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. 3d ago

    61 | The Motherwhelm with Alena | Recurrent Miscarriage, Motherhood After 40 & Somatic Healing

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Alena to explore recurrent miscarriage, motherhood after forty, the realities of single motherhood, and how becoming a mother can become a catalyst for healing, self-trust, and coming home to yourself. Alena reflects on becoming a mother after a life marked by parentification, instability, adversity, and a deep longing to create the family she had always imagined. She shares her experience of separating from her eldest son's father when he was a baby, navigating seven years of single motherhood, and experiencing a period of homelessness while trying to build a safe and stable life for them both. We also discuss Alena's ten pregnancies, including pregnancy termination, multiple miscarriages, IVF, and the four-year journey that eventually led to conceiving her youngest child naturally at forty-four. Alena speaks openly about the complexity of reproductive loss, why miscarriage and termination deserve compassionate and nuanced conversations, and the intuitive sense that helped her continue when others thought she should simply let go. Together, we explore the perfect mother myth, inherited family patterns, maternal rage, depletion, boundaries, and the importance of caring for yourself as a woman rather than continually abandoning your own needs. Drawing on her work as a somatic therapist, Alena shares how awareness, emotional expression, self-compassion, and reconnecting with the body can help women come home to themselves. Alena also reflects on raising children across very different seasons of her life, giving birth in her twenties and forties, the isolation of single motherhood, and the communities that helped her feel supported and understood. We talk about integrating motherhood with ambition, work, relationships, spirituality, physical strength, and the many identities a woman carries throughout her life. This is a thoughtful conversation about resilience, intuition, maternal depletion, and learning that motherhood does not magically heal us - but it can give us a powerful reason to pursue healing for ourselves. If you feel like you've lost touch with yourself while caring for everyone else, I hope Alena's story reminds you that support is available, your needs matter, and it is never too late to come home to yourself. Resources mentioned: Alena's podcast, UnboxableThe Lion Life RoadmapLael StoneLouise HayDr Oscar SerrallachDr Zach BushPop Culture ParentingAlena's birth story on the She Births blogTopics discussed: recurrent miscarriage, pregnancy loss, termination, motherhood after forty, pregnancy in your forties, IVF, single motherhood, homelessness, motherhood after adversity, parentification, perfect mother myth, intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, intuition, somatic therapy, maternal depletion, postnatal depletion, maternal rage, boundaries, self-abandonment, self-compassion, emotional regulation, attachment parenting, motherhood identity, community, women's health, martial arts, birth experiences, postpartum support, healing and self-discovery.

  2. Aug 12

    60 | The Motherwhelm with Jess | Birth Trauma, NICU & Building Your Village

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jess to talk about two vastly different birth experiences, the power of community, and how motherhood transformed not only the way she parents, but the woman she has become. Jess shares her journey from a fast-paced corporate career to unexpectedly becoming a mother during the COVID-19 pandemic. She reflects on preparing for an empowering physiological birth, experiencing the uninterrupted stillness of postpartum lockdowns, and later facing a completely different reality when a hidden placental haemorrhage led to an emergency caesarean birth at just 33 weeks and a NICU stay with her second baby. Together, we explore birth trauma, premature birth, the emotional complexity of having a baby in NICU, and the importance of processing difficult birth experiences rather than carrying them alone. Jess speaks candidly about rebuilding after trauma, trusting her intuition, and why every mother deserves access to compassionate birth trauma support. We also talk about the profound identity shift that comes with motherhood, leaving behind a successful corporate career, embracing slower seasons of life, and discovering a new passion for supporting women through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. One of the most beautiful parts of Jess's story is how loneliness led her to create the village she longed for - quite literally introducing herself to mothers walking past her house until a thriving community began to grow. This is a conversation about birth, healing, matrescence, and the courage to step outside your comfort zone. It's a reminder that while motherhood rarely unfolds the way we imagine, it often leads us exactly where we were meant to be. If you've experienced birth trauma, a NICU journey, the loneliness of early motherhood, or you're longing to find your village, I hope Jess's story reminds you that healing happens in connection, and sometimes all it takes is one brave conversation to change everything. Resources mentioned Books Ten Moons – Jane Hardwicke CollingsThe First Forty Days – Heng OuIna May's Guide to Breastfeeding – Ina May GaskinBooks by Sarah J. BuckleyAuthors & Educators Jane Hardwicke CollingsIna May GaskinSarah J. BuckleyTopics discussed: physiological birth, birth trauma, emergency caesarean, placental abruption, retroplacental haematoma, NICU, premature birth, postpartum recovery, birth debriefing, breastfeeding, postpartum planning, motherhood identity, matrescence, career change, postpartum support, village-building, community, women's circles, motherhood friendship, intuition, COVID pregnancy, home birth planning, healing after birth trauma.

