The Motherwhelm

Bronwyn Senn
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Semiweekly

The Motherwhelm is an interview-style podcast for women to safely share the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, shed light on taboos and celebrate everyday victories.

  1. Sep 20

    69 | The Motherwhelm with Michelle | Breaking Cycles, Birth Trauma & the Pressure to Be a Perfect Mum

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Michelle, a psychologist and mum in a blended family of five, to talk about breaking generational cycles, birth trauma, and letting go of the pressure to be the perfect mother. Michelle shares a complicated journey into motherhood that included pregnancy loss, fertility treatment, the breakdown of her relationship during pregnancy, becoming a single mum, and a difficult first birth. We also talk about finding love again, creating a beautifully connected blended family, her subsequent VBAC, and the significant birth injuries and physical recovery that followed. Along the way, Michelle reflects on how her own childhood has shaped the mother she wants to be, the relentlessness of parenting, repairing after we lose our patience, body image after babies, and learning that our children don't need perfection - they need connection. We also talk about how motherhood gave Michelle a sense of purpose she hadn't expected and ultimately led her to combine her work as a psychologist with her passion for pregnancy, birth, and motherhood through perinatal psychology. Resources mentioned: The Great Birth RebellionThe Mel Robbins' Podcast'Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers' by Gordon Neufeld & Gabor Maté Topics discussed: motherhood expectations, perfectionism, good-enough parenting, social media, perinatal psychology, childhood trauma, family violence, breaking generational cycles, unconditional love, rupture and repair, miscarriage, chemical pregnancy, fertility treatment, IUI, relationship breakdown during pregnancy, infidelity, single motherhood, caesarean birth, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, blended families, co-parenting, VBAC, maternity care, birth trauma, forceps birth, third-degree tear, postpartum haemorrhage, blood transfusion, special care, prolapse, pelvic-floor recovery, body image, stretch marks, subsequent pregnancy after loss, preparing for another birth, relationships after children, the mental load, maternal identity, self-care, career and motherhood, slowing down and being present.

  2. Sep 17 ·  Bonus

    68 | Motherwhelm Moments | Four Mums on the Reality of Early Motherhood

    In this mini episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with four mums - Nikita, Caitlin, Nicole and Aline - for an honest conversation about the early months of motherhood. They share what they imagined motherhood would be like, what surprised them once their babies arrived, and what they wish they could go back and tell themselves in those first few weeks. We talk about sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, trusting your instincts, accepting help, finding other mums and learning that there is no single right way to do motherhood. And finally, they share what they would want another mum to know if she were listening in the middle of the night, wondering whether she was doing any of it right. Topics discussed: new motherhood, first-time motherhood, expectations versus reality, sleep deprivation, breastfeeding, formula feeding, maternal intuition, unsolicited advice, accepting help, asking for support, loneliness, mothers’ groups, finding community, comparison, trusting yourself, slowing down, the mental load, enjoying the little moments and how quickly the early months pass.

  3. Sep 9

    67 | The Motherwhelm with Kim | Motherhood, Loneliness & Building Mum Walk

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Kimberley, founder of Mum Walk, to talk about the reality of becoming a mother far from family during the pandemic, the isolation of early motherhood, and how those experiences eventually led her to build the community she had needed herself. Kim shares the shock of becoming a mother after years of being deeply career-focused, a difficult first birth in London, postpartum depression, and life with a colicky baby while separated from family in Australia. We also talk about her very different second experience of birth and postpartum, the identity shift of matrescence, and why connection with other mothers can make such a profound difference. We then trace Mum Walk from one local Facebook post to a growing grassroots movement creating free, accessible spaces for mothers to walk, talk, and build community together. This is a conversation about giving ourselves more grace, making motherhood visible, and recognising that if we want mothers to have a village, we have to build it together. Resources mentioned: mumwalk.org Topics discussed: Motherhood identity, matrescence, pregnancy, pelvic girdle pain, maternity care in the UK and Australia, birth during COVID, birth trauma, postpartum depression, colic, sleep deprivation, maternal isolation, second-time motherhood, positive birth, postpartum body changes, chronic pelvic pain, community, friendship, Mum Walk, mothers’ groups, social connection, the nuclear family, third spaces, maternal wellbeing, volunteer community leadership, the mental and unpaid load of motherhood, self-doubt, grace and building the village.

