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248 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Ep 251. Postpartum Series: Is Incontinence After Birth Normal?
2 november 2026 · 52 min
Your pelvic floor supported your baby for months, and the aftercare plan was a quick "do your Kegels". With so many experiencing leaking and prolapse, postpartum recovery deserves a far bigger conversation. Lees meer
From protecting your body in pregnancy and birth to rebuilding strength afterwards, there’s evidence-based guidance that can change how recovery feels. Knowing what’s common, what’s treatable, and when to ask for support helps you feel steady and supported.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Jess Jenkins, women’s and pelvic health physiotherapist, founder of the Move App, and known as The Mama Physio, to explore what an informed relationship with your pelvic floor looks like. Together they cover pelvic floor relaxation, perineal massage, prolapse and pessaries, and the postpartum myths that delay support.
This is Part 1 of the six-part Postpartum Series.
You’ll Hear About:
How to relax and strengthen your pelvic floor
What the evidence says about perineal massage
Why a second trimester physio visit helps
What prolapse feels like and how pessaries help
Why leaking and pain after birth are treatable
Your pelvic floor responds to the right care, and you’re allowed to ask for that care at any stage. Whether you’re pregnant, newly postpartum, or further along in your recovery, support is available and there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about.
Send this to a friend who’s pregnant or newly postpartum and would love clear answers about her pelvic floor. And subscribe so you don’t miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome to Part 1 of the Postpartum Series
03:06 Meet Jess Jenkins, The Mama Physio
04:53 Kegels and the Role of Relaxation
07:29 When Your Pelvic Floor Can’t Relax
12:21 Pelvic Floor and Bowel Health in Pregnancy
16:56 Perineal Massage, the Evidence, and What to Use
23:30 Diastasis Recti and Those Burning Ribs
26:46 How Common Prolapse Is and What Stage One Means
31:28 Prol…
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Ep 250. Puberty Is Starting Earlier. Here's How to Talk About It
26 oktober 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
Puberty is arriving earlier for our kids than it did for most of us, and it can catch you off guard before you've worked out what to say. Feeling unprepared is a normal place to start, and small conversations are enough to get going. Lees meer
The conversations that help most can begin well before the big questions arrive. This conversation gives you the words, the timing and the reassurance to begin.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Cara Natterson and Vanessa Kroll Bennett, co-founders of Less Awkward and co-hosts of the This Is So Awkward podcast. Cara is a Harvard and Johns Hopkins trained paediatrician and the author of the bestselling Care and Keeping of You series, which has guided a generation of kids in the US through puberty. Vanessa is a bestselling author and educator who founded Dynamo Girl, a programme that builds girls' self-esteem through sport and body literacy. Together they wrote This Is So Awkward: Modern Puberty Explained, and they now bring the same science and warmth to classrooms through a health and sex education curriculum for kindergarten through to 12th grade.
In this conversation they cover the first signs to look for, what researchers think is driving the shift, and easy ways into the talk, from car rides to bath time.
You'll Hear About:
What the first signs of puberty look like
Why puberty is starting earlier for kids today
When to start the puberty conversation
How to circle back when the moment passes
Why staying connected supports wellbeing into adulthood
A short chat in the car, a pause during a movie, or a second try after the supermarket all count as starting. Small conversations add up to a child who knows they can come to you.
Share this with a friend who has a child heading towards puberty and isn't sure where to start. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyou…
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Ep 249. Does My Baby Need a Tongue-Tie Snip?
19 oktober 2026 · 18 min
What if the most important part of the tongue-tie conversation happens before anyone looks in your baby's mouth? A new review from three surgeons on tongue-tie and breastfeeding says it's worth knowing what that is. Lees meer
If someone's mentioned a tongue-tie during a hard week of feeding, a fix that takes minutes can sound like relief, and that makes complete sense. The review points to what needs to happen first, and it gives you a clear set of questions to bring to your midwife, GP or lactation consultant.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White unpacks the review and what it means for you. She explores who may benefit from a frenotomy, which method has the evidence behind it, and the support worth trying before anyone picks up the scissors.
You'll Hear About:
Why tongue-tie procedures rose 420% in a decade
Why what the tongue can do matters most
Who benefits and how strong the evidence is
What the research says about scissors versus laser
What to ask before agreeing to a snip
A frenotomy can be a helpful tool for the right baby once skilled feeding support is in place, and if it changed everything for you, that experience is real. You're allowed to ask for a whole feed to be watched, to understand the method, and to know who will check how feeding is going afterwards. Wanting those answers first is a sound way to look after you and your baby.
If a friend is up at 3am googling tongue-tie, send her the link to The Science of Motherhood and let her know she's allowed to ask questions first. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
If you're worried your baby isn't gaining weight or getting enough milk, please see your GP, child health nurse or lactation consultant str…
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Ep 248. Kind Words That Hurt After a Miscarriage and What to Say
12 oktober 2026 · 57 min
Miscarriage is far more common than we're told, and the silence around it can leave you feeling like you're the only one. If someone has said "at least you can get pregnant" or suggested you focus on the baby you already have, you're allowed to feel those words missed the mark. Your loss is a loss, and you deserve support that treats it that way. Lees meer
Whether you're grieving now, pregnant again and carrying a lot of worry, or wondering how to support someone you love, there's more help out there than you might realise.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Samantha Payne, co-founder and CEO of the Pink Elephants Support Network, to explore early pregnancy loss and the support available. Samantha shares her story of three miscarriages, how her grief became a three-year campaign that changed Australian law, and what care, workplaces and loved ones can still do better.
You'll Hear About:
Why the 12 week rule needs rethinking
How a three year campaign changed Australian law
What free support exists after pregnancy loss
What current guidelines say after two losses
How to support someone through pregnancy loss
Grief after pregnancy loss moves at its own pace, and you deserve to feel held, heard and supported through it. Share this conversation with a friend, sister or colleague who could use it. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Renee
Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Samantha Payne
Pink Elephants Support Network: pinkelephants.org.au
Instagram: @pinkelephantssupport
LinkedIn: Samantha Payne
Pregnancy loss support
Pink Elephants Pregnancy Loss Helpline, delivered by PANDA on 1300 726 306. It's free and open seven days a week.
This episode is proudly …
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Ep 247. The Type A Mama's Guide to Preparing for Motherhood
5 oktober 2026 · 22 min
If you're a Type A personality, you've probably mapped out almost everything, from the pram research to the hospital bag spreadsheet. And if a quiet voice is asking what happens when you can't control it all, that voice belongs to someone who cares deeply and wants to get this right. Lees meer
Your planning brain is one of your greatest strengths as a mama. It needs a slightly different job description once baby arrives, and the research shows where to point it.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White unpacks how to prepare for motherhood as a Type A personality, from the surprising origin of the label to what the research says about perfectionism, your remodelled brain and your baby's body clock. She also shares her two-part framework, control the controllables and embrace the spontaneity, along with a confession about a spreadsheet and an algorithm from her first baby.
