Growing

Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton
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  • Updated twice weekly

Growing is your handbook for birth, babies and beyond brought to you by midwives and mums Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton. Join us every Wednesday for a solid dose of solidarity as we explore all things motherhood.

  1. 32 min ago

    This Is Heaps | Hair loss, sleep advice from Reddit and surrendering to parenthood

    Beth stumbled down a Reddit hole - yes, Glimmer Girls, you read that right. Picture this: two babies, breast refusal, broken sleep and all that comes with life with twins at five months. It’s a lot. Beth has done a beautiful job of finding the reframe, reddit aside, because sometimes, when you’re deep in it, that’s all you can do. However… we are also experiencing significant and rapid hair loss. Of course we are.  Lil has revisited the toddler trenches she’s been stuck in, with a bit of a lock-in this week. She’s well and truly (and happily) surrendered to being deep in parenthood - with a few little signs that perhaps this is just the season she’s in right now. (Subtext: Ooshie swap IYKYK).  REBUILD Consistency for Beth  again the rebuild isn’t always dramatic. It’s just continuing to show up for the things that make you feel good. Lil’s getting a Fresh haircut and TBC does and should she just lop it all off.  RECIPES + RECOMMENDATIONS Pesto chicken in a pitta wrap. An easy little winner that has made its way firmly into Beth’s rotation. Spanakopita meatballs. YUM. That’s all. Love Lil.  Air Toobz. A great toy with endless fun, good for the rotation! THE UNDIES UPDATE Thank you for your recommendations because, honestly, this is the kind of important investigative journalism we are here for. The Glimmer Girls have spoken and Boody was the clear winner, with Nat’V Nala and Jaymes also getting plenty of love. Come join the conversation over on Instagram @growingthepodcast and tell us what you’re rebuilding, what you’re eating and what you’re currently trying to keep alive including but not limited to children, herbs and hair.

  2. 18 Aug

    Are We Growing Or Just Eating Humble Pie? | Toddler trenches, holding boundaries and twin exhaustion hits hard

    Lil is deep in the toddler trenches - food refusal, parental preference, running away (quite fast) and the weighty question “am I actually doing any of this right?”. We chat boundaries, big feelings, finding your parenting style and the push and pull of parenting a tiny person who understands far more than they can actually regulate. Beth mentions Dr Siggie for child development support if you are also looking for a little software upgrade.  Beth is five months in with the twins and off the back of vaccinations with two babies she’s had a big old week and discovered that perhaps four children is many, many children. The glimmer is she’s feeling the excitement and joy of stepping back into paid work (a little more) and is reminded of just how much she loves her job and business baby PowerBirth.  OUR REBUILDS Beth: Getting back into Pilates — two classes a week, three weeks running. Turns out everyone was annoyingly right: exercise does make you feel better. Lil: Early morning walks with Ben and the boys. If you're already awake, you may as well go for the river walk. RECIPE + RECOMMENDATIONS Pistachio Chocolate Dates: Dates + pistachio butter + melted chocolate = an elite little sweet treat. Pop the filled dates in the freezer before dipping them in chocolate so they hold their shape. Perfect for our pregnant listeners wanting to get their date fix. Pistachio Papi is the elite spread, could also just use pistachio butter.  Australia Post App: Lil has also discovered parcel tracking and parcel lockers and is wondering why nobody told her sooner. Also for our pilates princesses Leelo Active - Buttery, secure Pilates princess pants.  And Glimmer Girls - we want to hear from you. What parenting software are you currently upgrading? What does your rebuild look like?  Come tell us over on Instagram @growingthepodcast and join the conversation. 💌

  3. 11 Aug

    Do I Actually Feel...Done? | Leaving pregnancy behind, brain fog fatigue and a relationship reset

