This episode I have the absolute pleasure talking to Em and Hannah from Baby Brain Podcast. They are fun, relatable, real and freaking hilarious! We re-hash that Bluey episode and why Em and Hannah changed their minds from it not being a big deal to becoming wary of the affects it has on children, especially girls, as young as five. You’ll get to hear all three of us talk about body image and our take on what we went through with our bodies after babies.

Three mums talking and laughing about our best baby brain stories and what accounts we unfollowed on social media – because social media should not be telling us we are bad mothers, when we know we are doing an amazing job!

Please note, this episode details eating disorders. Go gently, and listen with care. 

LIKE, share, subscribe, and review this podcast. Five-star reviews go a long way. I thank each and every guest and listener for your support, you are all a part of making this happen.

FOLLOW Aura and Oak Tree Podcast on Instagram for more validating maternal mental health content, information, and advocacy - @auraandoaktree

VISIT the website auraandoaktree.com if you would like to share your story, and access more content for women’s mental health and wellbeing.

  Follow Em and Hannah on Instagram @babybrain.podcast

Your host, Shara Godman - mama, recovering perfectionist, and mental health counsellor.

Johanna, the founder of Holistic Wellness Psychology, joins me to talk about her journey into Psychology and how she ended up working in her passion - women’s health, perinatal mental health and infant mental health.

Johanna breaks down what holistic psychology looks like during the perinatal period, what to expect from your first appointment, and how she works with her client’s wellbeing, while considering their mind, body and soul. She explains the different aspects of wellness, how working on aligning ourselves can improve our overall wellbeing, breaking down barriers and taking steps to feeling fulfillment within ourselves. Together we touch on our motherhood journey, our passion for perinatal mental health, raising awareness, normalizing the struggles of mental health conditions through the postpartum period and when to reach out for support.      

Please like, share, subscribe, and review this podcast. Five-star reviews go a long way. I thank each and every guest and listener for your support, you are all a part of making this happen.

FOLLOW Aura and Oak Tree Podcast on Instagram for more validating maternal mental health content, information, and advocacy - @auraandoaktree

VISIT auraandoaktree.com to share your story, and access more content for women’s mental health.

You can find Johanna on Instagram @holisticwellnesspsychology and website https://www.holisticwellnesspsychology.com.au/

Please note, this episode talks about miscarriage, intrusive thoughts, self-harm and details perinatal mental health such as postpartum depression and anxiety. Go gently, and listen with care.

Please remember that you are worthy of support and deserve to be heard. Your mental health matters, you matter.

Your host,

Shara Godman - mama, recovering perfectionist, and mental health counsellor.

Carly had never experienced depression or anxiety until she was confronted with postpartum anxiety and depression after she had her first baby. From being scared to speak up, to feeling that she was undeserving of being a mother and ashamed to feel this way. She was exhausted, she was crying all the time, she wasn’t understanding where these feelings were coming from, and she didn’t want to feel anything anymore. Carly shares her lived experience with postpartum depression, and postpartum anxiety with her two children. She speaks about her struggles having a Covid baby and not even wanting to leave the house. Carly takes me on her journey of what she went through with ease, confidence and a little bit of humour. She speaks up about advocating for yourself, recognizing the signs of something that is more than ‘baby blues,’ and shares with me what she would say to herself when she was experiencing scary and intrusive thoughts as a new mother. We discussed how therapy helped heal her, how she’s going with her struggles today and what she does to look after herself.

Content Warning – this episode details, intrusive thoughts, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum depression. Go gently and listen with care.

- Follow Aura and Oak Tree Podcast on Instagram for more validating maternal mental health content, information, and advocacy - @auraandoaktree

- Don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and review this podcast. Five-star reviews go a long way. I thank each and every listener for your support, you are all a part of making this happen. I very much appreciate it.  

If you would like to share your story, and lived experience with perinatal mental health, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, or infertility on the podcast, I would be honoured to share it with you. Fill out the guest form on the website ⁠auraandoaktree.com⁠

Thank you for listening to today’s episode. Please remember that you are worthy of support and deserved to be heard. Your mental health matters, you matter.

