Episodes
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When you are thinking about having a family, have you ever considered the cost of raising this family? What do you need to think about?
With the rise in the cost of living, and the effect this is having on household budgets, I thought it would be a good time to look at the cost of raising young children.
Join me and Stephanie Pow from Crayon as we talk about day to day baby expenses, parental leave, returning to work, childcare expenses. We also talk about having a will, and discuss insurance to help you prepare financially for becoming a parent.
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When you have children there seems to be unending things to think about.
Feeding times, nap times, playtime, transitioning to solid food. Organising kindergarten or daycare, making packed lunches and deciding what to put in it.
Managing the household needs such as the constant washing and cleaning.
Mental Load is this invisible work that goes behind childcare and managing household and domestic duties. The planning, managing, anticipating needs. and the cognitive load and emotional labour that goes with it.
In this episode I talk to psychologist Christina Bond about Mental Load, what it is, and how to manage it.
Christina is the co-founder of Matrescence NZ https://www.matrescence.nz/
You can also contact Christina via https://www.maternalpsychology.nz/
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode I talk with Georgie Manning, a mum of four children, including twins. She opens up about the joy and the struggles of being a mum to twins. We chat about preparing for the birth of twins, the regular check ups, early deliveries, sleep schedules, needing two of everything, breastfeeding pillows for tandem feeding, feeling trapped, support networks, asking for help, and also talk about how dads can support mum and babies, particularly in the early days.
Resources:
https://multiples.org.nz/
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Food allergies are a common concern for many parents with babies and young children. In this episode I talk with Aleshia Dearlove, a mum of two children who have had food allergies since they were babies. She discusses her journey as a parent identifying and managing food allergies and what she aims to teach her children about food.
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Matrescence is defined as the process of becoming a mother - those physical, psychological and emotional changes we go through after the birth of a child.
The concept relates to the expected changes such as how our bodies change during pregnancy and to some extent, that life will change.
Many mothers struggle with identity after having children. We may feel forgotten by friends, isolated, wondering if our careers are over, or if it is ok to 'just be a mum.' Some mothers miss their old life and wonder were they fit in.
In this episode we discuss matrescence, the common feelings new mothers have, strategies to help with this motherhood journey, and also touch on some differences between matrescence and postnatal depression.
Resources mentioned in this podcast:
Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Aotearoa https://pada.nz/
PADA Matrescence https://pada.nz/matrescence/
Wellington Breastfeeding http://www.wellingtonbreastfeeding.co.nz/
Liora Noy email: [email protected]
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Over 600 babies die between 20 weeks gestation and 12 months of age. It is also estimated that 1 to 2 out of 10 pregnancies result in a miscarriage.
When a young baby is lost, parents are faced with so much grief, questions, and a process you never think you would go through. How do bereaved parents cope in the days, month and years after such a loss of a loved one, and what support do they need?
In this episode I talk to Vicki Culling, a bereaved parent who has been actively involved in Sands for over 15 years. Vicki has presented at numerous national and international conferences on grief, and perinatal and infant loss, and currently runs support meetings both in-person and online for Sands as well as online learning for midwifery students. Resources:
Article on supporting bereaved parents:
https://capsulenz.com/be/dont-let-it-be-the-elephant-in-the-room-how-to-support-a-friend-or-family-member-who-has-lost-a-baby/
Whetūrangitia – government website on baby loss
https://wheturangitia.services.govt.nz/
Sands NZ
http://www.sands.org.nz/
Baby Loss NZ
http://www.babyloss.co.nz/
Miscarriage Matters
https://www.miscarriagematters.org.nz/
Book – What’s Happened to Baby?
https://skylight-trust.myshopify.com/collections/skylight-publications/products/bb
Skylight
https://www.skylight.org.nz/topics
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Parental Burnout is that long-term emotional, physical and mental exhaustion many parents experience. It can affect 2% - 12% of parents. A recent study has also found that up to 66% of working parents suffer from parental burnout.
How do we know if we are suffering from parental burnout, and what can we do about it?
Find out in episode 13 where I discuss parental burnout with Helen Gatland.
In this episode we discuss a programme Helene offers and the Parental Burnout Facebook group she has started. See her website and Facebook link below.
Helen Gatland - website https://www.helenegatland.com.au/#/
Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentalburnoutprivategroup
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Many children watch programmes on various forms of ‘screens’ such as TV, ipads, smartphones, laptops.
We also know many children in New Zealand watch a screen for longer than the recommended time. Is excessive screen time bad for children?
Find out in episode 12 where I am joined by Dr Felicia Low and we chat about screen use from babies to teenagers.
Report: Screen time: The effects on children's emotional, social, and cognitive development
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Many parents struggle with the work/parent balance. Having children might mean working part-time and therefore having less pay. That can lead to financial constraints as working can come with high childcare costs. Others might work full time which again can come with childcare costs as many kindergartens and schools close before the typical 9-5 workday is complete.
This is a mammoth, long term juggle for parents where the scales tip from how much time you can spend with your children and work expectations.
