Mom to-be | Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson PhD

Episode #21: How meditation helps you thrive in motherhood – with Tom Cronin

by Jennifer Pearson | Oct 5, 2021 | Childbirth, Maternity, Matrescence, Meditation, Mental health, Mom to-be, Motherhood, Mum to-be, Pregnancy, Selfcare, Tough Mothers

For information, tips and support in your journey into and through motherhood follow Tough Mothers on Facebook and Instagram or join our FREE Tough Mothers Village

“As soon as you start meditating your cortisol (stress hormone) pump gets turned off”

I know what you are thinking: “meditation is not for me!”

I used to think that too. But when I was in the grips of my postpartum breakdown I tried it because I was desperate; I had nothing to lose. Very quickly meditation played a huge part in my recovery from postpartum anxiety, and my thriving in motherhood. Over 7 years later, I still meditate every day.

Meditation makes motherhood easier!

I want you to reap the benefits of meditation too. So, in this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV I have a deep conversation with my meditation teacher, Tom Cronin, to explain how meditation works, the scientific benefits of meditation, the importance of meditation in everyday life, and how meditation can improve your experience of motherhood and help you thrive.

Meditating is one of the best things you can do for yourself and your kids. Because when mothers thrive, their children thrive, the world thrives.

START TODAY
Listen to the episode and GET MY MORNING MAMA MEDITATION FREE TODAY
A simple 5-minute guided meditation I created to help you will set your day up for calm, joy and fulfilment.
No prior meditation experience is required, but you will get a lot out of it even if you are already meditating.

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

♥ Want to be a happy, fulfilled, calm mother? Meditate!

♥ Mothers are overstimulated. Focusing inwards is the key to peace and calm, in ourselves and our families.

♥ Becoming a mother is a life-changing event. It presents us with the invitation to evolve, move forward and create a beautiful life for ourselves and our children.

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 time points]:

[1.50, 3.50]

If you are feeling stressed, you must remember that a stress response is a symptom. It indicates something isn’t right in the way you are living your life.

“Our natural response is to medicate or self-medicate stress”

[4.25, 7.20]

Learn the stages of how meditation makes us feel better – many are immediate.

“Instead of swimming upstream you are able to let yourself go and swim downstream”

[8.10, 10.30]

Why creating mental space and gaps in motherhood is so important.

“There is a big difference between the thinking mind and the conscious mind, the awareness of presence.”

[10.55, 14.30]

Becoming a mother is a rashi for many women – a powerful defining moment where you only have two options: either move forward or be overcome with turmoil.

“Meditation helps us to step out of the situation and observe the situation… and move forward”

[15.50, 37.05]

Please, Mama, learn to meditate, even before you become a mother. When we’re in meditation it is like a deep rest and it affects our biochemical makeup.

“There is such little emphasis on the emotional wellbeing of the parents.”

[19.57, 47.40]

Tom shares with us inside information about his book and movie The Portal – which shows how meditation can take us out of crisis and back into harmony.

“If we want to make a change in our family, in our kids, in our world, we need to start with ourselves”

Mentions in this episode:

♥ Click here to learn more about The Portal book and movie

♥ Claim your FREE MORNING MAMA MEDITATION at toughmothers.com/meditations

It’s only 5 minutes and will set you up for a beautiful day.

♥ WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO THRIVE IN MOTHERHOOD?
Tough Mothers courses can help.

We implement a three-step framework to:

1) Help you understand how matrescence and motherhood change you
2) Explain the importance of mental space in motherhood
3) Teach simple, specific exercises you can easily modify to your unique self, and fit into your busy day, to create more mental space to permanently thrive, feel more fulfilled and be a truly happy mother.

A little about my guest Tom Cronin
Tom spent 26 years in finance markets as one of Sydney’s leading bond and swap brokers. He discovered meditation in the early stages of his career, when the anxiety and chaos he was experiencing had hit a crisis point, and it completely transformed his world, both personally and professionally.

Founder of The Stillness Project, a global movement to inspire one billion people to sit in stillness daily, Tom is passionate about reducing stress and chaos in people’s lives.
His ongoing work in transformational leadership and cultivating inner peace through meditation takes him around the world hosting retreats, mentoring, presenting keynote talks, teaching and creating The Portal film-book experience, all part of his commitment to the current planetary shift.

