Avsnitt

  • This mini-series is proudly brought to you in partnership with Haven A2 Protein Toddler Milk Drink.

    In this episode, I speak with clinical nutritionist and mother of four, Gina Urlich about her own feeding journeys with her babies, as well as how she thinks about formula and breast milk from an expert standpoint. We discuss the differences between the two types of milk, how you can best support your baby’s gut health in their first year of life, and how we can continue to make headway on breaking down the toxicity of formula feeding culture while still promoting breastmilk as the ‘gold standard’.

    To work with Gina or her team, visit her website. You can dowload her e-book on introducing solids here too.

    Follow Gina Urlich on Instagram.
    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.
    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This mini-series is proudly brought to you in partnership with Haven A2 Protein Toddler Milk Drink.

    Content Warning: This episode discusses anxiety. If this theme is triggering for you, please take care while you’re listening.

    In this episode, I speak with mother of one, Haley Hall about her motherhood journey with her daughter, Cerys. During her pregnancy, Haley was told that Cerys had a cleft lip and palate so today we discuss what it was like receiving that diagnosis, how their first year has been in terms of breastfeeding, pumping, formula feeding, and their surgery experience. This is a beautiful episode that Haley and I both hope will bring more awareness to cleft cuties like Cerys.

    For mental health support:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922 For a referral to Maternal Mental Health please contact your midwife or GP Mental Health Crisis services (for emergencies only)

    Follow Haley Hall on Instagram.
    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.
    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Saknas det avsnitt?

    Klicka här för att uppdatera flödet manuellt.

  • This mini-series is proudly brought to you in partnership with Haven A2 Protein Toddler Milk Drink.

    Content Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss. If this theme is triggering for you, please take care while you’re listening.

    In this episode, I speak with mother of one, Lee-Anne Murray about her first year of motherhood with her son, Hugo. At 31 weeks pregnant with her rainbow baby, after multiple miscarriages, Lee-Anne was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. Today, she bravely shares what impact this had on her ability to breastfeed, how she navigated treatment while adjusting to becoming a mum, how cancer has given her perspective as a parent, and what the future looks like for her health and her family.

    For pregnancy loss support:
    - Visit miscarriagesupport.org.nz
    - Visit sands.org.nz
    - Call the SANDS support line on 0508 72 63 72
    - Join the private Miscarriage Support NZ Facebook Group

    Follow Lee-Anne Murray on Instagram.
    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.
    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This Māmā & Milk mini-series is proudly brought to you in partnership with Haven A2 Protein Toddler Milk Drink.

    Content Warning: This episode discusses pregnancy loss and stillbirth. If these themes are triggering for you, please take care while you’re listening.

    In this episode, I speak with mother, stylist and writer Erena Te Paa about her motherhood journey with her three children. She lost her daughter Penny during pregnancy and went on two have her two sons, Costa and Sol. Today, we focus on her feeding experiences with her boys where she struggled with breastfeeding and went on to formula feed. We discuss mum guilt, judgement, persistence and perspective within the context of feeding and how she reflects on her journey now.

    For pregnancy loss support:
    - Visit sands.org.nz
    - Call the SANDS support line on 0508 72 63 72

    Follow Erena Te Paa on Instagram.
    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.
    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Content warning: This episode discusses childhood trauma and mentions sexual abuse. If any of these themes are triggering for you, please take care while you're listening.

    This is the final episode of season two and I’m so proud that it’s this one because I feel like this is the kind of conversation that sets the tone for what’s to come for Motherness. Conversations that are deeper and more evolutionary than before.

    Today’s guest is Annaliese Erin, a peaceful parenting coaching and mum to her two-year-old daughter Alaska Blue. Today she talks to her own childhood trauma and feelings of inadequacy around parenting, she never actually planned to have kids but just wait till you hear of how far she’s come. This episode is as practical as it is thoughtful. Annaleise shares strategies, tips, techniques and examples for managing behaviours and emotions - both ours and our child’s. We discuss shadow work and inner child work, self-healing, reparenting, emotional regulation, punishment vs consequences, and how to move forward from our own childhood trauma without blame.