    Okay, this week we're going straight in. Lil’s house nearly went up in flames but actually just went up in fog (brain fog). She’s also navigating the stretch that comes with more kids and her relationship has had a welcome little reset (of sorts).  Beth has happily welcomed weekends back into the chat in a really wholesome, no-pressure kind of way. But her growing pain is a big one, so brace yourselves. We hold hands while navigating the surprisingly heavy realisation at reaching the end of growing her family and how utterly unready she and her husband  feel about the finality of saying goodbye to pregnancy, newborns and the early-baby years. It’s big and bittersweet. Perhaps the biggest surprise is realising that you can be completely content with your family while still grieving the end of a chapter you aren't quite ready to close. Rebuild - Beth has been hitting her exercise classes hard and finding a new flow—and a little more confidence along the way. Get it, girl. Lil is trialling a weekend digital detox. Hallelujah. Brick praise be.  Recipe - Lil made this wintry chicken soup for her household and it slaps in the most nourishing way. Recommendation, but actually a reverse recommendation: Girly girls… what knickers are we wearing?! Seamless, comfortable, breathable, natural fibres… does the perfect pair exist? Please tell us what you're buying. And have you downloaded Too Good To Go?! Mystery boxes aplenty, potentially enough to feed many a little mouth. Beth’s into it.  And as always, come and join the conversation over on Instagram at @growingthepodcast. Tell us: are you feeling the brain fog, how did you handle closing the baby chapter?  Rebuild, Recipes & Recommendations

  4. 4 Aug

    It's Giving Slump | A midyear energy dip, sleepless nights and choosing self care even when it's inconvenient

    Okay, so we’re a good four-and-a-bit months into life with our little babies and, truth be told… the tired in us is tired. Beth has been managing naps for the better part of five years now and, look, it’s a lot. Speaking of five years, her first baby has just celebrated her fifth birthday, and isn’t that just magic in itself? Meanwhile, Lilly’s house is also a little bit chaotic on the sleep front. It’s working… kind of. But she’s had the realisation that self-care and an exercise routine probably aren’t going to look convenient in this season of motherhood and she’s choosing to prioritise them anyway. Recipes & Recommendations Beth is recommending her LED face mask. We know… it’s wildly indulgent, but Beth’s verdict? Worth it. Here’s a little comparison to save you the research.  Lil is living in her cosy Linen House dressing gown. Recipe Tin Eats’ Birthday Cake is every bit as delicious as everyone says it is. Yes, it’s involved. Yes, it’s absolutely worth it. Lil’s current breakfast obsession is a throw-together porridge with cinnamon, sultanas, peanut butter and a splash of vanilla. Add an egg while cooking for extra protein, or top with Greek yoghurt to serve. And on the rebuilding front? Lil has treated herself to a few new exercise outfits because she deserves them and she’s a Pilates Princess, after all. Beth has booked her first exercise class in.  Yehaaa. Look at us go. As always, come and join the conversation over on Instagram at @growingthepodcast⁠. We’d love to know what’s one small thing you’re doing this week to rebuild and refill your cup?

  5. 28 Jul

    It’s A Rebuild Not A Bounce Back | Postpartum body image, self confidence and deciding something needs to change

    It’s all about confidence baby? Or something like that. This week we fall (read: tumble) down the rabbit hole of postpartum body image and a significant loss in confidence. In truth a loss in some ways, of ourselves. We are simultaneously ready to be swallowed whole by motherhood but don’t want to be spat out on the other side and not recognise our beautiful selves.  Identity shifts in motherhood are huge and honestly kind of cataclysmic in their own right so we try and tease out our thoughts on it all and who we are between milky mumming 24/7.  Recipes & Recommendations Lilly is recommending a Mexican version of the viral Hot Honey Beef⁠ Plus this episode The Imperfects – Confidence⁠ that inspired today’s chat. She’s also obsessed with the Kmart Spot Cleaner⁠ paired with Vax Platinum Professional Cleaning Solution⁠ for bringing couches and feeding chairs back to life. Beth is happily living cruise control version of the Marley Spoon life and shares her simple cradle cap treatment using QV Dermacare , QV Baby Gentle Wash and a soft baby comb like this one. If today’s conversation resonated with you, we’d absolutely love to hear from you.  Come and join the conversation over on Instagram at @growingthepodcast⁠ and tell us: what’s one small thing you’re doing this week to slowly rebuild your confidence?

