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In this episode Rachael reflects on her parenthood journey, and adventures with her partner Tristan and their two children Eloise and Dion.   Oof! This one is such a beauty. Rach weaves such magic with her words, so perfectly capturing the beauty, brutality and huge transformation that comes with the season. Rach covers so much ground in this episode, managing as always to shed light on those aspects of motherhood that so often remain unspoken with such warmth and generosity. We talk about creating your village and identifying your kinship support network, her two very different birth experiences, the wild and wondrous nature of postpartum, sexuality and motherhood, ritual, ceremony and matresence. This is one you are going to come back to again and again. I am such a huge fan of everything Rachael creates, and it was such an honour to be able to sit with her and listen to her story.  You can connect with Rach on the gram (truly, a must!) @the_rachael_rose and via her website.

In this episode Jordan shares her parenthood journey, and reflects on life with her husband D’Arcy and their daughters Ainsley and Billi. Jordan also happens to be my wonderful sister in law. It was such a delight to sit with Jordan and listen to her story – so much of our time is spent on video calls with the cousins catching up, so to snag this time together felt extra precious. Jordan speaks really openly and honestly about her mental health journey, generously sharing an insight in to her experience navigating the system over the last five years. She also talks really honestly about body image, building a kinship support network and backing yourself and committing to your dreams. This episode is such a gift, and a testament to Jordan’s resilience. You can connect with Jordan on the gram @womenswellnesscoaching

In this week’s episode Katrina shares her parenthood journey and reflects on adventures with her husband Brendan and their children Reggie and Millie. It was such a delight to hear Kat’s story. Kat speaks with so much warmth and generosity about the joys and challenges of parenthood. I know that like me, you will be nodding along as she speaks about experiencing mum guilt and mum rage. I loved this chat – it is bursting with love and reassurance, and serves as a timely reminder that we all need in this season, and throughout all of the seasons of parenthood. Katrina talks about the journey to conceiving Reggie, her two different births, her mental health, asking for help, and her two very different postpartum experiences. 

In this week’s episode Beth shares her parenthood journey, and reflects on adventures with her partner Tristan, and their daughter Poppy. Beth is a midwife and childbirth educator, and the creator of Power Birth. Beth’s Instagram @birthwithbeth_ is bursting with reliable information and resources to help you navigate pregnancy, birth and postpartum. Beth speaks with such warmth and generosity about her pregnancy, meeting Poppy, and life as a family of three. Beth reflects of the sheer joy and wonder of parenthood, whilst acknowledging the heartbreak of navigating this season in lockdown without her family. This episode will have you laughing along, and give you prickly eyes – we talk about conscious conception, navigating pregnancy sickness, preparing for birth, postpartum planning, matrescence and the wild and wondrous adventure that is parenthood. This is one that you are going to want to come back to over and over. Here’s Beth! You can listen to Beth’s birth story on Australian Birth Stories. 

Hello there! It is so lovely to be back podding with you! Today’s episode is extra special as I am joined by so many amazing guests. It’s been a heck of a two years, hasn’t it? In September, when things were feeling particularly grey, I asked people to share the snippets of magic and joy filling their days. The messages and pictures that have landed in my DM since that call out have been such a beacon of love and light for me.  Thank you to you, for being here. Thank you for sending me pictures of your garden, your lockdown projects and updates as you get to hang with your very own kin. And an extra special thank you to the guests here today – your messages have made me laugh and cry. Thank you for so perfectly capturing this time.

Oof its been a big month... Today the divine Julia is guiding us through a yoga nidra. You may recognise Julia's voice and calming force from Episode 16.  This is half an hour just for you. Bravo for finding the time to slip a pocket of rest into your day. Find somewhere cosy and comfy - you might have a yoga mat, you might like to head to your bed or to your couch, or to build yourself a little pillow and blanket nest. Settle right on in. You are doing a freaking amazing job. Julia is trained pre and postnatal, yin and vinyasa yoga teacher. You can find all of Julia's beautiful offerings on her instagram @yogawithjuliarose