Tom is the author of six previous books for adults:, Insights, The Path To Peace: A Guide To Living With Ease In a Rapidly Changing World, Spirit & Soul: Exploring The Seven States Of Consciousness, Faster Deeper Sleep: The Ultimate Guide To A Daily Recharge, Faster Deeper Calm: How To Live Without Anxiety and Panic. He is also the author of the children’s book Missy Moo Meditates.

You can find Tom on Instagram @tomcronin or at TomCronin.com

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

SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and WIN!

Be sure to follow/subscribe to The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV .

Leave a review for the podcast or on my YouTube channel, and you can WIN an amazing Tough Mothers gift.

You are not alone!

Get amazing motherhood support, friendship and information in our FREE private Tough Mothers Village. We would love to have you there.

JOIN US

**Want every episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV straight to your inbox as soon they are released?**

SIGN ME UP!

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 #20: When becoming a mother doesn’t go to plan with Amelia Davatzis

by Jennifer Pearson | Aug 26, 2021 | Childbirth, Maternity, Matrescence, Mental health, Mom to-be, Motherhood, Mum to-be, 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

“Alexander lived for 39 days… to make a choice between life and death is something no mother should ever have to make.”

Trigger warning: This episode talks about miscarriage and infant death.

Imagine the feeling of giving birth to your baby after several miscarriages. The joy, the elation. The anxiety of ‘will everything be ok’ finally slipping away.
Only for your baby to become critically ill in the hours and days following his birth, and eventually dying in your arms.

This was Amelia Davatzis’ experience. Her son Alexander was born with duodenal atresia – a condition where the first part of the bowel does not develop properly. It is usually repaired quickly and easily, but for Alexander this was not the case.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV Amelia bravely shares her story of conception, miscarriages and her first-born’s very short life and tragic death.

I am so grateful Amelia has shared her experience, even though it is very sad for her, and hard for us to hear. But we need to talk about everything in motherhood. Even the tough stuff. ESPECIALLY the tough stuff. We cannot sweep devastation in motherhood under the rug.

As you will hear, infant death is something people don’t know how to deal with, which is exactly why we need to talk about it.

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

♥ Infant death and miscarriage are real, and we need to talk about them openly.

♥ The more we talk about baby death and miscarriage, the more normalized the conversations will become and the better we can support the mother.

♥ There is no right way to grieve. Do what works for you, and take your time.

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 time points]:

[4.20, 3.50]

The signs and symptoms of ectopic pregnancy you must know, and how it can affect you.

[7.50, 7.20]

It is common to experiencing challenges when trying to conceive. Amelia shares her story.

“That was a blow. Your hopes and everything [are shattered].”

[11.00, 10.30]

Falling pregnant after miscarriage. Learn the common, and very normal, fears a mother has.

“Will there be a heartbeat, or won’t there? I wouldn’t let myself get too excited.”

[15.00, 14.30]

Amelia’s first birth experience: from induction to childbirth and what happened next to Baby Alexander.

“He said: this baby is so sick. He needs to be transferred to the Children’s Hospital right now”

[37.35, 37.05]

The Davatzis’ had to make the devastating decision to choose Alexander’s quality of life over having him in their lives.
Amelia shares the beautiful, yet heart-breaking final days she had with Alexander.

“I would always choose for him not to suffer.”

[48.10, 47.40]

Alexander’s death left Amelia numb. Losing a child can make you feel like you are not a mother.

“I felt I had no purpose. I only ever wanted to be a mother. It’s something I dreamed of my entire life”

[56.08, 55.38]

You have permission to grieve in your own way. Grief is different for everyone. Amelia shares how she dealt with her grief and what might help you.

“Just do whatever it is you need to do to get through [your grief].”

[60.00, 59.30]

After losing a child it might feel like you will never be able to be happy again. You will be happy again. You will experience joy again.

Amelia will be on the podcast again in 2022 to speak about motherhood after Alexander’s death, and how she found joy again.

