Episódios
-
There are over 1 million lone parent households in Australia, and the overwhelming majority of these are headed by single mothers. This doesn't mean however that single mothers are one homogenous group, all with the same backstory, immediate needs or hopes for the future. Klyne Love is a single mother working primarily with single parents. She brings her lived experience and professional insights to this conversation, shedding light on the nuances of the single motherhood experience. This conversation touches on the unique challenges single mothers face and how the rest of us (coupled parents, friends without children, older people without young dependent kids, support professionals, etc.) can show up for the single parents around us.
Content warnings - domestic violence, houselessness.
Connect with Klyne on Instagram @klyne.love or via the web www.klyne.love
Connect with Anna
Thinking of checking out Anna's online community membership? It's $15AUD/month (or $9 for concession/single parents) and features private member-only articles, a forum, regular zoom connection calls and more.
Connect with Anna's other services (birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing, parent support sessions, custom ceremonies), public articles, and upcoming mothers' circles and events at www.annacusack.com.au
You can also find her (sometimes) on Instagram @annacusackpostpartum and grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken - Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" here: www.annacusack.com.au/book
-
Welcome to season 8! This season is a combination of interviews and solo episodes. This ep starts with a little update from me on what’s been happening and what I’m enjoying working on, and leads into an audio version of an article I published last autumn about caring for sick kids. Who is taking the load and how does it impact them, how do we manage and renegotiate it in our families and workplaces, and how could we do it better as a society? The full text article is located here:
Flu season, carers' leave and the career stumbling block we don't speak about (annacusack.com.au)
**In this episode I use the phrase "disabled child". I have made the decision to use "identity first" language rather than "person first" language, which you can read more about here:
Person-first and identity-first language | vic.gov.au (www.vic.gov.au)
Thinking of joining Anna's online community membership? It's $15AUD/month (or just $9 for concession/single parents) and features private member-only articles, a forum, regular zoom connection calls and more.
Default Parent Project Online Community - Anna Cusack
Connect with Anna's other services (birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing, parent support sessions, custom ceremonies), public articles, and upcoming mothers' circles and events at www.annacusack.com.au
You can also find her (sometimes) on Instagram @annacusackpostpartum and grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken - Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" here: www.annacusack.com.au/book -
Estão a faltar episódios?
-
We now know it's important to be on the lookout for signs of postnatal depression, anxiety and even psychosis in the early days, but what happens if a mother experiences a mental health crisis further down the track? In this interview, Emmeline Tyler (she/her) shares openly about her birth and blissful postpartum, and how these assisted in helping her be well. She explains how personal and societal factors influenced the unravelling of her mental health during the toddler years, which escalated into psychosis and hospitalisation 2.5 years after birth. Recorded a further 2.5 years down the track, Emmeline shares her insights into the mental health system, her path to recovery and ongoing mental health management, and how her family are seeking to build a life with mental wellness for all as their focus. We also go on a few feminist-y tangents and discuss books because it's us and how could we not?
Content warnings: birth interventions, medical and hospital trauma, psychosis.
Note: This episode was recorded in 2023 and discusses homeschooling. Both mine and Emmeline's children are in formalised educational environments this year (2024).
LinksOn use/misuse of certain words including "tribe": https://www.wellandgood.com/spirit-animal-native-american/If you are interested in finding out more about the Newborn Mothers postpartum care and education course you can do so via this affiliate link: https://newbornmothers.simplero.com/products/172434-Postpartum-Education-and-Care?ref=46186-Anna-Cusack
The Talia Hibbert books we mentioned: https://www.goodreads.com/series/271642-the-brown-sisters
Where to find usEmmeline is the co-host of the soon-to-be-released "Explaining Autism" podcast with Julia Jones. She also has a YouTube channel where she does the hard yards of reading and reviewing a stack of fiction and non-fiction books so you'll never get stuck with a dud read again! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChzD1TesIcsfEkuitdQhXTQEmmeline is also on Instagram @emmelineysunConnect with Anna's services (birth mapping, postpartum planning, birth debriefing and parent support sessions), articles and upcoming mothers' circles at www.annacusack.com.au
You can also find her (sometimes) on Instagram @annacusackpostpartum and grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken - Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood" here: www.annacusack.com.au/book
-
Ashley Winning is a birth and postpartum professional from QLD, Australia. Ashley experienced size-based discrimination in her first two traumatic pregnancy and birth experiences, which led her to dive deeply into the world of physiological birth for her third birth. Again, size-based discrimination struck and she was unable to access the home-based midwifery care she desired. Ashley went on to freebirth her baby and wants others to know this option is available to them too.
The study I refer to regarding rates of uncomplicated pregnancies in obese women is by Relph et al., 2021.
