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. 1d ago

    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.

  2. 4d ago

    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.

  3. 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

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. Aug 16

    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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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:

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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
    67
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Bronwyn Senn
  • Show Website
    The Motherwhelm

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