Matters of Maternity Podcast

My guest this week is Michelle Flynn from An Croi Beag (Instagram @ancroibeag). Michelle is a psychotherapist with a particular interest in working with perinatal mental health, postnatal depression, traumatic births and anxiety.  Michelle has extensive experience working with parents on all aspects of parenthood and relationships and supports clients in moving through the internal and external challenges they are facing. Michelle spoke to me about her work and her practice, her life as a mother to three young children ages 5, 4 and 3, and how important it is to take even one minute a day to check in with ourselves. I really hope you enjoy the episode today.

My guest this week is Karen Prunty. Karen is a neonatal nurse and the founder of ‘Little Roo’ (Instagram @little_roo_village). Little Roo is a parent and baby hub that connects, supports and empowers parents and babies. They run a large range of classes all from the one location in Blackrock in Dublin, classes like baby sensory, baby massage, breastfeeding clinics, and pregnancy Pilates. Karen spoke to me about a frightening first delivery, how she has learned that you don’t have to sacrifice yourself to be a mother and a very funny story of her most memorable motherhood moment.  I really hope you enjoy.

My guest this week is Julie Ledwidge (Instagram @julie_ledwidge). Julie is a mother to max, and at the time of recording this episode was only a matter of weeks away from her due date with baby number 2. Since then, Julie has gone on to welcome her daughter Georgina. I have loved following Julie on Instagram but especially over Christmas seeing her and her gorgeous family enjoying life as a family of four has been beautiful to watch. We chatted about hyperemesis, the constant worry of motherhood, and how the best and hardest parts of motherhood, are often the same thing. I really hope you enjoy the episode today.

My guest this week is Eimear Hallahan (Instagram @misshallahan). Oh wow, where to start with this episode. Eimear has been through so much in the last year or so. As you will already know if you follow Eimear online, she is a mother to two gorgeous boys, JJ and James.  We chatted about all the best parts of motherhood, but also, how Eimear coped when her son James was faced with an extremely serious life-threatening diagnosis. Hearing this story in Eimear’s own words, I was in awe at her strength, positive attitude, and mindset, and how such a terrifying experience completely changed her as a person and a mother. A huge thank you to Eimear for sharing such a personal and frightening time in their lives. I really hope you enjoy this episode.

Welcome back to the Matters of Maternity podcast after an extended break! It’s is so great to be back, and I couldn’t be happier that my guest for the first episode of this season is Laura O’Mahony. If you don’t already follow Laura on Instagram, do yourselves a favour and do so immediately! (@lauralolslots) She is a breath of fresh air, with a wonderful outlook on motherhood and life in general. We talked about Instagram versus Reality, Bing versus Bluey, and why we all need to drop “mom guilt”. Laura recently started her own podcast, Red Raw, with Rob Heffernan, and I highly recommend you listen if you fancy something real, honest, and so so funny. I really hope you enjoy the episode this week.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Michelle Pluck. Many of you may already follow Michelle's Instagram page, 'My Good Hair Day Blog' (Instagram @mygoodhairdayblog). Michelle is a hairstylist, and mother of 2 with baby number 3 on the way. We chatted about how it is often the small things that make the biggest memories for our children, how we all need reminders to not be so hard on ourselves, and how keeping the line of communication open with our children is so important. 

