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One in 500 000 pregnancies happens without fertility treatment and results in quads. Sam Smith is living that statistic right now, 23 weeks pregnant with four babies she never expected.
On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we sit down with Sam Smith, who is 23 weeks into a spontaneous quad pregnancy, alongside returning guest Tasha, our resident multiples nurse. Sam and her partner Jan already have a toddler son, Teddy. They were hoping for one more baby. Instead, an eight week scan revealed four.
Sam walks us through that first scan in detail. She describes watching her doctor's expression change as he kept counting. Twins became triplets. Triplets became quads. There was no IVF involved.
Sam's honesty about the first trimester, the sleepless nights after the diagnosis, and the sheer physical discomfort of carrying four babies makes this one of the most human conversations we've had on the podcast.
If you've ever wondered what a spontaneous quad pregnancy actually looks like day to day, this episode answers it.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
How a routine eight week scan turned into a quad diagnosis, and what that moment felt like for Sam and her partner Jan.
The difference between monochorionic (shared placenta) and dichorionic twins, and why it matters for risk.
What twin to twin transfusion is and why the 24 week mark is a milestone in multiples pregnancies.
How delivery planning works for quads, including hospital selection by gestational week and NICU team size.
Practical breastfeeding strategies for multiples: pumping, donor milk, tandem feeding, and combination feeding.
Why "getting help" isn't a compromise, it's the plan, according to multiples nurse Tasha.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Sam Smith is currently 23 weeks into a spontaneous quad pregnancy, expecting four babies with no fertility treatment involved. She lives in Cape Town with her partner Jan and their toddler son, Teddy. Sam is sharing her pregnancy in real time, from the shock of the diagnosis through to preparing for delivery and life with five children under three.
Follow Sam's journey on Instagram: @SamSmithofCapeTown
ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition and expert advice.
FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website
Parent Sense
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Website
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Most parents think legacy means a will they'll sort out one day. Certified financial planner from Meta Heights Capital, Lerato Mahasha says that's only half the story.
Meg and Lerato talks to about the "dual legacy": the assets you leave behind and the values that go with them. Lerato explains why families over-index on money and leave values to "someday."
They cover which debts to kill first, why retirement usually beats education savings and the biggest money mistake parents make in a child's first five years. Lerato also breaks down what happens to your children and your estate if you die without a will, and how to actually choose a guardian.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
What the "dual legacy" is, and why most families only plan for half of itThe first financial move to make, even on a tight budgetRetirement or education savings: which comes firstThe biggest money mistake parents make in the first five yearsWhat happens to your children and estate if you die without a willSimple ways to pass down values through stories and family traditionsABOUT THE GUEST
Lerato Mahasha is a Certified Financial Planner at Meta Heights Capital, helping families build financial strategies alongside wills, trusts and estate planning.
REACH OUT TO META HEIGHTS CAPITAL
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ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition and expert advice.
FOLLOW US
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#SenseByMegFaure #ParentSense #FamilyLegacy #FinancialPlanning #ParentingAdvice #WillsAndEstates #MoneyAndFamily #GenerationalWealth #MegFaure #ParentingPodcast
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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When a baby arrives, the spotlight falls on the mother. Her body, her recovery, her bond with the baby. But there's a quieter transformation happening on the other side of the room. A man is becoming a father, and almost nobody is asking how he's doing.
Meg Faure sits down with psychologist Dr Ange Nespola to talk about what dads actually go through in those first weeks and months. The identity shift, the loss of connection to their partner, the pressure to hold it together and the postnatal depression that often gets missed entirely.
In This Episode You'll Learn
Why becoming a dad is a major identity transformation, not just a support roleWhat "primary maternal preoccupation" is, and what it means for a father's place in the family systemWhy marital satisfaction drops for most couples in the first year How to bring dad into hands-on caregiving without pushing him outWhy so many dads feel like a third wheel, especially during breastfeeding The real numbers on paternal postnatal depression, why it looks different to maternal depression and why it's so often missedHow to navigate the division of labour without turning it into a tallyA practical approach to splitting night shifts that doesn't leave both parents sleep deprivedABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Ange Nespola is a psychologist who works with couples navigating the transition to parenthood, drawing on both clinical practice and her own recent experience as a mother of two.
Follow Dr. Ange
Instagram
Website
EPISODE REFERENCES
Gottman Institute research on marital satisfaction after childbirth D.W. Winnicott's concept of primary maternal preoccupation,ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg Faure is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance through pregnancy, babyhood and the toddler years. Hosted by Occupational Therapist, author and parenting expert Meg Faure. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app. Download HERE
FOLLOW US:
Meg Faure:
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
Parent Sense:
Website
Instagram
LinkedIn
#NewFatherhood #PostnatalDepressionInDads #MarriageAfterBaby #ParentSense #EvidenceBasedParenting
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On this week’s episode of Sense by Meg Faure, we explore the identity shift nobody prepares you for. Meg Faure hands the hosting mic to Madge Booth - founder of the MOMents podcast for working mums - and the conversation that follows is one of the most honest this podcast has ever held.
What Is Matrescence?
Matrescence is the term for the transition from woman to mother. Meg compares it directly to adolescence - with its hormonal upheaval, neurological rewiring, and complete identity reorganisation. The difference is that adolescence unfolds over years. Matrescence happens within hours of giving birth.
Research shows that grey matter in the maternal brain changes fundamentally after birth and stays changed for up to two years. It doesn’t mean cognitive loss - it means the brain’s energy is being redirected towards keeping a new human alive. Primary maternal preoccupation is real, biological, and entirely normal.
Grief and Love at the Same Time
One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is the grief that lives alongside love. Meg is direct: you can adore your child completely and at the same time mourn the woman you used to be. The woman who could leave the house without a nappy bag. Who went to the toilet alone. Who had full cognitive agency over her own life.
