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I’m delighted to introduce you to Melbourne Mum Louise East who is Mindset and Life Coach for Mums.At More to Mum, Louise is on a mission to help you see that you are more now that you’re a mother, not less. She loves to help you identify what you really want in motherhood and life, and make it a reality.Louise also has the most wonderful perspective about helping Mums and how it causes a positive ripple effect that extends to our family and then beyond that to the wider community. This episode is super practical and relatable to all Mums. Louise talks about the reasons why we’re feeling overwhelmed in our lives and provides tips around overcoming this. If you’ve been losing it a lot lately and then beating yourself up about being ‘angry Mummy’ you’ll be thrilled by the approach Louise shares about how to be keep your cool and be calmer. We then chat about boundaries - why is it important to have them and how you can establish them with others. Louise keeps the tips coming with sharing ways we can slip out of mum-mode and connect more with our partners. And lastly we talk about self-care in a realistic way. No more feeling the guilts about another thing you don’t have time for. Like I said, a super practical episode.Here's some links to the nifty resources that Louise chats about:Overcoming Overwhelm GuideConnecting Questions for CouplesThere's more to mum Facebook groupTuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @moretomum.Let’s meet Louise!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.To be in with a chance to win FREE child care for a year, visit bliss.edu.au/win and enter your details.NSW Permit No. LTPS/19/39442. For full T&C’s visit bliss.edu.au.

Fertility has become big business over the last 20 years since my latest guest has been involved within the industry. Perhaps you’ve struggled to have a baby? Or you have a friend that’s experiencing this. Fertility is something that isn't spoken about openly or often and this makes the process of trying to conceive (naturally or with assistance) extremely difficult.Lucy Lines started as a clinical embryologist (an IVF scientist) working in fertility clinics around the world helping people have the family they always dreamed of. But as you’ll hear, this wasn’t enough. Lucy started to see a scary shift towards the exploitation of those who face fertility challenges and it was something that she didn’t want to be a part of. So, Lucy found a way to get BACK into the business of making BABIES not making money for shareholders!Naturally, Lucy moved into a guidance and support role. At Two Lines Fertility, Lucy provides people with independent support as they navigate the overwhelm of fertility treatment. She’s like a fertility coach who can give you the answers that Google can’t.In this episode Lucy shares why she made the leap from embryologist to fertility educator and program manager. She speaks about when to seek out professional help and provides great advice about how we can support our friends or family undergoing treatment. Lucy also explains what secondary fertility is and why it occurs. And lastly, Lucy shares another offering that she’s really passionate about - Future Fertility Safe. This is where she loves to educate and empower young women and men and the people who care for them to understand how to protect their reproductive future.Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @twolinesfertility.Let’s meet Lucy!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.To be in with a chance to win FREE child care for a year, visit bliss.edu.au/win and enter your details.NSW Permit No. LTPS/19/39442. For full T&C’s visit bliss.edu.au.

The motherhood gig is hard and everyday there’s new products and services launched that make our life that little bit easier. The BEST ones are usually designed by parents and I’m happy to say lots of them are by clever Melbourne Mums.Have you ever come across something and thought “I wish someone would invent X-Y-Z. That would make my life so much easier.” Well no more waiting for someone else to do it, YOU can create it. And I’ve got a Melbourne Mum joining the podcast today who is proof of this.Jessica Haley accidentally slid into my DMs a few years ago and it was an Instagram meant-to-be moment. She was busy working on something that was a huge pain point for me as a Mum. I have a slim kid (he gets it from his Daddy) and it was impossible to find pants to fit his teeny tiny waist. Do you have this problem too? Or the waist fits but the length is embarrassingly short. Sure, there’s those pants with the side buttons to bring them in, but they’re hard to find and they’re actually really annoying.Jessica shared this same frustration with her first two sons. Instead of waiting around for someone else to solve this problem, Jess decided she was going to roll up her sleeves and have a go at changing kids fashion by bringing waistlines in without compromising on length.With absolutely no background in design, manufacturing or business, she launched her unique Australian made kids fashion label - Frankie + Roy.In this episode, Jess walks us through the process from idea to manufacturing to launching her label. She shares the challenges and lessons. Jess’ clothing is 100% Australian made (in fact it’s made right here in Melb) and so she talks about why this is important to her and what this means for us fashion consumers. We also chat about that moment where Jess went from a secure job, having her 3rd son and then leaping into her biz full time. And lastly we chat about life as a Mama of 3 boys. You’ll see their gorgeous faces frequently featured in the Frankie + Roy campaigns.Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @frankie_and_roy.Let’s meet Jessica!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.To be in with a chance to win FREE child care for a year, visit bliss.edu.au/win and enter your details.NSW Permit No. LTPS/19/39442. For full T&C’s visit bliss.edu.au.

