Welcome Back, to the Happy Mama Movement Podcast

In this heartfelt conversation, I met with Hayley Smith to discuss the often hidden experiences of motherhood, particularly in the face of grief and illness.

Hayley shares her journey as a mother of three, focusing on the harrowing diagnosis of her daughter, Elsie Rae, with cancer. They explore the emotional turmoil of navigating a child's illness, the lack of support for parents, and the importance of normalizing conversations around grief. Hayley emphasizes the need for emotional tools and community support, reflecting on her own experiences with grief and the cultural stigmas surrounding it.

We Discuss:

• Normalizing motherhood includes discussing grief and illness.
• Motherhood expectations often differ from reality.
• The diagnosis process can be overwhelming and chaotic.
• Emotional support for parents is often lacking in medical settings.
• Cultural practices around grief can provide valuable insights.
• Advocacy for better support systems is essential for families.
• Community support can significantly impact coping with illness.

ABOUT HALEY:

Hayley is the founder of Cancer Dancer, a heart-led platform supporting mothers and families through the emotional and physical challenges of cancer. A mum of three, Hayley’s world changed forever when her youngest child was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer at just 22 months old. This wasn’t her first encounter with cancer—she lost her father to the disease as a teenager, whilst her mother survived cancer. These life-shaping experiences led her on a 30-year healing journey.

MAKE-A-WISH:

· Since 1985, Make-A-Wish Australia has granted over 11,000 unique, inspiring and extraordinary wishes across the country

· Make-A-Wish Australia is currently supporting over 900 kids on their wish journey ​

· Make-A-Wish Australia is a registered Australian children’s charity that relies on its volunteers, donors and supporters to make wishes happen​

· For everyone involved, wishes have a remarkable, uplifting and positive impact - well beyond the wish itself ​

. Make-A-Wish Australia creates life-changing wishes for children with a critical illness ​

CONTACTS:

FACEBOOK: /cancerdancer

IG: /cancerdancer.co

LINKEDIN: cancer-dancer

WEBSITE: www.cancerdancer.co

Chapters

00:00 Normalizing Motherhood and Grief

01:37 The Journey of Motherhood Before Diagnosis

03:30 The Diagnosis: A Mother's Intuition

08:49 The Shock of a Life-Altering Diagnosis

12:39 Finding Support in Crisis

21:23 Grieving Expectations and Reality

25:00 Exploring Grief Rituals and Acceptance

30:51 Navigating Guilt and Strength in Adversity

37:11 Transmuting Emotions: From Guilt to Strength

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WELCOME BACK TO THE HAPPY MAMA MOVEMENT PODCAST.

In this weeks episode, I speak with Emily Mitchell to explore the concept of matrescence, our grand transition into motherhood, and the importance of support systems during the postpartum period.

Emily shares her personal journey, including the trauma of her first birth experience and how it shaped her understanding of motherhood. We discuss the creation of resources aimed at educating new mothers about matrescence and the collaborative efforts with healthcare professionals to improve postpartum care. Our conversation emphasizes the need for community support and the empowerment of mothers through knowledge and understanding of their experiences.

WE DISCUSS

• Matrescence is a transformative process that impacts mothers deeply.
• Emily's first birth experience was traumatic and unplanned.
• Understanding matrescence can provide relief and validation for mothers.
• Support systems are crucial during the fourth trimester.
• Preparation for a second birth can lead to a more positive experience.
• Creating resources for new mothers can help them navigate postpartum challenges.
• Co-designing support with healthcare professionals is essential.
• Empowering mothers through education can change their postpartum experience.
• The importance of self-reflection and internal validation for mothers.
• Community support plays a vital role in maternal health.

ABOUT EMILY

Emily Mitchell is here to disrupt the motherhood narrative and shift the focus from the baby to the mother because she is born alongside her baby and needs to be held just as tight. Founder of Motherhood Milestones, a multi award winning business, Emily creates heartfelt cards without the hallmark cliches that honour the reality of motherhood and create space for supportive and honest conversations. A keen motherhood advocate, Emily has partnered with government to create resources and programs for new mums to validate and support their introduction to motherhood. A Reiki Practitioner and Mama Rising Facilitator, Emily works to remind mothers of their own power while also balancing her own role as mother to her four-year-old son and soon to be new arrival.

CONTACT:

Website: www.motherhoodmilestones.com

Facebook and Instagram: @motherhoodmilestones

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction to Matrescence and Its Impact

01:28 Emily's Personal Journey into Motherhood

04:00 The Trauma of Birth and Its Aftermath

06:29 Understanding Matrescence: A New Perspective

08:49 Preparing for a Second Birth: Lessons Learned

10:08 The Importance of Support in the Fourth Trimester

12:06 Creating Resources for New Mothers

15:35 Co-Designing Support with Healthcare Professionals

19:04 Empowering Mothers Through Education

22:15 The Pilot Program and Its Anticipated Impact

25:33 Conversations That Matter: Values and Support

27:28 Conclusion and Future Aspirations

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back, Mama's.

This week, Amanda Jackson and I explore the profound journey of motherhood and Matrescence, discussing the emotional and physical transformations that come with becoming a mother. We delve into the struggles of adjusting to new identities, the importance of self-care, and the need to listen to one's body. Amanda shares her personal experiences and insights from her book, emphasizing the significance of community support and the healing power of sharing stories among mothers.

Some takeaways from our conversation:

• Writing a book is a vulnerable process.
• Matrescence is often unrecognized in motherhood.
• Motherhood can challenge our expectations and identities.
• Breakdowns can lead to breakthroughs in self-awareness.
• Listening to our bodies is crucial for well-being.
• Self-care should be about tuning into our needs.
• Creating support systems is essential for mothers.
• The experience of motherhood is shared across generations.
• Healing comes from sharing our stories.
• Empowerment in motherhood comes from understanding matrescence.

About Mandy

Amanda, or Mandy as she’s affectionately known by her clients, guides mothers on a path

from guilt to growth. Her methods make visible the invisible loads and expectations that set

mothers up to feel as though they’ve failed.

Instead of perpetuating myths that the role of mother will neatly integrate into life without

changing us, Mandy #39;s signature programs embrace matrescence and the mother-child

relationship as opportunities for profound personal and professional growth.

Mandy has a background in psychology and sociology and completed her thesis on the

regulation of pregnant women’s bodies. Her approach draws from experience in Corrective

Services, youth and family development, and corporate sectors.

Chapters

00:00 The Birth of a Book

02:16 Honoring the Body in Motherhood

05:47 The Reality of Matrescence

11:31 Breakdowns and Breakthroughs

18:34 Redefining Self-Care

23:50 Creating Accessible Support for Mothers

28:07 Reflections on Matrescence and Self-Connection

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.