Returning to Work: The Juggle Nobody Acknowledges
The majority of mothers return to work within months of giving birth. Meg unpacks what happens in that transition: the expectation to step back into your old professional mould, while carrying a permanent cognitive load that never fully switches off. At least until your children reach their mid-twenties, she says, there is never a minute of the day that you don’t know where they are.
Who Is Most Vulnerable?
Some women face a harder transition. Meg identifies key risk factors: inadequate support structures, a history of anxiety or depression, fertility struggles or birth trauma, and the intergenerational patterns psychologist Fraiberg called ‘ghosts in the nursery’.
Five Ways to Hold On to Yourself
Meg offers five practical anchors for navigating this transition - especially for those without close family support: Name it. Knowing that matrescence is real is the first act of self-compassion. When it feels like a mess, name it. You don’t have to have it perfect.Keep one anchor to your pre-baby self. One yoga class a week. One date night. One thing that is just yours.Build your village. Whether it’s Paddle and Prams, Stroller Strides, or Baby Hub in Cape Town - find your community and invest there.Lower the bar deliberately. Say no to things. Let the laundry wait. Drop the balls that don’t matter.You Are Not Less. You Are Becoming More.
The identity shift nobody prepares you for is also the one that quietly prepares you for everything that comes next. Meg’s closing words carry the whole episode: you have not lost yourself. You are being rewritten. The invisible developmental leap happening inside you - at the precise moment everyone is asking about the baby and not about you - is not weakness. It is the most significant transition of your adult life.
The parts of you that feel like they’re falling apart are quietly building something extraordinary. In the mess and the magic of this moment, you are not less. You are becoming more.
ABOUT TODAY’S GUEST HOST
Madge Booth is a mum of two with a background in women’s magazines and marketing. She is the founder and host of MOMents - a podcast for smart, tired, ambitious women ready to change the conversation around motherhood and work. Find MOMents wherever you get your podcasts.
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On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure, Meg sits down with Dr. Nellie Balfour - a paediatrician who is 35 weeks pregnant with her second child - to talk through everything you need to know about what happens the moment your baby is born. This is episode three of their real-time pregnancy series, and it's one of the most practical and reassuring conversations the show has produced.
Dr. Nellie is having an elective C-section at 38 weeks. She's packed the bag, she's thought through the birth plan, and she brings both her medical knowledge and her personal experience as a second-time mum to every part of this conversation.
Sensory Personalities-Who Is This Baby?
Meg and Nellie open with the question every third-trimester parent is really asking: who is this little person? Nellie's baby has been doing somersaults all pregnancy, and Meg explains what that might mean in terms of sensory personality. She walks through the four sensory types - settled, slow to warm up, social butterfly, and sensitive - and what each means for how you parent in those early months.
The Hospital Bag -What You Actually Need
Nellie unpacks her hospital bag in detail. For a C-section specifically, the focus shifts almost entirely to postnatal comfort rather than labour preparation. Her list covers maternity essentials from the Carrywell range, a front-button nightie over pyjama pants (the elastic irritates the scar), breast pads for when the milk arrives on day two or three, a breastfeeding pillow, flip flops for the shared shower, and the one item people consistently forget: a phone charger.
She also covers the baby bag: two nappy sizes because estimated weights from ultrasounds aren't always accurate, unscented wipes, cotton wool with surgical spirits for the umbilical stump, swaddles, beanies, and a dummy.
Delayed Cord Clamping, First Baths, and the Delivery Room
Nellie explains delayed cord clamping in plain terms: by waiting 30 to 60 seconds before clamping, blood transfers from mum to baby, reducing the risk of anaemia and jaundice. It happens in elective C-sections and, where safe, in emergency sections too.
Then Meg asks Nellie to step fully into her paediatrician role and describe exactly what happens the moment your baby is born - what she's looking for when baby is passed to her in the delivery room. Nellie walks through the full newborn check: why a cry matters (it confirms oxygen is moving through the lungs), why blue skin is normal at first, what a floppy baby signals, and how the head-to-toe examination works. Clear, calm, and genuinely demystifying.
This episode won't change what happens in your delivery room, but it will mean you understand it. That's worth a lot.
About Today's Guest
Dr. Nellie Balfour is a paediatrician currently 35 weeks pregnant with her second child. She has been documenting her pregnancy journey in real time on the Sense by Meg Faure podcast across three episodes - first trimester, second trimester, and now the third. Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drnelliepaeds/
Episode References and Links
📱 Parent Sense App — your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off. https://parentsense.app/
Connect with Meg Faure
Web: megfaure.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
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On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we sit down with renowned Clinical Paediatric Dietitian Kath Megaw for the ultimate baby and toddler feeding masterclass. We cover everything from the newborn milk phase right through to the picky toddler years, giving you practical, science-backed answers to the feeding questions that keep parents up at night.
Is My Baby Getting Enough? The Newborn Milk Phase
In those brutal first few weeks, nearly every parent wonders whether their baby is getting enough milk. Kath shares the three objective signs to look for: weight gain, adequate wet nappies, and regular stools. She explains why a crying baby is not a reliable indicator of hunger, and sets out a clear, reassuring weighing schedule for new parents.
The Weaning Window: When Is the Right Time?
The question of when to start solids is one of the most confusing areas of early parenting. Kath cuts through the noise with a three-part framework: the science (look for supported sitting and neck control, and wait past 17 weeks), your cultural context, and your own gut instinct. She is clear that solids are for teaching and joy, not for fixing sleep, reflux, or poor growth.