Characteristics associated with uncomplicated pregnancies in women with obesity: a population-based cohort study
The books I recommend at the start of the episode are "Plus Size Pregnancy" by Dr Sara Wickham, and "Birth After Caesarean" by Hazel Keedle, PhD.
You can find Ashley at www.themotherhoodcircle.com.au and as @ashleylwinning on Instagram. Her podcast is The VBAC Homebirth Stories Podcast. Ashley is currently launching a VBAC Membership and running a fabulous giveaway to go along with that launch. You can find out more and join the waitlist at https://ashleywinning.com/vbac-village-waitlist/
Find me at www.annacusack.com.au and as @annacusackpostpartum on Instagram -
Emily Adler Mosqueda is a Mexican American mother of two and paediatric speech language pathologist. Her second pregnancy and postpartum brought with it rage and depression - seemingly out of the blue, but really stemming from a sea of social conditions that led to chronic undersupport, overreaching and feelings of failure. This is a fascinating conversation spanning topics from being so out of control you feel physically unsafe around your own children, pathways to recovery, perceptions of Latina motherhood and the experience of raising bilingual children. You can check out Emily’s book “Unexpected: A postpartum memoir” and website here https://www.emilyadlermosqueda.com/book and connect with her on Instagram @Emily.Adler.Mosqueda
You can find Anna's Seven tips for transitioning to two (or more) at her "Default Parent Project" Substack https://open.substack.com/pub/annacusack/p/tips-for-transitioning-to-two-or?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Upgrade to a paid subscription for $6/month to join her regular online events, including the “Transition to 2 (or more)” workshop on Aug 26th. As always, you can download Anna's free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a session with her or grab a copy of her book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Anna is also on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum
Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love! -
Despite being a midwife and equipped with insider knowledge of the maternity care system in which she worked, Sharon still felt vulnerable and disempowered during her own experience of giving birth to her son. Sharon's book "Scars of Gold" tells the story of her personal experience of birth trauma, the drastic impact it had on her life, and how she used her voice to fight for change. This conversation discusses how you too can get your story heard and effect the changes we so desperately need to see in obstetrics and maternity care. **Since this recording Sharon and I each participated in supporting people to submit their experiences of birth trauma to the NSW birth trauma inquiry. A few months later, the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza escalated. From the outset, Sharon has made her support of the IDF well known. Although I do not share or personally endorse this position, Sharon’s work in midwifery research and birth trauma advocacy remain important, and I present her story and insight here with thanks.**
Get Sharon's free download: "Your Guide to Writing a Letter of Complaint eGuide" at https://www.sharonstoliar.com/product-page/your-guide-to-writing-a-letter-of-complaint-eguide
Connect with Sharon on instagram @endingbirthtrauma and online https://www.sharonstoliar.com/ Sharon’s research on midwives’ birth choices and outcomes: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S187151922200302X
You can find Anna's "Default Parent Project" Substack and community at https://annacusack.substack.com
As always, you can download Anna's free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a session with her or grab a copy of her book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Anna is also on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum
Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked.
Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love! -
Is there a more queer job than being a doula? Full spectrum Mother carer Rafferty Hallows thinks not. If you are ready to reimagine your life and relationships, resource yourself on the darkest days, embrace your neurospicy self + family or redefine your own postpartum experience years after birth, you'll want to listen to what they have to say. Big language warning on this one, and please be aware we touch on issues including infant loss and mental ill health including perinatal psychosis. Find Rafferty on instagram @raffertyhallows.doula and on the web https://www.raffertyhallows.com
You can find Anna's shiny new Substack "Mother Thinkers" newsletter and community at https://annacusack.substack.com
As always, you can download Anna's free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a session with her or grab a copy of her book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Anna is also on socials @annacusackpostpartum
Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked. Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love! -
Meet Annie Crowe, a self-described fat, autistic, ADHDer lawyer, mother to one neurospicy child, and founder of Eating Disorders Neurodiversity Australia. Annie shares her experience, expertise and tips for those navigating pregnancy, birth, early postpartum and motherhood as a neurodivergent parent. We cover a lot of ground and some difficult topics in this conversation - if you're not up for hearing discussions of or references to ableism, sexual violence, infertility, pregnancy loss, medical trauma, fatphobia or sexual violence right now, you may like to skip past this episode or come back to it at a later time. We also mention Sandhya Menon from @Onwardsandupwardspsych and her book “The Brain Forest”.
You can connect with Annie on instagram @_anniecrowe and find out about her various services and roles via https://linktr.ee/anniecrowe
Learn more abut the work of Eating Disorders Neurodiversity Australia at https://www.edneuroaus.com
You can find Anna's shiny new Substack "Mother Thinkers" newsletter and community at https://annacusack.substack.com
As always, you can download Anna's free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a session with her or grab a copy of her book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Anna is also on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum
Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked.
Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love! -
Alcohol and motherhood is an interesting topic for one that's so in the forefront of our lives but the margins of our conversations. In this episode I speak with Meg and Bella, cohosts of the She's Sober Sydney podcast. Our chat covers:
Meg and Bella's personal stories with alcohol as mothers The pressures on mothers and normalising of "mummy wine culture" The cycle of alcohol to mitigate (but then raise) anxiety How their relationship with their kids has changed since going alcohol free How to start talking with kids about alcohol Does alcohol really help you relax or get to sleep, or is it a placebo effect? The big fear - losing friends by being the "odd one out" non-drinker What is grey area drinking and where can you go if you're sober curious?Megan Webb: https://glassfulfilled.com.au
Instagram: @glassfulfilled
Isabella Ferguson: https://isabellaferguson.com.au
Instagram: @letstalkalcoholaustralia
Instagram: @kidsandalcohol
As always, you can find Anna and her free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a session with her or grab her book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Anna is also on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum
Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked.
Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love!
-
TW: child loss, stillbirth. 4 months down, forever to go. This episode covers: partner leave and transitions, four month sleep situations, using play to support older siblings who now have to share mum, successful mini-holidays and gig with a baby, the circle of life on the farm, forgetting ourselves and our train of thought, the anxiety that shadows some of your second experience after a high needs first baby, those moments your heart is aching with the beauty of it all, the frustration and minuscule fragments of alone time you get with multiple tiny children, parenting through injury, our physical health/strength needs in postpartum, my own rehab process with the Empowered Motherhood Program (not sponsored), what’s coming in season 7, and more things that I’ve probably forgotten because I spoke for ages! Thanks for being my Dear Diary, listener. Much love to all of you in the mothering trenches, would love to hear your experiences and reflections via DM @annacusackpostpartum Would also love if you could leave a 5 star rating or review, listen to my book (scroll back to season 2) or buy the paperback from www.annacusack.com.au/book. Circles are coming up soon monthly from March 26, hit the website to join me! www.annacusack.com.au/products
-
That’s a wrap on the fourth trimester! I don’t have delegators reflections here, I feel that comes with some distance and I’m still in the thick of it. Instead I’m talking public outings with 2, the pros and cons of more preschool, my own injuries and indecisiveness, general mama baby stuff including readiness for solid food and the big one - our trip to the emergency department and how I tried to downgrade my trauma response in the hours and days following it.
Upcoming mothers’ circles starting 26 March https://www.annacusack.com.au/products/177801-Mothers-Circles
My take on “The fourth trimester vs “postpartum is forever’ concept” https://www.instagram.com/p/CojRGndPXvY/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Signs of readiness for solids from @boobtofood https://www.boobtofood.com/blog/2021/12/15/starting-solids -
The push/pull of being loved hard by two little people at the same time, feeding challenges, head turning/flat head concerns, and that nagging voice that says you’re not okay.
University of Newcastle’s colonial frontier massacre mapping project - https://c21ch.newcastle.edu.au/colonialmassacres/
Info on feeding babies who are windy, spit up a lot or struggle to keep up with milk flow - https://themilkmeg.com/can-i-overfeed-my-breastfed-baby/
The epidural - how a gift for the few became the curse of many - https://www.annacusack.com.au/blog/77941-the-epidural-how-the-gift-of-the-few
Book a 90min session with me here www.calendly.com/annacusack/
Get the Birth Map book here https://birthmap.life/?affiliates=45 [affiliate link]
Learn about upcoming Postpartum education and care professional training here: https://newbornmothers.simplero.com/products/172434-Postpartum-Education-and-Care?ref=46186-Anna-Cusack [affiliate link]
Please leave a 5 star rating and review to help others find real life stories to connect with, or become a supporter for Aus2.99 a month here: https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe -
Have you heard of postpartum hives? Neither had I! This and 25 other things I’ve learnt so far during postpartum and matrescence round 2. LINKS: Instagram book comp via @annacusackpostpartum Birth mapping training: https://birthmap.life/?affiliates=45 Postpartum education and care professional training: https://newbornmothers.simplero.com/products/172434-Postpartum-Education-and-Care?ref=46186-Anna-Cusack Please leave a 5 star rating or review to help other people find the pod, or become a supporter for Aus2.99 a month here: https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe
-
This week I talk sleep with sickness in the house, feeding, sibling transition, bodywork, getting out, self-talk, pelvic floor high and low emotions and support. Any Qs DM me and I’ll answer next episode- @annacusackpostpartum . Order my book before Dec 9 for guaranteed delivery in Australia by Xmas: “Mama, You’re Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood” via www.annacusack.com.au/book . For those wanting to see what a meal train is or contribute to mine, this is the link https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/n10d0q . If you have benefited from my content and wish to contribute to my postpartum care fund you can do so here www.PayPal.me/annacusackpostpartum Follow along with my journey on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked. Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend.
