Episodes
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That first year in motherhood can sometimes feel like a bit of a blur...
Days are long, nights are even longer. Some days seem to fly by and others seem like an eternity.
In amongst it all you are going to have so many firsts, and consequently a bunch of lasts.
Some of these you will be excited about, some will be a relief and others will have you all emotional.
In today's episode we recap some of our memorable firsts and lasts and share them with you.
We hope you enjoy it.
xx
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Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Following on from last week's A - Z of pregnancy, we thought it made sense to run through the A - Z of your new baby....
After all, moving from pregnancy to parenthood can be as equally daunting and there is a lot of unknown territory.
It's a lighthearted chat where we take you through some familiar and some not so familiar words and terms and give you a run down of what they mean and what to expect.
Enjoy!
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Missing episodes?
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Ever wondered what Lanugo is? What about meconium, Amniotic Fluid or Strep B?
If you have never heard of these words, or have heard them but have no idea what they mean, don't worry, we got you.
Today's episode takes you through some new words and new terms that will become common language as you move through your pregnancy, but to start with, it might sound like you are hearing a new language for the first time.
Come on a little journey with us from A to Z to learn all about the wonderful world and different stages of your pregnancy.
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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The last birth story in our little 4 part series for you today.
Again, please be aware this experience contains the good, the bad and the scary, as it happened from my perspective. It was overall positive and I couldn't have asked for a better experience even though it was tough. For this one, it is a water birth with an induced labour and resulted in a natural vaginal birth with no issues. I talk through a lot of the decisions and options that I had through my journey and how my first birth influenced the decisions I made in this one. I hope it's useful for you. Enjoy.
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Round two!
Today I share my second experience bringing a child into the world, and it is completely different to the first.
I took so many learnings from my first birth, asked more questions, was much more inquisitive and took more control of what I wanted to happen.
I had a planned C-Section and a smoother, calmer and much more enjoyable experience.
I hope you enjoy it!
Felicity
xxx
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Today it’s my turn to share my birth story. This one is a spontaneous, natural vaginal birth, ultimately with an epidural. It had its highs and lows and this is a very real and raw account of what happened from my perspective.
I hope that by hearing real, detailed birth stories you feel better equipped to face what lies ahead for you. ❤️Karen
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘Follow’ on your podcast app.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Every birth story is unique. This one is mine.
In this episode I share the story of how I became a Mum and how my first born, Ruby, entered the world.
Recording this episode stirred up some very raw emotion for me that is for sure!!
If you are currently pregnant, and getting ready for your own birth, my biggest piece of advice is to do your research, ask questions and empower yourself with knowledge.
I hope you enjoy my story. Love Felicity xox
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Ailsa Robson is a woman who has ditched diet culture and loves to move her larger body in all sorts of sassy ways. She's also a Psychotherapist who offers Walk and Talk Therapy, an Author, a Health At Every Size (HAES) provider and a mum to her daughters.
In today’s episode with Ailsa we have an open discussion about body image and how to embrace your changing body both during and after pregnancy, as well as generally in day to day life.
Ailsa shares her own personal experience navigating fertility and the stigma associated with weight and fertility and how curiosity and compassion are the keys to unlocking acceptance.
How to connect with Ailsa:
www.ailsarobson.com
https://www.facebook.com/ailsacounsellingandpsychotherapy
https://www.instagram.com/ailsarobson_walkandtalk/
The book that changed Ailsa’s life: www.ifnotdietingthenwhat.com.au
Poodle Science:
https://youtu.be/MlY963YCnBE
HAES Australia - where Ailsa is now listed as a HAES provider:
https://haesaustraliainc.wildapricot.org/
Follow us on Instagram.
Connect with our community in our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101
If you would like to show some support you can do so by leaving a review and a rating and by hitting ‘subscribe’ on Apple Podcasts or ‘Follow’ on Spotify.
We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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To find out...... Or not to find out? That is the question we are hoping to help you answer in today's episode! Gender disappointment is a real thing, and if you have ever experienced it you will know how it can feel to wish for one thing only to find out you should be preparing for another....... Maybe you already have a little one that you need to consider, a 'family' name that is passed down through generations that you need to plan around, or maybe you are just really really impatient and not knowing is just unfathomable!! There are many reasons why people choose to, or not to find out the gender of their baby, so have a listen while we unpack it for you!
