In this week’s conversation I talk to Sophie Burch about taking care of our mental and relationship health before and after birth.
Sophie Burch aka The Mamma Coach is on a mission to put mental wellbeing more on the map in pregnancy, birth and parenting. She has 14 years as a mother to 4 boys (including twins), as a perinatal therapist and coach, and a birth trauma and PND survivor. Her experience has shaped who she is and awakened her to a life of compassion and deep empathy for everyone from pre-conception through parenting to menopause. Her approach is simple: to allow people to feel held and heard, safe and worthy of love and self-acceptance.
We talk about:
4:10 Sophie’s own story and mental health struggles
9:15 The birth of Sophie’s twins
13:36 The ripple effect of taking care of your mental health
15:55 Teaching practitioners as well as parents
19:40 Working within our current pre and post-natal systems
20:34 The experience of fatherhood
22:07 Post-natal depression in fathers
25:00 The pressures of the patriarchy
27:15 Nurturing ourselves
30:34 The challenges of parenthood for over-achievers
31:36 Intrusive thoughts
32:03 Loss of identity
33:35 Expectations and perfectionism
34:50 Recognising that you are struggling
35:48 The effect of parenting on couples’ relationships
38:08 The importance of a compassionate relationship while parenting
39:40 Resentment and unrealistic expectations
43:40 Preparing for stormy seas together
46:26 Modelling compassion to our children
48:39 the Nourish app
50:29 How Sophie pauses
51:50 Visualisation
53:10 Play – dancing and bouncing
55:18 Sophie’s takeaway for you
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Website: www.themammacoach.com
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This episode was edited by Emily Crosby Media