Gagging vs Choking: What Every Parent Must Know
Gagging is loud, active, and protective. Choking is silent, limp, and rare. Kath explains the crucial difference so clearly that parents will never react the same way again. She offers practical guidance for anxious parents and explains why an engaged, calm parent is the single best protection against choking at mealtimes.
The Picky Toddler: What Is Normal and What To Do
Toddler fussiness is developmentally normal. Kath explains why toddlers resist variety, the role of routine and timing in appetite, and why filling gaps with non-nutritious foods can backfire. She also clarifies the milk-to-food balance for toddlers, recommending that milk account for no more than 25% of their total daily nutrition.
Myth Busting: Allergen Introduction
Kath busts one of the most persistent myths in baby feeding: the three-day wait rule between new foods. Current evidence supports introducing allergen foods as quickly as every 24 to 48 hours. She explains exactly what an IgE reaction looks like and what parents should watch for in the first two hours after introduction.
About Our Guest
Kath Megaw is a Clinical Paediatric Dietitian with over 25 years of experience and the founder of Nutripaeds. She is a consultant to the Parent Sense App and has co-authored six bestselling books including Feeding Sense, Weaning Sense, Allergy Sense, and her most recent release Mindful Meals (2025). She sits on international working groups for neonatal nutrition and the ketogenic diet.
Find Kath at nutripaeds.co.za | Instagram: @kath_megaw_paed_dietitian
Episode References and Links
📱 Parent Sense App — Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it at parentsense.app and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.
Connect with Meg Faure
Web: megfaure.com
Instagram: @megfaure.sense
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On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we explore one of the most liberating truths in parenting science: rupture and repair. Meg is joined by guest co-host and Parent Sense COO Tove de Chazal Gant to unpack why getting it wrong is not the problem. What matters most is what happens next.
The Myth of the Perfect Parent
The pressure to stay calm and parent perfectly is built on a false foundation. Social media shows curated highlights, not real life. Misinformation from unqualified voices sets impossible standards. Meg is clear: no human parent consistently hits the gold standard, and that is not just okay. It is actually by design.
What Rupture Really Means
A rupture is simply a break in connection. It happens when you snap, when you cannot respond quickly enough, or when your attention is pulled elsewhere. Using Ed Tronick's Still Face Experiment, Meg explains what happens in a baby's nervous system in these moments and points out that understanding this is not meant to create guilt. It is meant to show why what comes next matters so much.
The Science of Repair
This is where the episode becomes truly transformative. Rupture and repair, experienced repeatedly, writes a neurological story for the child: relationships are safe, disconnection is temporary, and the person who loves me will always come back. This is actively building resilience, emotional intelligence, and the capacity for real relationships in adulthood.
The Four Steps of Effective Repair
Meg outlines a practical four-step process. First, come back: return your full presence through eye contact and touch. Second, name it: say sorry and give context. This models accountability and teaches children that ruptures can be repaired. Third, reconnect: reading a book or sitting together is enough. Fourth, do not over-apologise or over-explain. One sincere apology and a moment of warmth is all that is needed.
Why Perfect Parenting Harms Children
Children raised without rupture are underprepared for the real world. They struggle with peer conflict, frustration, and imperfect relationships. Donald Winnicott's "good enough parent" theory underpins this: getting it right 30% of the time and repairing the rest is genuinely sufficient for secure attachment and healthy development.
On Guilt
Guilt does not change behaviour. It simply causes suffering. Remorse that drives repair is healthy. Carrying guilt for years over moments long since healed is not. Feel it, repair it, and release it.
About Today's Guest Co-Host
Tove de Chazal Gant is an entrepreneur, COO of Parent Sense, and mother of three. Having navigated the NICU and raising a child with a rare genetic condition, she brings deep personal insight alongside business-scaling expertise. She also chairs Happy Heroes, a charity for children with additional needs. Connect with Tove: linkedin.com/in/tove-de-chazal-gant
Episode References and Links
📱 Parent Sense App — routines, nutrition, and expert advice from pregnancy onwards. Use code SENSE50 for 50% off: https://parentsense.app/
Connect with Meg Faure Web: megfaure.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
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On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we explore the fourth trimester with honesty, warmth, and practical wisdom. This conversation is proof that less is more, and your baby will thrive when parents feel genuinely supported. Meg Faure is joined by Tove de Chazal Gant, COO of Parent Sense and seasoned mum of three, who takes the hosting seat and asks the questions every new parent is actually thinking.
The First Six Weeks: You Are Not Failing
The first six weeks are brutal. Meg says it plainly. Feeding cycles feel relentless, sleep is fractured, and the baby seems to do very little and yet everything at once. Just keeping your baby alive is ticking every single box. Nothing more is required.
Milestones: Windows, Not Deadlines
Milestones happen across wide ranges of normal. One late milestone is not a red flag. What matters is the sequence and trajectory. Consistent delay across a developmental bucket, or a gut feeling that something is off, is when parents should seek support. The Parent Sense app lists milestones with ranges in the play section.
Sensory Overload: The Times Square Effect
A newborn goes from the perfectly regulated womb directly into overwhelming sensory input. Meg compares it to landing on Times Square after living on a quiet savannah. Signs of overload include looking away, falling asleep, grimacing, and inconsolable crying. Tove shares her daughter Nova's story: born six weeks premature, Nova's development stalled not from inability but from a noisy home environment. Turning off background noise made all the difference.
Less Is More, and Your Baby Will Thrive
The heart of this episode. Less social pressure, less stimulation, less obligation. The only stimulation that genuinely matters is quiet eye contact, serve and return connection, and touch through massage, swaddling, and carrying. Your baby has 45 minutes of awake time between sleeps. Being alive in the world is enough.
Regulating Yourself to Regulate Your Baby
Babies cannot self-regulate. Parents must co-regulate. Meg offers two practical tools: square breathing (six seconds in, hold, out, hold, repeated three times) and using feeding as a mindfulness moment. Even five seconds of intentional presence at the start of a feed can shift your physiological state.