You'll Hear About:
Where the Type A label actually came from
Why perfectionism makes motherhood feel harder
How your brain is remodelled for motherhood
Why babies run on a different clock
How a two-part framework balances control and spontaneity
Your planning strength has a wonderful home in motherhood, from a stocked freezer to a support team waiting in your corner. With that in place, you get to give yourself permission to let go of the rest and enjoy meeting your baby, one thirsty, hungry or sleepy day at a time. And if the need for control starts tipping into constant worry, reaching out early is one of the most Type A things you can do.
If you know a Type A mama who has a spreadsheet for the hospital bag, send it her way. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Hear Dr Elseline Hoekzema explain you…
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Ep 246. What Every Dog Owner Needs to Do Before Baby Comes Home
28 september 2026 · 44 min
You've packed the hospital bag, set up the nursery, and read all the baby books. But there's one family member who's easy to forget until your newborn actually comes home, and that's your dog. The shift from being the centre of your world to sharing space with a brand new tiny human can be a lot for them to process too. Lees meer
If you've caught yourself wondering how your dog is going to cope, that instinct is worth listening to. Getting it right comes down to preparation you can start well before your due date, and a few small shifts in how you read your dog's cues.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Seb Lemaire, founder and head trainer at Canines on Cue Dog Training on the Gold Coast, to unpack how to prepare your dog for a new baby. Seb draws on his own experience as a dad to a toddler and years of dog training to walk through what those first weeks look like from your dog's point of view.
You'll Hear About:
How to read your dog's subtle stress signals
Why your dog's breed says less than you think
What to prepare before your baby comes home
How to handle that first at-home introduction
Why crate training helps your dog switch off
A little preparation now means your dog and your baby get the chance to feel safe together from day one. You don't have to navigate this alone, and with the right groundwork, your home can hold space for both of them.
If you know a dog owner counting down to their due date, send this one their way. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Seb Lemaire
Learn more about Seb and explore: Canines on Cue
Connect with Seb on Instagram: @caninesoncue
Learn more about Seb’s course: Safe S…
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Ep 245. Preparing Your Toddler Before Baby Comes Home
21 september 2026 · 18 min
Somewhere between announcing baby number two or three and the baby actually arriving, there's a question nearly every mother asks, how do you stop your toddler from resenting the baby. Underneath it sits a quieter fear, that loving a second child might mean taking something away from the first. Lees meer
Decades of research on sibling adjustment paint a far gentler picture than we once assumed. This transition responds beautifully to preparation, the same way baby's arrival does.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White unpacks how to prepare your toddler for a new sibling, from the first conversation to the everyday job that makes the shift feel like theirs. She covers the play-based science behind emotional regulation, a ritual for protecting your quiet moments, and two ways to ask for support.
You'll Hear About:
Why toddler sibling transitions rarely become a crisis
When to start talking about the new baby
How giving your toddler a real job helps
Why play does more work than you'd think
Two ways to ask your village for help
Your toddler can move through this gently, with the groundwork you lay now. Every small job, every basket, every hand from your village adds up to a softer landing for both your children.
Share this episode with a friend expecting baby number two or three, she'll want this before the due date. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🎧 Catch up on the power of play with Tina Payne Bryson in Episode 236
A few books worth having on hand before baby arrives:
Waiting for Baby by Rachel Fuller
I'm a Big Sister / I'm a Big Brother by Joanna Cole
I'm Going to Be a Big Sister / Big Brother by Brenda Bercovici
The New Baby by Mercer Mayer
Peter's Chair by Ezra J…
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Ep 244. Breast Pumping Explained: What No One Tells You
14 september 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
You're sent home with a breast pump after birth and left to work out the rest of your pumping and breastfeeding journey on your own. No one mentions flange size, settings or the fact you might not need to sterilise a single part. Lees meer
Pumping comes with more variables than most mums are ever told about, and working them out alone in the middle of exhausted, hormonal days makes everything harder than it needs to be. Understanding what actually matters can take a lot of that pressure off.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Fotini Gniel, founder of Nurturing Flow and breast pump and flange fitting specialist, to work through everything mums are rarely taught about pumping, from flange sizing and settings to choosing the right pump and caring for exclusive pumpers. Together they bust some of the most common myths mums are told in hospital and beyond.
You'll Hear About
Why flange sizing changes your whole pumping experience
What pump settings actually support comfort
Why sterilising pump parts isn't strictly needed
How to choose the right pump for you
What exclusive pumpers need and rarely get
With the right information, pumping can feel manageable, straightforward and genuinely doable.
If this conversation changed how you think about pumping, share it with a mama figuring hers out alone. Subscribe to The Science of Motherhood to keep these conversations coming to your feed.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
📲 Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Fotini Gniel
📲 Connect with Fotini on Instagram: @nurturing.flow
🌐 Learn more about Fotini’s work: www.nurturingflow.com.au
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney…
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Ep 243. What Does a Birth Doula Actually Do?
7 september 2026 · 50 min
You might wonder what a doula actually does, or whether having one is worth it when you've already got a partner and a midwife by your side. There's a lot of noise out there about what the role really involves, and most of it doesn't reflect what a doula is actually there to do. A doula's real job is to be a steady, judgement-free presence, there for exactly what you need and out of the way for the rest. Lees meer
There's a lot to untangle about where a doula fits, what they actually do in the room, and how that support changes depending on how your birth unfolds.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Amanda Down, Fill Your Cup's longest-standing birth doula, to unpack what doulas actually do and how they fit alongside midwives and partners. Amanda draws on years of supporting mamas through pregnancy, birth and postpartum to explain how doulas build trust, advocate in the birth space and adapt to whatever a family needs on the day.
This is Part 6, the final instalment, of our Pregnancy and Birth series.
You'll Hear About:
What a birth doula does day to day
How doulas differ from midwives in your care
Why prenatal sessions focus on trust first
How doulas support partners through labour
What the BRAIN tool helps you decide
Wherever you land on the spectrum of support you want, you get to decide what your birth looks like and who stands beside you for it. Amanda's approach is a reminder that you don't need permission to trust yourself, only the right people in your corner.
Share this with a friend who's weighing up whether a doula is right for her birth team. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
📲 Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly …
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Ep 242. Pregnancy Myths Debunked: What's Actually True
31 augustus 2026 · 53 min
Someone in your life has probably already told you what pregnancy is "supposed" to feel like, whether you asked or not. When what you're going through doesn't line up with that, it's easy to wonder what's wrong with you instead of questioning where that advice even came from. Lees meer
These are the myths mums are told to accept without question, pulled apart to show what happens to your confidence when you stop challenging them.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Emma Black, Clinical and Perinatal Psychologist, to bust some of pregnancy's most persistent myths. Together they unpack where these beliefs come from, why they stick around for generations, and how mums can start trusting their own judgement instead.