  4. Sep 2

    66 | The Motherwhelm with Rose | Birth Trauma, Postpartum Depression & Career Change

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Rose to talk about birth trauma, postpartum depression, pregnancy loss, and finding her way back to trust in herself after a difficult beginning to motherhood. Rose shares how the premature birth of her first son and an unexpected caesarean left her feeling unheard, separated from her baby, and struggling with attachment and her mental health in the months that followed. We talk about the expectations we place on that first moment of becoming a mother, what happens when the bond isn't instantaneous, and the lasting impact birth experiences can have on the way we see ourselves and our bodies. Rose also opens up about experiencing recurrent pregnancy loss, navigating pregnancy again after trauma, and eventually preparing for a home birth after caesarean. We explore informed decision-making, maternal intuition, advocacy, and what it can mean to approach birth again after your trust has been shaken. Beyond birth, we talk about identity, relationships, career, community, and the ways motherhood ultimately changed the direction Rose wanted her life to take. This is a conversation about trauma and loss, but also about rebuilding trust, finding support, and discovering that a difficult beginning doesn't have to define the rest of your motherhood story. Resources mentioned Gidget HouseThe Great Birth RebellionIna May's Guide to Childbirth — Ina May GaskinZoe BlaskeyThe Birth Bag Topics discussed: birth trauma, postpartum depression, maternal-infant attachment, premature birth, caesarean birth, pregnancy loss, recurrent miscarriage, VBAC, home birth after caesarean, birth advocacy, informed decision-making, maternal intuition, matrescence, motherhood identity, relationships, career change, doula support.

  5. Aug 30

    65 | The Motherwhelm with Taylor | Stepmotherhood, Pregnancy Loss & Learning to Ask for Help

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Taylor to talk about becoming a stepmother before she was ready for motherhood herself, navigating a complex co-parenting relationship, and how everything changed again when she welcomed children of her own. Taylor shares the rarely spoken-about reality of becoming a stepmum to a newborn, the loneliness of having no one around her who understood the experience, and the difficult emotions that surfaced after the birth of her first biological child. We talk about resentment, guilt, boundaries, therapy, and the pressure placed on stepmothers to take on a maternal role - even when nobody has asked what they are comfortable carrying. Later, Taylor shares her experience of an ectopic pregnancy, two subsequent miscarriages, and the anxiety of pregnancy after loss. She speaks candidly about knowing something was wrong, feeling dismissed by healthcare professionals, and the importance of advocating for yourself when you know your own body. We also discuss her eventual VBAC, the difference between a traumatic event and a birth that can still feel emotionally empowering, body image after motherhood, the mental load, toddlerhood, career flexibility, friendship, asking for help, and accepting that every family can look a little different. This is an honest conversation about the parts of motherhood and stepmotherhood we don’t always say out loud - and the relief that can come when someone finally tells us our feelings are allowed. Resources mentioned: The Great Birth RebellionPop Culture ParentingYou can listen to Taylor's birth stories in Episode 44 of Australian VBAC Stories Topics discussed: Stepmotherhood, blended families, co-parenting, becoming a stepmum to a newborn, maternal expectations, postpartum mental health, resentment and guilt, therapy, boundaries, biological and step-parent bonds, motherhood identity, flexible work, occupational therapy, endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, pregnancy loss, miscarriage, medical dismissal, self-advocacy, pregnancy after loss, perinatal anxiety, caesarean birth, VBAC, birth trauma, informed and respectful care, breastfeeding, postpartum recovery, body image, exercise and mental health, relationships after children, toddlerhood, the mental load, friendship, self-care, asking for help and accepting that families can look different.

  6. Aug 26

    64 | The Motherwhelm with Sam | HELLP Syndrome, Baby Loss, Pregnancy After Loss & Finding Her Calling

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Sam to talk about fertility struggles, HELLP syndrome, the loss of her twins James and Poppy, pregnancy after loss, premature birth, and the experiences that ultimately led her towards a completely new career. Sam shares the story of becoming pregnant with James and Poppy after discovering she had PCOS and endometriosis. At 24 weeks, severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome meant Sam became critically unwell and faced the devastating reality that her babies could not be saved. We talk about grieving her babies, the support that mattered, seeking psychological help when she was finally ready, and what it was like to become pregnant again knowing that the worst really could happen. Sam also shares the intrusive thoughts and anxiety she experienced during pregnancy and postpartum after loss. Sam went on to welcome Arthur at 30 weeks and Teddy at 35 weeks, and we talk about NICU, feeding, motherhood after loss, and the complicated experience of holding enormous gratitude alongside fear and grief. But Sam’s story also became the beginning of something she never expected. After years of being cared for by midwives, nurses and doctors during some of the most vulnerable moments of her life, she left her career as a paralegal and returned to university to study nursing, with plans to become a midwife. This is a deeply moving conversation about babies who remain part of a family even when they cannot come home, the way grief changes us, and how our most painful experiences can shape the way we choose to care for others. Resources mentioned Australian Birth StoriesMotherland AustraliaMaggie Dent Raising BoysJess Urlichs Topics discussed: PCOS, endometriosis, fertility treatment, twin pregnancy, severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, baby loss, James and Poppy, grief, psychological support, pregnancy after loss, anxiety and intrusive thoughts, premature birth, caesarean birth, medical intervention, NICU and special care, feeding and expressing, motherhood after loss, parenting after trauma, maternal identity, body image and gratitude, self-care, returning to study, career change, nursing and midwifery, compassionate maternity care, supporting mothers in NICU

