For Modern Mothers Podcast

This podcast is with a the very wonderful and very experienced Anne Gledhill-Myhill.

Anne is a specialist in fertility, pregnancy and women’s health. She's a professional and fully qualified acupuncturist as well as being a private midwife, plus lots more besides

She specialises in working with people who are struggling with fertility issues or in pregnancy and also afterwards too. We chat about the growing body of evidence around acupuncture in pregnancy, as well as how acupuncture can help you with fertility support when trying to conceive too.

Anne has such a lot of knowledge and wisdom to share, I hope you enjoy the episode.

Find out all about Anne on her website here too:

Unsolicited advice. 

It comes thick and fast once you’ve had a baby (and even in pregnancy too). Everyone has an opinion, AND they want to tell you about it!

This podcast episode is all about ways to deal with all that advice you never asked for - that can leave you feeling overwhelmed, or that you're  ‘not good enough’ as a mother (that's BS by the way).

I am so delighted to have a really brilliant guest for you in this episode. Debs Neiger is a very experienced independent midwife, an author, and also a creative maker of birth art and unique hand screenprinted clothing and merch for birth workers too. 

She offers individualised, independent and bespoke midwifery care to women, birthing people and families that is family-centred and always unique bespoke to you and your needs. We chat about lots of things, with a lot of focus on postnatal care and how it could and should be so much better than women and birthing people currently get within the system and why that is really so important. And also about:

~ what is an independent midwife?

~ how you support team is really important

~ authoring a book "AIMS Guide to Giving Birth to Your Baby"

~ Matrescence

~ Postnatal depletion, postnatal expectations vs reality

~ Postnatal care within the NHS and how this differs considerably in it's scope and support with a private midwife

Having been a midwife for over 20 years Debs says she is "now even more convinced that a person’s pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience has the potential to be highly transformative, joyful and empowering. However I am also deeply conscious of the fact that sometimes pregnancy or birthing a baby can be the catalyst for physical, emotional or spiritual difficulties, and I am committed to walk alongside you through the sometimes hard to navigate muddle that early parenthood can bring."

We had a really good chat, that possibly went into a bit of a rant about postnatal care (necessary in both of our opinions) - but we both managed not to swear which I feel is a huge win!! 

Enjoy the episode, and we'd love to hear your own thoughts and feedback too of course

Susan x

Do check out her on social media, she shares SO much great information, wisdom and inspiration. Her Instagram feed is a real breath of fresh air. Find out more about Debs and all of her brilliant work and services here:

I am delighted to have a guest of the podcast who, like me, is a twin mother! 

Flora Croft is a poet, a psychotherapist and a mother of twins. She's just released her debut book of poetry 'I am a Spider Mother' through the brilliant Mum Poem Press (a publishing house who exclusively publish work by mothers and about motherhood - how very brilliant!)

This groundbreaking book of poetry is a unique creative exploration of twin motherhood, but also of identity as a mother, transformation, vulnerability, pregnancy, infertility and IVF and also the relationship between grandmother, mother and children too. Basically the poems and themes are so relevant to all mothers.

We chat about creativity in motherhood and about writing as a vessel for this, how Flora got into poetry and how it is much more accessible than it may be perceived from the outside - especially for mothers. How the act of getting words down on paper in some way can be so cathartic as well as creative. 

We discuss identity change and transition as a mother, and how it is not always easy, fun or enjoyable - and it's OK to feel that way. That it’s ok to not enjoy mothering - it can be hard, it can be boring, it can be tedious, but that doesn't mean you don't love your child. You can love your baby or children without loving all the domestic work mothering entails.  But also please know that if you get to the point where you’re constantly low and feel unable to bond with your baby, or you have distressing thoughts about hurting yourself or your baby, then contact your GP for professional support as soon as possible to get the support you need.

Flora also shares some of her favourite poets that inspire her, and that may inspire you too. And I was delighted she agreed to read two very beautiful poems from her book too - which are really stunning. I am sure you'll find them so moving, I really did.