This is part 5 of 6 in our Pregnancy and Birth series.
You'll Hear About
Why the nesting instinct myth doesn't hold up
What the 12 week rule was really protecting
How to respond when unsolicited advice keeps coming
Why gender disappointment is often grief in disguise
How to build confidence to do pregnancy differently
You're allowed to question the rules you were handed and keep only the ones that actually serve you. Trust builds when you start choosing what fits your family instead of what's expected of you.
If this conversation helped you see one of these myths differently, share it with a mama who needs permission to let it go too. Subscribe to The Science of Motherhood so new episodes land in your feed each week.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
📲 Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Dr Emma Black
Learn more about Emma and her work:
🌐 motherhoodmyths.com.au
🌐 townsvillepsychologist.com.au
📲 Follow Emma on instagram: @emmablackpsych
📲 Follow Emma on Facebook: emmablackpsych
📖 The Preg…
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Ep 241. Birth Trauma Explained: Signs, Causes and Healing
24 augustus 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
Maybe your birth went exactly how everyone told you it should, and you still can't shake the way it made you feel. Maybe it didn't go anywhere near the plan, and somehow you came out the other side feeling strong. Whatever your birth looked like on paper, if it left something behind that you're still carrying, that's worth taking seriously. Lees meer
This is for you if you've never quite known what to call what happened to you. It's for you if you're getting ready to give birth and want to understand what actually helps when things don't go to plan.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Claire DiCarlo, perinatal counsellor and founder of Rad Parents, to get honest about what birth trauma really is and why it's so often missed. Claire brings both her clinical experience supporting mums through birth trauma and her own birth story, which didn't go to plan, to explore why the people around you matter more than the outcome, and what real support looks like once it's over.
This is part four of the six-part Pregnancy and Birth series.
You'll Hear About:
What birth trauma actually means
What actually makes a birth feel unsafe
Why women blame themselves for someone else's actions
When birth debriefing actually helps
How to protect yourself before you give birth
There's no timeline for making sense of your birth, and no version of your story that's too small to matter. However long it takes you to get there, you deserve the space to talk about it.
Share this with a mum who's never had the words for what her birth left behind. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Dr Renee White
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
📲 Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Claire DiCarlo
🌐 Learn more about Claire’s work wi…
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Ep 240. Birthing on Country: What Culturally Safe Care Looks Like
17 augustus 2026 · 40 min
For generations, birth belonged to community, culture and country. That belonging is being reclaimed inside hospital rooms across Australia today, one birth at a time. Lees meer
That's the belief driving birthing on country, a way of caring for mothers built on trust, culture and community.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Melanie Briggs, a proud Dharawal and Gumbaynggirr woman and endorsed midwife who manages the Birthing on Country program at Waminda, to explore what birthing on country truly means. Together they unpack the model's remarkable outcomes, the systemic barriers First Nations families still face, and the personal calling that led Melanie to this work.
This is part three of six in our Pregnancy and Birth series.
You'll Hear About
What birthing on country truly means
How Waminda's model transformed birth outcomes
Why continuity of care changes outcomes
What racism still looks like in maternity care
How Melanie found her purpose in this work
Birthing on country is a powerful reminder that culturally safe care is every mother's birth right. When community leads the way, mothers and babies thrive.
Share this episode with a mother who deserves to know her birth rights matter. Subscribe to The Science of Motherhood for more conversations that put evidence and community at the heart of birth.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
📲 Connect with Renee on LinkedIn: Renee White
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Melanie Briggs
📲 Instagram: @birthingoncountry_waminda
📘 Facebook: Waminda - Birthing on Country
🌐 Website: waminda.org.au/maternity/birthing-on-country
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer: The …
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Ep 239. Birth Centres Explained: Is One Right for You?
10 augustus 2026 · 53 min
Most mamas picture birth happening in a hospital room, because that's the only version most of us have ever seen. There's another path many don't even know exists. Lees meer
Hospital can feel like the only option on the table, but there's a wider spectrum of care available than most mums realise.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Jaimee Smith, endorsed private midwife and manager of the Launceston Birth Centre. Jaimee shares how relationship based care shapes calmer births and why continuity with the same midwife changes the experience for mums.
This is part two of our six part Pregnancy and Birth series.
You'll hear about
Why continuity of carer changes birth outcomes
What actually happens inside a birth centre
How midwives support birth after caesarean
What private midwifery costs across Australia
Why home birth differs from free birth
Understanding the full spectrum of care available means you get to choose what feels safest and most supported for your family.
Share this episode with a friend who's exploring her birth options beyond the hospital doors. Subscribe to The Science of Motherhood so you never miss an episode.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Jamiee:
Website: themidwivesmidwife.com
Instagram: @themidwivesmidwife_
Facebook: The Midwives’ Midwife
Launceston Birth Centre
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or pr…
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Ep 238. What to Expect From Private Midwifery Care on Day One
3 augustus 2026 · 50 min
You've probably never been told that a private midwife is even an option, not just the hospital care you default to. That gap in information can shape how safe, informed and supported you feel through pregnancy and birth. Lees meer
This conversation gives you a real look at what private midwifery care involves in practice, from early pregnancy through labour, and why having the same trusted person by your side changes the experience.
This is part one of our six-part Pregnancy and Birth series.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Kelly Langford, endorsed private midwife and co-founder of MAMA Private Midwifery Practice, to explore what private midwifery care and home birth involve. Together they cover continuity of care, what non-negotiables matter for first-time mums, the physiology behind labour, and how to choose a care provider that feels right.
You'll Hear About
What private midwifery care actually includes
Why continuity of care changes birth outcomes
How physiological birth naturally works
What pain relief looks like without intervention
How to choose the right care provider
You don't need a radical plan to feel in control of your birth, only the right information and the right people around you. Understanding your options early gives you the confidence to make decisions that are truly your own.
If this conversation shifted how you think about your birth options, share it with a friend who's navigating the same decisions. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🌐 Learn more about MAMA and their midwifery services
📲 Follow Kelly and the team at MAMA on Instagram @mamabirth.au
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available acro…
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Ep 237. Pregnancy Rewires Your Brain. Here's What You Gain
27 juli 2026 · 42 min
That feeling of not quite recognising yourself after your baby arrives has a biological explanation. Pregnancy reshapes the structure of the brain, and those changes can still be measured years down the track. What you're experiencing is your brain doing exactly what it's built to do. Lees meer
If you've ever said out loud that you feel like a different person since becoming a mum, you're describing something researchers can now see on a scan. Understanding what's happening in there changes how the whole experience feels.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Elseline Hoekzema, neuroscientist and head of the Pregnancy Brain Lab at Amsterdam University Medical Center, to unpack what pregnancy does to the maternal brain. Together they explore the changes to brain tissue first mapped in 2017, what those changes mean for how you think and feel, and what shifts differently the second time around.