In light of recent events it feels a little strange to say happy new year as our country is facing devastating bushfires. I‘ve been contemplating whether or not to release a new episode this week. But one of the important topics that we cover is mental health. Even if you haven’t been directly affected by this ongoing tragedy, the emotional impact of this disaster can be felt by all.If this traumatic event is impacting your mental health and wellbeing, please have a look at the helpful article created by Beyond Blue - Looking after yourself after a disaster.Ok, so now I’d know like to introduce you to an exceptional human and Melbourne Mum. Lisa Kroesche Boyce is an advocate for Mums and the founder of Bad Mums Club. There’s so much heart and intention behind what she does. Lisa has built a community (online and in-person) that encourages connection and empowerment of mothers through workshops, events, online forums, free campaigns and live chats.You won’t find any fluff with Lisa. She dives deep into the hard stuff. Tackles the taboo and she’s been a fighting force in getting mental health on the top of the government’s agenda.In this episode, Lisa shares her experience of motherhood, depression and anxiety. You’ll learn more about Bad Mums Club and Lisa’s work as a Beyond Blue ambassador. Then Lisa goes into full mission mode and chats about what is being ignored when it comes to Mums and mental health. We also speak about the realities of working from home.Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @bad.mums.club or @lisakroescheboyce.Let’s meet Lisa!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.To be in with a chance to win FREE child care for a year, visit bliss.edu.au/win and enter your details.NSW Permit No. LTPS/19/39442. For full T&C’s visit bliss.edu.au.

My last guest of 2019 is Lael Stone - a Birth, Parenting and Sexuality Educator. This woman is a Mama of many talents and an hour does not suffice with telling her story.Lael is one of the women behind About Birth - Australia's leading online birth education program that covers birth, pregnancy and having a baby. Lael also works with parents through workshops and one-on-one around all aspects of parenting with a focus on creating deeper connections in their family relationships. This helpful nature continues on with Lael co-hosting the Aware parenting podcast.Lael is also well sought after by schools to deliver her curriculum program for teenage girls called The Connection Program. She also does what many of us fear and chats with teenagers about sex. And she tells a cracking story about facing a whole year level of teenage boys. And now Lael is also embarking on an incredible project. She is currently building a primary school to help change the current education paradigm. Woodline Primary is a small school set on a 20-acre farm in the beautiful Geelong hinterland. You’ll hear all about this in the episode.Having Lael as a guest gave me an opportunity to ask her questions that I know plague many of us. A common theme that’s come up when speaking with the Motherhood Melbourne community is birth trauma and the effects it has on us as Mum. I’ve experienced it myself (twice) and it was the reason I started Motherhood Melbourne. Lael kindly shares some strategies we can use to recover from birth trauma and also ways that we can create a positive birth experience.As a bit of a sexpert, I couldn’t help but ask Lael for tips around healthy conversations with kids about sexuality.We also talk about the aware parenting philosophy and how it can help you feel more connected with your kids.Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @laelstoneLet’s meet Lael!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.

