Baby Brain Podcast

This week we’re joined by the incredible Porscia Lam, who shares her story of going through an autism diagnosis with her son during covid lockdowns, and how this sparked her journey into years of research and learnings on therapies that would help him gain independence.  Not only is this a wonderful chat about Porscia’s personal experience, but it’s also an insightful conversation around what it’s like to parent a neurodiverse child, and different therapies that are available to explore.  Porscia is a Melbourne lawyer who has spent the last 18 years working in corporate settings.  In 2021, she took a three-year career break to care for her two young children, one of whom was diagnosed with autism.  During this time, Porscia immersed herself in learning about autism, and searching for therapies and supports that would help her son gain independence.   The success of her son’s early intervention led her to write her first book, The Unlocking: An Autism Story, which was shortlisted for the Hawkeye Manuscript Prize in 2024, and published by The Kind Press in February 2025. To learn more about Porscia, and to purchase her book, head to the links below: Website: https://porscialam.com/ Book: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-unlocking-porscia-lam/book/9781763508323.html  This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Pigeon, the absolute OG when it comes to helping mama’s get babies on the bottle with less stress! They have a range of feeding products to assist in your bottle or breastfeeding journey.  Pigeon is famous for their SofTouch bottles and teats and can be recognised by their wide neck. They have even been medically proven using ultra sound, by comparing breast feeding and bottle feeding showing that when babies are feeding with a pigeon bottle it provides the same jaw and tongue movement as breastfeeding - wildddd! We also used Pigeon for their anti-colic system. For all OG listeners who know that Blake suffered with severe reflux we specifically chose Pigeon bottles due to their teats with the anti colic system to ensure less air intake when feeding to limit reflux symptoms as well has having the soft touch teats for a softer nipple like feel making it all the more closer to breastfeeding.  To purchase your pigeon products or find out more head to www.pigeonbaby.com.au or head to Instagram @pigeonbabyau Baby Brain Merch!  To support the podcast and buy yourself an amazing mum (or dad) cap, head to the link below: https://www.babybrainpodcast.com.au/store-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have such a beautiful episode for you this week all about spirit babies! We’re joined by the gorgeous Jen from Seasons of Mama, to chat about what spirit babies are, and her experience connecting with her spirit baby after a miscarriage.  Content warning - during this episode we speak about baby loss and miscarriage.  Jen is the Mama, Midwife and Maker behind her heart-led business, Seasons of Mama where she offers Conscious Birth Classes and empowered products for your Highest birth and motherhood. She lives on the beautiful South Coast of NSW with her husband and two little love bugs.  To learn more, head to the links below: Instagram @seasons_of_mama www.seasonsofmama.com.au Link to the Spirit Baby cards with Kylie Stewart- https://seasonsofmama.com.au/products/spirit-baby-oracle-cards?_pos=1&_sid=0c1375be8&_ss=r Use our Discount code "BabyBrainPod" for 20% off sitewide    This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Pigeon, the absolute OG when it comes to helping mama’s get babies on the bottle with less stress! They have a range of feeding products to assist in your bottle or breastfeeding journey.  Pigeon is famous for their SofTouch bottles and teats and can be recognised by their wide neck. They have even been medically proven using ultra sound, by comparing breast feeding and bottle feeding showing that when babies are feeding with a pigeon bottle it provides the same jaw and tongue movement as breastfeeding - wildddd! We also used Pigeon for their anti-colic system. For all OG listeners who know that Blake suffered with severe reflux we specifically chose Pigeon bottles due to their teats with the anti colic system to ensure less air intake when feeding to limit reflux symptoms as well has having the soft touch teats for a softer nipple like feel making it all the more closer to breastfeeding.  To purchase your pigeon products or find out more head to www.pigeonbaby.com.au or head to Instagram @pigeonbabyau   Baby Brain Merch!  To support the podcast and buy yourself an amazing mum (or dad) cap, head to the link below: https://www.babybrainpodcast.com.au/store-1  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you felt overwhelmed with the juggling act of returning to work as a parent? Wondering how to navigate part time hours, negotiations with your boss, daycare drop offs, meal planning, and finding work that you’re actually passionate about? This week we’re chatting with the incredible Lucinda and Lauren (Lu and Loz) from Ready or Not Podcast, on how to make work, work!  