With Love Mama

Tanika Lace

Welcome to a space where birth, motherhood and matrescence are spoken about honestly, openly &without the filters. I’m Tanika — a conception, pregnancy & post partum doula + mum currently preparing for life with two under two. Through this podcast, I share the conversations, reflections and guidance I wish every woman had access to as she moves from pregnancy into motherhood. Inside each episode we explore pregnancy, birth preparation, postpartum recovery, nervous system support and the emotional transformation of becoming a mother. Some episodes are solo reflections from my own journey, while others feature conversations with birth workers, health professionals and women sharing their real birth stories. This podcast is here to help you feel informed, embodied and deeply supported — whether you’re preparing for birth, navigating postpartum or simply craving more honest conversations about motherhood. Think of it as sitting in a women’s circle, where birth is respected, motherhood is honoured and no question is too small!! 🩷

  1. Aug 30

    Pregnancy, Postpartum & Maternal Depletion with Clare Ramirez Nutritionist

    Pregnancy asks so much of the body but postpartum asks even more. In this episode, I’m joined by Clare Ramirez from Wildflower Medicine for a deeply nourishing conversation about pregnancy, postpartum depletion and what our bodies truly need during the transition into motherhood. We talk about why so many women arrive at postpartum already depleted, what happens when we don’t adequately replenish after birth and how we can begin to nourish ourselves in a way that supports recovery, hormones, energy, breastfeeding and overall wellbeing. We also dive into the cravings that can show up during pregnancy and postpartum and why your body may be asking for exactly what it needs. Together, we explore:
✨ Postpartum depletion and why it’s so common
✨ How to genuinely nourish yourself after birth
✨ The importance of protein, minerals, fats and nutrient dense foods
✨ Pregnancy and postpartum cravings and what they might be communicating
✨ Eating enough when you’re exhausted, touched-out and caring for a newborn
✨ Supporting the body through breastfeeding and recovery
✨ Why postpartum nutrition should be viewed as part of recovery
✨ Practical ways to make nourishing yourself easier in the early weeks and months Your baby needs you but you need nourishment, too. Come and have a conversation with us about feeding the woman who just gave birth🤍 You can find Clare from Wildflower Medicine here Instagram Website Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠ Follow my TikTok for BTS of mum life⁠ @tanikalace⁠ Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z

  2. Aug 16

    40 Weeks & Still Pregnant: Navigating the Unknown When Your Due Date Passes

    Your due date arrives and your baby isn’t here. For many mums, the due date can start to feel like a finish line like a date you’ve been counting down to for nine months. But what happens when you cross it? In this episode, I’m sharing my experience of being “overdue” in pregnancy and what it felt like emotionally to move beyond my due date and into the unknown. We’re talking about the mental shift that can happen when you’re still pregnant at 40+ weeks, the pressure and expectations around when your baby “should” arrive, navigating uncertainty and learning to stay grounded when you don’t know when labour will begin. If you’re a mum approaching your due date, already past your due date, feeling anxious about going overdue or simply struggling with the waiting game, this episode is for you. Because your due date is a date not a deadline. ✨ In this episode:
• What it feels like to cross your due date
• The emotional reality of an overdue pregnancy
• Managing uncertainty when you don’t know when labour will begin
• Why the due date can become such a psychological “line in the sand”
• The pressure mums can feel around going overdue
• How to navigate the waiting without feeling completely out of control
• Preparing emotionally for the possibility that your baby may not arrive on your due date If you’re preparing for birth, navigating late pregnancy, or wondering what happens when you go past your due date, I hope this conversation helps you feel a little less alone in the waiting.

  3. Aug 2

    Posterior Baby in Pregnancy & What you can do to Support Optimal Positioning

    Welcome to another episode of the podcast mama and we are joined again by Dr Chelsea Mill! Is your baby posterior (sunny-side up)? Wondering if there's anything you can do during pregnancy to encourage your baby into a more optimal position for birth? In this episode, I'm joined by a pelvic floor osteopath to unpack one of the most common questions expecting mothers ask: Can I help my baby get into a better position before labour begins? Together we explore the relationship between your body's biomechanics, your pelvic floor and your baby's positioning. Inside this conversation, we discuss: What a posterior baby actually means. Why babies may settle into a posterior position. The connection between the pelvis, muscles, fascia and fetal positioning. Practical, gentle ways to support optimal fetal positioning during pregnancy. Common misconceptions about spinning babies and positioning advice. Whether posterior babies can still have beautiful, straightforward births. How to prepare your body for labour, regardless of your baby's position. Whether you're 30 weeks pregnant, approaching your due date or you've just been told your baby is posterior, this episode will leave you feeling informed and with practical tools you can start using today. Remember: while we can support our bodies, babies ultimately choose their own path into the world. This episode is about creating the best environment possible not chasing perfection. If you found this episode helpful, please follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with another expecting mum who might need this reassurance. Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠ Follow my TikTok for BTS of mum life⁠ @tanikalace⁠ Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z

