissa Raymond from Your Journey to Healing in February 2021 for the Healthy Mums Health Families Summit.

We covered so much in our conversation!
From my journey into and out of postnatal anxiety, to the need to stop giving all of ourselves to motherhood, to the 50 Shades of Motherhood and how you can thrive amongst them all. There is even a FREE motherhood meditation in there that takes just a few minutes but will start you on your journey to training your brain to thrive in motherhood.

All mothers will benefit from this episode, because it:

♥ Teaches you about matrescence, the transition into motherhood – how it changes mothers’ brains and how you can use this transformation to truly thrive in motherhood.

♥ Explains the 50 Shades of Motherhood spectrum – a spectrum ALL mothers sit on – and teaches you strategies for how you can manoeuvre your way around the shades to initiate your happiness in motherhood.

♥ Gives you strategies to start training your own brain to truly thrive in motherhood. There is also a FREE E-Book for you to download to start the brain training (see mentions in this episode).

♥ Gives you a mother moment time-out: a powerful, yet brief motherhood meditation that will positively affect your brain and mind.

Hear the full episode. Simply click on your favourite podcast app below.

Or hit the play button below and watch the full episode on YouTube.

Key takeaways from this episode [podcast, TV]:

[5.22, 4.52]
Is it true that the more of yourself you give, the better a mother you are?

“It’s easy to lose yourself in motherhood, but it is at your detriment.”

[6.27, 5.57]
Learn what matrescence is and why you must prepare yourself for the transition into motherhood before you become a mother.

“We are mothering in a completely different world – the village mums had is largely non-existent now.”

[11.40, 11.10]
Mama, are you aware of your thoughts?
How my negative thoughts created my negative motherhood experience. And how your negative thoughts can ruin your experience too.

“Don’t believe everything you tell yourself!”

[17.36, 17.06]
Learn about the 50 Shades of Motherhood spectrum that all mums sit on. What is it, where do you sit on it, and why you must know how to get from one end of the spectrum to the other. The visual spectrum is attached in the mentions in this episode below. Check it out and in the comments below let me know where you sit.

[23.20, 21.50]
Matrescence is the perfect time to work on creating the brain you want, so you can create the motherhood life you want. Learn how to do that in this episode.

“Don’t feel that just because motherhood is currently hard, that it will always be hard – you CAN train your brain to thrive and be happy!”

*Matrescence is the developmental transition women go through when we become mothers. It is all encompassing – physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual. Matrescence transforms us. We need to learn about it, so we can be prepared, feel we are not alone and learn tools for how to use this transition to thrive.

[26.00, 25.30]
Imagine if you trained your brain like you train your body.
Mental health needs to be treated equally to physical health, including the exercises we do. The effects the exercises have is exactly the same – the brain is like a muscle!

“For some reason somewhere along the line we separated the brain and the body, but they are very much connected.”

[28.40, 28.10]
Enjoy your FREE motherhood meditation – it only takes a couple of minutes and has powerful results.

“The brain doesn’t know what is real and what is not. Learn how to use this to your advantage and thrive.”

[35.25, 31.55]
It’s important to not lose ourselves in motherhood.
You can give yourself, but not all of yourself all of the time. Motherhood is a great time to learn to love your new self and your new life. Make sure you make yourself a priority in motherhood.

“The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of its parents.”- Carl Jung