“Motherhood is magical.
It grants you the power to fall in love with someone before ever meeting them”

Mentions in this episode:

♥ A bit about Amelia’s very successful blog and Instagram page A Glimpse of Amelia.
I started this page to share a glimpse into my life, sharing what I love. 2012 is where it all began, as when I fell pregnant, I seriously started questioning what I was using on my skin. I thought I was making good decisions by choosing organic products from the supermarket, but it wasn’t until I started turning products over and trying to decipher labels that a whole new world opened up to me. They were so hard to decipher, and I had to keep researching what each ingredient meant. It was so time consuming! This is when I started to discover marketing and labelling was so greenwashed. Reading labels was the only way to truly know what was in a product. What really bothers me the most, are products marketed for our babies and children containing harmful ingredients and also everyday cleaning products we use around our home that are incredibly toxic. I want to empower people to start reading labels, start asking questions, don’t take anything for face value and don’t believe everything you see on the front of a product.

I didn’t feel my page would fully represent me without the ability to share my journey of losing Alexander. I share snippets, quotes, poems, and his story in an effort to help anyone not feel so alone in their grief journey.

Amelia’s page encompasses all of this. “Along with my desire to leave the planet in a better way than when I found it. Buying organic, supporting biodynamic practices, Australian owned and made, composting, reducing plastic, buying bulk, making my own products, keeping a healthy low tox home and passing this information onto my children so one day they can feel empowered to make healthier choices in their lifetime.

To further empower people and support them in their choices, Amelia is working on her new website:
A Glimpse of Amelia www.agoa.com.au
Bookmark it now!

♥ If you need support in your motherhood journey, please check out our Tough Mothers courses which implement a three-step framework to:

1) Help mothers understand how matrescence and motherhood changes them and their brain.
2) Explain to women that they can train their brain to thrive in motherhood.
3) Teach simple, specific, individualised exercises mothers can fit into their busy day to train their brain to be a happy mother.

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

SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and WIN!

Be sure to follow/subscribe to The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV .

Leave a review for the podcast or on my YouTube channel, and you can WIN an amazing Tough Mothers gift.

You are not alone!

Get amazing motherhood support, friendship and information in our FREE private Tough Mothers Village. We would love to have you there.

JOIN US

**Want every episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV straight to your inbox as soon they are released?**

SIGN ME UP!

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.

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

Episode #17: How to Find Your Light in Motherhood with Life Coach Dasha Okonji

by Jennifer Pearson | May 26, 2021 | Brain health, Childbirth, Maternity, Matrescence, Mental health, Mom to-be, Motherhood, Mum to-be, 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

“The [motherhood] shift was nothing like I thought of, dreamed of or prepared myself for”

Dasha Okonji is a mum of 3 gorgeous boys and a life coach. Like many mums, during matrescence* Dasha felt she lost herself in motherhood. She went on a journey to rediscover herself, find herself again and find the light in motherhood.

It was through her struggles in motherhood that Dasha turned to her life coaching tools and knowledge to pave her way out of the overwhelm and darkness that motherhood brought her.

In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV, Dasha shares with us her powerful story and explicit steps of how she found her way, and how you can too. From getting to know ourselves again properly as we navigate through matrescence, to seeing what is important and how we can give more time to the things that are important to us, without sacrificing ourselves.

*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:**

♥ Motherhood can be so different to what you expect – you must prepare yourself for all aspects of matrescence.

♥ Make it a priority to find yourself new self in motherhood

♥ Learn to shift your mindset in motherhood to thrive

♥ Don’t be afraid to ask for help or support

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]:

[3.30, 3.00]
It is so important to prepare yourself for becoming a mother. Not just preparation for labour and childbirth but preparing yourself for motherhood as well.

“The challenges I didn’t expect in motherhood threw me off for a good 9 months”

Check out my book I Wish Someone Had Told Me…to find out the things 1000 mums want you to know as you prepare yourself for labour, childbirth and the first few weeks of motherhood.

[5.10, 4.40]
Motherhood is a big shift for most women. Dasha had never heard of motherhood being like she experienced it. She felt overwhelmed and says she was always thinking this is not right; this is not me.