Listen Now
This episode is essential for every parent in the fourth trimester. Meg Faure reminds us that less is more, and your baby will thrive in an environment of calm, connection, and realistic expectation. Download the Parent Sense app for daily guidance through every stage of your parenting journey.
About Tove de Chazal Gant
Tove de Chazal Gant is an entrepreneur, the COO of Parent Sense, and a mother of three. Having navigated the NICU and raising a child with a rare genetic condition, she brings profound personal insight and business-scaling expertise to her role. She also chairs Happy Heroes, a charity for children with additional needs. LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tove-de-chazal-gant
Connect with Meg Faure Web: megfaure.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/megfaure Parent Sense App: parentsense.app
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The Second Trimester, Real and Unfiltered with Dr. Nellie Balfour
On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we sit down with Dr. Nellie Balfour for a conversation that is second trimester, real and unfiltered. Dr. Balfour is a paediatrician navigating her own second pregnancy in real time. She brings both clinical expertise and lived experience to every topic covered. This is the second episode in an ongoing real-time pregnancy series. It is honest, practical, and deeply reassuring for any expectant parent.
The Second Trimester: A Different Pregnancy Entirely
Nellie describes the second trimester as her favourite season of pregnancy. Energy returns. Appetite is restored. The baby bump becomes visible and joyful. For Nellie, whose nausea extended to 22 weeks, the relief of the second trimester was particularly profound. Meg and Nellie discuss the hereditary nature of hyperemesis gravidarum,and address nutritional concerns for mums who lose weight in the first trimester.
Baby Kicks: What Is Normal and What to Watch For
Feeling your baby move is one of the most treasured moments of pregnancy. Nellie explains that movement is typically felt between 16 and 20 weeks. In subsequent pregnancies it often occurs earlier. Placenta position plays a significant role in how strongly kicks are felt. The general guideline is to feel around 10 kicks within an hour. If movement is reduced, eating something sweet or lying on the left side usually prompts activity.
Alcohol, Teratogens, and Foods to Avoid
Meg and Nellie are fully aligned. Alcohol is an absolute no during pregnancy. South Africa carries the highest rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorder in the world. There is no proven safe amount of alcohol at any stage of pregnancy.
Tests and Scans in the Second Trimester
Nellie walks listeners through the key screenings offered in the second trimester. For mothers over 35, NIPT is often completed in the first trimester. For lower-risk pregnancies, the triple or quadruple test screens for Down syndrome and other chromosomal conditions.
Vaccinations in Pregnancy: Protecting Your Baby Before Birth
South Africa is ahead of many countries in vaccinating pregnant women. Nellie outlines three vaccines now recommended during pregnancy: RSV, pertussis (whooping cough), and influenza. Each of these illnesses can be life-threatening for newborns. This conversation is second trimester, real and unfiltered, and it may genuinely save lives.
Illness, Toddlers, and TORCH Infections
Respiratory viruses are generally manageable with hydration, fever control, and pregnancy-safe medications. The more serious TORCH category includes toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, and syphilis.
About Our Guest:
Dr. Nellie Balfour is a mom and Specialist Pediatrician with a focus on neonates, newborns, and early childhood development. Dr. Nellie is passionate about empowering parents with credible, evidence-based information so they can make the best decisions for their children. You can find her and her popular Q&A sessions on Instagram at @drnelliepaeds
Episode References and Links:
📱 Parent Sense App — Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.
https://parentsense.app/
CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
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On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure, we sit down with Angie Weber, host of Mom Essentials, owner of The Parent Toolbox, and founder of the Divorce Support Collective, to talk about parenting with intention and what it really takes to break the cycle of yelling, guilt, and shame.
Angie built her CALM framework not from a textbook but from her own lived healing journey through anxiety, depression, and PTSD. What came out of that journey is a practical, compassionate approach that is already changing families across the world.
What is the CALM Approach?
CALM is an acronym. Each letter is a foundational pillar of Angie's parenting framework:
C - Compassionate Communication: How we speak to our children, how we truly listen, and how we build connection in a world dominated by screens.A - Awareness and Accountability: Becoming curious about behaviour rather than reactive to it. Understanding what children are communicating through their actions, and holding ourselves and our children accountable through meaningful consequences.L - Learning Emotional Regulation: Recognising emotions as they rise, and learning to process and express them in healthy ways - for parents first, and then for children.M - Mindful Modelling: Our children are watching us all the time. The goal is to shift from "do as I say, not as I do" to "do as I do."The Red Brain vs. The Green Brain
One of the most practical sections of this conversation covers what to do when you are already dysregulated. Angie shares her five-point body check-in: a tool that helps parents catch themselves before they react in ways they later regret.
The five points to check are:
Body sensationsBody movementsThoughtsEmotionsThe five sensesPracticed consistently, this check-in becomes second nature.
Gentle Parenting vs. Permissive Parenting
Angie and Meg unpack one of the most misunderstood distinctions in modern parenting.
Gentle parenting, at its core, includes boundaries and consequences.Permissive parenting does not.Trying to remove every obstacle and keep children happy one hundred percent of the time does them a far greater disservice than we realise.
Tune In: This episode is about parenting with intention - if you are a parent who has ever gone from zero to sixty and spent the next hour drowning in guilt, this conversation is for you.
Guest References: Angie Weber
Website: theparenttoolbox.infoFacebook: The Parent ToolboxInstagram: The Parent ToolboxYouTube: The Parent ToolboxPodcast: Mom EssentialsResource: The Calm Family Planner — 52 weeks of guided family meetings -
On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we sit down with Dr. Nellie Balfour, a specialist paediatrician who has spent years working in neonatal ICUs, as she navigates her own second pregnancy in real time. This is the first episode in a brand new series on Sense by Meg Faure, following Nellie's pregnancy journey trimester by trimester. It is raw, honest, deeply personal and utterly reassuring.