  3. Aug 9

    59 | The Motherwhelm with Jenna | IVF, Birth Trauma, Emotional Regulation & Trusting Yourself

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jenna to talk about infertility, IVF, birth trauma, emotional regulation, and learning to trust yourself through motherhood. Jenna shares her long road to becoming a mother, from navigating endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes, and IVF during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, to welcoming her two boys after years of longing. She reflects on the heartbreak of infertility, the emotional toll of repeated setbacks, and the profound gratitude that followed becoming a mother. Together, we explore two traumatic birth experiences, the grief of an unexpected emergency caesarean, and the deep disappointment of preparing for a VBAC that ultimately ended the same way. Jenna speaks openly about birth trauma, postpartum mental health, infant feeding challenges, and the pressure she placed on her body after feeling it had "failed" her through infertility, birth, and breastfeeding. We also discuss motherhood identity, accepting help, raising emotionally secure boys, body image after motherhood, and the ongoing work of learning to regulate our own emotions while teaching our children to regulate theirs. Jenna shares how motherhood has transformed her confidence, strengthened her relationships, and taught her to trust her instincts above the endless noise of conflicting advice. This is an honest conversation about resilience, healing, letting go of perfection, and discovering that motherhood isn't about getting everything right, it's about showing up, repairing when we need to, and growing alongside our children. If you've experienced infertility, IVF, birth trauma, difficult postpartum emotions, or you've ever questioned whether your body has let you down, I hope Jenna's story reminds you that healing is possible, and that your worth has never been defined by how your motherhood journey began. Resources mentioned: Australian VBAC Stories PodcastAustralian Birth StoriesJess UrlichsMatrescent MuseRaising Boys – Maggie DentCatherine DennyEmma Heaphy Topics discussed: IVF, infertility, endometriosis, PCOS, blocked fallopian tubes, COVID fertility treatment, birth trauma, emergency caesarean, VBAC, birth debrief, postpartum mental health, breastfeeding challenges, formula feeding, body image, motherhood identity, emotional regulation, raising boys, gentle parenting, motherhood confidence, village, trusting your instincts. Resources mentionedTopics discussed:

  4. Aug 7 ·  Bonus

    58 | Motherwhelm Memos | What No One Prepared Me For

    In the very first episode of Motherwhelm Memos, mothers from around the world answer one simple question: What is something about motherhood that no one prepared you for? The answers are raw, funny, heartbreaking, validating, and deeply honest. From navigating mum guilt, advocating for sick children, coping with sensory overload and the relentless mental load, to grieving the loss of certainty, parenting neurodivergent children, and living with the physical realities of pregnancy and postpartum, these voice notes capture motherhood exactly as it's being lived. These aren't polished interviews or carefully crafted stories. They're real voice notes, recorded in cars, backyards, kitchens, and the small moments mothers could carve out for themselves. Because sometimes we don't need advice. We just need to hear another mother say, "Me too." If you've ever wondered whether you're the only one carrying the invisible weight of motherhood, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone.

  5. Aug 5

    57 | The Motherwhelm with Tahlia | Matrescence, Identity, Community & Self-Compassion

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Tahlia to talk about identity, community, and the often-contradictory emotions that come with becoming a mother. Tahlia shares her experience of becoming a young mum, navigating breastfeeding challenges, and the overwhelming transition into motherhood after expecting it to come naturally. Together, we explore the loneliness of being the first mother in your friendship group, the guilt of not instantly loving motherhood, and the relief of discovering that joy and struggle can exist side by side. We also discuss the pressure mothers place on themselves, the impact of birth interventions and early separation after birth, finding confidence in your own parenting, and why asking for help is one of the bravest things a mother can do. Tahlia reflects on how motherhood transformed her relationships, her career, and her sense of self, eventually leading her to create women's circles that foster the connection and community she longed for in her own postpartum journey. This is a thoughtful conversation about matrescence, identity, self-compassion, community, and learning that motherhood isn't about becoming the "perfect" mother, it's about becoming more fully yourself. If you've ever struggled with postpartum mental health, breastfeeding, loneliness, or wondered why motherhood felt so different from what you expected, I hope Tahlia's story reminds you that you're not failing, you're becoming. Resources mentioned All About Love by bell hooks Held by Tahlia (@held.bytahlia) Women's Circles facilitated by Tahlia Topics discussed: breastfeeding challenges, formula feeding, birth interventions, early separation after birth, matrescence, motherhood identity, young motherhood, postpartum support, mothers' groups, community, women's circles, self-compassion, body image, relationships after children, postpartum intimacy, parenting confidence, mental health, village, motherhood expectations.