“This is really not motherhood as I pictured it”.

[9.00, 8.30]
Every mother worries about their baby, and whether she is doing a good job. Motherhood guilt is very real, but you mustn’t let it rule you.

“My main worry was: I can’t be a good mum for him”

[11.40, 11.10]
The importance of catching yourself before you fall into the dark hole of motherhood – Dasha talks us through her steps of catching herself, and leading herself out of the darkness. She gives us step-by-step strategies starting with The Wheel of Life – check it out HERE.
Dasha says: it’s like a reality check.

[17.30, 17.00]
In motherhood you have to find out who you are and what it is you need to do for you. We are all so different in motherhood (learn more about this and how it affects you, from a presentation I did early 2021). You need to find what it is that is affecting YOU in motherhood and apply the tools to your personal circumstances.

“What about me now. What do I want and what do I need? I am a mother, but I am also still me”

[20.05, 21.35]
Taking control of your matrescence life and nurturing yourself is incredibly empowering – Dasha talks us through how you can make your motherhood life be what you want it to be, rather than letting life happen to you.

“I had to redefine who I was a mum. And who I want to be as a mum”.

[23.02, 22.32]
The mental load of motherhood is extreme – Hear Dasha’s expert tips on how to take some load off your mind, and how to care for yourself in the process.

[33.10), 32.40]
Don’t just focus on labour, delivery, decorating the nursey and choosing baby names. The hard work starts after labour. Not just with our children but we need to work on ourselves as mothers.

“Doing courses and asking for advice is not about expecting bad things to happen during motherhood. It is about equipping ourselves for the job of motherhood and the person we are as mom”

Mentions in this episode:

♥ Dasha’s coaching course specifically for mums

♥ 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

A little more about my guest Dasha Okonji:

Dasha is a Mum of three very active boys under 4 years of age. She is a work-from-home Mum and runs a Life Coaching practice. Her passion is to see people live in fulfilment. Dasha turned this passion into her profession, leaving a successful career in Management Consulting to see others enjoy the lives they want. Since becoming a Mum, Dasha has developed a programme called Mum-on-a-Mission which aims to help women truly be Mums they have dreamed of. Dasha uses a range of coaching tools in areas such as confidence, patience and calm; finding balance for work, family and self-care; achieving more without added pressure; and even improving connection with your partner.

If this interests you, check out Dasha’s website www.dashaokonji.com where you can get a Daily Purposeful Planner which helps busy Mums plan their days in a way that keeps them connected to their Life Vision.

HERE is a video about the Purposeful Daily Planner and how you can get access to it.

Dasha has also kindly given us access to:

A short video on self compassion and grace

An article identifying priorities

An article on managing your to-do list

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

SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and WIN!

Be sure to subscribe to The Tough Mothers Podcast or Tough Mothers TV .

Leave a review for the podcast or on my YouTube channel, and you can win an amazing Tough Mothers gift.

You are not alone!

Get amazing motherhood support in our private Facebook village. We would love to have you there.

JOIN US

**Want every episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV straight to your inbox as soon they are released?**

SIGN ME UP!

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.

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

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:

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

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

SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and WIN!

Be sure to subscribe to The Tough Mothers Podcast or Tough Mothers TV .

Leave a review for the podcast or on my YouTube channel, and you can win an amazing Tough Mothers gift.

You are not alone!

Get amazing motherhood support in our private Facebook village. We would love to have you there.

JOIN US

**Want every episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV straight to your inbox as soon they are released?**

SIGN ME UP!

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.

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

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

Mentions in this episode:

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

♥ Buy your copy of the paperback and Kindle/electronic version of I Wish Someone Had Told Me – unspoken truths about what really happens to women during labour, childbirth and the first few weeks of motherhood by Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson PhD

♥ The 50 Shades of Motherhood spectrum – for more information about it and to work with Dr Jen click 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

SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and WIN!

Be sure to subscribe to The Tough Mothers Podcast or Tough Mothers TV .

Leave a review for the podcast or on my YouTube channel, and you can win an amazing Tough Mothers gift.

You are not alone!

Get amazing motherhood support in our private Facebook village. We would love to have you there.