  7. Aug 23

    63 | The Motherwhelm with Carly | Home Birth, Career Reinvention & Being Cracked Open by Motherhood

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Carly to talk about home birth, identity, career reinvention, and the ways motherhood can crack us open and reveal parts of ourselves we didn't know were there. Before becoming a mother, Carly spent years travelling the world before training as a midwife and supporting women through birth. She entered motherhood feeling deeply confident in birth - and soon discovered just how different it is to experience something from inside it. Carly shares the stories of her three very different home births, including a third birth that unfolded in just 45 minutes, and the lessons each taught her about control, intuition, support and the relationship between a mother and her baby. Together, we explore the transition from one child to two, to three; the impossibility of meeting everyone's needs all of the time; and what it means to learn to ask for and receive support. We also talk about the family patterns motherhood can bring to the surface, reparenting ourselves while raising our children, and learning to meet the messiness of motherhood with greater self-compassion. Carly also reflects on how becoming a mother completely changed her relationship with work. After years of living and breathing home birth midwifery, she realised she no longer wanted a career that required her to be constantly on call, leading her to reshape her work around the life she wanted with her children. This is a conversation about surrendering the version of motherhood we imagined, learning from the children in front of us, and allowing motherhood to change us rather than fighting to remain who we were before. Resources mentioned: Marion RoseAletha SolterAware ParentingAlfie Kohn — Unconditional ParentingHand in Hand ParentingSophie BrockSeed Pod FamiliesTopics discussed: home birth, midwifery, physiological birth,precipitous labour, postpartum, travelling with children, motherhood identity, transition from one to two children, asking for support, family of origin, reparenting, self-compassion, maternal self-care, career change, lactation support, aware parenting, slowing down, presence.

  8. Aug 19

    62 | The Motherwhelm with Amy | Young Motherhood, Birth Choices, Autism & Redefining Success

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Amy to talk about becoming a mother at eighteen, navigating single motherhood, raising an autistic teenager, and redefining what success looks like through the different seasons of motherhood. Amy reflects on the judgment she experienced as a young single mum, the determination it sparked to prove people wrong, and how those early experiences shaped both her parenting and her career as a social worker supporting families. Together, we explore the realities of raising children across vastly different ages, balancing career ambitions with family life, and the way motherhood continually asks us to adapt as our children grow. We also discuss birth experiences, informed decision-making, caesarean births, VBAC, breastfeeding, body image, parenting neurodivergent children, and the importance of finding confidence in your own voice amidst the opinions of others. Amy shares how becoming a mother inspired her life's work, why she believes families deserve support rather than judgment, and how motherhood has taught her to embrace both ambition and flexibility. This is an honest conversation about resilience, advocacy, parenting across different seasons of life, and discovering that there is no single "right" way to build a family or a meaningful career. If you've ever questioned your parenting, felt the weight of other people's opinions, navigated motherhood alongside career aspirations, or raised a child with additional needs, I hope Amy's story reminds you to trust yourself and celebrate the family you're creating. Resources mentioned Matrescence by Lucy JonesThe Motherhood (edited collection of letters by Australian women)I'm Just Not Myself You See by Ariane BeestonAustralian Birth Stories PodcastAustralian VBAC Stories PodcastReady or Not PodcastSafe Hands (maternal and child health resources)Topics discussed: young motherhood, single motherhood, family violence, birth stories, caesarean birth, VBAC, birth choices, informed consent, breastfeeding, body image, autism, neurodivergent parenting, career and motherhood, social work, matrescence, family support, parenting identity, motherhood and ambition.

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About

The Motherwhelm is an interview-style podcast for women to safely share the challenges and triumphs of motherhood, shed light on taboos and celebrate everyday victories.

Information

  • Creator
    Bronwyn Senn
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bronwyn Senn
  • Show Website
    The Motherwhelm

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