What We Cover:
Prenatal Depression: The conversation we are not having.
Dr. Nellie opens up about experiencing prenatal depression during her first trimester — losing six kilograms, sleeping constantly, feeling hopeless, and ultimately needing medication. She explains why second-time mums are actually more vulnerable to prenatal depression than postpartum depression, why the symptoms are so often missed or dismissed, and why the stigma makes everything worse. Her advice is simple and direct: any feeling of hopelessness during pregnancy is a red flag. Talk to someone. Tell your gynaecologist. Do not wait.
Medical Knowledge and Pregnancy Anxiety:
Many people assume that a paediatrician would sail through pregnancy with confidence. Dr. Nellie challenges that completely. When you know every possible risk, your mind finds more to worry about — not less. Meg Faure shares her own experience of this, reminding us that motherhood is the great leveller. It does not matter whether you are a plumber or a paediatrician. The emotional journey of becoming a mother humbles everyone equally.
Medication Safety in Pregnancy:
Social media is full of dangerous misinformation about medication in pregnancy. Meg and Nellie set the record straight.
Breech Babies and Motor Development:
Dr. Nellie asks Meg a fascinating clinical question: what are the developmental implications of a breech birth? Meg explains the role of the vestibular system in orienting a baby head-down in the womb, and how a consistently breech position may affect muscle tone, balance, coordination and bilateral integration later in life. It is not a linear outcome — but it is one reason why movement in pregnancy matters, and why sensory integration therapy can make such a difference for children with vestibular challenges.
Rupture and Repair:
The episode closes with a concept that will stay with every parent who hears it. There is no such thing as a perfect pregnancy or a perfect mother. .
About Our Guest:
Dr. Nellie Balfour is a mom and Specialist Pediatrician with a focus on neonates, newborns, and early childhood development. Dr. Nellie is passionate about empowering parents with credible, evidence-based information so they can make the best decisions for their children. You can find her and her popular Q&A sessions on Instagram at @drnelliepaeds
Episode References and Links:
📱 Parent Sense App — Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.
https://parentsense.app/
CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.com
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MegFaure.Sense
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
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Introduction
On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we are talking about one of the most searched, most stressed-about, and most misunderstood milestones in the toddler years: potty training. Meg Faure takes you through the science, the sensory personalities, and a practical day-by-day plan that gets most little ones out of nappies within ten days. No punishment, no pressure, no drama.
Why Sensory Personality Changes Everything
Not all children potty train the same way, and getting this wrong is one of the main reasons parents feel like they are failing. Meg explains the four sensory personalities and what each one means for potty training. High-filter babies, your social butterflies and settled little ones, are prone to accidents because they simply do not notice the signals. They need a scheduled approach, active play to increase body awareness, and language cues to bridge the gap. Sensitive and slow-to-warm-up babies feel everything intensely, may have anxiety around the process, and need calm, unhurried, comfortable conditions to feel safe enough to go.
The Golden Window and Readiness Cues
Meg introduces the four age categories for potty training and makes a clear case for why 18 to 30 months is the golden window. She walks through the physical, cognitive, and sensory readiness cues to look for, from dry nappies after naps and pulling the nappy off, to pointing, communicating, and pausing in play to register the signal. She also explains why waiting until after 30 months tends to make the process significantly harder.
The One Thing Parents Set Up Wrong
Before potty training even begins, you need to set up the right space. Meg covers exactly what this looks like: a calm, dedicated spot with books nearby, a stable and well-fitted potty or seat reducer, a reward jar, and, critically, a footrest. Feet flat on the floor is non-negotiable. Children cannot push out a poo and manage a swinging-legs balancing act at the same time.
The 10-Day Plan: Prep Week and Potty Week
Prep week is about nappy-off time, language, and dolly play. Potty week is about repetition, timing, fluids, and reward. Meg gives you a clear sequence: lots to drink, a timer set for every 45 minutes, training pants on, signals watched for, and every success met with genuine reward. She also covers troubleshooting: going out, the difference between wees and poos, children who need a nappy for poos, and how to approach night-time training when the time comes.
About Our Host:
Meg Faure is an occupational therapist, author of the 'Sense' series of parenting books (including Baby Sense), and the founder of the Parent Sense app. With decades of experience working with parents and babies, her mission is to bring calm, clarity, and confidence to the parenting journey.
Episode References and Links:
📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off: https://parentsense.app/
CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.com
Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MegFaure.Sense
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
Potty Training Course: https://parentse.onelink.me/TCyx/coursesToddler
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Introduction
This week we have one of the most honest and tender conversations this podcast has ever held. Meg sits down with Dr Raphaela Itzikowitz Geva, specialist paediatrician, neurodevelopment expert, and founder of The Full Spectrum app. Together they explore what it truly means to raise a child whose brain works differently. Whether you are a parent who has just started to notice something, a family in the middle of a long diagnostic journey, or someone who received a label years ago and is still finding their footing, this episode is for you.
What Neurodivergence Actually Means
Raphaela unpacks the difference between neurodiversity and neurodivergence with clarity and compassion. Neurodiversity is simply the reality that all human brains are different. Neurodivergence is where those differences create specific challenges in navigating a demanding world. Crucially, she reframes the entire conversation: this is not about fixing an incorrect child. It is about understanding how a child processes their world so that we can support them to thrive within it.