  6. 21 Jul

    What A Week Folks | Postpartum, PMS and RSV Hits Hard

    This week on Growing, we’re deep in the reality of winter with little kids. Beth shares the scary experience of RSV sweeping through the family, the emotional rollercoaster of navigating ED with sick babies, and why trusting your instincts as a parent matters. Lil is navigating the less glamorous combination of postpartum and PMS, reflecting on just how much women carry, while celebrating the beautiful relief of watching Franklin settle into his happy little self. We also chat about the unexpected magic of slowing down. Sometimes the best play doesn’t come from another activity it comes from boredom, imagination and letting kids create their own little worlds. This weeks R&R:  Beth is loving Couples Therapy on SBS, open-ended toys and a hearty meatball soup. Lil is recommending Ottolenghi’s Chicken Marbella⁠ and the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil⁠ (or the more budget-friendly MCo Beauty Smoothing Almond Oil Body Wash⁠) for a little everyday luxury. Glimmer girls - we know you get it and god we’re grateful.  Follow us! @growingthepodcast @birthwithbeth_ @lillian.beth

  7. 14 Jul

    No One Gets Sicker Than A Husband | Winter Bugs, Mastitis Remedies And A Dummy Fairy Update

    This week on Growing, Beth has unfortunately had the house guest nobody asked for… mastitis. We chat about just how hard breastfeeding can be, and why getting the right support matters. Beth has also shared some fantastic evidence-based mastitis resources on her Instagram, plus gives our Glimmer Girlies a tiny sneak peek at a very exciting secret she can’t wait to share. Meanwhile, the Dummy Fairy has officially worked her magic at Lil’s house. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to cure Lil’s husband of the dreaded man flu. Some things are simply beyond even fairy-level powers. Beth has your Sunday breakfast sorted with fluffy pancakes and a lip gloss that’s giving peak Y2K nostalgia. Lil is loving the children’s books Fairy Beach, Fairy Forest and honourable mention to Here Come the Cousins, plus a batch of homemade muesli bars that make the perfect nourishing postpartum snack. As always, thank you for being here, Glimmer Girlies. We adore you. 🤍 IG @growingthepodcast Hosts: @birthwithbeth_ & @lillian.beth

  8. 7 Jul

    She's Still In There: Identity shifts, postpartum fatigue and getting out the door with little kids.

    This week on Growing we’re wondering where our inner girls have disappeared to. We chat about the all-consuming season of motherhood, how many layers of our former selves feel quietly tucked away, and the strange mix of missing the freedom of “before” while knowing, we wouldn’t trade where we are now for the world.  Beth gets wonderfully practical, taking us through exactly how she manages to get a toddler and two tiny babies out of the house.  Meanwhile Lil’s postpartum fatigue has finally caught up with her and the very real tension of desperately wanting to soak up every moment while also needing five uninterrupted minutes.  This week Lil is recommending a comforting chicken pot pie recipe, while Beth loved reading The Heir Apparent. Lil wants to shout out Namastudio’s sentimental name prints⁠, and the Babybee Luna Pram⁠ — bought second-hand and absolutely obsessed. As always Glimmer Girlies, thank you for spending a little part of your week with us. We hope this episode reminds you that even if parts of yourself feel a little dormant right now, they’re still there — and so are we. 🤍

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About

Growing is your handbook for birth, babies and beyond brought to you by midwives and mums Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton. Join us every Wednesday for a solid dose of solidarity as we explore all things motherhood.

Information

  • Creator
    Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    163
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton
  • Show Website
    Growing