    This episode may just be the permission slip we all need to show up for ourselves, in order to show up for our tamariki.

    To book in with Annalise for one-on-one coaching or group coaching, or to take her parenting course, visit her website.

    Resources mentioned:

    The Holistic PsychologistThe Whole Brain ChildAnnaliese's video on setting boundaries


    Help services:

    Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor at any timeVisit the Safe to talk website (or freephone 0800 044 334) for help with sexual harmVisit the Parent Help website (or freephone 0800 568 856) for parenting advice


    Follow Annaliese Erin on TikTok.

    Follow Annaliese Erin on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • In today's episode I'm joined by my Vedic Meditation teacher, Georgia Vavasour. We discuss how the practice works, the science behind this technique, and exactly why it’s so restorative, healing and calming for mums especially. Adaptation energy up, reactivity down. If you’re craving more calm, listening to this episode may be exactly what you need. You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

    For a list of upcoming intro talks and Vedic Meditation courses, visit Georgia's website.

    Follow Georgia Vavsour on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Welcome back to another episode of Motherness. I'm sorry it's been a while between episodes but I'm so excited to bring you this interview with writer and mum of two, Jess Urlichs.

    In this episode, we discuss the transition from one to two after she and her husband had their children, Harry and Holly one year apart. Jess also talks about her experience with postnatal anxiety and intrusive thoughts during her first Fourth Trimester. We talk about what it has been like raising a Highly Sensitive Child and the unlearning she's had to do to parent gently and intentionally.

    Buy Jess' new book, The Rainbow in my Heart online at jessicaurlichs.com.

    Follow Jess Urlichs on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This episode is brought to you by our first Motherness community event, a screening of the documentary Birth Time. This exclusive screening is on April 29 2021 at 8pm at Rialto Cinemas Newmarket, Auckland. Buy your tickets here.

    Today’s guest is Julia Matthews, a mum of one and a proud business owner of Two Islands. She never really switched off after having her baby, Lenny, but she officially went back to work at two months postpartum and we explore that in detail today. Through the lens of being a working mum, Juls and I discuss her experiences with feeding, pumping, formula, sleep deprivation, mum guilt, child care, self care and so much more. She is and always has been unwaveringly self-assured about the choices she’s made for herself, her son and her business. So should you need or want to go back to your career - or if, like me, you have already - I hope this episode is a source of comfort, reassurance and courage for you as you embark on this next season in the evolution of your motherhood journey.

    Follow Julia Matthews on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Today's guest is Bree Hutchieson, a māmā of two girls who takes us through her deeply spiritual home birth experience of her second daughter Saffie, after the cascade of interventions in hospital for her first birth of daughter Beau. We discuss her journey of stepping into her power, all that has come her way throughout her journey since her first birth, the emotional landscape of motherhood, the intersection of western medicine and ancestral healing, breastfeeding through pregnancy, tandem feeding, weaning, body image, triggers in parenting and so much more.

    Follow Bree Hutchieson on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This week's episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Little Bambinos, a lovingly curated online store for minis and their mamas. Little Bambinos is offering all Motherness listeners 10% off storewide - enter the code MOTHERNESS at checkout to receive your discount.

    Content warning: this episode discusses pregnancy loss and infertility. If either of these themes are triggering for you, please take care while you’re listening. Just a reminder that this episode is a personal story and any information shared in this podcast should not be used as a replacement or substitute for professional medical advice.

    Today’s guest is my beautiful friend Rachel, a mum to Winnie and wife to Dre. She and Dre lived through 8 years of trying to conceive before they had their perfect little girl six months ago so if you’re looking for a happy ending kind of fertility story – this one of the most joyous ones I know. Rachel takes us through their entire journey with fertility treatment, their two miscarriages, and all the feelings and emotions that come with trying to conceive. I hope this episode is the kind of conversation about infertility that many of you feel is needed – a true, raw and completely honest account about life on the other side of deeply longing for a child and doing whatever it takes to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term.

