Episodes

  • Ep 21: Siblings with Anita Cleare

    Ep 21: Siblings with Anita Cleare
    Apr 20 2021
    You do so much preparation for your first baby but what about adding a second? How easy is the transition from a family of three to four or more?
    Siblings were the topic for this session with Anita Cleare, the positive parenting expert and author of the Work/Parent switch. She joined the session to talk about preparing your child for a new baby and covers not only the build-up, but the very real juggle of having more than one child to nurture and keep happy. She had loads of practical advice, touching on sibling rivalry, books to read also touched on change in general for your little people and what goes through their minds.
    Anita Cleare is an author, coach and founder of the positive parenting project. If you’d like to hear more of Anita’s wisdom you can check out her website for details of her books, blog and resources and follow her on twitter too. 
    This is Your Companion To Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, during naptime or just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.
    Download Mush, the mum friend-making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!) Find it on the Play Store or App Store now.   Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook and for more information, you can also visit letsmush.
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    51 mins
  • Ep 20: Baby Loss with Michelle Tolfrey

    Ep 20: Baby Loss with Michelle Tolfrey
    Apr 13 2021
    It’s something we all dread but is way more common than we all think… this week Katie is opening up a conversation about baby loss.
    If you’d like to miss this episode due to the sensitive content, why not listen to another of our 20 episodes providing helpful tips and advice for new and expectant mums.
    Joining Katie is Michelle Tolfrey who candidly talks about the experience she has had with pregnancy, loss and motherhood. In this session, Michelle created a safe and tender space for mothers to share their feelings on baby loss, and Michelle offers caring words to you if you find yourself affected in the same way. 
    Michelle Tolfrey is a clinical psychologist who previously worked for the NHS for over 10 years and is now the founder of Talking Heads which offers private therapy and workplace mental health services. 
    This is Your Companion To Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, changing, during nap time and just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.
    If you are going through loss please seek out the necessary support to properly look after yourself, you can check out the below links for help.  https://www.bliss.org.uk
    https://babyloss-awareness.org/
    https://www.sands.org.uk/usefullinks
    https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/bereavement-support/
    https://www.novafoundation.org.uk/findingbabylosssupport

    Download Mush, the mum friend-making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!); find it on the Play Store or App Store now.   Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook and for more information, you can also visit letsmush.
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    49 mins
  • Ep 19: How to get your baby swimming with Lydia Phillips

    Ep 19: How to get your baby swimming with Lydia Phillips
    Mar 30 2021
    How to take your little one from a bath-time hater to a happy water baby. 
    Lydia Phillips from Water Babies is our expert this week,  in this episode, she dives into how you can start teaching your baby to swim,  the amazing benefits that swimming gives you and your baby aiding their physical and cognitive development as well as tips on how to get cracking straight away (yes even without a pool)!
    And Lydia eases the nerves of mums by answering their questions and giving her invaluable advice on all things swimming. 
    This is Your Companion To Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, changing, during nap time and just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.   Find out more information on Water Babies and to find your local class click here.   Download Mush, the mum friend-making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!); find it on the Play Store or App Store now.   Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook and for more information, you can also visit letsmush.

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    54 mins
  • Ep 18: Couples Therapy with Catherine Topham Sly

    Ep 18: Couples Therapy with Catherine Topham Sly
    Mar 23 2021
    "Two-thirds of couples experience a drop in relationship satisfaction after their first year of becoming parents" How can you communicate more effectively with your partner and co-parent and still feel connected? This session aims to find out.

    Katie is joined by Catherine Topham Sly, a BCAP accredited counsellor who specialises in relationships, and particularly the challenges of staying connected with your partner while raising a family together.

    Her session focuses on the typical changes that couples go through when they become parents, how to make the best of them and how to cope with the particular challenges of the lockdown period so that you can get through this as a couple stronger than ever.

    This is Your Companion To Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, changing, during nap time and just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.  
    Connect with Catherine and find out about her Love in Lockdown course via her website: https://insightconnection.uk/love-in-lockdown/

    Download Mush, the mum friend-making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!); find it on the Play Store or App Store now.   Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook and for more information, you can also visit letsmush.
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    53 mins
  • Ep 17: Returning to Work with Victoria Tudor-Thomas and Laura Youngson