Elseline also works through the questions that flooded in after Renee shared her research on Instagram, covering what might happen with a third or fourth baby, spacing between siblings, pregnancy loss, and what changes for fathers and adoptive parents. She's honest about how much this field still has left to uncover.
You'll Hear About:
What happens to grey matter during pregnancy
Why the changes peak in the third trimester
How a second pregnancy rewires different brain networks
What the research shows about perinatal depression
Why your instincts are worth listening to
Your brain has been quietly reorganising itself to meet the exact demands of the life you're now living. Knowing that gives you something solid to hold onto on the days you feel furthest from yourself.
Share this with a friend who's been saying she doesn't feel like herself since having her baby. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and expl…
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Ep 236. What Your Child's Brain Is Doing Mid-Meltdown
20 juli 2026 · 1 uur 22 min
Your child is banging on the wall, sobbing, and won't let you near them. In that moment, staying calm isn't about having the right words, it's about understanding what's happening in their brain and yours. Lees meer
This conversation gets into what's happening in your child's brain during a meltdown, and how you can stay regulated enough to help them find their way back.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Tina Payne Bryson, New York Times bestselling author of The Whole-Brain Child and founder of The Center for Connection, to explore what's happening in a child's brain during a meltdown and how parents can respond in ways that build resilience instead of reactivity. They talk through practical, science-backed strategies for staying regulated as a parent, repairing after the hard moments, and why play might be the most underrated tool in your parenting kit.
You'll Hear About
Why the upstairs and downstairs brain matter
What to do when your child melts down
How to stay regulated during a meltdown
Why repair matters more than perfection
How play builds resilience and connection
You don't need to get every moment right to raise a regulated, resilient child. What matters is showing up, staying steady in the hard moments, and repairing when you get it wrong.
If this conversation shifted how you think about your child's big feelings, share it with a friend who needs to hear it too. Subscribe to The Science of Motherhood so you never miss an episode.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Guest links:
🌐 Website: tinabryson.com
📩 Subscribe: tinabryson.com/subscribe
📲 Instagram: instagram.com/tinapaynebryson
📺 YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCCXGwMEmoL_noUYgx8kpakw
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Ep 235. Does Fibre Affect Your Fertility? New Research Explained
13 juli 2026 · 20 min
Have you ever seen a headline claiming a certain food can boost your fertility and rolled your eyes? You're not wrong to be sceptical, and most of what circulates online about diet and conception is wellness noise dressed up as science. Lees meer
This time, the science actually holds up. A new 2026 study traces a real, step by step mechanism from what's on your plate to whether an embryo implants.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White breaks down a new mouse study linking dietary fibre, gut bacteria and the uterine immune system. She walks through how the pathway works, where the research falls short, and what's reasonable to take from it if you're trying to conceive.
You'll Hear About:
Why mouse studies are used in fertility research
What the new 2026 fibre study found
How gut bacteria influence uterine immune tolerance
Why this mechanism doesn't yet prove human benefit
What foods support this specific fibre pathway
You don't need to overhaul your diet to take this seriously. Paying attention to fibre quality, not only quantity, is a small, evidence-backed step available to you now. The mechanism is real, even if the guarantee isn't, and that still counts for something.
If this episode helped you look at fertility diet advice differently, share it with a friend who's trying to conceive and wading through conflicting information. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in …
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Ep 234. Why Doesn't My Midwife Ask About My Mental Health?
6 juli 2026 · 1 uur 14 min
You've sat through an antenatal appointment focused on blood pressure and bump measurements, wishing there'd been room to talk about how you were actually feeling. Midwives want that room too, working inside appointments measured in minutes. There's real momentum building to bring emotional wellbeing further into that time together. Lees meer
Two researchers went looking at exactly what that momentum looks like in practice, and how to act on it without asking midwives to find time they don't have.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Lesley Pascuzzi, childbirth educator and perinatal mental health researcher, and her colleague Nicole Freeman, midwife and PhD researcher in early pregnancy care, to unpack what midwives told them about supporting mental health during pregnancy. Together they explore where the system falls short, and the pilot program already testing a different way forward.
You'll Hear About:
Why the current model centres illness over wellness
What midwives believe a well woman looks like
How time pressure shapes mental health conversations
Why continuity of care changes everything
What the new pilot program is testing
Knowledge is the foundation of advocating for your own mental health, in pregnancy and beyond. The more you understand about your options, the more equipped you are to ask for exactly what you need.
If you've ever left an appointment feeling rushed or unheard, send this to a friend who's navigating pregnancy right now. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Lesley Pascuzzi on LinkedIn: Lesley Pascuzzi
Connect with Nicole Freeman on LinkedIn: Nicole Freeman
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas a…
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Ep 233. Navigating Grandparents Without Losing Your Mind
29 juni 2026 · 27 min
Your parents or your in-laws are going to tell you they did things differently and you turned out fine, right in the middle of a conversation about sleep safety or feeding choices, and you can feel the eye roll building before they've even finished the sentence. Their love is real, and you don't have to brace for it each time they visit. Lees meer
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White unpacks what grandparents and in-laws genuinely need to know before the baby arrives, cutting through outdated advice to share what the current evidence actually supports, what's changed, and what's genuinely worth doing differently.
You might be pregnant or newly postpartum and quietly dreading the moment a well-meaning relative tells you how it used to be done. If you're the grandparent listening in, most of those moments come down to a gap in information that's easy to close. Start the conversation early, and you give your village the chance to actually hold you up, the way you deserve.
You'll Hear About:
Why vaccinations protect newborns before six weeks
How updated safety guidance differs from old advice
What matrescence means for the woman you love
Why cuddles are something to be earned
How to offer help without the unsolicited opinions
You don't have to manage anyone else's feelings while you're still learning your own baby. The right people in your life will meet you with curiosity instead of correction, and that's the kind of village worth building around yourself and your baby.
Share this with the grandparent, aunty, or friend who wants to support you well, and with the parent who needs the words to start this conversation early. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Au…
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Ep 232. Anxious, Overwhelmed, Numb: The Mental Health Reality of IVF
22 juni 2026 · 55 min
The mental and emotional weight of trying to conceive doesn't disappear once you're pregnant, or once the baby arrives. For many women, it quietly shapes everything that comes after. Lees meer
Sometimes the hardest part isn't the fertility treatment itself. It's carrying the aftermath of it into motherhood without anyone acknowledging that you went through something significant to get there.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Edna Lekgabe, certified perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist practising in Melbourne, to explore the mental health dimensions of the trying to conceive journey. They cover the difference between normal anxiety and clinical anxiety, how IVF trauma shows up in the body long after treatment ends, and why perinatal mental health challenges are never a personal failing.
