Imagine a world where matrescence, the developmental transformation from woman to mother, was truly recognised. Where this rite of passage was as understood and spoken about as adolescence. While matrescence isn’t a household word YET, my guest today on MAMA, UNLEASHED!, Nikki McCahon, has created a framework and language around matrescence to make this uncertain, and often challenging, time of becoming a mother more clear and less scary. Nikki created her Seasons of Matrescence model to...

What's the best motherhood brain hack to be a happier mother? Today on MAMA, UNLEASHED! I explain why I don’t like the term “hack”, especially in motherhood, and why we should instead be focussing on tools, strategies, exercises and protocols, to get real and long-lasting results.  In this episode, I talk about the similarities, differences and connections of the brain and the mind, and the role each play in your feelings of happiness in motherhood. I give you my first of many non-hack...

Amazing things happen in a woman’s brain when she becomes a mother, and we don’t even know half of it yet. Thankfully maternal neuroscience researchers like Dr Jodi Pawluski are making great progress in this very understudied area of science. In this episode of MAMA, UNLEASHED! I have the absolute pleasure of delving into the brain of Dr Jodi Pawluski, a leading maternal neuroscientist, psychotherapist, and mother of two. We talk about so much, from why we must remove the negative...

If you knew about matrescence - the developmental transformation a woman goes through when she becomes a mother - before you became a mum, would it have changed your motherhood experience? In this episode of MAMA, UNLEASHED! I share with you knowledge, information and an evidence-based strategy that will help you thrive in matrescence, especially if you are expecting a baby. Becoming a mother shakes you up and you have little control over how matrescence will manifest for you. But you can...

I believe that as women there is so much we can learn from women who have gone before us. And my guest on this episode delivers learnings in spades. In this episode of MAMA, UNLEASHED!  I speak with the amazing and admirable mum of three Wendy Euler. Wendy is the creator of the highly successful women’s empowerment movement Goodbye Crop Top and the podcast Cropped – a midlife minute. This conversation goes there! It is a conversation we need to have as women and as mothers. It is deep,...

So, it turns out that 'dropping the ball' is a good thing in motherhood, especially for your brain and mind. Hooray! In this episode of MAMA, UNLEASHED! I talk a lot about balls, and about dropping them. I also talk about perfectionism, mental space, and why doing less will benefit your brain and lead you to get the most out of motherhood. You will learn that every mother needs to purposely drop the ball sometimes to thrive in motherhood and that matrescence is the catalyst for beautiful...

In motherhood it is easy, and even socially encouraged, to put yourself last. Society doesn’t tell mothers to put yourself first and fill your cup (because you can’t pour from an empty cup!). No, prioritising yourself to thrive and feel happy in motherhood is frowned upon, like the mother is selfish. So mothers don’t do it. It isn’t selfish. It is imperative! In this episode of MAMA, UNLEASHED! mum coach Lauren Ellis and I discuss in detail why you must prioritise yourself in motherhood and...

Imagine if every mother knew that she will go through a developmental transition – matrescence - when she becomes a mother, and that this would change her immensely.  Now imagine if she had the information and knowledge to use her motherhood transformation to step into her power and truly thrive.  Matrescence – becoming a mother – is this transition.  And not only do we not talk about the fact that we change when we become mothers, we don’t tell mothers that her matrescence journey may be her...

MAMA, UNLEASHED! exists to give mothers knowledge, information, truths and uncomplicated evidence-based tools, so you can unleash yourself and truly thrive in motherhood.  I'm your host Dr Jennifer Hacker Pearson, and this is the podcast for women who want the most out of motherhood. My guests include amazing mothers, experts, scientists and researchers who unveil their knowledge and expertise just for you, so you can become the happiest mother you know. Subscribe now and check out...

Matrescence - the developmental transformation a woman goes through when she becomes a mother, is physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual.  Interestingly, for almost all mothers, matrescence can result in similar feelings to postpartum depression, which can be very concerning. We ask ourselves am I experiencing matrescence or postpartum depression? Or both??? This episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast analyses this question to provide you with knowledge, so you can...

Talking about not drinking alcohol is still taboo. But Grey-Area Drinking Coach Sarah Rusbatch and I dared to go there in this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast.  We want you to know why alcohol is making you unhappy and anxious, how you can find your true self by putting down the bottle, and why mummy wine culture is so very damaging. Don’t think this is a You-MUST-Stop-Drinking-Now episode. It is not! We merely share Sarah’s knowledge and our individual experiences with ditching booze,...

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space, your mental space, lies your power to choose your response, and your response will determine how you feel and how you view the world. This episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast dives into the importance of mental space in motherhood. We talk about why you must find your mental space and elongate it to thrive in motherhood. I also give you 3 simple ways you can create more mental space today. FREE DOWNLOAD - Morning Mama...