Guilt vs. Grief: Two Very Different Things
One of the most powerful moments in this episode is Raphaela's distinction between guilt and grief. Guilt asks: did I cause this? Grief says: this is not what I expected, and it is hard. Raphaela explains why neurodivergence is almost never anybody's fault, and why untangling these two emotions is one of the most liberating things a parent can do. She also addresses the moment of diagnosis itself, which for many parents holds both shock and, unexpectedly, relief.
Neuroplasticity and the Early Window
The early brain is wiring itself in real time, and what happens in those first years matters enormously. Raphaela explains neuroplasticity in plain language and makes a compelling case for early intervention. Not because we are changing the child to fit the world, but because we are shaping the experience of the child so they can explore their world with confidence. The window is open right now, and this conversation tells you exactly how to use it.
The Space Between the Notes
Raphaela introduces one of the most memorable ideas in this episode: the space between the notes. The notes are the therapy sessions and clinical appointments. The space is everything that happens at home, every day, in the ordinary moments of connection and repetition. She explains the three documents every parent receives when leaving her practice: a neurodevelopmental report, an Understanding Your Child document that decodes behaviour, and a Rationalised Action Map that gives families a clear, prioritised place to start.
Why You Must Listen
This episode is not about adding more to your plate. It is about understanding. And understanding, as Raphaela says, is the key that unlocks a great deal of frustration. Her closing words are a gift to every parent on this journey: the journey is different. It is not less. Listen today, and share it with every parent who needs to hear it.
I. EPISODE REFERENCES AND SHOW NOTES LINKS
Guest: Dr Raphaela Itzikowitz Geva
Specialist Paediatrician and Neurodevelopment Expert
Website: docraphaela.com
Instagram: @dr.raphaelaitzikowitz
App: The Full Spectrum
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Please like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a week of Sense by Meg Faure.
📱 Take the guesswork out of feeding, sleep, weaning, and routines. Download the Parent Sense app today and use code SENSE50 for 50% off. 👉 https://parentsense.app/
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Introduction
On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we explore the question at the heart of connected parenting: Is Your Child Seen? The One Thing Kim Kleidon Says Every Parent Gets Wrong. Meg sits down with Kim Kleidon, former ABC Radio broadcaster, storytelling coach, and host of What We Teach Our Children. Kim has spent years distilling the wisdom of over 75 conversations with parents, educators, and researchers worldwide.
What Children Need Most
Kim's answer is simple: children need to feel seen. Not entertained, not scheduled. Just genuinely noticed. She says five minutes of real presence, eye to eye, interested and engaged, matters more than hours of planned activity. That quality of attention is what children carry with them. It shapes their emotional resilience and their sense of self.
Phones, Presence, and Being Seen
Kim shares a striking insight from her interviews. Children today feel they are competing with their parent's phone. What they often see is the top of a parent's head. This has real consequences for neurological and emotional development. Meg adds that unseen children find ways to be seen. In toddlers, that means tantrums. In teenagers, it can mean defiance or self-expression that surprises parents.
Stories and the Bedtime Hack
Kim is a passionate advocate for storytelling as a parenting tool. A rhythmic, calming story at bedtime helps a child's brain transition into sleep. It also builds language, connection, and emotional intelligence. Meg introduces book sharing, a research-backed approach using wordless picture books. Parents narrate and connect the story to their child's own experience. Studies show it strengthens language, connection, and emotional self-awareness.
Stop Over-Scheduling
Kim's most repeated message across 75-plus conversations: stop trying to control everything. Children do not need to be learning or entertained at every moment. Boredom is not a problem. It is where creativity begins. Free play and unstructured time are not gaps in development. They are the very soil in which it grows.
Why You Must Listen
Is Your Child Seen? The One Thing Kim Kleidon Says Every Parent Gets Wrong is not a conversation that adds to your plate. It quietly removes what was never necessary. Kim closes with one powerful practice: ask your child directly, how can I serve you better? The answers, she says, will change everything. Listen today and share it with every parent you know.
GUEST : Kim Kleidon
Website: KimKleidon.com
Podcast: What We Teach Our Children Available on: Spotify, Amazon, Pocket Casts, iHeartRadio
BOOKS BY KIM KLEIDON Huggle Snuggle Cuddle Flutter by Butterfly Grandpa's Garden
🎙️ Enjoyed This Episode?
If this episode brought you clarity, calm, and confidence — please like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a week of Sense by Meg Faure.
📱 Download the Parent Sense App
Take the guesswork out of feeding, sleep, weaning, and routines. Download the Parent Sense app today and use code SENSE50 for 50% off. 👉 https://parentsense.app/
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On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we dive into the real, raw, and rewarding world of twin parenting at 11 months. Meg is joined by twin mum and South African TV personality Zoë Brown, and Registered Nurse and Lactation Consultant Tasha Perreard. Together they cover crawling milestones, the feeding window of opportunity, immune support for daycare babies, and the coming nap transition.
🧸 Crawling: What's Normal & What Helps
Zoë's boys are army crawling but not yet on hands and knees. Meg shares the towel hammock hack — roll a towel into a sausage, support baby's chest over it, and help them find that four-point kneeling position. Core strengthening activities like kicking balloons also help. If crawling hasn't happened by 12 months, seek support from an NDT-trained physiotherapist or occupational therapist. And remember — never encourage bum shuffling.
🍽️ The Feeding Window of Opportunity
Now is the golden window to build adventurous eaters — before toddler fussiness sets in. By 12 months, babies can eat almost everything the family eats. Don't forget the allergens many parents miss: sesame, shellfish, soya, gluten, and all tree nuts (not just peanuts).
😴 Sleep & the Nap Transition
Luke's night waking was solved simply by moving him to a 2.5-tog sleep sack — a great reminder that sensory-sensitive babies feel environmental changes more acutely. Looking ahead, between 12–14 months most babies drop from two day sleeps to one. Gradually push the morning sleep later and bring bedtime earlier to ease the transition.