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Ann Costigan from the brilliant Instagram page 'Poo and the Loo' (Instagram @pooandtheloo). As any parent knows, those are two things that go hand in hand with parenthood! Ann is a paediatric nurse and constipation and toilet training expert, and works exclusively with children with bowel issues. Ann is also a mother of three, and we chatted about how even when you are a medical professional you are always a mother first when it comes to your children, how the confidence of toddlers is something we should all strive to have, and how getting up a few minutes before the rest of the house wakes up can really help get on top of the day. I really hope you enjoy this chat.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Celine Charles (Instagram @celineacharles). Celine is a mom to three gorgeous girls, and if you follow Celine on Instagram I'm sure you already know what a warm & bubbly person she is. I have been following Celine for a while now and couldn't wait to sit down and chat with her about motherhood, we chatted about the innate instinct to protect your children, how we are our children's safety nets even when we don't realise it, and everyone's favourite event....supermarket meltdowns!!  I really hope you enjoy the episode.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Dominique McMullan (Instagram @bobbleheadmo). Dominique is the Editorial Director at Image Media, a writer, presenter and mom to two beautiful boys. In our chat today we discussed birth trauma, how mothers are invaluable employees, and the process of grief and explaining grief to a toddler. I have left names below to some books that Dominique kindly sent me, that may help someone in a similar situation.  1. Grandad's Island by Benji Davies 2. Lifetimes: The Beautiful Way to Explain Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie 3. The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers 4. How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers I really hope you enjoy the episode.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Zara Haskett. Zara is a certified Style Consultant & Career Coach, mom to two boys, and one of the most 'can-do', high-energy people I have ever met! We met through work about 5 years ago and I always love being in Zara's company. She sees the fun & positive side in every situation, as you will hear from our conversation, even when faced with some pretty challenging situations thrown at her in both pregnancies! I really hope you enjoy the episode. Make sure to follow Matters of Maternity on Instagram for preview Interviews and bonus content. 

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Aisling Daly. Aisling is a Women's Empowerment Coach, passionate about supporting clients in achieving their ambitions and dreams in both business and life. She is a mother to Faith and at the time of our chat was 40 weeks pregnant with her second baby! During our conversation we discussed how the small things in our day can count as self-care moments, the importance of allowing yourself space to process when pregnancy takes an unexpected turn, and the meaning of 'matrescence', a term I had never heard of before but loved finding out more about. I really hope you enjoy the episode.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Kayleah Long. Kayleah is a mum to three gorgeous kids and wife to professional footballer and Irish international, Shane Long. If you already follow Kayleah on social media, you will clearly see that motherhood and her family are everything to her. During our chat, we discussed what it is like to have to pack up your life and move to a different part of the country with only a few day's notice (and all while 33 weeks pregnant with baby number 2!) and how rewarding it is to see our children grow into their own little personalities. I really hope you enjoy the episode.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Karen Stack, a member of The Irish Association of Relationship Mentors (IARM). IARM is the professional body representing Co-Creational Relationship Mentors, who offer compassionate support and encouragement to individuals in an unconditional, non-judgmental, therapeutic setting.  You can read more about the approach and available services on www.iarm.ie and you can follow Karen on Instagram @karenstackrelationshipmentor and on Facebook at Karen Stack Co-Creational Parent Mentor. I loved chatting with Karen and finding out more about the amazing work IARM do, and I really hope you enjoy this episode.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Lucy Wolfe. Lucy is the mother of four beautiful children and is best known for her work as a highly sought after Sleep Consultant. We discuss how the relationship with your children changes as they grow, how she finds time to switch off, and one of the nicest answers to the question 'Motherhood is...'. I loved my conversation with Lucy, and I hope you do too.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Virginia from 'Up She Rises'. Virginia is the mother of two beautiful children and I loved chatting to her about all things motherhood. We discuss the 'shoulds' we put on ourselves as parents, how we are learning and growing along with our children, and one of the sweetest stories I have heard about a shopping trip with her son. I loved my conversation with Virginia, and I hope you do too.

My guest this week on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Laura D also known as 'The Glam Shamrock'. Laura is the mother of two beautiful babies and I loved chatting to her about all things motherhood. We discuss long labour (2 days!) that ended in an emergency c-section, what it was like having maternity leave plans thrown up in the air when the world went into lockdown and the challenge of missing home during a pandemic. I loved my conversation with Laura, and listen out for some very cute baby noises from Laura's daughter Ada, who joined us for our chat!

My first guest on the Matters of Maternity Podcast is Nessa Hurley.  Nessa is the mother of two beautiful girls, and I loved chatting to her about all things motherhood.  From an emergency c section to silent reflux and ultimately always trusting your gut, Nessa's positive bubbly personality is evident throughout our conversation. I am so grateful to her for being my first guest and I hope you enjoy listening Aisling

Welcome to the Matters of Maternity Podcast with Aisling O'Flynn. Since becoming a mother over three years ago, I have become fascinated with all things, motherhood and the amazing journey that we as moms go on as we navigate the early newborn days to toddler territory and everything that follows In this podcast, I sit down with fellow mothers to find out their memorable motherhood moments and hopefully pick up and share some words of wisdom along the way