To access this episode's show notes and  for more information and tools go to: www.ToughMothers.com/ep25 Matrescence is defined as the process of becoming a mother. It is the physical, psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual transformation women go through when we become mothers. But does matrescence ever end? Is it finite like adolescence? In this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast, I delve deeper into the evolution of matrescence with Jenn Donovan, who recently experienced a...

For more knowledge, tools and this episode's show notes visit www.Tough Mothers.com/ep24 Want to truly thrive in motherhood? In this episode I introduce you The Motherhood Champagne-Glass-Tower Model.  I created The Motherhood Champagne-Glass-Tower Model to visually demonstrate the importance of a mother’s “glass” being full. Because if the mother’s glass is empty, she cannot pour into other areas of her life, like her children.     Key takeaways from this episode of The Tough Mothers...

For more information, tips and this episode's show notes go to www.ToughMothers.com/ep23 “Acknowledging our fears around mothering and motherhood is empowering and courageous.” This episode of  Tough Mothers TV is deep! I speak with mum of two, Belinda Hughes, about the fears we feel around our children and parenting, and how we deal with these. And you can too. Motherhood is an opportunity to really get to know ourselves, and our children are our greatest teachers. Belinda shares how she...

For more information, freebies and this episode's show notes go to www.ToughMothers.com/ep22 “When a mother starts a conversation, that opens up the floodgate for other mothers to speak.” How do you deal with sleep deprivation as a mother? Are you open to having a conversation about the hardships of motherhood and sleep? In this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast I speak with my friend Jacqui Joe, who had two non-sleeping boys, and knows all too well the effects of severe sleep...

For more information, free meditations and tips go to www.ToughMothers.com/ep21 "As soon as you start meditating your cortisol (stress hormone) pump gets turned off” I know what you are thinking: “meditation is not for me!” I used to think that too. But when I was in the grips of my postpartum breakdown, I tried it because I was desperate; I had nothing to lose. Very quickly meditation played a huge part in my recovery from postpartum anxiety, and my thriving in motherhood. Over 7 years...

For more information and the show notes head to www.ToughMothers.com/ep20 Trigger warning: Miscarriage and infant death Imagine the feeling of giving birth to your baby after several miscarriages.  Only for him to become critically ill in the hours and days following his birth, and eventually dying in your arms. In this episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast Amelia Davatzis shares her story of how her firstborn, Alexander, was born with duodenal atresia – a condition where the first part of...

“Our sharing creates an invitation for other mothers to share their story. And THAT creates empowerment” See www.ToughMothers.com/ep19 for more information, tips and freebies from this episode If you are feeling like you are on your own, Mama, you must watch this! In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast, I sit down with Gemma Douglas (founder of The Motherhood Project - a New Zealand-based online support community for mothers) to talk about Gemma’s journey into matrescence*, why...

See www.ToughMothers.com/ep18 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes. “People before things. Always!” This episode of The Tough Mothers Podcast delves into the life of Clutter Mentalist (cool title!) Collette Barker. Collette is a mum of four and an ex-Plunket nurse (New Zealand's early childhood health centre), who has the amazing ability to work with your weaknesses to declutter your home and mind in the most simple way. Collette shares with us hilarious stories from...

See www.ToughMothers.com/ep17 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes. “The [motherhood] shift was nothing like I thought of, dreamed of or prepared myself for” Dasha Okonji is a mum of 3 gorgeous boys and a life coach. Like many mums, during matrescence Dasha felt she lost herself in motherhood. So, she went on a journey to rediscover who she is, find herself again and find the light in motherhood. In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast, Dasha shares with us her...

See ToughMothers.com/ep16 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes. “Motherhood ripped me apart and put me together with light”. Alana  contacted me a couple of months ago and said: “I really want to share my birth stories with you. I had two incredibly empowering births, and I feel that people don’t talk about birth being a positive experience.” I said: YES!!!!!! In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast Alana reveals how she prepared herself mentally for childbirth...

My special presentation from The Healthy Mums Healthy Families Summit in February 2021. See https://www.ToughMothers.com/ep15 for more information, tips and this episode's show notes. This episode of Tough Mothers TV is about as action-packed as motherhood. All mothers will benefit from this episode! Because it: - Teaches you about matrescence, the transition into motherhood – how it changes mothers’ brains and how you can use this transformation to truly thrive in motherhood. - ...

When Melanie Medland found her type A-personality teenage daughter suddenly couldn’t cope with life, she was naturally alarmed. Melanie’s daughter, who was always very capable, suddenly withdrew, had trouble sleeping, forgot things and her eating patterns changed. Not having come across this before Melanie was questioning if this was just part of normal adolescence, but in her gut she knew. Her daughter was very unwell. In this episode of the Tough Mothers Podcast, Meanie takes us into...