🤧 Daycare Coughs, Colds & Immune Support
No cough suppressants under two — the goal is to keep mucus moving. Use saline spray three to four times daily. ACC syrup (from six months) helps thin mucus. For immune support, Tasha recommends Vitamin D, zinc, and echinacea.
👩⚕️ About Our Guests
Zoë Brown is a South African radio and TV personality, best known for hosting the Afternoon Drive on KFM and as a presenter on Expresso. Follow Zoë on Instagram: @zbzoebrown
Tasha Perreard is a Registered Nurse, Internationally Certified Lactation Consultant, and owner of the Well Mother and Child Clinic in Rondebosch, Cape Town. Contact Tasha at: @wmc_clinic
🎙️ Enjoyed This Episode?
If this episode brought you clarity, calm, and confidence — please like, share, and subscribe so you never miss a week of Sense by Meg Faure. Share it with a fellow twin mum or any parent with a baby approaching one year old. It could make all the difference!
📱 Download the Parent Sense App
Take the guesswork out of feeding, sleep, weaning, and routines. Download the Parent Sense app today and use code SENSE50 for 50% off. 👉 https://parentsense.app/
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This week on Sense by Meg Faure, we delve into a profound parenting dilemma that every parent asks: "Why, even when I know what to do… do I still feel like I'm getting it wrong?" This gap between capability and inner confidence is the focus of our conversation today. Host Meg Faure sits down with Sharyn Feldman to explore how to feel truly steady as a parent.
Capability vs. Confidence: The Inner Difference
Many parents master the "how-to" tasks of parenting, like feeding and routines. These are essential technical skills. However, knowing these tasks does not equate to feeling confident. True confidence stems from "who you are while you are doing them." It involves internal awareness. Parents must notice their own feelings, reactions, and their child’s responses to cultivate genuine inner steadiness.
From "I Know" to "I Wonder": Embracing Curiosity
Drawing on the work of Dr. Claudia Gold, we discuss shifting from "I know" to "I wonder." This transition from certainty to curiosity is where real confidence blossoms. Sharyn emphasizes the concept of "willingness"—the courage to embrace uncertainty. By letting go of the need for immediate answers and engaging with the "grey" areas of parenting, you foster a deeper, more resilient confidence.
You Are Your Child's Primary Environment
Your child's most important environment isn't their nursery or your home; it is you. You are an energetic, emotional environment that your child constantly absorbs. This realization reframes how we show up. Reflective parenting means noticing the energy you create and staying curious about your child’s response to you. This understanding fosters a more intentional and deeply connected approach.
Beyond "Fast Food Parenting"
Social media is full of quick tips and hacks. Sharyn aptly calls this "fast food parenting." Like fast food, these solutions offer a quick fix but lack long-term nourishment. Real, home-cooked parenting requires time, care, and thoughtful reflection. It moves beyond instant gratification to build lasting, meaningful relationships.
About Our Guest: Sharyn Feldman is a registered psychotherapist and the founder of Parent Wellness. She specializes in supporting parents to develop emotional regulation, relational awareness, and confidence through therapy, support groups, and educational programs.
Episode References and Links:
📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here.Sharyn Feldman Website: https://www.parentwellness.caCONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.comSocial Media: Facebook | InstagramSUPPORT THE PODCAST I hope you enjoyed this episode of SENSE BY Meg Faure! If you want to support or follow the podcast:
Subscribe on your favorite platform.Leave a 5* rating and reviewFollow my social media channels or sign up to my mailing list. -
On this weeks episode of Sense, by Meg Faure we explore the magic of Turning One. Your baby is now officially a toddler. This phase brings exciting milestones and new challenges. I am joined by our regular guest, Nina Clark. We check in on her son, Josh. Turning One is a time of incredible physical growth. Parent Sense is here to support you through these changes.
Movement and Walking Milestones Josh is currently navigating the transition to walking. We discuss the normal range for this major milestone. Most children walk between ten and eighteen months. Movement is a vital sensory experience for your toddler. It provides essential proprioceptive and vestibular input. This input helps toddlers feel secure in their bodies. Physical stability also leads to better fine motor skills.
Big Opinions and Emotional Intelligence Toddlers are famous for their big opinions. We explore the science of early emotional outbursts. These meltdowns are often caused by simple frustration. Receptive language develops faster than expressive speech. Your toddler understands more than they can say. I share why naming emotions is so powerful. This practice builds lifelong emotional intelligence. It helps your child feel heard and safe.
Navigating the Picky Eating Phase Many parents notice a change in appetite now. Caloric needs often decrease after the first year. We discuss the "picky eating" spiral. Mealtimes must prioritize safety and connection. Nina shares her experience with Josh at the table. We talk about letting the toddler have more control. Parent Sense offers great tools for nutrition.
The One-Nap Transition We tackle the tricky shift to a single nap. Most toddlers make this change around twelve months. I provide a checklist for this transition. We also discuss the impact of screens. Screen time can disrupt a toddler’s internal rhythm. I explain the "social butterfly" sensory personality. This personality needs movement more than a screen.
About Our Guest: Nina Clark is a mom to two boys, four-and-a-half-year-old Max and 1-year-old Josh. After a long stint in London where she founded the successful sleepwear brand Nightire, she has returned to South Africa. Nina shares her real, unfiltered journey as a second-time mom as a regular guest on the podcast.
Episode References and Links:
App: 📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice.CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.comFacebook: Meg Faure SenseInstagram: @megfaure.senseI hope you enjoyed this episode of SENSE BY Meg Faure! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how:
Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.Leave a 5* rating and reviewFollow my social media channels or sign up to my mailing list.For feedback or guest nominations, email [email protected]. -
This week on Sense by Meg Faure, Meg sits down with Paediatric Dietitian Kath Megaw for an eye-opening conversation about the profound impact of pregnancy nutrition. Discover how the food you eat today not only nourishes you and your baby but also influences the health of your future grandchildren through epigenetics.