In this week’s episode Ash shares her parenthood journey and reflects on adventures with her partner Owen and their son Remy. Ash and Owen’s love story has seen them journey across the globe. They were living in New Zealand when they found out that they were pregnant. Ash speaks so beautifully about this time – the sheer excitement, and the unexpected intensity of the need to nest. At 22 weeks, Ash and Owen arrived back in Australia, after deciding to move back to the community they had created in Darwin. It was in Darwin that Ash birthed Remy at home in their living room in a water birth that felt like the perfect fit for their family.  Ash speaks openly and honestly about feelings of anxiety in her pregnancy, and the intensity of the postpartum period.  'It was just an incredible experience. One I will never forget…that birth and the intensity of it. And the intensity of that period afterwards, getting straight into the nitty gritty of motherhood. The demands of that period. Physically and mentally... I didn’t know how to ask for help. I didn’t know that I needed help either.' At around four months postpartum, Ash developed De Quervain's Syndrome. De Quervain’s Syndrome occurs when the tendons around the base of the thumb are irritated and constricted. It is associated with repetitive movements, like picking up a baby.  ‘I couldn’t even hold a spoon without pain, let alone holding Remy… I was told do not pick up your baby, as if that was even an option for me… I called my Mum in tears... She got on a red eye flight... She was literally my hands for two weeks.' Ash speaks with such warmth and generosity about the different types of support all newborn families need – emotionally and physically. Even with a village around her, Ash shares that she found it really challenging to realise that she deserved help. We talk about postpartum planning, the importance of a kinship network, the intense transformation that is matrescence, and asking for the help we want and need. Ash speaks about learning about matrescence from the amazing Amanda. You can connect with Amanda @ourfourthtrimester It was such an honour to listen to Ash’s story. You can see photos of Ash and her gorgeous family on Instagram @kinbycharlotte and over at the In Your Own Kin website.

In this week’s episode Beth shares her parenthood journey, and life with her husband Rob and their daughter Emily. In so many ways this episode feels like the love letter all of us need to receive in those hazy first few weeks and months. Beth speaks openly and honestly about feeling inundated with advice and information, the shift that came with tuning out from the noise, the importance of finding what worked for her and her baby, and just how important a kinship support network is. Beth speaks with such warmth and generosity about her early postpartum journey, sharing ‘we often hear the happy stories of the early days and the newborn bubble and you know how it is such a special time. I look back on that newborn bubble and I don’t think of it as a special time, you know? And it is sad. It’s sad that I lost that, but it has shaped the mother I have become.’  We talk about breastfeeding challenges and wins, biologically normal infant sleep, and finally realizing that no one will ever know your babe as well as you do.  Oof! Truly, this is the one I would send back in time to myself on those that felt extra grey. It was such an honour to listen to Beth’s journey. You can see photos of Beth and her beatiful family @kinbycharlotte and the In Your Own Kin website. You can follow Beth's new biz babe on Instagram @rhythmpostpartum

In this week’s episode Emily shares her parenthood journey, and adventures with her husband Tom and their children Jimmy and Jack. Emily reflects on life preparenthood. Emily and Tom spoke about the possibility of having children when they were house sitting Emily’s boss’ house. A few beers later and they had made a baby! Emily reflects on her two pregnancies and births. Emily speaks with such warmth and generosity about her postpartum experience – sharing both the wonderous joy and dark moments. Emily speaks openly and honestly about sleep deprivation and her journey with postpartum anxiety, and shares strategies that helped her navigate this challenging time. Emily speaks so beautifully about her active decision to speak openly and honestly about parenthood, and how this has allowed her to foster deeper connections and build community. Emily and Tom spoke about the possibility of having another child, something that Emily admits she felt quite nervous about. In the end, it was the deeper connections that she had formed over her first three years as a parent that gave her the confidence to take the leap again. This is such a beauty! You can connect with Em on Insta @emily.the.doula and via her website emilythedoula.com.au You can see photos of Em and her beatiful family @kinbycharlotte and the In Your Own Kin website. If you or someone you love is seeking mental health support, you can reach out to @pandanational @cope.org.au @lifelineaustralia @beyondblueofficial @gidgetfoundation your GP, Family Health Nurse or someone you trust for support.

In this week’s episode Emma shares her parenthood journey, and reflects on life with her partner Ludi and their children Archer and Toa. Emma speaks with such warmth and generosity about parenthood in all of its beautiful, messy, wonderous, hard glory. ‘It is so beautiful, and so hard.’ Emma and Ludi met while living in Samoa. Emma shares their discussions about the possibility of starting a family, and the excitement and shock of finding out she was pregnant just a few weeks later. Emma speaks candidly about the identity shifts she experienced in becoming a parent, sharing that in many ways parenthood was the perfect excuse to live the quieter life she was wanting. In the final week’s of pregnancy Emma returned to Brisbane. Hearing Emma talk about those first few moments with Arch will make your eyes prickle. Emma and Archer stayed in Brisbane for just over a month before heading back to Samoa. Emma reflects on the opportunity for a slower life living in Samoa, as well as the challenges of life away from her broader kinship network. After another two years in Samoa, Emma returned home to Brisbane. Emma speaks so openly and honestly about this time and the feeling of being held and supported.  Emma and Ludi decided to extend on their family after nearly six years, with a lot of gentle yet persistent nudging from Arch. Emma reflects on the differences in her postpartum experiences, and life as a family of four. This is such a gorgeous episode! You can see more photos of Emma on Instagram @kinbycharlotte and on the In Your Own Kin website.