If you are enjoying our podcast, please subscribe or follow so you don't miss out on future episodes and if you love it, leave a review too!
If you would like to connect with us, we hang out on Instagram. We have some baby goodies for sale at our Vanrowe website. And we are keen to start up a conversation with Aussie new mums over at our private Facebook group: How to Mum 101We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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You had 40 weeks to prepare to have the baby, and now you only have a few left - where did all that time go?? Don't worry, you wouldn't be the only one who ever left something to the last minute!! In this episode we give you a quick fire list of 10 things to do in the final weeks of your pregnancy. If you have a little bit of time left and don't know where to start, have a listen and we'll walk you through it....If you tick off all 10 we think you are almost ready for that baby - impressive!
The hospital list we spoke about can be downloaded here or have listen to episode 7 for all the details. You need to login to the website to download the list, but it's all free.
If you are enjoying our podcast, please subscribe or follow so you don't miss out on future episodes and if you love it, leave a review too!
If you would like to connect with us, we are on Instagram, How to Mum 101 Facebook group, or our Vanrowe website. We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Today we are talking about packing your hospital bag when you are pregnant.
It can be overwhelming packing for something and someone you have never had to pack for before so we are going to talk you through it step by step. We start with what you will need in your bag for labour, then on to some things to pack for your partner. Thirdly your packing list for your stay in the hospital and lastly what you will need for your new baby in hospital.
We have made it really easy for you and capture the whole list in a pdf that you can download here.
There is space on there for you to add more things if you need to, so print that out, hopefully it will be a big help for you.
We think its a great discussion about how you would use each item - please get in touch and let us know what you think.
Our baby milestone stickers are great to use on the first days as your baby arrives and all throughout their first year. Shop here. (Currently only available for shipping within Australia due to limited postage availability during COVID-19 pandemic)
If you would like to connect with us, we are on Instagram, How to Mum 101 Facebook group, or our Vanrowe website. We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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Today we continue our chat with midwife, Ros McDonough, from last week. Last week we spoke about choosing your care options when you first find out you are pregnant. Today we expand into what you can expect for some of the routine tests during pregnancy at your care appointments.
Things like: gestational diabetes screening, first trimester screening, group B strep, general blood tests and more.
*** Any advice you hear in today's episode is of a general nature and does not take the place of personalised medical care***
Ros McDonough offers pregnancy and newborn care through her private midwifery practice Hello Baby! Midwifery and comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge. She is generous with her time and is devoted to making sure her patients are confident, calm, and armed with all the relevant information they need.
If you would like to connect with us, we are on Instagram, How to Mum 101 Facebook group, or our Vanrowe website. We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
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When you first find out that you are pregnant, you know you need to book in for your pregnancy care but it is often not clear exactly how to do that, what your options are, and how to pick one.
In today's episode with midwife Ros McDonough, we explore the pregnancy, birth and post-natal care options available in South Australia. There will be a lot of similarities with options in other states in Australia, but each state and even each hospital has nuances.
We explore, after your initial GP appointment, what your options are in both the private and public streams; Care available in public hospitals vs private hospitals; Public and Private midwives; Obstetrician selection; Midwife clinic vs Group midwifery practice; and so much more.
*** Any advice you hear in today's episode is of a general nature and does not take the place of personalised medical care***
Ros McDonough offers pregnancy and newborn care through her private midwifery practice Hello Baby! Midwifery and comes with a wealth of experience and knowledge. She is generous with her time and is devoted to making sure her patients are confident, calm, and armed with all the relevant information they need.
If you would like to connect with us, we are on Instagram, How to Mum 101 Facebook group, or our Vanrowe website. We love to hear from you so we know who's listening!
Useful links and info:
Pregnancy referral line for SA: call this number to book into a public hospital when you find out you are pregnant: 1300 368 820
SA Perinatal Practice Guidelines - very useful info on how medical care providers are guided to care for various aspects of pregnancy
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Hiding a pregnancy in the first 12 weeks is hard at the best of times, but during December, it's even harder. Christmas functions, fun in the sun, catching up with friends and family, lots of celebrating, eating, drinking and more.