This is the final episode of the six-part Trying to Conceive series on The Science of Motherhood.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Why what you're feeling is a nervous system response, not a character flaw
How to recognise when anxiety has moved from visitor to renovation
What IVF trauma looks like in the body and why it often goes unidentified
How medication decisions are made with a risk-versus-risk framework
Why reaching out early makes a difference
Your mental health through this journey is part of the journey. It deserves the same attention as everything else. There is support available, and you deserve to use it.
If this resonates, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Subscribe to The Science of Motherhood so you never miss an episode.
Resources & Links
Connect with Renee
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services: ifillyourcup.com
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Edna
📲 Connect with Dr Edna on Instagram: @drednalekgabe
🌐 Dr Edna Lekgabe's website: drednalekgabe.com.au
🌐 Wraparound mental he…
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Ep 231. Trying to Conceive: What to Expect Emotionally and Physically
15 juni 2026 · 35 min
The emotional side of a fertility journey is real, and it's the part that often goes unspoken. You can walk into treatment prepared with every medical question imaginable and still feel blindsided by the weight of the waiting, the uncertainty, and the grief that can come when things don't go to plan. Lees meer
That gap deserves more airtime than it gets.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Giselle Crawford, fertility specialist and gynaecologist with more than ten years of experience in obstetrics, gynaecology, and infertility care, to explore the emotional terrain of fertility treatment and what genuinely good care looks like from the inside. They cover everything from managing expectations through the IVF process, to navigating grief, supporting your relationship, and knowing when to pause.
This episode is Part 5 of the Trying to Conceive series on The Science of Motherhood.
You'll Hear About:
Why emotional preparation matters as much as medical readiness
How to understand the concept of attrition in IVF
What stress actually does (and doesn't) do to fertility outcomes
How partners can move from spectator to co-pilot
Why stopping treatment isn't giving up
Having language for what you're going through makes it easier to carry. This episode gives you that, alongside the science to back it up.
If someone you love is navigating fertility treatment right now, this is the episode to share with them. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links:
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services: ifillyourcup.com
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🌐 Dr Giselle Crawford's website: www.drgisellecrawford.com.au
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobar…
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Ep 230. IVF, IUI, and Egg Freezing: A Guide to Trying to Conceive
8 juni 2026 · 41 min
If you've been trying to conceive for a while, you've probably found yourself down a research rabbit hole at some point, reading forum threads at midnight and trying to decode acronyms you barely know. IVF, IUI, FSH, ICSI. The information is out there, but it doesn't always feel like it was written for you. Lees meer
Understanding the difference between your options, and knowing the right questions to ask, can make a conversation with a fertility specialist feel far less overwhelming.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Denise Nesbitt, obstetrician, gynaecologist, and fertility specialist at Hunter IVF, to unpack the key differences between IUI and IVF, including when each is recommended and what to actually expect from both processes. They explore sperm health, egg freezing, success rates, and what's really happening during the two-week wait.
This episode is Part 4 of the Trying to Conceive series on The Science of Motherhood.
You'll Hear About:
How doctors decide between IUI and IVF
What actually happens during each fertility cycle
Why sperm health matters more than most people realise
What success rates mean and what influences them
How to emotionally prepare for the two-week wait
Starting this journey is brave. Having the right information means you can walk into that appointment knowing the right questions to ask, and feeling far less alone in the process.
If you know someone who's navigating fertility treatment, share this episode with them. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_ 🌐
Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Learn more about Dr Denise Nesbitt and book an appointment at Hunter IVF
🔗 Your IVF Success — calculate your personalised IVF success rate using Australian data
🔗 Egg Freezing Australia — calculator to help…
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Ep 229. Does Stress Affect Fertility? The Science Behind Your Hormones
1 juni 2026 · 23 min
You've probably been told to "just relax" at some point on your fertility journey. Maybe by a friend, a family member, or even a health professional. And if you're anything like most people trying to conceive, you probably wanted to throw something at them. Lees meer
That advice isn't just unhelpful. It's both slightly right and completely missing the point.
In this episode, Dr Renee White unpacks the real science behind stress, mindfulness, and fertility, cutting through the noise to tell you what the evidence actually supports, what it doesn't, and what's genuinely worth trying.
This is part three of our six-part Trying to Conceive series.
You'll Hear About:
Why stress and reproduction are biologically competing systems
How chronic stress disrupts your cycle and hormones
What mindfulness reliably improves (and what it doesn't)
Why pregnancy rate claims need more evidence behind them
Five evidence-backed practices worth integrating now
The fertility journey asks so much of you. It can feel like your body is working against you, when the science tells a more nuanced story. Your nervous system and your reproductive system are in conversation, and understanding that relationship puts something real back in your hands.
Share this episode with someone who's been told to "just relax" and deserves a better answer. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advi…
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Ep 228. What Should You Actually Do Before Trying to Conceive?
25 mei 2026 · 50 min
Most of us weren't taught that what happens before conception matters. You were told to take a folate supplement, book in when you got a positive test, and go from there. But there's a window of time before you even start trying that can shape not just your pregnancy, but your child's long-term health. Lees meer
The science on preconception care has moved significantly, and most people still aren't hearing about it.
This is Part 2 of our six-part Trying to Conceive series.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Eliza Hannam, GP, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and founder of Nurtured Medical, a specialised perinatal clinic in Sydney, to explore what genuinely evidence-informed preconception care looks like. Together they unpack what the periconception window actually means, what testing is available and when to seek it, and what both partners can do to optimise health before pregnancy begins.
You'll Hear About:
Why preconception health affects your child's long-term metabolic health
What a thorough preconception GP appointment covers
Which supplements and nutrients matter most before conception
How to read your cycle beyond what any app can tell you
When to seek fertility support without waiting 12 months
The periconception window is a gift of time, and knowing how to use it well changes things. You don't need to be a biochemist to understand it. You just need the right conversation.
If you know someone who's thinking about starting a family, share this one with them. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links:
Connect with Dr Renee White:
📲 Follow Renee on Instagram: fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Dr Eliza Hannam:
🌐 Website — www.nurturedmedical.com.au perinatal GP clinic, Sydney Inner West (telehealth available Australia…
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Ep 227. Fertility Preparation: What to Do Before You Try To Conceive
18 mei 2026 · 57 min
Fertility preparation begins months, sometimes years, before you start trying to conceive. Knowing what to look for, and when, could change the entire shape of your conception journey. Lees meer
If you've ever wondered whether your body is actually ready for pregnancy, or whether there's something your results aren't telling you, this conversation will change how you think about your health.