Remember when you were pregnant and getting ready for the baby? You probably read a lot books about birth, right? We all did. And then one of the many nights you’re up trying to settle a screaming baby, you start to wonder “why the heck didn’t anyone teach me about sleep?” That would have been useful, right? Well, it’s not too late to get the lowdown on the science of sleep.Now, I want to say if you’re going through the torment of sleep deprivation or exhaustion from a baby (or kid) that just won’t rest, I’m so very sorry. I’ve been there and it’s bloody hard. And I’m sure you’ve thought “maybe tonight will be the night, they’ll sleep longer” or “it’ll all be over soon. It’s just a phase. A really looong one.” But what I do know is that when you’re in the depth of sleep deprivation, it’s hard to see that there’s help and even harder to ask for it.That’s why I’ve invited Catalina Lau, a baby sleep consultant from Moonlight Baby Sleep to help you. As a Mum of two, she can empathise with you because it was her own sleep deprivation that led her to wanting all of her questions about sleep answered.She knows that when the baby isn’t sleeping, the whole family suffers. And you really don’t have to.In the episode, Catalina explains the process of working with a sleep consultant and when’s the right time to work with one. Catalina shares lots of great info about the effects of babies and kids being over-tired and how this is one of the most common reasons for sleep challenges. We also chat about how Catalina creates sleep plans with parents that ensures their not house-bound due to day naps. And lastly, I can’t help but ask Catalina about what to do when facing the ultimate parenting dilemma - you pull up at home and the kids have fallen asleep. What should we do? You’ll have to listen to find out.Now Catalina also has an online store that sells sleep-aid products that she recommends to families. She is kindly giving all listeners a generous 20% off products and services at Moonlight Baby Sleep until the end of March 2020. Just use the code mamasonamission when you visit moonlightbabysleep.com.au.Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @moonlightbabysleepLet’s meet Catalina!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.

Can all the tired Mums please raise your hand? Looking after little people is exhausting! Not to mention time-consuming. You’re probably researching healthy kids meals on Pinterest and filling bento boxes with nutritional goodies. But there you are, shovelling the kid’s crusts in your mouth and guzzling coffee to stay on top of things.Now from years of being subjected to fads and diets, it’s no wonder we have pretty messed up views of food and the role that it plays. But now as Mums, this is a time when we need to understand how food can help us get through the looong days. Because as we know, our health is vital.That’s why it was super important that I picked a guest who could speak to this topic in a way that’s relatable to us as Mums. Basically someone who understands that we have our plates full (pun intended).Melissa Finlay is a qualified Holistic Nutritionist, a Personal Trainer and Pilates Instructor and Melbourne mum of two kids. Mel is on a mission to help Mums feel amazing about themselves, by giving you the tools you need to increase your energy and take back control of your health and wellbeing.In this episode, you’ll hear all about hormonal and health concerns that are common to women. Such as hormone imbalance, PMS, Endometriosis & IVF. Mel explains how food and nutrition plays a role in the way these are experienced. She also shares tips around meal planning and creating positive habits. And then Mel kindly shares some simple snacks that’ll help give you the best hit of energy (spoiler alert - it’s not a Tim Tam).Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @melfinlay_nutritionist.Let’s meet Melissa!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.

I’m kicking off Season 3 in STYLE. Which is why you’ll be hearing from an experienced personal stylist - Karina Dyer. Karina is the owner of Personalised Style and she’s on a mission to help you feel confident & amazing in what you wear every day.Now if you’re like me (and by that I mean a non-fashiony type of person), don’t go anywhere. Because as Karina explains, style is not about trends and she shares oodles of tips to get your groove & style back.In this episode you’ll find out how to discover (or re-discover) your personal style (which makes shopping for clothes super easy), how to look & feel great when styling your baby bump or postpartum bod. Karina also shares the classic must-have items that create a good wardrobe base and a simple styling tip that can instantly sharpen your look.Tuning in? Share this episode on your Insta stories with a screen shot. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @personalised_style.Let’s meet Karina!______________________If you’re keen as beans for more info about the podcast, my guest or myself, jump over to motherhoodmelbourne.com.au.Season 3 is kindly supported by my podcast partner Bliss Early Learning - an Australian owned, premium provider in the child care and preschool space.

I'm finishing up this season sharing a Melbourne Mum who is at the beginning of her mission. I’m proud to introduce to you Carolyn Dicker of Project Strong Mum. Carolyn is uniting Mums by building a community of acceptance and support. She hopes to inspire Mums to live life on their terms and to start believing that they are always enough.When you hear Carolyn’s story, you’ll understand where this comes from. She gets very vulnerable and shares her struggles with motherhood.If you’ve been sitting on a idea for a while to help others, I hope this episode gives you insight into how to move past the fear and kick into mission mode.If you're listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @project_strong_mum so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Carolyn!_________________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.