    For miscarriage, pregnancy loss and infertility support:

    Visit miscarriagesupport.org.nzVisit sands.org.nzCall the SANDS support line on 0508 72 63 72Join the private Miscarriage Support NZ Facebook GroupJoin the private Fertility Family NZ Facebook Group

    Follow Rachel Hawke on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Just’nCase nursing pads. Just’nCase pads are super-absorbent and leakproof, so they won’t let you down when you let down. Just’nCase is offering all Motherness listeners 15% off storewide. Visit justncase.com and enter the code MOTHERNESS at checkout to receive your discount.

    Content warning: this episode discusses depression, anxiety, panic attacks, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. There’s also a mention about sexual abuse in the context of extended breastfeeding. If any of these themes are triggering for you, please take care while you’re listening. If you’re concerned about your own mental health or that of someone you love, call 0800 LIFELINE to seek support. Additional help services are also listed in the show notes.

    In this episode, I interview mum of three Emma Collins about her feeding journeys with each of her daughters. Through traumatic birth, mental illness, exclusive pumping, mixed feeding, formula feeding, oversupply, tongue tie, feeding through pregnancy, dry nursing, tandem feeding, extended feeding and natural term weaning, there’s more she can talk to when it comes to feeding than not. Now working as a breastfeeding peer supporter and as an administrator for Mother’s Milk NZ Charitable Trust, breastfeeding has become Emma’s superpower.

    Mental health support services:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922 For a referral to Maternal Mental Health please contact your midwife or GP Mental Health Crisis services (for emergencies only)

    Breastfeeding support services:

    Breastfed NZ - Support Group on FacebookLa Leche LeaguePlunketPregnant and Tandem Breastfeeders Australia & NZ group on FacebookBreastfeeding Older Babies and Beyond group on Facebook

    Follow Emma Collins on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This week's episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Little Bambinos, a lovingly curated online store for minis and their mamas. Little Bambinos is offering all Motherness listeners 10% off storewide - enter the code MOTHERNESS at checkout to receive your discount.

    Today's episode is with mum of two, Gemma Sanders. she takes us through what it was like to have no complications naturally conceiving her first son, Max, but then she and her husband, Ev experienced unexplained secondary infertility, they had two miscarriages, and eventually chose to undergo IVF to have their second son, Jasper.

    This episode is a reminder that you just don’t know – no one knows - how quickly or how long it could take to conceive, whether it’s your first pregnancy or a subsequent one. I have no doubt that in Gemma bravely sharing her very personal story with you today, this episode will shift perspectives on what we think we know infertility to be.

    For miscarriage and pregnancy loss support, visit miscarriagesupport.org.nz.

    Follow Gemma Sanders on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This week's episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Edwards & Co. Edwards & Co is a Kiwi owned and operated family business producing a range of strollers and other incredible baby products.

    At some point, we’ve all known a mum who when we find out what she’s experienced, we say ‘I had no idea’. Today’s story is a little bit like that – and a fitting reminder that you never truly know what another person might be going through.

    In this episode, I speak with mum of three daughters, Georgie Sanders about her motherhood journey, from the surprise conception of her first and all the moments in between as she and her partner, Henry have grown their family.

    We talk about studying during her first pregnancy and sitting the bar, adjusting to motherhood for the first time, contracting meningitis in her second pregnancy, the concept of 'two under two', having a high needs child, being diagnosed with PTSD, her recovery and healing from that experience, having a third baby, and how her relationship has been during the past six years of parenthood.

    Thank you so much for joining me, Georgie.

    Mental health support services:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922 For a referral to Maternal Mental Health please contact your midwife or GP Mental Health Crisis services (for emergencies only)

    Follow Georgie Sanders on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Content warning: today’s episode discusses depression, anxiety, and suicide so if any of these topics are triggering for you, please take care while you’re listening. If you’re worried about your own mental health or that of someone you love, visit mentalhealth.org.nz or call 0800 LIFELIFE to seek support. It’s never too late to ask for help.