JOIN US

**Want every episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast and Tough Mothers TV straight to your inbox as soon they are released?**

SIGN ME UP!

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.

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

I struggled to produce breast milk. Then I found supply line feeding

by Jennifer Pearson | Jan 18, 2020 | Childbirth, Maternity, Matrescence, Mom to-be, Selfcare

Before I became pregnant, I assumed that the size of one’s breasts might be an indicator of milk supply. I figured my C-cup boobs, would breastfeed my children exclusively and “naturally” just like in the photos. (You know the ones I’m talking about!)

Now that I have babies I’ve learned one must never assume anything when it comes to kids, your body and motherhood! Not ever!

My boobs looked like they were ready for the job

My first baby arrived more sleepy than hungry. He was quite content suckling on the colostrum my breasts were making.

Colostrum is the first milk a woman breasts make. There’s not much of it, but it’s loaded with antibodies and immunoglobulins which help protect newborns from bacteria and viruses.

It wasn’t until my son was a few days old that I realised I would probably never be a poster mum for breastfeeding. When my milk came in my boobs ballooned. From the outside it looked like I would be able to feed most of Australia, but sadly that was not the case.

Although my son and I managed to get the hang of breastfeeding, it was my supply that let us down. I felt like a failure. Why was my body not making enough food for my baby?

My journey from breast is best to fed is best

At this stage of my mothering career I wasn’t aware that formula is perfectly fine. All I had heard was breast is best, breast is best, breast is best! Now, many years later, I believe fed is best. As long as your baby is happy and thriving, who cares how they are nourished?

Back then, I sought out a wonderful lactation consultant who embraced my desire (and society’s push) to breastfeed exclusively. She suggested I pump after every feed. This is no mean feat, especially during night feeds, yet pump is what I did.

I managed to get myself a nice little stash of “spare” breast milk, which my lactation consultant encouraged me to feed to my baby through a “supply line”.

In came the supply line

A supply line, also known as a nursing trainer or supplemental nursing system (SNS) – which is what I used – is a feeding device that allows your baby to get extra milk as they breastfeed.

How does it work? It goes a little something like this:

A very thin tube is attached to a storage bottle or bag, which contains either breast milk or formula. The other end of the tube is taped near the nipple, which allows the tube to enter the baby’s mouth when they latch on to the breast.

This not only feeds the baby extra milk, but it also helps stimulate a woman’s breast milk production. With SNS, the milk flow is controlled by the elevation of the bottle and the circumference of tubing used. Nursing trainers, however, allow milk to flow only when a baby is sucking.

Genius device

SNS made it possible for me to feed my baby the “spare” breastmilk while I was breastfeeding him, thereby also stimulating my milk production.

I have met other women who have used supply lines happily and very successfully. Some suffered from low supply and wanted to stimulate their supply or avoid bottles. Others temporarily used supply lines to reestablish supply after a period of not breastfeeding.

I even met one mother who used a supply-line with donor milk, building up her breastmilk supply so she could then successfully breastfeed her adopted daughter.

It’s hard work, though

The device is quite finicky, so putting it together, getting the bottle at the right height (to get the desired milk flow), taping the tube to the right part of the breast near the nipple, and ensuring baby takes the tube into his mouth while latching onto the breast can be challenging.

The device also needs to be washed and sterilised after every single feed. The set-up can also make it tricky to feed while you are in public places. I am sure women do it, but I never attempted it, which resulted in us staying home (or rushing home) for every feed.

This might seem limiting, but I felt strongly that supply line supplementing was what I needed to do at the time. I’m sure it helped my postnatal mental health to choose this option.

Things changed with baby number two

When baby number two came along, 21 months later, I had the same supply struggles. I pumped after every feed and fed the “spare” breastmilk to my baby via the supply line.

This time I had a toddler in tow. I quickly realised that using a bottle to top-up the spare milk was a far easier option. We even fed in public places!

At the end of the day, as long as you fill your baby’s tummy, it doesn’t matter how you feed.

This is an edited excerpt from my book, ‘I Wish Someone Had Told Me …. Which is originally published in babyology.com.au

Purchase the Book Here

« Older Entries