Support is available -

https://panda.org.au/

https://www.cope.org.au/ https://www.gidgetfoundation.org.au/

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

I sit down with the lovely Tanja, physiotherapist and owner of Body & Birth Physio, to talk about her expertise in women’s health during and beyond the perinatal period. We talk about the journey of motherhood, the importance of women’s health, advocating for ourselves and bringing more awareness to the mental and physical impacts of birth and beyond. We also talk about pelvic floor and the surprise I had with how big our pelvic floor muscle is (enter mind blown emoji!)

Don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and rate this podcast. If you would like to share your story, and lived experience with perinatal mental health, birth trauma, pregnancy loss, or infertility on the podcast, I would be honoured to share it with you. Fill out the guest form on the website ⁠auraandoaktree.com⁠

For more validating Maternal Mental Health content follow along on Instagram @auraandoaktree

I want to thank Tanja for coming on, I learnt so much and she is such an amazing woman!

You can follow Tanja on Instagram @bodyandbirthphysio

Or find her at https://www.bodyandbirthphysio.com/

You can watch the video of this podcast episode and have your mind blown how big the pelvic floor is on my YouTube page - youtube/auraandoaktree

Today I am joined by the lovely Meagan. She is my my first guest, my best friend and a birth trauma survivor. Meagan shares her story about the birth of her first son, Keagan. The birth trauma story shared by Meagan is a deeply personal and emotional account. She recounts the specific details of her experience, describing the physical and emotional pain she endured during labor, delivery, and her recovery after. She recounts her experience with the health care providers at the hospital, challenges she faced and the impact it had on their mental and physical well-being. Her story serves as a reminder of the importance of support and understanding for those who have experienced birth trauma.

Please note, this episode details a lived experience with birth trauma. Go gently, and listen with care.

For more validating Maternal Mental Health content follow along on Instagram @auraandoaktree Don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and rate this podcast. If you would like to be a guest on The Aura and Oak Tree Podcast, I would love to hear from you! Head over to the website ⁠⁠auraandoaktree.com⁠⁠ and fill out the guest form.

Please remember that you are worthy of support and deserved to be heard. Your mental health matters, you matter. Support is available - https://birthtrauma.org.au/ https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ https://www.cope.org.au/ https://panda.org.au/

Learning to like yourself is a journey that's worth embarking on. It's like discovering a hidden treasure within yourself, and once you find it, you won't want to let it go. At first, it may feel like a daunting task, but the rewards are immeasurable. It's about accepting your flaws, embracing your quirks, and celebrating your uniqueness. It's about realizing that you are enough, just as you are. So go ahead, dive into the adventure of self-discovery and learn to love the incredible person that you are. You won't regret it. Trust me, I've been there.

Don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and review this podcast. If you would like to be a guest on The Aura and Oak Tree Podcast, or you would like a certain topic covered, I would love to hear from you! Head over to the website ⁠auraandoaktree.com⁠ and fill out the guest form. Follow along on Instagram ⁠@auraandoaktree⁠ and send me a DM.

Please note, this episode touches on symptoms of depression. Go gently and listen with care.

If you are struggling with depression please reach out to -

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

https://au.reachout.com/

https://www.cope.org.au/

It seems like motherhood and self doubt to go, hand-in-hand, right? It’s not a hidden fact that mothers go through massive physical, mental and emotional changes after the baby arrives. Our minds can always be filled with doubts and fear of failure. Listen to this episode to hear strategies on how to combat self-doubt through motherhood. I will go into the healthy version of self-doubt and the unhealthy version of self doubt. Is self-doubt really that bad?

Don't forget to like, share, subscribe, and review this podcast. If you would like to be a guest on The Aura and Oak Tree Podcast, or you would like a certain topic covered, I would love to hear from you! Head over to the website auraandoaktree.com and fill out the guest form. Follow along on Instagram @auraandoaktree and send me a DM.