  6. Aug 2

    56 | The Motherwhelm with Sarah | Preeclampsia, Birth Trauma & Late-Diagnosed Autism and ADHD

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Sarah to talk about severe preeclampsia, birth trauma, and being diagnosed with autism and ADHD after becoming a mother. Sarah shares her experience of a high-risk pregnancy that ended in a traumatic emergency caesarean birth at 35 weeks, a stay in ICU, and a long physical and emotional recovery. Together, we explore what it was like to begin motherhood while recovering from a near-death experience, navigating postpartum PTSD, and learning to bond with her baby while fighting to recover herself. We also discuss the guilt of not loving stay-at-home motherhood in the way she expected, the importance of having an identity beyond motherhood, and why advocating for yourself during pregnancy can be lifesaving. Sarah speaks candidly about missed warning signs, weight bias in healthcare, recognising the symptoms of preeclampsia, and the lasting impact pregnancy complications can have long after birth. Later in the conversation, Sarah shares how motherhood led her to seek an assessment for autism and ADHD, opening the door to a completely new understanding of herself. We explore sensory overwhelm, masking, late diagnosis in women, and why so many mothers discover their neurodivergence after having children. This is an honest conversation about surviving birth trauma, rebuilding after medical complications, embracing neurodivergence, and learning that motherhood can reveal parts of ourselves we never knew existed. If you've experienced preeclampsia, birth trauma, postpartum PTSD, or you've found yourself questioning your own neurodivergence since becoming a mother, I hope Sarah's story helps you feel seen and reminds you that you're not alone. Resources mentioned Say Hooray Perinatal mental health support Topics discussed: preeclampsia, severe preeclampsia, pregnancy complications, emergency caesarean, birth trauma, ICU, postpartum PTSD, postpartum recovery, premature birth, advocacy in pregnancy, medical bias, maternal mental health, motherhood identity, returning to work, autism in women, ADHD in women, AuDHD, late diagnosis, sensory overwhelm, masking, neurodivergent motherhood.

  7. Jul 26

    55 | The Motherwhelm with Bianca | Pregnancy After Loss, TFMR & Maternal Mental Health

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Bianca, a clinical psychologist and mum of two, to talk about pregnancy after loss, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), and the lasting impact of grief on motherhood. Bianca shares her extraordinary journey through an early miscarriage, the devastating loss of her daughter following a prenatal diagnosis, and the anxiety of navigating pregnancy after loss. Together, we explore the often-silenced reality of termination for medical reasons (TFMR), the complex grief that accompanies making an impossible decision, and why these experiences deserve greater understanding and compassion. We also discuss the anxiety of pregnancy after loss, navigating repeated high-risk pregnancies, advocating for yourself during birth, and the impact that difficult postpartum experiences can have on identity, perfectionism, and the mother-child relationship. Drawing on both her lived experience and her work as a psychologist, Bianca shares the strategies that helped her survive overwhelming anxiety, including the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the importance of making space for difficult emotions rather than fighting against them. This is a deeply moving conversation about grief, healing, self-compassion, and learning that motherhood is not about doing everything perfectly. It is about showing up, allowing yourself to be supported, and trusting that even after unimaginable heartbreak, joy and hope can exist alongside grief. If you've experienced miscarriage, pregnancy after loss, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), birth trauma, postpartum challenges, or you're navigating the pressure of perfectionism in motherhood, I hope Bianca's story helps you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. Connect with Bianca Instagram: @drbiancamastromanno Topics discussed: miscarriage, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), pregnancy after loss, prenatal diagnosis, recurrent pregnancy anxiety, birth trauma, postpartum recovery, perfectionism, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), self-compassion, maternal mental health, grief, motherhood identity.

  8. Jul 19

    54 | The Motherwhelm with Michelle | Miscarriage, Surrender & Intentional Parenting

    In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Michelle to talk about miscarriage, motherhood after loss, surrender, and the unexpected lessons motherhood teaches us about letting go. Michelle reflects on becoming a mother after three miscarriages, navigating an emergency caesarean birth, and discovering that babies cannot be managed like projects. Together, we explore the tension between ambition and stillness, the pressure to parent perfectly, and the profound shift from living only for yourself to making decisions for your family. Michelle shares how pregnancy loss shaped her gratitude for motherhood, why community and mothers' groups became essential during the postpartum period, and the lessons she inherited from both her mother and grandmother. We also discuss raising an only child, parenting through the teenage years, creating meaningful family rituals after loss, and why surrender may be one of motherhood's greatest teachers. Motherhood also inspired Michelle to build Stella Says, a business that has grown from a thoughtfully developed head lice product into a mobile head lice removal service supporting families across Melbourne and Geelong. Her entrepreneurial journey is another reminder that motherhood can open unexpected doors, allowing women to combine purpose, creativity, and practical support for other families. This is a thoughtful conversation about grief, intentional parenting, community, and learning that motherhood isn't something we master through control - it unfolds through presence, surrender, and the courage to grow alongside our children. If you've experienced miscarriage, motherhood after loss, or you're learning to let go of perfection and embrace a more intentional way of parenting, I hope Michelle's story leaves you feeling encouraged and deeply understood. Resources mentioned Meshel Laurie (@meshel_laurie) Stella Says – stellasays.com.au Topics discussed: miscarriage, pregnancy loss, motherhood after loss, surrender, intentional parenting, family rituals, grief, emergency caesarean, career and motherhood, entrepreneurship, community, motherhood identity.

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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
    62
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bronwyn Senn
  • Show Website
    The Motherwhelm