    Ep 17: Returning to Work with Victoria Tudor-Thomas and Laura Youngson
    Mar 16 2021
    Whether your maternity leave is coming to an end or you’ve had a brilliant business idea whilst feeding at 3am, today’s experts have stellar advice and confidence-boosting strategies for crafting a fulfilling career as a mother.      Victoria Tudor-Thomas and Laura Youngson have been friends since Tumble Tots and are now empowering mothers and business women as independent career coaches. They join host Katie Massie-Taylor for a session on Career Transitions, in which they look at the return to work and new ventures.   Victoria will be talking about how to make a smooth and confident transition back to work in 2021, ensuring you'll be your best at home and in the workplace once you get there. Laura tells you how you can test your business ideas during maternity leave (or around other jobs) so that if you want to step into a new venture you can do so without wasting time and resources.   This is Your Companion To Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, changing, during nap time and just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.   Victoria is a certified lifestyle coach working to help women get their spark back in life and their career, you can contact her or find out more about what she offers via her website: https://www.vttcoaching.co.uk/     Laura Tudor-Thomas Youngson is an entrepreneur, mother and world record holder, you can follow her on Instagram, check out her business and see her ted talk via the below links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurayoungson/ Business: https://www.idasports.co/ TedTalk:https://www.ted.com/talks/laura_youngson_conquering_the_mountain_for_equality     Download Mush, the mum friend-making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!); find it on the Play Store or App Store now.   Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook and for more information you can also visit letsmush.com
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    49 mins
  • Ep 16: Busting Breastfeeding Myths with Erin Zohrehie

    Ep 16: Busting Breastfeeding Myths with Erin Zohrehie
    Mar 9 2021
     With the UK showing the lowest rate of breastfeeding in the world we wanted to invite an expert to talk about the reasons for that low rate and how we can better support mothers to breastfeed successfully if they choose to.   Erin Zohrehie is the 'Mummy Minder' looking after new parents as a postnatal doula and infant feeding specialist. Her goal while serving families is that they would feel relaxed and as stress-free as possible, while providing emotional and practical support. She has nearly 10 years of experience on maternity wards as well as in the community, helping new mothers initiate and continue feeding their babies for as long as they choose to.   This is Your Companion To Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, changing, during nap time or just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.   Contact Erin via the below link if you’d like some more tailored support with your breastfeeding journey. Website: https://www.mummyminder.com/   Download Mush, the mum friend-making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!); find it on the Play Store or App Store now.   Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook (mushmums) and for more information you can also visit letsmush.com  



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    58 mins
  • Ep 15: Baby Milestones with Dr Oscar Duke

    Ep 15: Baby Milestones with Dr Oscar Duke
    Mar 2 2021
    Every child is different and their development will differ too, from babies that “bum-shuffle” rather than crawl to potty training procrastinators.
    Your Companion To Motherhood expert this week is Dr Oscar Duke who joins host Katie to tackle questions, queries and concerns around baby milestones.
    Oscar is a doctor, broadcaster, author and dad, in this episode he breaks down all things development and looks at milestones such as walking, talking and smaller things like smiling, Katie and Oscar explore the timescales for these advancements and the signs to look out for.

     You’ll also hear some great advice on ways to encourage your baby’s development, despite the lack of social contact during the pandemic, however, as Oscar says you shouldn't worry too much if your child doesn’t hit each of these milestones on the nose, allowing a little time for the learning process along the way but he also sheds some light on when you should seek advice about your baby’s advancement.
    Check more of Oscar's work through the links below. Oscar's Website
    Oscar’s Book: How to Be a Dad The Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy, Birth & Dirty Nappies
    And Recent Radio Programme: The Science of Dad
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    51 mins
  • Ep 14: The Importance Of The Pelvic Floor with Emma Brockwell

    Ep 14: The Importance Of The Pelvic Floor with Emma Brockwell
    Feb 23 2021
    The important muscle that you probably need to work more.

    In this episode Physiotherapist, Emma Brockwell joins Katie to talk about pelvic floor health. As any new mum will agree, after birth you may find you have weakness in your tummy or pelvic floor which can result in instability, back pain and bladder and bowel issues. 

    Emma tells you the reasons why this happens, what to look out for, how to check yourself, what to consider when returning to exercise and even running, which is her speciality.  And as always mums on Mush put their questions to Emma. 

    This is your Companion to Motherhood. These episodes are designed to provide you with detailed information on the various steps in the first year of motherhood which you can listen to while you're feeding, changing, during nap time and just going about your day to day tasks. Think of it like a conversation with a friend who has been there before.
    Follow Emma on Instagram, check out her new book, or find out how you can work with her via her website.
    Download Mush the mum friend making app to connect with other mums (and expectant mums!), find it on the Play Store or App Store now.
    Follow Mush on Instagram or Facebook and for more information. , You can also visit letsmush.com


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    51 mins