In this episode we cover so much on the return to work transition, how to best manage the challenges that can come along with it, and how employers can make their workplaces more parent-friendly. We also have a yarn about Mum life, and absolutely loved chatting with Lu and Loz. This episode is full of great, relatable info, and of course, lots of lols! Lucinda McKimm and Lauren Treweek (aka Lu and Loz) are the brains behind Ready or Not - the podcast and go to guides created to support mums in making work, work. From interviews to banter to advice, the pretend cousins (Lu is married to Loz's cousin) release three episodes every week on all things motherhood and career, and have created expert online guides to support mums and all parents in transitioning back to paid work. To follow along, head to the links below: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/ready-or-not/id1659238371 https://open.spotify.com/show/1o58qCy3KJrV4EXEZkhkkh https://www.instagram.com/readyornot.pod/ To purchase one of the amazing Go-To Guides, click on the link below, and use our code BABYBRAIN for 20% off! https://www.readyornot.au/shop  This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Harlow & Co, providing luxe but oh so practical playmats to compliment your home.  Harlow & Co playmats are uniquely designed to fit in with any space, and they are beautiful and aesthetic with their reversible and minimalist designs. The playmats are made using non-toxic materials and use thick shock absorbent cushioning to protect your little ones during play-time, tummy time and those important first steps. And our absolute favorite feature.....they are wipeable!! Yessss water-resistant and wipeable so that you can easily wipe up any spills or mess and don't have to worry about stains!  The Harlow & co playmats are the best place for your kids to create, eat, tumble, do craft, eat and just be able to be kids be without you being worried about mess or that your floors or carpet are going to be ruined.  They also have a beautiful range of french linen playmats perfect for newborns, as well as newborn baby lounges....baby shower gift anyone?  To create your dream room aesthetic that is practical and that the kids will love, head to harlowandco.com.au or visit their IG @_harlowandco to add this incredible playmat to your family home today. Baby Brain Merch!  To support the podcast and buy yourself an amazing mum (or dad) cap, head to the link below: https://www.babybrainpodcast.com.au/store-1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is it the end of the year already!? Welcome to our wrap up of 2024! What a BIG year it’s been! Join us in our final ep of the year as we discuss peaks and pits, wrap up a fabulous year of podcasting and Hannah also shares some big news! (Don’t worry it’s not a pregnancy announcement 🤣). As always we need to say a HUGE thank you to all of you, our listeners, our community, who are now our friends! We wouldn’t be here without you, and your support by following the podcast and tuning in each week means so much to us. Thank you to all of our amazing guests for 2024 who have given us their time to come on and share their wisdom! We’ve learnt so much this year and hope you have too! And thank you to our incredible sponsors, the brands we’ve partnered with throughout 2024 who have helped us keep the lights on. If we’ve been able to lighten the mental load of parenting, give you a weekday lol, or even just bring a smile to your face on a hard day, then our job here is done! Wishing everyone a safe and beautiful holiday season spent with your loved ones. We’ll be back in your ears at the end of January. New Baby Brain Merch! You might have noticed we’ve dropped merch!! To support the podcast and buy yourself an amazing mum (or dad) cap, head to the link below: https://www.babybrainpodcast.com.au/store-1 This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Lust Minerals our favourite range of mineral makeup and natural skin care helping us look fresh for over 3 years now! Order at lustminerals.com.au and use the code BABYBRAIN for $20 off your order when spending over $50. Lust products are highly concentrated and use the highest possible percentage of ingredients for maximum benefits and results. All lust minerals products include clinically studied ingredients so you can trust they will actually do what they say they will. It is absolutely the most amazing range for anyone out there looking to feel firm and fresh. Lust Minerals even do trial sizes in all their skin care products so you can jump on their website and grab some of those to trial if you are wanting to test them out first. Check out Lust Minerals on instagram @lust__minerals, and head to their website to make your order at lustminerals.com.au . Use the code BABYBRAIN for $20 off your order when spending over $50.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you feeling overwhelmed with all the events and presents and neverending to do list for the holiday period? Chances are your kids are too! This week we’re chatting to Lily, a paediatric OT and Founder of Regulated and Ready, to give us tips on how to regulate ourselves and our children over the christmas period. We discuss tactics for managing expectations and emotions when we’re out of the usual routine, tips for taking kids to big events and also advice on gift giving in a way that won’t be overwhelming for our little ones. This is the perfect episode to pop in your ears in the lead up to the silly season! Lily is a dedicated paediatric occupational therapist and the director of Excel Occupational Therapy and Regulated and Ready. Through Regulated and Ready, Lily and her sister Mia have created programs, tools, and resources designed to empower parents and carers to support