In this week's episode Rafferty shares their parenthood journey. Raff's story is raw and so powerful, it was such an honour to listen to their journey so far.   Raff reflects on life pre parenthood 'I had spent a lot of time trying to fit in. I was quite isolated, even though I was surrounded by people…’ Raff was extremely unwell during their first pregnancy with undiagnosed hyperemesis gravidarum ‘none of it was happening consciously, it was just survival mode from the very beginning.’ Raff reflects on their birth and speaks so powerfully about the care and support all families need and deserve in this season. ‘I was not treated as a divine being giving birth as a rite of passage… It was just not how it could have been.’ Raff was pregnant again with their second son at 16 weeks postpartum ‘I think part of that was desperately wanting a do over.’ Raff speaks about our need to come around new families, to shower them with the support and care they need, and the profound transformation that comes with this season. ‘Motherhood cracked me open, woke me up and it was beautiful... but also shocking and alarming and disturbing. Becoming a parent was a bit of a wakeup call to myself that I was not living my best life or in alignment with who I actually am.' Raff speaks openly about their mental health journey. Raff’s experience highlights the opportunities for growth and improvement in the system. Raff connected in with professional support and shares this needed to come with practical, emotional and spiritual support. ‘Nothing actually changed... All that changed was that I was taking meds now, but my support structures didn’t change.’ ‘I do want to be really clear. I loved being a mum. I love being a mum. I love it. I love my children. And I f*****g hate doing it with so little support.’ When Raff was 28 weeks pregnant with their third child, their ex husband cheated on them. ‘That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It was hugely traumatic on its own, but on top of everything else I just hit I downward spiral.’ Raff talks about leaving, and being truly held and seen by their kin. ‘I had freedom to meet myself again. Underneath all the rubble of fuckery of putting everybody else before myself. I really had to figure out who the f**k was actually under there... I feel very blessed that through the doula community I have found a lot of connection and solidarity with other mothers who have been deeply affected by mothering. They are the women that raised me. And held me. And showed me that there was a light at the end of this.’ Raff reflects of family life now with their three children and partner Theo.  Listening to Raff speak about co creating a life with Theo will give you all of the prickly eyes 'we are wildly in love... we find ways to keep coming together through it all.' You can connect with Raff on instagram  @veggiedaddy.doulaservices Raff's website is live now and you can access all of their offerings at veggiedaddy.com.au You can see photos of Raff  @kinbycharlotte and the In Your Own Kin website. If you or someone you love is seeking mental health support, you can reach out to  @pandanational @cope.org.au @lifelineaustralia @beyondblueofficial @gidgetfoundation your GP, Family Health Nurse or someone you trust for support.

In this week's episode Teagan shares her parenthood journey and life with her husband Aaron and their son Xavier.    Teagan talks about life pre parenthood, and the decision to start a family. Teagan was very excited and shocked to discover that she was pregnant only weeks after having her Mirena removed on their six month wedding anniversary. 'It was a shocking surprise for both of us, but obviously a very welcome one. It took us a little bit to get our heads around.'    Teagan felt quite well during her first and second trimesters. In her third trimester, Teagan began to experience dizziness and fainting. She raised this with her care team, and they ran some tests, and they picked up that she had a tachycardia, and she was referred on for an ECG. The ECG did pick up the tachycardia, but the team said that her symptoms were in line with pregnancy symptoms. They did request an echocardiogram, but the waitlist meant that Teagan got that a month after Xavier's birth day.    Teagan is an avid Australian Birth Stories listener, and spent a lot of time during her pregnancy preparing for the birth and immediate postpartum period. Teagan and Aaron knew that Xavier was in a breech position, and that a vaginal breech birth wasn't possible at their local hospital. Teagan was feeling really confident and planning for a positive caesarean section. 'I wanted to mentally prepare for a really positive c section if that was to be the case. That was a real shift for me. Trying to keep open that he may flip, but as those weeks ticked by, I shifted to finding really positive c section stories, and planning for what we could do afterwards like lots of skin to skin to make that as positive as possible.'    The evening before the birth day Teagan and Aaron celebrated with a special dinner together. At this stage, they were already in lockdown. ' We had a really lovely meal delivered to our door, and had candles going. I look back on that night really fondly. It was a really beautiful time. We were so excited.'    Teagan speaks so openly about her birth day, reflecting on the memories she has. During her planned caesarean section Teagan began to feel really unwell. It was later discovered that she had peripartum cardiomyopathy, which is a form of heart failure. Teagan speaks so openly and honestly about the challenges she overcame in the coming weeks and months. Her story is raw and powerful, and her strength and resilience shines through. Teagan was flown from Broken Hill to Sydney with Xavier, where she stayed in a critical care unit for two weeks.    Teagan speaks with such warmth and generosity about her challenging hospital stay, her mental health journey, the power of connecting in with a support network, and family life now as a mama to a toddler. This episode is so beautiful, and it was such an honour to listen to Teagan's story.    You can see photos of Teagan and her family on instagram @kinbycharlotte, and on the In Your Own Kin website  Juju Sundin's Birth Skills Physio Laura Australian Breastfeeding Association Gidget Foundation