Marie Cunico has worked in the beauty industry for 15 years. Her years of experience and study have led her to becoming a skincare formulator.And she is the beauty behind facing motherhood - natural skincare for tired, sore and busy Mums.Marie is incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in helping Mums make the switch to natural skincare and understand what the heck they are actually putting on their skin.Have you ever picked up a product and been confused by the ingredients? Have you bought a product because you were wowed by the packaging & hype, only to be disappointed? Or do you feel like now that you’re a Mum, skincare has gone out the window because you’re too busy to squeeze it in? Then hold on to your coffee, this is the episode for you.Marie chats shares some ingredients to steer clear of and why. She chats about skincare marketing and it’s lack of understanding and inclusion of Mums. Yep - we don’t want to plonked into the anti-aging category. Not old - just tired. And we talk about postpartum discomfort and how Marie’s personal experience led to the creation of a collection that gives Mum natural care, for down there.Marie is on a mission to help tired, sore and busy Mums feel themselves again with natural skincare.If you're listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @facingmotherhood so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Marie!_________________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.

Dr Zali Yager who is an associate professor & Co-Director of Body Confident Mums. Zali has been a body image researcher for 14 years.What I hope you love about this chat is that it comes from an informed and researched perceptive. In this episode, Zali shares some interesting research findings about Mothers and body image. We chat about the role social media plays in body image perception and the mental health of Mums. And lastly, Zali provides effective strategies that can help Mums to have a positive relationship with their body.Zali is on a mission to develop evidence-based resources that help to improve mother's body image and mental health.If you're listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @bodyconfidentmums so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Zali!_________________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.Your Life & Money Matters is my podcast partner for this episode. They can help you create the life you want, with what you have.

Tap your way to greater health and happiness.I’m speaking with Catharine Ross - she’s an EFT tapping & Anxiety Specialist. EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique.I first came across Catharine in a Facebook group for Melbourne Mums. I was super curious as to what EFT tapping was. After having a stalk of her service ‘Break free with EFT’, I knew that you’d love hearing from her.Catharine is really passionate about working with parents and children and helping them to address emotional issues at a grass roots level. So she’ll tell you all about how EFT tapping helps with many common challenges that we face. We’ll also chat about an exciting project that she’s implementing into the education system - Emotional First Aid programs.Catharine is on a mission to empower people to take control of their emotional state by giving them a tool that is literally "at their fingertips".If you’re listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @break_free_with_eft so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Catharine!______________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.

My latest guest is Amal Abou-Eid. Author of My Muslim Mate - a children’s book that helps kids see that through talking and learning about each other's cultures, friendships can flourish and lives can work together harmoniously.Amal is a community leader that decided to take her love for teaching and learning and step up to help Muslim kids feel safe, understood and celebrated. This is the first of what I can imagine will be many more resources that allow Muslim children to feel proud of their culture and see it represented in literature in a positive way.I chat with Amal about why she wanted to create this book and the response it’s received. We also talk about the main misconceptions about Islam and being Muslim. Amal shares some tips on how Melbourne families can have a positive conversation with your kids about the culture.Amal is on a mission to educate families about Islamic faith and to embrace and celebrate Muslim culture.If you’re listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @booksbyamal so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Amal!______________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.

This episode covers a topic that I know many of you will relate to - motherhood and working. That’s why I’m incredibly honoured to speak with Carina O’Brien - the founder of Working Mumma. Carina loves to create practical resources to help women who are planning a family, pregnant, on maternity leave or working with children. She has built a community that draws inspiration from her mission to show you how you can have a family, career and break the glass ceiling.In this episode, Carina shares how her personal experience inspired her to create Working Mumma. We chat about the biggest struggles that working mothers are facing. If you’re returning to work soon, Carina provides practical tips for you. And Lastly, we discuss the ways that workplaces and employers can step up and better help Mums return to work.If you're listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @workingmumma_au so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Carina!__________________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.

I’ve got Lauren Owens as my guest and she’s the owner of West Home. If you’re thinking of buying, selling, building or renovating your home, Lauren is the lady you need to meet.In this ep, Lauren drops golden nuggets of advice about top tips for buying a family home, how to play the game when it comes to buying and finding the right real estate agent when you’re selling. Then we chat about renos - key considerations and real life reno horror stories.Lauren is on a mission to equip women with the information and educational tools to go into buying, selling, building and renovating with confidence.If you're listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne & @_westhome so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Lauren!____________________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.This ep is kindly sponsored by Fit Kicks - A kid's program that builds confidence through sport. Book in a FREE TRIAL.