children’s regulation, development, and overall well-being. Their mission at Regulated and Ready is to provide families with practical and accessible tools that foster connection, regulation and growth in children. For more information and to shop Lily's amazing products, head to the links below: www.regulatedandready.com.au Product: The Connection Journal PRE ORDER: https://regulatedandready.com.au/products/coming-soon-connection-journal instagram @regulatedandready tik tok @regulatedandready New Baby Brain Merch! You might have noticed we’ve dropped merch!! To support the podcast and buy yourself an amazing mum (or dad) cap, head to the link below: https://www.babybrainpodcast.com.au/store-1 This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Once Upon, the most incredible photo printing and photo book printing service to help you create lifelong memories and stories. Are you struggling with Christmas present ideas? Well there is one gift that everyone wants, even if they don't know it yet! A gift so personal and thoughtful you'll be the number one gift giver this Christmas season, using Once Upon. It's as simple as downloading the Once Upon App or using the Once Upon web browser to begin creating beautiful photo books and prints that will last a lifetime. You just download the app, sync the app with your photos and start selecting. You can easily change layouts, cover photos and even add text if you wanted to tell more of the story or write a special note for someone to keep and read forever. One of the coolest features is that you can even co-create a photobook with someone else by simply sending them a private link to your photobook and voila! all your family photos are combined! Head to onceupon.photo or download the Once Upon app and use the code babybrain25 for 25% off until December 17th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we have the amazing Claire Andrews from Safe Hands Parenting back on the podcast with us to chat about what baggage we’ve brought into parenting. In this episode we break down ideas around childhood trauma and how this can unconsciously impact how we parent our children. Claire takes us through the questions we can ask ourselves, and discussions we can have with our partners or support team to make sure we’re raising our children in the way we want to, without being influenced by things we’d like to leave behind in our own past. Claire is a mum, Maternal Child Health Nurse, and Midwife who started Safe Hands Parenting to cut through the noise of early parenthood. With her Thrive programs, you get real, evidence-based support that actually helps as you navigate life with a baby or toddler—because you deserve to feel seen, supported, and ready for anything. To learn more about Claire and check out her amazing resources, head to the links below: Instagram @safehandsparenting Website/Access to Thrive programs: https://www.safehandsparenting.com.au/store For anyone who is expecting their baby soon, you can download your free Prepare to Thrive eBook: https://www.safehandsparenting.com.au/opt-in-80506abb-452d-4447-abba-9c16eea866b5 New Baby Brain Merch! You might have noticed we’ve dropped merch!! To support the podcast and buy yourself an amazing mum (or dad) cap, head to the link below: https://www.babybrainpodcast.com.au/store-1 This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Once Upon, the most incredible photo printing and photo book printing service to help you create lifelong memories and stories. Are you struggling with Christmas present ideas? Well there is one gift that everyone wants, even if they don't know it yet! A gift so personal and thoughtful you'll be the number one gift giver this Christmas season, using Once Upon. It's as simple as downloading the Once Upon App or using the Once Upon web browser to begin creating beautiful photo books and prints that will last a lifetime. You just download the app, sync the app with your photos and start selecting. You can easily change layouts, cover photos and even add text if you wanted to tell more of the story or write a special note for someone to keep and read forever. One of the coolest features is that you can even co-create a photobook with someone else by simply sending them a private link to your photobook and voila! all your family photos are combined! Head to onceupon.photo or download the Once Upon app and use the code babybrain25 for 25% off until December 17th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bonus ep!! Last night we attended the Australian Podcast Awards for our nomination for Baby Brain in the parenting category! Sadly we didn't take it home this year, but we had the best time getting all glammed up and hanging with some other amazing podcasters. Tune in to listen to all the goss in our quick 10 minute rundown, recorded at the crack of dawn this morning while we were still a little dusty from last night 🤣See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week is perinatal mental health week, and we’re sharing an incredible chat with Julie Borninkhof, CEO of PANDA. Julie talks us through some of the challenges parents face during pregnancy and postpartum, how we can support our friends and family who might be in this situation, and what support services we could access through PANDA. Julie Borninkhof is PANDA CEO and a recognised leader in the primary health sector. Julie is a Clinical Psychologist who has worked across primary and tertiary