This episode is packed with essential, science-backed advice:
Blood Sugar Stability: Learn why managing your blood sugar is crucial for reducing nausea and setting the stage for your baby's long-term metabolic health.The Gut Microbiome: Uncover why a healthy gut is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your baby and how to nourish it with the right kinds of fibrous foods.The Truth About Protein: Find out how much protein you really need during pregnancy for your baby's growth, placenta health, and even your future breast milk composition.Supplementation is Not Optional: Kath explains why a good diet isn't enough and breaks down what to look for in a high-quality prenatal vitamin, as well as when to consider extra supplements like Omega-3s.A Day on Your Plate: Kath provides a practical, delicious, and easy-to-follow meal plan for a pregnant mom, including meals, snacks, and supplements.This is a must-listen for any expectant mother who wants to make informed, confident choices about her nutrition, cutting through the noise to give her baby the very best start in life.
About Our Guest:
Kath Megaw is a distinguished Paediatric Dietitian with extensive experience in early childhood nutrition. As a regular expert on the podcast and co-author of "Weaning Sense," Kath is passionate about translating complex nutritional science into practical, accessible advice for parents. She works closely with families to lay healthy foundations from pregnancy through to the toddler years and beyond.
Episode References and Links:
Book: Weaning Sense by Meg Faure and Kath MegawDiscount Code: Get 50% off the Parent Sense app with code SENSE50.📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here.CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.com
Social Media Channels: Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MegFaure.Sense Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
Parent Sense mobile app:
Download Parent Sense App Web: https://parentsense.app/
I hope you enjoyed this episode of SENSE BY Meg Faure! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how:
Subscribe, or listen on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5* rating and review on Apple PodcastsFollow my social media channels or sign up to my mailing listFor episode feedback & suggestions, or to nominate yourself or a friend to appear as a guest on the show, please email [email protected]
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This week on Sense by Meg Faure, we check in with regular guest Nina Clark as her son, Josh, approaches the 10-month mark. Nina shares an honest account of the challenges of parenting two young children, the realities of a "fiery" toddler, and the constant juggle of motherhood.
This episode is a must-listen guide to navigating this active and exciting stage:
The 10-Month Sleep Regression: Josh has started waking frequently at night, especially between 11 PM and 3 AM. Meg provides a checklist for troubleshooting, including separation anxiety, day sleep routines, and crucial nutritional factors.The #1 Hidden Reason for Night Wakings: We explore the critical role of iron in a baby's diet after six months and why low iron is a common but often-overlooked cause of poor sleep.Feeding a Social Butterfly: Nina shares her struggle with breastfeeding a distractible "social butterfly." We discuss the pros and cons of snacky feeds versus a more structured routine for older babies.The Nappy Change Wrestle: A relatable moment all parents know well! Meg explains the developmental reason why babies resist nappy changes at this age and offers practical tips.This is an info-packed and reassuring conversation for any parent with a baby on the move!
About Our Guest:
Nina Clark is a mom to two boys, four-and-a-half-year-old Max and 10-month-old Josh. After a long stint in London where she founded the successful sleepwear brand Nightire, she has returned to South Africa. Nina shares her real, unfiltered journey as a second-time mom as a regular guest on the podcast.
Episode References and Links:
Book: Weaning Sense by Meg Faure and Kath MegawSupplements Mentioned: Floradix Liquid Iron, Barley Green📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here.CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.com
Social Media Channels: Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MegFaure.Sense Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
Parent Sense mobile app:
Download Parent Sense App Web: https://parentsense.app/
I hope you enjoyed this episode of SENSE BY Meg Faure! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here’s how:
Subscribe, or listen on Apple, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcastsLeave a 5* rating and review on Apple PodcastsFollow my social media channels or sign up to my mailing listFor episode feedback & suggestions, or to nominate yourself or a friend to appear as a guest on the show, please email [email protected]
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This week on Sense by Meg Faure, we dive into one of the most powerful tools a new parent can have: understanding your baby's sensory world. In this solo episode based on the bestselling book Baby Sense, Meg explains why your newborn startles, fusses, and becomes overwhelmed, and how you can become their sensory filter to create a world of calm.
This is a masterclass in decoding your newborn's behavior. You will learn:
Your Baby's 8 Senses: Move beyond the basic five and discover all eight senses your baby uses to experience the world, from the well-developed sense of touch to the still-maturing sense of sight.The States of Infancy: Understand the six states your baby moves through, from deep sleep to crying, and learn how to identify the magical "calm alert state" for learning and connection.How to Read Your Baby's Cues: Meg provides a clear guide to your baby's four types of signals—from early "approach" and "warning" signs to later "stress" and "crying" signals—so you can respond before they become distressed.The Womb World Hack: Learn how to soothe your baby by recreating the sensory sanctuary of the womb using deep pressure (swaddling), white noise, and rhythmic movement.This episode will give you "sensory eyes," empowering you to stop guessing and start responding confidently to what your baby is truly telling you.
About Our Host:
Meg Faure is an occupational therapist, author of the 'Sense' series of parenting books (including Baby Sense), and the founder of the Parent Sense app. With decades of experience working with parents and babies, her mission is to bring calm, clarity, and confidence to the parenting journey.
Episode References and Links:
Book: Baby Sense by Meg Faure📱 Parent Sense App – Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.CONNECT WITH MEG FAURE
Web: megfaure.com
Social Media Channels: Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/MegFaure.Sense Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/megfaure.sense/
Parent Sense mobile app:
Download Parent Sense App Web: https://parentsense.app/
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