In this episode, Dr Renee White sits down with Megan Haralampou, degree-qualified Naturopath, Nutritionist, and Biomedical Science graduate, to unpack what a truly comprehensive pre-conception blood panel looks like and why the standard tests often aren't enough. Together they explore iron absorption, thyroid antibodies, cycle tracking, postpartum blood work, and how to read your results through an optimal lens.
This is episode one of our six-part Trying to Conceive series.
You'll Hear About:
Why "normal" blood results can miss a fertility concern
What a complete iron picture actually looks like
How to track your cycle beyond a period tracking app
When to get blood tests done after having a baby
What postpartum thyroiditis has to do with depression
Understanding your body before pregnancy, and after, is one of the most practical things you can do for your health. You deserve care that looks at the full picture, not just what fits inside a reference range.
Share this episode with anyone who's thinking about trying to conceive and wants to go in prepared. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
Connect with Renee
Follow Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Megan
Website: thebiomedicalnaturopath.com.au
📲 Follow Megan on Instagram: @thebiomedicalnaturopath
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne,…
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Ep 226. Why Hyperemesis Gravidarum Is Genetic, Not Psychological
11 mei 2026 · 20 min
Have you ever been so sick in pregnancy that you couldn't keep water down, lost weight, or ended up in hospital wondering how your body was supposed to sustain a baby when it couldn't sustain itself? If that's your story, or the story of someone you love, you've probably also been told at some point that it was stress, anxiety, or something you just needed to push through. Lees meer
It wasn't. And the science has finally caught up with what HG patients have been saying for decades.
In this episode, Dr Renee White unpacks the genetic and hormonal research that proved once and for all that hyperemesis gravidarum isn't psychological. It lives in a gene, it runs through a receptor, and it has nothing to do with how much you wanted your pregnancy.
You'll Hear About:
Why HG is a distinct condition from morning sickness
How a placental hormone called GDF15 drives severe nausea
Why your baseline levels before pregnancy predict your risk
What the beta thalassemia finding revealed about sensitivity
How pre-pregnancy desensitisation could prevent HG entirely
Your body wasn't failing you. It was responding to a hormonal contrast it hadn't been prepared for, and now researchers know exactly why. The science sees you, and it's moving fast.
If someone in your life has been through HG, share this episode with them. It might be the first time the biology's been explained in a way that finally makes sense. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent profes…
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Ep 225. Could Holistic Care Improve Fertility and Prevent PTSD?
4 mei 2026 · 1 uur 6 min
⚠️ Content note: This episode contains discussions of sexual assault, suicide, and depression. Lees meer
If you've been through fertility treatment, you already know it's more than a medical process. It's months, sometimes years, of appointments and numbers and waiting, with very little space given to how you're actually doing.
There's research showing that nearly 50% of people in fertility treatment develop PTSD, regardless of whether they get pregnant. Not because they're fragile. Because the system they're moving through wasn't built with their nervous system in mind.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Nicole Lange, a trauma-informed acupuncturist who has spent 20 years working exclusively at the intersection of women's reproductive health and trauma. They explore why stress matters more than we've been told, why it matters less than we've been blamed for, and what whole-person fertility care actually looks like in practice.
You'll hear about:
Why the stress of trying to conceive is on par with a cancer diagnosis
How chronic stress affects every system involved in fertility
What the 25/75 framework is and how it changes outcomes
How acupuncture supports circulation, immunity, and nervous system regulation
Why whole-person fertility care is the most evidence-based option available
You are not just a fertility outcome. And the care you receive shouldn't treat you like one.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone navigating their own fertility journey. And subscribe to The Science of Motherhood so you never miss an episode.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
Connect with Nicole Lange
Nicole's website: www.lifehealinglife.com
Follow Nicole on Instagram @notafixer
Follow Nicole on YouTube @thebabyyouwant
This episode is proudly supported …
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Ep 224. Why Your Joints Feel Loose and Unstable Postpartum
27 april 2026 · 10 min
Does it feel like your body hasn't quite come back together yet after you've had your baby? That clicking, that instability, that sense that your hips or knees might give way. It's not in your head, and it's not a sign that something is wrong. Lees meer
So many mums are told that by six weeks, things should be settling. But if you're still breastfeeding and still feeling like your body doesn't quite belong to you yet, that timeline was never based on what your hormones are actually doing.
In this episode, Dr Renee White unpacks why so many postpartum women feel structurally unsound for months after birth, and why the answer has everything to do with a hormone your body is still responding to, whether anyone told you that or not.
You'll Hear About:
Why relaxin affects every joint, not just your pelvis
What happens to hormone levels when you're breastfeeding
How the six-week clearance myth fails postpartum women
When to seek support from a women's health physio
Why your joint integrity will return, on its own timeline
Your body isn't broken. It's doing something hormonally complex on a timeline that was never going to fit neatly into six weeks. The integrity will come back. It just takes longer than anyone tells you.
If this episode helped something click for you, share it with a mum who's been told she should be fine by now. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_ 🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services 🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be u…
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Ep 223. How OTs are helping Neurodivergent Mothers Navigate the System
20 april 2026 · 55 min
If you're neurodivergent, the maternity system wasn't built with your brain in mind. The appointments, the environments, the cognitive load of it all. Nobody tells you that's why it feels harder than it should. They just hand you the same pamphlet and send you on your way. Lees meer
That gap matters even more when you're navigating pregnancy, birth and early parenting. It's not just your body being stretched. It's every system you've built to keep yourself functioning.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Jennifer Curtis, registered occupational therapist and registered midwife, to explore what occupational therapy actually offers pregnant and postpartum women, and why that support is so often invisible. Together, they unpack the very real cost of a health system designed for neurotypical brains, and what it looks like when care is finally built around the whole person.
This is the final episode of The Science of Motherhood's three-part autism series. If you missed Parts 1 and 2, head back to episodes 221 with Dr Abbey Love and 222 with Linda Hollenberg.
You'll hear about:
Why autistic women face higher perinatal health risks
What occupational therapy actually is and does
How sensory processing intensifies throughout the perinatal period
What to ask at your first midwifery appointment to get better support
Why late autism diagnosis so often happens in pregnancy or motherhood
If this conversation opened something up for you, share it with a mum or healthcare provider who needs to hear it. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_ 🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services 🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Explore the Aspect New Parents Hub: Autistic Pregnancy and Parenthood Hub 🔗 Connect with Aspect on Instagram: @aspect_aus 🔗 Occupational Therapy Australia directory —…
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Ep 222. Being an Autistic Mother: Pregnancy, Birth and the Postpartum Period
13 april 2026 · 1 uur 10 min
Nobody tells you that the struggles so many neurodivergent women experience during pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood might be connected to how their brain is wired. Because so often, nobody knows. Not the healthcare providers, and not the mothers themselves. Lees meer
That missing language doesn't just delay a diagnosis. It delays understanding, support, and the ability to make sense of your own experience.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Linda Hollenberg, Autistic mother, research advisor, and learning coordinator and parent educator for Reframing Autism, to explore what pregnancy, birth, and early motherhood can look like through a neurodivergent lens. Together they unpack what it means to move through those seasons without the framework to name what you're experiencing, and what changes when you finally have it.