Find out more about Flora at:

The idea of striving to be a 'perfect' mother is something that so many women struggle with. We can feel this need to that we need to do everything well, do everything perfectly (whatever that actually is??) and that will benefit out babies and children. I was looking at this in online course The Truth About Early Motherhood, and also it came up with a coaching client earlier this week too.

So this podcast is going to dispel that myth, that BS - that we need to be 'perfect' mothers, when actually being a 'good enough' mother is better for both us and our babies! Take a listen to find out about the concept of the 'good enough' mother. I also share some ideas and techniques that can help support you if you find letting go of perfectionism hard and want to try to be more at ease with your imperfections (note: they are golden). And there's a lovely guided meditation to end this podcast too.

Enjoy!

Susan x

Questions to journal on from the podcast:

1) What would change in your experience of mothering if you did not have to be perfect?

2) Where/when are you being hard on yourself?

3) Where/when could you be easier and gentler on yourself?

4) What is stopping you from doing this?

Show notes:

I had a really brilliant chat with Bethan of HotTea Mama, and we covered SO much! From natural ways to support your body as a woman through the power of plants - from fertility, through pregnancy, to menopause.

We also talk about:

~ making big life and career changes - about setting up a brand new business with small children and on maternity leave

~ leaving a steady job to jump into something brand new

~ employing mothers - because they are a brilliant talent and also so darn efficient

~ flexible working for mothers and parents

~ the work / family juggle

~ setting up a female founded & female focussed business

Show links:

My guest in this episode is the extremely knowledgeable Kate Codrington. Kate is a very experienced womens health therapist, and an expert in all things menstrual cycle, periods, perimenopause and menopause.  

In this episode we chat all about mothers and menstrual cycle, parenting and periods. Because you have available to you a simple yet amazingly valuable tool to make your life as a mother easier, less stressful, calmer and more connected - all through connection to your menstrual cycle. Yes really! It can have a big impact in terms of your energy levels, your emotions, your sleeps - so much is affected by our cycle. It’s something I am personally fascinated by. I think from listening to this episode you may well have quite a few ‘aha’ moments. It's super easy to do, costs nothing, and Kate talks you through it simply in our chat.

We recorded this a little while ago, it was such fun to do. I’ve just listened back to it and I have to say it's a real corker of an episode. I mean we even get a Radiohead reference in there!I hope you enjoy it. 

Thing we talk about:

~ the big picture, and the fact we are not linear. That we as humans are cyclical, just as plants and animals and nature are too. And how a way to tap into the cyclical nature of the world is by connecting with our own inner cycles and our menstrual cycle. 

~ how can your menstrual cycle be a practical tool for mothering. If you listen to your body, you ‘ll be better rested, less stressed, less pain, more energetic, more creative, and calmer in your relationships too. Pretty bold statement! 

~ how tracking your energy and mood through your cycle, using a paper chart (link below) or a free app can help you to see a pattern, and then you can anticipate and learn what you need to support yourself. Which means you can be more present to, and mother more effectively, the children you care for. 

~ how a connection to your period enables you to mother more easily, more wholly and is a way to model self-care for your own children. 

~ the ‘seasonal’ model of the menstrual cycle - Summer, Spring. Autumn, Winter 

~ the importance of rest at certain times of your cycle 

~ we talk about loads of practices that I really and do love myself - journaling, restorative yoga, rest, yoga nidra, eating chocolate!. 

Show links:

Find Kate here:

My guest in this episode is the hugely experienced Lactation Consultant Caroline Bolton. I really wanted to chat with her about dispelling some of the myths about feeding babies, as much information we are passed down is simply out of date (or was never even true in the first place!). And caring for and feeding a baby is hard enough, without misinformation.

I was also delighted that many of the questions for this podcast episode came from my lovely For Modern Mothers community on mothers-to-be and mothers, after a call on my Facebook group. It's so great to be able share knowledge and information that you all want to know.

We talk about a whole range of things, including....

~ should breastfeeding hurt?

~ is it easy?

~ feeding after a caesarean birth

~ why is breastfeeding good for you and baby?