    Today‘s episode is with mum of one, Lucy Ross who bravely shares she and her husband’s story where they were both affected by mental health challenges. Lucy's husband, Jono developed postnatal depression, severe anxiety and became suicidal within a number of weeks of their daughter being born in New Zealand’s first level 4 lockdown, and, as a result, Lucy developed anxiety herself and was under the care of maternal mental health. Today, she reflects on their journey. Thank you, Lucy for so bravely sharing your story.

    Lucy and Jono have said they'd be happy to talk to other parents or couples who have experienced similar challenges. If you'd like to connect with Lucy, you can follow her on Instagram @lucyvross.

    Mental health support services:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922 For a referral to Maternal Mental Health please contact your midwife or GP Mental Health Crisis services (for emergencies only)

    Follow Lucy Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Today’s guest is counsellor, mindfulness trainer and parent coach, Shirley Pastiroff.

    I went into this interview with Shirley thinking that mindful parenting was about everything that I’m not as a mother, and I left realising that it’s also about everything that I am. I left knowing that not only are my feelings are valid but they’re healthy. That my triggers are valid but my child hasn’t caused them, the responsibility of managing them is mine and mine alone. And that I am everything I hope to be as a mother – just as I ask my guests in their final question. The fact that I care, that I’m growing as a parent, and trying to do better, proves that I am worthy of this gig, even on the days where I feel like I’m not.

    Shirley is the author of the life-changing book, The Mindful Parent. It is available to purchase locally in NZ through www.renewyourmind.co.nz, and globally through Amazon, Book Depository and other online retailers.

    If you struggle with the confronting nature of parenting and "doing it right", I hope you feel that this episode is as much of a permission slip for you as it was for me.

    Resources mentioned:

    How to Speak Toddler-ese with Dr. Harvey KarpMindful Parenting Course with Shirley

    Follow Shirley Pastiroff on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • In this episode, I speak with mum-of-one, Kate Holland about her journey to becoming a mother to her daughter, Rylee. She and her husband, Jon had a fertility journey through IVF that spanned over eight years before they pursued adoption, first domestically and then internationally. The process of adoption took four years before they brought Rylee home from Thailand.

    Today, we discuss the details of their story, including how they coped emotionally going through IVF, their first adoption of a boy from Russia falling through, and eventually being matched with Rylee. We chat through what it was like becoming parents overnight and how they bonded with their daughter. Kate also bravely opens up about her experience with post-adoption depression.

    Mental health support services:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922

    Follow Kate Holland on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • Welcome to this bonus episode of Motherness. If you’re part of my private Facebook group for the podcast then you’ll know that season two is coming in January but given it’s been slightly longer between seasons than I’d initially planned, I wanted to drop a new episode so you can get a little Motherness fix while you wait!

    In today’s episode, I speak with midwife and mum of one Tash Porter about her entry to motherhood with her daughter Milly.

    If you’re a mum, like me, who had a baby who didn’t have reflux or colic, you likely suffered the typical amount of sleep deprivation in the first year or two of their life. But for a mum like Tash, whose daughter did have reflux, she was forced to survive on one hour of sleep – total – each night and one nap per day. After listening to her today, you’ll have a whole new appreciation and understanding for those parents who battle a similar journey. Despite all that Tash went through in their first year, she is incredibly pragmatic and somehow positive about a time that I truly believe would break many of us.

    So, if you’re listening and you’re in the trenches of a challenge then this is for you. For you, the mum who feels a little lonely even with a community, the mum who feels like she can’t leave the house, the mum who’s only just surviving. We see you and this episode is for you.

    Mental health support services:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922

    Follow Tash Porter on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Mildred&Co. Mildred&Co is a lovingly curated baby and wedding gift registry and everyday gift store.

    Trigger warning: this episode details bipolar disorder, mania, depression, anxiety, and other topics around mental illness. If any of these themes are triggering for you, please take care while you're listening. If you're worried about your own mental health or that of someone you love, call 0800 LIFELINE (0800 543 354).