settings, namely with people from vulnerable and diverse communities. She is passionate about ensuring that people’s lived experience informs the development of progressive services and supports. For anyone in need of support, please see the below info on the amazing services PANDA provides: Free support is available via the PANDA Helpline on 1300 726 306 (9am-7:30pm Monday-Friday and 9am - 4pm Saturday) or panda.org.au. PANDA also offers an online mental health checklist for new and expecting parents to check for possible signs of perinatal anxiety, depression, and well-being concerns. PANDA has recently launched an online chatbot to help new parents navigate PANDA's resources and exercises to support them through the perinatal journey. Follow PANDA on social media @pandanational This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Once Upon, the most incredible photo printing and photo book printing service to help you create lifelong memories and stories. Are you struggling with Christmas present ideas? Well there is one gift that everyone wants, even if they don't know it yet! A gift so personal and thoughtful you'll be the number one gift giver this Christmas season, using Once Upon. It's as simple as downloading the Once Upon App or using the Once Upon web browser to begin creating beautiful photo books and prints that will last a lifetime. You just download the app, sync the app with your photos and start selecting. You can easily change layouts, cover photos and even add text if you wanted to tell more of the story or write a special note for someone to keep and read forever. One of the coolest features is that you can even co-create a photobook with someone else by simply sending them a private link to your photobook and voila! all your family photos are combined! Head to onceupon.photo or download the Once Upon app and use the code babybrain25 for 25% off until December 17th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know how important naps are, and it can seem like rocket science at times trying to figure out ideal wake windows, perfect nap environments and helping our bubs to self settle. This week we’re chatting with the amazing Kristy Griffiths, better known as the Sleep Teacher! Kristy talks us through why naps are so important, how to plan for the perfect nap schedule, tips for non-contact naps and settling in the cot, signs our little ones need to drop a nap and so much more! Kristy Griffiths is a certified child and infant sleep consultant and Mum of 3. She knows how debilitating sleep deprivation can be and also knows that consistent broken night sleep doesn't have to be your normal. Herself and her team have helped over 30,000 families worldwide and are here to help you too. For more information on Kristy and her team, head to: Www.thesleepteacher.com.au @thesleepteacher This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by The Night Owl. One of Australia’s leading wearable breast pumps here to support your breastfeeding journey. The Night Owl have you covered with their incredible hands-free wearable breast pump with hospital grade suction giving you the freedom to express milk wherever and whenever you need. With an LED screen and timer it's never been easier to track your pumping sessions! It has 15 adjustable suction levels and 4 modes, making it so easy to pump whenever you need to! To Purchase your breast pump from The Night Owl head to thenightowl.com.au or check them out on Instagram @thenightowl_breastpumps and use the code BABYBRAIN15 for $15 off. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re chatting to the amazing, fun and hilarious Kayla Brannan! We asked Kayla’s followers what burning questions they have for her, and put them into a quick fire ep! This was loose and hilarious, (just the way we like it) with many lols in between! Here are the questions we asked Kayla in this episode: Age, sex, location? What was childbirth like for you? Do you have any plans for another baby? How did you meet Matt, and how would you describe your marriage? Has having Frankie had an impact on your sex life? How do you keep your grocery bill so low? What do you do for work? How did you build your platform online? Any tips for other Mums wanting to make money on social media? How do you cope with any negative comments on socials about you or Frankie? Top tips for balancing work, motherhood and marriage? Kayla is a Mum to Frankie, partner to the lovely Matt, co-founder and owner of MUMBUB loyalty. Kayla shares hilarious content online around family life, grocery bills, fashion, lifestyle and so much more!, Her accounts have been blowing up over the past 12 months as she puts a funny and relatable spin on everything she shares online. To follow Kayla and her business MUMBUB Loyalty, head to the links below: instagram.com/kaylajbrannan tiktok.com/@kaylajbrannan MUMBUB Loyalty: mumbubloyalty.com.au This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by The Night Owl. One of Australia’s leading wearable breast pumps here to support your breastfeeding journey. The Night Owl have you covered with their incredible hands-free wearable breast pump with hospital grade suction giving you the freedom to express milk wherever and whenever you need. With an LED screen and timer it's never been easier to track your pumping sessions! It has 15 adjustable suction levels and 4 modes, making it so easy to pump whenever you need to! To Purchase your breast pump