This is Part 2 of The Science of Motherhood's three-part autism series. If you haven't listened to Part 1 with Dr Abbey Love yet, it's a great place to start.
You'll hear about:
Why sensory sensitivity made HG uniquely devastating for Linda
How autistic shutdown during labour affects self-advocacy
What continuity of care actually means when you're neurodivergent
Why executive functioning challenges are often invisible in postpartum
How normalising neediness builds community rather than dependence
Understanding your own experience is one of the most grounding things you can do. This conversation is a step toward that, whether you have a diagnosis or not.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who might finally find the words for something they've been carrying. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Explore the Aspect New Parents Hub: Autistic Pregnanc…
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Ep 221. How the Maternity System Is Failing Autistic Women and What Needs to Change
6 april 2026 · 51 min
Most women who are autistic don't find out until they're sitting in a room watching their child get diagnosed. And then everything clicks. Lees meer
And yet most of them navigated pregnancy and early parenthood without any evidence-based support specific to their experience, often without even knowing why things felt so much harder.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Abbey Love, Educational Psychologist and Research Fellow at Autism Spectrum Australia, to explore the lived experiences of autistic parents through the perinatal period and the research that led to the creation of the Aspect New Parents Hub. Together they unpack what the evidence actually shows about pregnancy, sensory experience, healthcare barriers and what genuine support can look like.
The hub was built on Australian research co-produced with autistic parents themselves, and what they found has real implications for every neurodivergent woman navigating this season.
This is Part 1 of The Science of Motherhood's three-part autism series, stay tuned for Parts 2 and 3 coming soon.
You'll hear about:
Why sensory experiences intensify during pregnancy for neurodivergent women
How autistic parents shaped the research behind the Aspect hub
What healthcare providers say gets in the way of delivering good care
Why continuity of care matters so much for neurodivergent families
How a birth plan can become a communication and advocacy tool
You don't need a diagnosis to find something useful in this conversation. What Dr Abbey Love and her team found is that neurodivergent parents bring enormous strength and competence to this season, and the gap isn't in them, it's in the support around them.
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who might need to hear it. And subscribe so you don't miss the next episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Y…
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Ep 220. Why Is My Hair Falling Out? The Science Behind Postpartum Hair Loss
30 maart 2026 · 11 min
You survived birth, the sleepless nights and the newborn haze. And then somewhere around three or four months in, you reach up to wash your hair and pull your hand away covered in it. Lees meer
It's alarming, and for most of us, nobody warned us it was coming.
This episode is for every mum who has stood over the shower drain wondering if something is seriously wrong. It isn't. But understanding the biology behind what's happening makes it so much easier to move through.
This is part of The Science Behind series, where Dr Renee White takes your real questions and unpacks the science in a way that actually makes sense in real life.
You'll hear about:
Why pregnancy hormones cause your hair to stop shedding normally
What telogen effluvium is and why it hits at three to four months
Why you're not losing follicles, just catching up on stored hair
Which nutrient deficiencies can compound postpartum hair loss
When your hair is likely to return to its pre-pregnancy density
Your body isn't falling apart. It's recalibrating. The shedding you're experiencing is a sign of how extraordinary your hormonal landscape was during pregnancy, and your body is simply finding its way back.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
If this episode helped, share it with a mum friend who's standing over the shower drain wondering what on earth is happening. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical…
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Ep 219. Why Does Breastfeeding Protect Against Breast Cancer?
23 maart 2026 · 34 min
We've known for decades that breastfeeding is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. What we've never fully understood is why. Lees meer
That question is what makes this research so significant.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Professor Sherene Loi, Medical Oncologist and Group Leader at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, to discuss a landmark paper published in Nature that identifies the immune mechanism behind that long-observed link. Together they explore how pregnancy and breastfeeding appear to reprogram the breast's immune environment in ways that can persist for years, and what that could mean for the future of breast cancer prevention.
It turns out the body's been doing something extraordinary all along. Science is only now catching up to explain it.
You'll hear about:
Why breastfeeding appears to reprogram a mother's immune system
How T cells in breast tissue connect to long-term cancer protection
What "anything is better than nothing" actually means for breastfeeding duration
Why women's reproductive history has been missing from major cancer datasets
How this research could shape future prevention strategies for all women
This research doesn't add pressure to the breastfeeding conversation. It adds meaning to it.
If this episode resonated, share it with someone who'd want to understand the science behind their own body. And subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Learn more about Professor Sherene Loi and her lab here
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast …
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Ep 218. Why Being Nap Trapped is So Beneficial
16 maart 2026 · 19 min
If you've ever been nap trapped and spent the whole time quietly worrying that you're creating a dependency your baby will never grow out of, this one's for you. What's actually happening in your baby's brain while they sleep on your chest is one of the most compelling pieces of science in early infancy, and you deserve to know it. Lees meer
This episode is for every mum who has sat there convinced she should be doing something more productive, or that the way her baby sleeps is somehow a problem she created. Understanding the biology behind contact napping doesn't just answer the question. It changes how this whole season feels.
This is part of The Science Behind series, where Dr Renee White takes the questions every mama is asking and unpacks the actual biology behind them.
You'll hear about:
Why your baby's brain is still under construction at birth
What oxytocin and cortisol are doing during contact naps
How your body regulates your baby's nervous system
Why your baby's nervous system is designed for a body, not a cot
What the research actually says about contact napping and independence
Contact napping isn't something you stumbled into by accident. It's one of the most neurologically productive things your baby can do, and your presence, even when it feels passive, is actively building their brain. You're not doing nothing. You're doing everything.
If this episode gave you something to hold onto, share it with a mum who needs to hear it. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links 📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Hobart and Perth.
Disclaimer The information on this podcast presented by Fi…
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Ep217. What Does It Mean to Thrive, Not Just Cope, as a New Mum?
9 maart 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
Most conversations about maternal mental health start in the same place: the one in five women who experience postnatal depression or anxiety. But what about the other four in five? What are we doing to help them thrive? Lees meer
It is a question that stops you in your tracks, because most of us have never thought to ask it.
In this episode Dr Renee White sits down with Lesley Pascuzzi, an Applied Psychologist and PhD candidate at Curtin University whose research focuses on optimising the mental health and emotional wellbeing of women on their journey to parenthood, to explore what it actually means to feel emotionally well, not just the absence of illness, but something richer and more personal than that. Together, they unpack why so many women struggle to define their own wellbeing, and what it would look like to change that.
It turns out that when women are given the space to think about it, they know what they need. The challenge is creating the conditions for them to hear themselves.