    Today’s guest is Hannah Hardy-Jones, a beautiful māmā and founder of The Kite Program who was diagnosed with postpartum bipolar disorder after the birth of her first child, Alice.

    I saw a post on Hannah’s Instagram of her daughter, Alice holding a drawing that says ‘My Mum helps mums.” I felt it so greatly. "My mum helps mums." And she does.

    I knew seeing that photo and having this korero with Hannah that this episode was the perfect one to end season one of Motherness on. Ultimately, that’s my hope for Motherness too. Mums helping mums. Holding space and compassion for each other and honouring our journeys, as challenging, as beautiful, and as different as they all may be.

    So, here’s Hannah for you today on all that she went through with her rare and crippling mental illness, her road to recovery, bravely choosing to have another child, the healing, the learning and the creation that has come from what she describes a Kite once damaged beyond repair. But now? Hannah has rebuilt her Kite and it is soaring.

    Mental health support services:

    Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Aotearoa depression.org.nz or 0800 111 757Mental Health FoundationParent Help - 0800 568 856 Anxiety Phone Line - 0800 269 4389 PlunketLine - 0800 933 922 For a referral to Maternal Mental Health please contact your midwife or GP Mental Health Crisis services (for emergencies only)

    Follow Hannah Hardy-Jones on Instagram. Visit The Kite Program.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Your Birth Project. Your Birth Project is a New Zealand based online birthing class that encompasses Hypnobirthing and Calmbirthing practices, created by Jordyn Gregory who is the host of the Kiwi Birth Tales podcast.

    I’m a firm believer that what’s best for you as a māmā is what’s best for your baby. Your needs and your child’s needs aren’t mutually exclusive and today’s guest shares a story that is a perfect illustration of that.

    Today, Michaela takes us through her traumatic birth of her daughter and the implications of that experience, their breastfeeding difficulties, her decision to exclusively pump for seven months, and returning to work when Ava was still a newborn to run her own PR business. She subsequently chose to forgo her work during this season of motherhood and become a stay-at-home mum instead - the pay-off of which has been immense for both her daughter’s development and her own wellbeing and she discusses that with us today.

    Michaela perfectly embodies the fact that the hardships of motherhood do not define us but ultimately shape us into the māmās we are destined to become. This is a beautiful story of coming full circle and I know you’ll appreciate Michaela’s vulnerability and strength as do I.

    Thank you again to Jordyn from Your Birth Project for sponsoring this week's episode of Motherness. Follow Your Birth Project on Instagram.

    Follow Michaela a'Court on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.

  • This week's episode of Motherness is proudly sponsored by Noopii, a New Zealand and women-owned Social Enterprise company making premium eco-luxe nappies and pants that are non-toxic, chemical-free and made with Manuka Hydrosol - a world first. Use the code MOTHERNESS10 to receive 10% off Noopii storewide

    By now you’ve hopefully realised that on Motherness we keep it super real, but real doesn’t always have to mean difficult. In fact, today’s guest, the Ariana Bell is proof that you truly can have a dreamy Fourth Trimester and a positive entry into Motherhood for the first time. A lot of people talk about unicorn babies but today’s story isn’t necessarily that.

    There are elements of her journey that have been cruisy and dare I say ‘easy’ but I think it’s her perspective on loving fully, embracing all that it means to be a māmā, being conscious, considerate, and present with her son… that’s what makes the magic.

    I’ve always loved the saying, ‘no rain, no flowers’ and for Ariana she explains that the most challenging aspect of her experience has been the change in herself and her marriage – one that she and her husband are aware of, showing up for and continuing to navigate… like most of us are.

    So, Here’s Ariana with her beautiful Motherness story for us all.

    Thank you again to Noopii for sponsoring this week's episode. Visit the Motherness Instagram account to enter our giveaway for a carton of Noopii nappies.

    Follow Ariana Bell on Instagram.

    Follow Skye Ross on Instagram.

    Follow Motherness on Instagram.