~ will a bottle help baby sleep through the night?

~ can breastfeeding be used as contraception?

~ will it give me saggy boobs?

Some of the resources we talked about:

This is another episode on that topic ever-present on the minds of new (and not so new) Mothers - baby sleep. Specifically WHERE babies should sleep, what is safe, and what science and research tells us about safe infant sleep. As well an a little about anthropology and where the current western cultural norm of babies sleeping in cots came from. Because as you may well know by now, in my courses and programs I take a holistic but evidence-based approach - so I love a real bit of research and always advocate informed choice. Because then pregnant women and mothers can make real informed decisions that are right for them.

I am delighted to be joined for this episode by Alice Keegan of the Durham University Parent-Infant Sleep Lab team. The research that Alice and the team do is all aimed to provide a scientific knowledge which can then enable parents to make their own informed choices about infant sleep and night time baby care. Informed by anthropology and human cultures around the world, as well as looking at safe practices for babies and dispelling some baby sleep myths (that might well have a history rooted in capitalism and the patriarchy...)

We talk about so much, including: 

~ Safe sleeping

~ Bedsharing, room sharing and co-sleeping

~ Caring for your baby at night

~ Side-cars and sleep pods

~ Routines

~ When do babies need to be in their own room?

This is a podcast to help you understand self-care a little bit better. And I hope to encourage you to weave more of it into your life. Because its important, for everyone, and especially for mothers and mothers-to-be.

Within a modern world that values busyness and productivity, it can often feel indulgent to do things that are for us and that involve slowing down, resting and replenishing ourselves. But I want to show you that by taking some time for self-care for you, you're also helping to be more rested, relaxed and recharged and present for your child and your family too. They will all benefit hugely. And you are also modelling the important of self care, self love and self compassion to them - which is of course so important.

In this episode I'll look at what actually is self care, how it's individual to each of us, how you can make it into little rituals in your day. As well as sharing some ideas for self-care including journalling, book-ending your day, and creating a 'self-care box' which I really think can help so much.

This episode is a real must for all pregnant women, and all those who've had a baby - recently or indeed ever.

Because in this country (the UK) sadly post baby womens physical health checks are sadly lacking on the NHS. This means that many women suffer problems that could be improved with some specialist women's physiotherapy. Emma is an expert in this as a specialist Women's Health Physiotherapist, working in private practice.

She also shared her top tips for the immediate period after birth, good to know in pregnancy what to expect and what you can prepare for too. We chat about the important of rest, perineal care after birth (important to know!), the pelvic floor (which both of us have a passion for), posture and breathing (ditto), post natal exercise and more. And where to get help and support for your postnatal body - so important.

OK so this is a subject that is always being discussed in my Mum & Baby Yoga classes. It causes a lot of worry and stress for all new, and not so new, parents - BABY SLEEP!

There are so many books and 'methods' about babys sleep, but what is actually science and evidence based?

What is 'normal' baby sleep? And how can you encourage baby to sleep in a gentle and calm way?

We look at all of this and lots more in my chat with expert Lauren of Calm Family York. Lauren is an amazing Calm Family Consultant and Parenting Coach. Helping parents raise children in a calm and loving way.

You can find out more about her amazing workshops and one to one sessions here - https://www.facebook.com/BabyCalmToddlerCalmYork/

As this podcast was birthed in the global coronavirus pandemic,  it seemed right that the first episode would be about some thoughts and strategies on how to cope better in a pandemic, to navigate this difficult time - particularly when you are pregnant. Because I know that so many women in my pregnancy yoga classes, and also the couples on my hypnobirthing and birth preparation courses have talked to me about this recently. It’s understandably a hot topic of conversation.

So I’m going to share with you in this podcast, episode 1, some things that I think could be helpful in coping with all that's going on in the world, and so feel calmer and more positive I hope. My particular slant is in your pregnancy, but so many of these tips and techniques will work for anyone during these challenging times, not just pregnant women.

I've really crammed in lots of good stuff, and I really hope it helps.

~~~~~~