This episode is not a pep talk. It’s a personal share from the floor of my son's bedroom, nap-trapped with my sick toddler on my chest, period pain in full force, and all the ‘shoulds’ swirling in my head.

This is real life: the messy moments that don’t make it onto Pinterest boards. I share how sometimes the healthiest thing is not to ‘fix’ yourself but to let yourself be distracted (yep, even by mindless Instagram scrolls). Sometimes the only question is: What’s the absolute minimum that needs to get done today?

If you’ve ever felt stuck under the weight of sick days, laundry piles, emotional overwhelm or just the relentlessness of it all, this one’s for you. You are not alone.

📌 Mentioned:

• My free Overwhelm-Busting Bingo Sheet for 25 real ways to calm your nervous system (distraction scrolling not included 😉) subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

If you're in the trenches too right now, you can reach out to:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com
• You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com

👉🏽 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.

What if your relationship doesn’t ‘bounce back’ after the baby? What if it actually takes years?

In this Mums Talk episode, I sit down with my friend Sophie Jane Hardy - writer, coach and host of the Menstruality Podcast, to talk about the unspoken parts of motherhood and how long it can take to feel like you again.

We talk about: ✨ Sophie’s four-year journey to rebuild her relationship after becoming parents ✨ The grief and rage underneath infertility, birth that didn’t go to plan and letting go of the version of motherhood you’d imagined ✨ The invisible mental load and the surrender that nobody prepares you for ✨ The moment Sophie realised she had to stop trying to control everything and trust her partner’s way of parenting too ✨ Why nervous system care is the real work, and how we find our way back to ourselves (and each other)

If you’ve ever thought, “Why does this feel so hard?” this one is for you.

Want to connect with Sophie?

Sophie’s website: https://www.sophiejanehardy.com Instagram: @sophie.jane.hardy Menstruality Podcast: https://www.redschool.net/podcast

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.

And, if you're in the trenches right now: 🌀 You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com 👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

In this voice note from a very sunny (and sweaty!) Berlin, I’m sharing something that’s been on my mind during our time here. As I’ve been walking and cycling around with Jackson, I’ve noticed something that honestly made me pause. Every child I see on a bike is wearing a helmet (which is great!), but hardly any of the parents are.

It reminded me of a short video I saw from a paediatric doctor who made a really simple point: if you’re riding a bike, you need protecting too. Especially when your child is relying on you.

This episode isn’t about guilt, it’s just a loving nudge. I know how easy it is to put our own safety last when we’re focused on our kids. But the truth is, they don’t just need to be protected. They need us. Healthy, safe, and here.

Sending you all the sunny vibes from Berlin, Nat 💛

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.

And, if you're in the trenches right now: 🌀 You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com 👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

Ever wondered what actually happens to your placenta after birth or why some mums choose to eat it?

In today’s episode of The Mama Circle, I’m joined by my longtime friend, Lynnea Arnold (formerly Lynnea Shrief) - doula, baby massage therapist, and founder of Europe’s first placenta encapsulation network, IPEN. She’s also a mum of four, a creator of change, and someone who has quietly shaped birth support for thousands of women.

Together, we dive into:

• What doulas really do (and why they can change your whole birth experience)

• The truth about placenta encapsulation: how it works, why people do it, and what you need to know

• Baby massage as a tool for bonding, emotional regulation, and deep connection

• Building a legacy while raising a family and why you don’t need to be loud to make an impact

Mentioned in this episode:

👋🏽 Connect with Lynnea: https://www.everwelltherapies.co.uk/ 🤓 Learn more about placenta encapsulation: https://www.placentanetwork.com/ 💌 Join my mailing list and get your free Overwhelm Busting Bingo for quick wins when motherhood feels overwhelming: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

Get in touch!

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

In today’s voice note (recorded on my walk to work), I’m diving into something that’s been on my mind: what if our modern relationship timeline is setting us up for failure when it comes to parenting?

We’ve all heard of or experienced the heartbreak of feeling disconnected from your partner after having children. But what if the problem isn’t just them changing... but us expecting things to stay the same?

In this episode, I explore:

• The relationship escalator and why it might not serve parents

• Why parenting is such a profound identity shift

• Whether having children earlier in a relationship could actually help

• The gap between expectations and reality in parenting roles

• Why knowing someone pre-kids might not prepare you for the real deal

I’m not claiming to have all the answers here – just sharing a curious thought and inviting you to reflect with me. I’d love to hear your take!

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.

And, if you're in the trenches right now: 🌀 You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com 👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

Okayyy - it's time I talk about Emetophobia, the thing I've carried around with me for the last 37 years!

This week I'm sharing my journey with fear of vomiting and how it’s shaped my life. From a traumatic experience at four years old to how I avoided certain foods, places, and even situations that most people take for granted. But that changed this year. Because becoming a mum made me realise: I needed to get a grip on this phobia for myself, and for my son.

I walk you through:

• What emetophobia actually is and how it shows up in day-to-day life

• My personal origin story (and why it’s not actually the root cause)

• The behavioural patterns that kept the fear alive

• Why motherhood made me face it head-on

• The Thrive Programme that finally helped me feel better

• The progress I’ve made and what I hope for you too

Whether you’ve experienced this fear yourself or know someone who has, I hope this episode reminds you: you’re not alone, and it can get better.

• Emetophobia Free Podcast
• The Thrive Programme and Emetophobia.co.uk (for more info)

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.

And, if you're in the trenches right now: 🌀 You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com 👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

In this Mums Talk episode, I’m joined by Amanda Baumann — a fertility awareness educator, yoga teacher, and mum — to share her honest and inspiring journey through conception, matrescence, and starting over in a new country.

Amanda talks about how hormonal contraception led to anxiety and burnout in her twenties, and how discovering cycle awareness helped her reconnect with her body and conceive her daughter with calm and confidence. Now living in the South of France with her young family, she reflects on identity shifts, expat life with a toddler, and what it really takes to juggle motherhood and self-care.

We explore:

• The emotional whiplash of going from avoiding pregnancy to trying for a baby

• Why so many of us grow up fearing our bodies — and how to shift that

• Moving from London to rural France with a toddler (and no village)

• Letting go of control and trusting your instincts as a parent

• What changed when Amanda became a mum — in her body, mind, and career

• Bullet journaling, yoga nidra, and other self-care tools that actually fit mum life

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode.

And, if you're in the trenches right now: 🌀 You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com 👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo

If you're constantly rushing, from nappy changes to school runs to work emails, and wondering when you’ll ever get a moment to just breathe, this episode is for you.

In today’s quick voice note, I share a gentle reminder from the sunny banks of the Danube: that sometimes, rest is closer than we think. You don’t need a spa day to feel human again. You just need 30 seconds of intention.

Tune in to hear:

• Why waiting for “enough time” can keep you stuck in burnout

• Simple, everyday places you can build in a pause (yep, even on the loo!)

• How slowing down just a little can reconnect you to yourself

• A reminder that you're allowed to rest — even for one minute

💛 Share this episode with a mum who needs a breather today. And don’t forget to rate or follow if you haven’t already - it helps this show reach more mums who need it.

Share your thoughts with me:

• Instagram: @natalie.kmartin
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motherhoodandempowerment
• Email: info@nataliekmartin.com

And if you're in the trenches right now: 🌀 You can join a real-life Mama Circle here www.nataliekmartin.com 👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here: subscribepage.io/overwhelmbingo