During this bite-sized episode, we whizz you through some handy tips and tricks to keep your secret under wraps for a bit longer while avoiding the prying questions about whether you're not drinking because you're pregnant and keeping you and your baby bump safe through the festive season.
We talk about avoiding alcoholic drinks, not-suitable-for-pregnancy foods and some general tips.
We mention non-alcoholic drinks in the episode and if you would like some more detail on what's available, Dan Murphys has some great options here (not sponsored): danmurphys.com.au/discover/low-and-non-alcoholic
Come and talk to us at our links below!
Private Facebook group
Instagram
Website
Tiktok
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Have you ever wondered what happens to your body during pregnancy? Well there are the obvious things, like growing a set of arms and legs inside your tummy, and the miracle of childbirth, but what about the ailments, the symptoms and the side effects?
Before our pregnancies, we were pretty clueless about what our bodies were about to experience!
Today we share our own stories from our pregnancies and talk you through some of the known, and not so known, weird and wonderful things that you might experience too.
Find us at IG @van.rowe FB group: How to Mum 101 Website: www.vanrowe.com.au -
Being a new parent can be isolating, but there are a number of support groups available to help you connect with others just like you.
In this episode, we discuss some of the support group options which are available to new and expecting parents in Australia. Some of them are virtual/online, and others are face to face (covid permitting).
Useful links:
How to Mum 101 Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1037660380037491 Baby Centre: https://www.babycenter.com.au/c25000183/birth-clubs Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA): https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/ Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA): https://www.amba.org.au/ State family health services: SA: http://www.cyh.com/SubContent.aspx?p=144 NSW: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/MCFhealth/Pages/health-services-map.aspx VIC: https://www.education.vic.gov.au/parents/services-for-parents/Pages/first-time-parent-groups.aspx QLD: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/children/babies/help/mothers ACT: https://www.health.act.gov.au/services-and-programs/women-youth-and-children/maternal-and-child-health-mach TAS: http://www.health.tas.gov.au/ths/child_health WA: https://healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/N_R/Parenting-groups NT: https://nt.gov.au/wellbeing/pregnancy-birthing-and-child-health/support-new-parents -
There are so many newborn products available out there, it's hard to distinguish what are the real must-haves versus what's just nice to have or personal choice.
In this episode, we discuss your list of things to buy for a new baby before they are born. We have separated it into 6 categories and we will talk about what you really NEED and what is up to your own choice and personal circumstances.
To download a PDF version of the full shopping list, head to https://www.vanrowe.com.au/post/must-have-shopping-list-for-a-new-baby (login or sign up for free to view and download).
Come over to our private Facebook group to continue the convo about what you really need to buy over here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1037660380037491 (How to Mum 101: Pregnancy and baby support Australia)
As discussed in the episode, do some further reading about SIDS and safe sleeping here: https://rednose.org.au/resources/education
And, for some white noise options, check these out: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/sound-sleeper-white-noise/id507967709 and https://www.littleones.co/products/perfect-sounds -
The How to Mum 101 Pregnancy and Parenting Podcast is here to arm you with the practical information you need to navigate your way through the first years of being a mum - from pregnancy to newborns and then on to the toddler years.
There's no instruction booklet when you become pregnant or when you have a baby and you find yourself asking questions that you hadn't anticipated. How do you know what to do when you first get pregnant? How do you prepare for labour? And what do you even need to buy for a new baby?
Our episodes will help you through some of those tricky decisions by providing you with options, information and expert advice. We want you to be confident that whichever path you choose along the way is the right one for you.
We are two Aussie mums who have done it before and we will chat about these topics: what we did, what our opinion is, advice from experts, and where you can find more information you need to be comfortable with your decisions. It's not just about the big, tough decisions like your birthing options, but also the small ones like what to pack in your hospital bag.
The How to Mum 101 Pregnancy and Parenting Podcast is hosted by Karen van Beek and Felicity Rowe and brought to you by our business, VANROWE.
Find us: www.vanrowe.com.au
IG: @van.rowe
Facebook group: How to Mum 101: Pregnancy and baby support Australia
Tiktok: vanrowebaby