-
A word from me at week 3. The take home message is - make sure your support person/people use every skerrick of leave they can spare early on, and claim the support you need from them, as your needs might not be as obvious as you think! Shout out to Zelma @thepostnatalproject for her lawn example! Any Qs DM me and I’ll answer next episode- @annacusackpostpartum . Order my book before Dec 9 for guaranteed delivery in Australia by Xmas: “Mama, You’re Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood” via www.annacusack.com.au/book . For those wanting to see what a meal train is or contribute to mine, this is the link https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/n10d0q . If you have benefited from my content and wish to contribute to my postpartum care fund you can do so here www.PayPal.me/annacusackpostpartum Follow along with my journey on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked. Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend.
-
An update on my second week postpartum, direct from my bed on day 16. In this episode I mention (without any affiliation) - silverettes (nipple healing shields), Qiara (probiotics), my counsellor Katie Parker (www.KatieParker.com.au) and my blog on how there’s no ‘free’ way to feed your baby (https://www.annacusack.com.au/blog/76674-breastfeeding-is-free-and-other). I also spoke about my book “Mama, You’re Not Broken: Unmasking the Unspoken Emotions of Modern Motherhood”, specifically the chapter on fear. You can get it for 10% off through November ($22.50 delivered) with code BLACKFRIDAY via www.annacusack.com.au/book . For those wanting to see what a meal train is or contribute to mine, this is the link https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/n10d0q . If you have benefited from my content and wish to contribute to my postpartum care fund you can do so here www.PayPal.me/annacusackpostpartum Follow along with my journey on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked. Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend.
-
Here’s my update from our first 9 days! Services I spoke about were my midwife @homebirth_with_helen, Harriet lactation consultant @the.breast.help, placenta encapsulation @theoxytocincollective. Get my book for 10% off through November with code BLACKFRIDAY via www.annacusack.com.au/book For those wanting to see what a meal train is or contribute to mine, this is the link https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/n10d0q If you have benefited from my content and wish to contribute to my postpartum care fund you can do so here www.PayPal.me/annacusackpostpartum Follow along with my journey on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked. Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend.
-
In this episode I talk about a whole host of topics including antenatal and breastfeeding education, emergency numbers, partner leave, family sleep, food, supporting older siblings, visitors, amassing as much personal and professional support as possible, ceremonial self-care and more. This is what I’m doing second time around. For those wanting to see what a meal train is or contribute to mine, this is the link https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/n10d0q If you have benefited from my content and wish to contribute to my postpartum care fund you can do so here www.PayPal.me/annacusackpostpartum Follow along with my journey on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum As always, my free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide and book "Mama, You're Not Broken" is available via www.annacusack.com.au. Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked. Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend.
-
In this solo episode I cover: -Homebirth and finding a midwife; Logistics and equipment for birth at home; What’s in my birth box/hospital transfer kit; Preparing my older child for birth; Professional supports for lead up to birth; Baby positioning and expressing colostrum; Why I’m not trying to “bring on” labour. If you’d like to support my birth and postpartum you can chip in here www.PayPal.me/annacusackpostpartum Find Anna on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum
As always, her free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a 1:1 mentoring or postpartum planning session or grab Anna’s book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked.
Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love! -
Steph O’Brien joins us from Geelong to talk HG pregnancy with her second baby, preparing for birth after birth trauma and planning a postpartum that’s much, much more supported than her first was. We discuss the far reaching physical and emotional effects of pregnancy-related illness, judgement from others and ourselves regarding our birthing choices, and not knowing what we don’t know.
In this episode we refer to:
Hyperemesis Australia - https://www.hyperemesisaustralia.org.au/ PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) helpline - 1300 726 306 Monday to Friday 9am - 7.30pm (AEST/AEDT) Antenatal expression of colostrum and hand expressing. Please note that around 25% of women do not respond to attempts at antenatal expressing and this has no bearing on your later supply or ability to feed your baby at the breast! https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/resources/hand-expressingConnect with Steph on Instagram @postpartum_with_steph and enjoy her postpartum diaries on the “Postpartum Stories with Steph” podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/postpartum-stories-with-steph/id1511307920
Find Anna on Instagram and Facebook @annacusackpostpartum
As always, her free Six Steps to Your Peaceful Postpartum eGuide, arrange a 1:1 mentoring or postpartum planning session or grab Anna’s book "Mama, You're Not Broken" via www.annacusack.com.au.
Head to https://anchor.fm/annaasks/subscribe if you'd like to support this podcast for $2.99AUD/month. Every little bit helps and you can sub out at any time, no questions asked.
Please leave a 5 star rating or review if you loved this episode, or share with a friend. This helps other parents to find us and engage in the stuff you know they'll love!
- Mostrar mais