Join me as I talk to Ellen Joan Nelson, the 2023 Local Hero of the Year, about how she starting the #workingschoolhours movement, how efficient mums are especially when enabling flexible working, and other ways companies can support mums getting back to the workforce.
Find out more about Ellen at ellenjoannelson.com
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Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis often develops between the ages of 25 and 50. It affects 1-2% of the population and affects 2-3 times more women than men. Over time, if not controlled, it can damage bone and cartilage leading to joint deformities.
As this autoimmune disease causes pain and discomfort, how do parents manage with babies and active children?
Find out what challenges are faced by mums with rheumatoid arthritis in this episode of the Parental Well-Being Podcast.
More information and support on Rheumatoid Arthritis can be found at Arthritis New Zealand Arthritis New Zealand | Gout | Osteoarthritis | Rheumatoid ArthritisTo contact Dr Chloe Parton, email: [email protected]
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Perinatal distress could affect up to 15% of New Zealand women, and the rate for Maori, Pacific, and Asian women is higher and could be up to one in three. In fact, it's estimated that nearly HALF of the women who have had children could experience some symptoms of perinatal distress, however, many may not be at the point where they have a diagnosis.
With such large rates of people with children who have symptoms of perinatal distress, in this episode, we will learn more about it.
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According to the 2018 census, there were over 700,000 people who identified as the Asian ethnic group in New Zealand. Over 60% lived in Auckland. 21% had one child, 25.5% had two children and 8.9% had three children in this census. 77% were born overseas.
In this episode I am joined by Vishal Rishi, the Director of The Asian Network Inc (TANI), to discuss the needs of this population group and to tell us about the Healthy Babies Healthy Futures Programme, which is designed to support parents from this ethnic group.
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30% of postnatal women will suffer from one or more symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction. If left untreated this can lead to embarrassment and social isolation.
What is pelvic floor dysfunction? What symptoms can someone experience postpartum? What is an episiotomy and pelvic prolapse?
Find out in this episode about Postnatal Pelvic Dysfunction.
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When parents take a few years off work to look after and grow their families, it can be daunting to think about applying for a job again. How do I update my resume? What jobs should I apply for?
For some parents, this is an opportunity to think about what their career might look like, and it might be different from what they had once thought.
In this episode I welcome Jayne Chater again to discuss what parents can think about before looking for a job, the common challenges parents face when returning to the workforce, tools to help them decide what path to take, and how to promote themselves with confidence.
To find out about Career Camp which is discussed in this episode, click here https://leaderful.co.nz/
To find out about Jayne's book 'A Slight Detour' click here https://www.reconnect.coach/a-slight-detour/
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Jobs For Mums is a marketplace connecting forward-thinking employers with amazing people looking for flexible work.
In this episode, I talk to the founder of Jobs For Mums, Mela Lush. She explains why she started Jobs For Mums, what companies advertise through this marketplace, and what she sees as the biggest barriers to mums returning to the workforce.
Check out https://www.jobsformums.co.nz/
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Pelvic pain in pregnancy affects many women.
You may notice pain in the front or back of the pelvis, buttocks, or groin. You may have pain with walking and be uncomfortable when in bed.
Why is pelvic pain so common? Does it affect labour? How can this be managed?
To discuss this topic today, I am joined by pelvic health physiotherapist, Jennifer Dutton.
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Many parents share concerns about returning to work after parental leave.
How can I determine how many hours I can work? How can I prevent myself from ending up burnt out? Will I be judged for working part-time? What is best for my family and how can I advocate for that?
In this episode, I am joined by Jane Chater who has worked with hundreds of women addressing challenges professional women face and supports managers and organisations to support mothers going on leave, returning to work, and managing their careers long-term.
Jane has also written a book titled A Slight Detour, How to successfully navigate your family and career. This book is a guide to navigate your way along whatever twists and turns you may find yourself traveling down.
Find out more about Jayne at https://www.reconnect.coach/our-coaches/jayne-chater/
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We have likely heard the message “breast is best.” However, many women find breastfeeding challenging.
In this episode join me, Shirena, and Dr Yvonne Le Fort, a breastfeeding specialist to learn about factors that can affect breastfeeding and how to prepare for breastfeeding. We will also bust some myths about breastfeeding and ask, is there anything wrong with formula?
See some breastfeeding contacts below (accurate as of February 2023):
1. The regional health services have lactation consultants available for those who live in their area.
2. Plunket provides access to lactation consultants
3. The New Zealand Lactation Consultants Association has private community-based lactation consultants throughout Aotearoa New Zealand see https://www.nzlca.org.nz/
4. Breastfeeding Medicine Doctors throughout Aotearoa New Zealand can be accessed through Health Pathways by any GP across the country. Most offer online consultations as well as face-to-face.
5. You can also contact Dr Le Fort directly on [email protected]
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Welcome to the Parental Well-Being Podcast!
The Parental Well-Being podcast is for parents who sometimes struggle with parenting while managing the complexities of life. This podcast aims to support parents in gaining insights into parenting challenges and stresses and provide some tools, techniques, and resources to manage these.
Please note: These episodes are for educational purposes only. This should not be used to replace clinical diagnosis or support.
Some topics may be sensitive so please take care of yourself.