We're talking all things MONEY! Joining us is Keryn Batsilas, Financial Adviser from your Life and Money Matters, an Authorised Representative of AVALONfs. Anything that Keryn talks about is of a general nature and not to be used as personal advice.In this episode, we dive into financial considerations that we as Mums should focus on when having a career pause (such as Mat Leave) or if making the decision to not return to work. We also chat about what to do to ensure we’re not financially vulnerable should any unexpected circumstances occur such as the loss of a partner or breakdown of a relationship.Of course, we chat about the B-word BUDGETING! There’s a tip or two in there that can help you with your family budget. We also talk about motherhood and Super and the misconceptions that we often have.I don’t want to give everything away, but I can tell you that this chat with Keryn from Your Life and Money Matters had me buzzing and putting on my action-taking pants.Keryn is on a mission to educate and empower Mums to take control of their finances so that they can have they life they want. If you're listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it in your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @yourlifeandmoneymatters so we can re-share it. Let’s meet Keryn!_________________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne. This ep is kindly sponsored by Verve Super - An ethical superannuation fund that is for women, led by women.

Chrissie Davies is known around town as The Child Charmer at Chaos to Calm Consultancy. Chrissie is a leading child behaviour expert. You’ll find her friendly face consulting, speaking and writing about how parents, carers and educators can better understand and connect with kids.In this episode you’ll find out how Chrissie’s philosophy to children's behaviour, really sets her apart from other experts. She’ll also make you as a Mum, feel super comfortable with accepting help from an expert. I mean after all, none of us received that parenting manual right?You’ll also hear about Chrissie’s struggles with becoming a parent and how adoption in Melbourne led her to meet her two gorgeous children. This story may make you cry. I know I did.Chrissie is on a mission to educate parents to better understand their children's behaviour.If you’re listening to this episode, let us know by sharing it on your Insta stories. Tag @motherhoodmelbourne and @chrissiechaostocalm so we can re-share it.Let’s meet Chrissie!_______________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.This ep is kindly sponsored by Jess Worrall Photography - Melbourne lifestyle family & newborn photographer.

First up to lead us into the season, is Tina Bruce - Author of Mother’s Medicine and Owner, Yoga Teacher and Retreat Leader at Restore a Yoga Mum.In this episode, Tina shares her traumatic birth story and the events that unfolded from this experience. Tina is talking about post traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, feeling let down by the our health system and her addiction to pain relief medicine. We then talk about how yoga played an important role in her self-healing journey and how writing the book Mother’s Medicine has helped her and many other Mums.Tina is on a mission to create a vulnerability movement so Mums can be true expressions of their Soul and unafraid to be themselves.Let’s meet Tina!__________For more info about my guest, the podcast or my podcast partner, visit Motherhood Melbourne.This ep is kindly sponsored by things for kids - an online kid's activity directory.

Helen Parker is the founder and CEO of The Babes Project. It is an organisation that supports and empowers empower vulnerable women throughout their pregnancy, birth and in their first year of parenting. At the age of 20, Helen was unexpectantly welcomed into motherhood. This was a turning point for Helen and so began her mission. Helen is on a mission to ensure that all Australian women are afforded access to information, support and understanding needed to make great decisions about her life and that of her child. Helen and the hard-working team at The Babes Project, want to empower a generation of strong mothers to raise great children.Seriously, I have chills and I know you’ll love hearing more about Helen and The Babes Project. Let’s meet Helen.

Sarah Jefford is a family and surrogacy lawyer who helps people through their surrogacy arrangement. But Sarah is also a surrogate and an egg donor and this year she gave birth to a little girl so that another loving couple (Mike and Nate) could experience the joys of parenthood.For many of us, our understanding of surrogacy might come from little snippets of what happens in movie, TV or overseas. However, surrogacy in Australia is very different to other countries. It is truly an altruistic act.And so through both her work and personal experience, Sarah is on mission to help the community to see surrogacy and egg donation as a beautiful opportunity to help others grow their families. Sarah hopes to show that the true reward is in the giving, not the receiving.Today, Sarah shares her experience of surrogacy before, during her pregnancy, birth and beyond. She also clears up the misconceptions that people have about surrogacy in Australia. And lastly, you’ll hear about the legal role Sarah plays in a couple’s surrogacy journey.Let’s meet Sarah.