from The Night Owl head to thenightowl.com.au or check them out on Instagram @thenightowl_breastpumps and use the code BABYBRAIN15 for $15 off. If you want to keep up to date with all things Baby Brain, make sure to follow us on socials Instagram: @babybrain.podcast Tiktok: @babybrainpodcast Facebook: Baby Brain PodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we have the amazing Rachel Weinstock on the podcast to discuss all things bullying. We talk about what signs to look out for in our children, some strategies to use if your child is being bullied, how to approach this with their educators, what to do if your child is the bully, and so much more! This was one of our favourite episodes, and even if your child isn’t school age yet, Rachel shares some wonderful insights and tips that can be used to encourage respectful play and interactions at all ages. Rachel Weinstock is the author of “Be Who You Needed”, a book that is designed to be a guide for parents, educators, and caring adults who want to help young people transform their emotional well-being, self-confidence and happiness. She is also an educator with over 20 years experience, a Bullying Transformational Coach for Pre-Teens and Teens as well as a Anti-Bullying Speaker & Advocate. She holds Degrees in Visual Arts & Education, and was awarded the James W. Fair Leadership Award from the Ontario Institute For Studies In Education. Rachel’s mission is to create a world where every child feels happy, confident, and safe, and her approach to working with young people is deeply impactful because of her lived experience of being bullied as a child and teenager. To learn more about Rachel, head to the links below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelweinstock_/ Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelweinstock_ Parent Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caringadults/members/ Purchase the ebook: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JuWURIbx_IRfWaFH_94payAC1HIv50kW/view Lead Magnet that link to my Bullying Prevention Kit (A guide for parents of children who are being bullied in the school system): https://rachelweinstock.aweb.page/p/38a3d924-c15e-4100-9dd3-e95592f1bd06 This week’s sponsor: This week is sponsored by Mumma Etc. stylish and comfortable linen baby carriers to make motherhood that much easier! Use the code BabyBrain15 for 15% off. Mumma Etc.'s baby carriers are designed with years of babywearing knowledge to produce comfortable and supportive carriers (for both mum and baby). All of their carriers are made of 100% linen which is soft, natural and hard wearing. It's cool against the skin, moisture wicking, hypoallergenic and antibacterial. Their patterns and designs are super stylish yet still minimalistic to fit seamlessly into mum's wardrobes. Mumma etc carriers can be used from newborn at 3.6kg to toddlerhood allowing baby to face both inwards and outwards with an adjustable base that adapts as your baby grows. We've all had those carriers that just don't sit quite right, or don't feel like they're secure enough to keep bub tight and comfortable, which is why Mumma Etc's carriers have been designed with a combination of wide shoulder straps along with a cross back style to ensure even weight distribution. This makes baby wearing so much more comfortable, supporting you to be hands free but also supporting your back while keeping your baby correctly supported too. Mumma Etc.'s Daily Carrier has sold out 10 times since its release last year, sparking buzz among mums for its perfect mix of clever design, comfort and style. To purchase one of their stylish, comfortable and sell out carriers head to mummaetc.com or @mumma_etc on instagram and use the code BabyBrain15 for 15% off. If you want to keep up to date with all things Baby Brain, make sure to follow us on socials Instagram: @babybrain.podcast Tiktok: @babybrainpodcast Facebook: Baby Brain PodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of Motherhood Confessions, we’re chatting with one of our amazing listeners who shares her experience with her son’s diagnosis of clubfoot. During pregnancy she was made aware that her son would have a clubfoot, and since birth she and her partner have navigated medical appointments, casts, surgeries and more to help their little bub develop and grow in order to walk. About 1 in every 1,000 babies is diagnosed with this lifelong condition, and this Mum wanted to share her experience to make the journey easier for others. If you have a story you'd like to tell anonymously, we'd love to hear from you. Send us a message on instagram @babybrain.podcast or via email babybrainpodcast@gmail.com We will keep all of your details completely anonymous and confidential. This week is sponsored by Il Tutto, Australia's go to brand for high-quality, stylish and functional ergonomic nursing chairs. With a range of gliders, recliners, electric recliners and rocking chairs providing parents with the support your body needs, they make your feeding journey more relaxing and enjoyable. To add comfort and style to your nursery or bedroom check at Il Tutto at iltutto.com.au or on instagram @iltutto and use the code babybrain20 for 20% off until November 18th. If you want to keep up to date with all things Baby Brain, make sure to follow us on socials Instagram: @babybrain.podcast Tiktok: @babybrainpodcast Facebook: Baby Brain PodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.