  4. Jul 30

    Gestational Diabetes, ‘Big Baby’ Narrative & Special Care Nursery - Alicia’s Birth Story

    After being diagnosed with gestational diabetes in the third trimester, this pregnancy shifted from low risk to high risk almost overnight. Suddenly, every appointment centred around blood sugar levels and recommendations for intervention. In this honest and vulnerable conversation, we unpack what it really felt like to navigate the gestational diabetes diagnosis and the decisions that ultimately led to a balloon induction and an emergency C-section. But this episode goes beyond the birth itself. We also talk about the unexpected emotional impact of having a baby admitted to the Special Care Nursery an experience that, in many ways, felt even more overwhelming than the surgery itself. Whether you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, have been told you’re carrying a “big baby,” are facing the possibility of induction or a Caesarean birth, or simply want to hear a real and empowering birth story, this episode is for you. In this episode, we discuss: ​ What it’s like to go from a low-risk to high-risk pregnancy​ Navigating a gestational diabetes diagnosis​ The “big baby” narrative and how it influences birth decisions​ Induction with a balloon catheter​ An emergency C-section birth​ Recovering physically and emotionally after birth​ Having a baby admitted to the Special Care Nursery​ What she wishes she had known before birth​ Advice for other mothers navigating gestational diabetes and birth interventions Remember: every pregnancy and every birth is unique. This episode shares one mother’s personal experience and is intended to inform, support, and remind women that they deserve evidence-based information and informed choice throughout their pregnancy and birth journey. If this episode resonated with you, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with another mum who needs to hear that she’s not alone. Thank you Alicia for sharing xx Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠ Follow my TikTok for BTS of mum life⁠ @tanikalace⁠ Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z

  5. Jul 26

    Second Trimester Pregnancy Guide for First Time Mums | Weeks 13-27

    Whether you're feeling amazing or still wondering when the "pregnancy glow" is supposed to arrive, the second trimester brings a whole new chapter of pregnancy. In this episode, I'm walking you through exactly what every first time mum needs to know during weeks 13-27 of pregnancy. As a pregnancy and postpartum doula, I'm sharing practical, informed guidance to help you understand what's happening in your body, how your baby is developing and the steps you can take now to prepare for a calm, confident birth and a supported postpartum. We cover:• What to expect during the second trimester• Common pregnancy symptoms (and what's considered normal)• Baby's growth and movement• How to prepare for birth before the third trimester• Building your birth team and understanding your options• Nutrition, movement and supporting your changing body• Protecting your mindset from fear-based birth stories• Why preparing for postpartum is just as important as preparing for birth If you're a first time mum wondering, "I'm pregnant... now what?", this episode is your roadmap for navigating the second trimester with confidence instead of overwhelm. If you enjoyed this episode, follow the podcast so you never miss an episode in the I'm Pregnant... Now What? series, where we walk through every stage of pregnancy, birth and postpartum together. Follow my Instagram for more doula / pregnancy content through the week! ⁠@tanikalace⁠ Follow my TikTok for BTS of mum life⁠ @tanikalace⁠ Apply to share your conception journey, birth or postpartum story here https://tally.so/r/D4ee7Z

About

Welcome to a space where birth, motherhood and matrescence are spoken about honestly, openly &without the filters. I’m Tanika — a conception, pregnancy & post partum doula + mum currently preparing for life with two under two. Through this podcast, I share the conversations, reflections and guidance I wish every woman had access to as she moves from pregnancy into motherhood. Inside each episode we explore pregnancy, birth preparation, postpartum recovery, nervous system support and the emotional transformation of becoming a mother. Some episodes are solo reflections from my own journey, while others feature conversations with birth workers, health professionals and women sharing their real birth stories. This podcast is here to help you feel informed, embodied and deeply supported — whether you’re preparing for birth, navigating postpartum or simply craving more honest conversations about motherhood. Think of it as sitting in a women’s circle, where birth is respected, motherhood is honoured and no question is too small!! 🩷