You'll hear about:
Why emotional wellbeing is so hard to define
What perspectives on wellbeing can teach us about inner knowing
How social media falls short for maternal mental health
Why midwifery-led care is key to helping women thrive
How to start trusting your instincts with yourself
You already have more answers about what you need than you might realise. This conversation is an invitation to slow down, get quiet, and start listening for them.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Connect with Lesley Pascuzzi on LinkedIn
Research mentioned in this episode
Lesley Pascuzzi's research paper: Exploring emotional wellbeing in the perinatal period: A qualitative study in Australia
Best Beginnings study — Hannah Dahlen and Hazel Keedle, Western Sydney University: linked here
This episode is proudly supported …
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Ep 216. Why Hasn't My Milk Come In? The Science Behind Your Supply
2 maart 2026 · 16 min
If you've just had your baby and your milk hasn't arrived yet, the first thing to know is that your body is not failing you. It's actually doing something remarkably complex behind the scenes, and most people, including most healthcare providers, never take the time to explain what that actually looks like. Lees meer
This episode is for every mum who has found herself Googling this question at 2am, wondering if something has gone wrong. It hasn't. But understanding the biology of what's happening can make all the difference in how you feel about it.
This is the first episode of our brand new series, The Science Behind, where Dr Renee White takes your real questions and unpacks the science in a way that actually makes sense in real life.
You'll Hear About:
Why your milk supply started months before your baby arrived
What progesterone, prolactin and oxytocin are actually doing to establish your supply
Why stress has a measurable impact on your letdown reflex
How the demand and supply loop works, and what it means for those early feeds
When a delay beyond day five is worth a conversation with your midwife or GP
What your body is doing right now is extraordinary. Coordinating multiple hormonal systems, responding to your baby's cues, producing something completely new, all while recovering from one of the most physically demanding experiences a human body goes through. The timing of your milk coming in is biology, not a measure of how well you're doing.
If you found this episode helpful, share it with someone who needs to hear it. And subscribe so you don't miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village, with doulas available across Melbourne, Geelong, Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane, Go…
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Ep 215. Contraception After Birth: IUDs, Pills, Implants Explained
23 februari 2026 · 41 min
Have you been to your six-week checkup and walked out with only a script for the pill? Or found yourself wondering what your actual options are now that you've had a baby? Lees meer
This week, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Natasha Vavrek, women's health GP and clinical director at The Bubble, to break down all the contraceptive options available after birth. Not just the pill. Everything.
This conversation started from a real question from a listener who felt her options weren't fully discussed at her six-week check. So Natasha walks through what's actually available, how breastfeeding affects your choices, when timing matters and what you need to know to have an informed conversation with your GP.
You'll hear about:
The full range of contraceptive options available after birth
How breastfeeding affects different contraceptives and milk supply
The differences between Mirena, Kyleena and copper IUDs
What to expect with side effects, costs and return to fertility
Why vasectomy should be part of the conversation
Whether you're heading into your six-week checkup, feeling unsure about what you're using or just wanting to understand your options, this episode gives you what you need to make informed choices that work for your body and your life.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
📲 Connect with Dr Natasha Vavrek and The Bubble on Instagram: @thebubbletasmania
🌐 Learn more about The Bubble and women's health services in Tasmania
🎧 If this episode helped you understand your options better, share it with a friend who might need it too. And if you haven't already, hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical …
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Ep 214. Should Surrogates Be Paid? What Australia's Proposed Law Reforms Mean for Families
16 februari 2026 · 17 min
Have you ever wondered why some Australian families travel overseas for surrogacy? Or been confused by headlines about proposed payments for surrogates and whether that crosses a line? Lees meer
Australia's surrogacy laws have been called "confusing, restrictive, and not fit for purpose." Now there's talk of reform, including monthly payments to surrogates. But it raises questions about whether we're finally acknowledging the labour involved, or creating new problems.
In this episode, Dr Renee White explores Australia's proposed surrogacy law reforms and sits with some uncomfortable questions that don't have simple answers. Like whether it's more exploitative to pay someone for nine months of physical and emotional labour, or to expect them to do it for free while the doctors, lawyers and agencies all get paid.
This isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating space to think about what fair support and real protection actually look like.
You'll hear about:
Why 369 families a year go offshore for surrogacy and whether our current laws are protecting anyone
The thinking behind altruistic surrogacy and why surrogates are the only ones not compensated
What the proposed reforms actually include and why people are so divided
Whether we can put a price on pregnancy and who gets to decide what counts as exploitation
How this connects to bigger questions about valuing reproductive labour and care work
Whether you've considered surrogacy, know someone who has, or you're just trying to understand this complex issue, this episode offers space to think critically about what we owe to surrogates, children and families navigating this path.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village.
If this episode sparked something for …
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Ep 213. How breast milk can protect our babies against allergies
9 februari 2026 · 40 min
You've heard breastfeeding protects against allergies and asthma. But have you ever wondered what's actually happening inside your baby's body to make that possible? Lees meer
It's one of those things people say all the time, but rarely explain. And when you're in the thick of feeding, you deserve more than soundbites.
In this episode, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Toby Mansell, a researcher from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute here in Australia. His team studied nearly 900 babies from pregnancy through childhood, and what they found is genuinely fascinating.
Together they talk about what happens at the molecular level when babies breastfeed, why certain fats in breast milk seem to reduce inflammation, and what this might mean for immune health down the track.
It's science, yes. But it's also context. And hopefully, it helps things make a bit more sense.
You'll hear about:
How the Barwon Infant Study tracked 900 babies to understand what influences health from early life
Plasmalogens, lipids abundant in breast milk but absent in formula, and why they reduce inflammation
What chronic inflammation in infancy means for allergies, asthma, and metabolic health later
How breastfeeding changes infant metabolism at the cellular level
What this could mean for formula composition and supplements for all babies
Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, or somewhere in between, this episode helps you understand what's happening biologically. It's research-based clarity without pressure or judgment.
Resources & Links:
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Connect with Dr Toby Mansell: Murdoch Children's Research Institute - Inflammatory Origins Group
🌐 Resources mentioned:
Barwon Infant Study
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne
This episode is proudly supported by F…
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Ep 212. Returning to Work While Breastfeeding: A Guide for Mums Who Want to Keep Feeding
2 februari 2026 · 21 min
If you’re staring at a breast pump late at night and wondering how this is meant to work once you’re back at work, you’re not alone. Lees meer
Returning to work while breastfeeding is one of the most common and least supported transitions in early motherhood. It’s practical, emotional and deeply personal. Many mums feel caught between feeding their baby, returning to their role at work and trying to hold onto a sense of themselves in the process.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White offers a calm, evidence-informed conversation about what this transition really looks like. Not the Instagram version. The real one. With practical guidance, emotional reassurance and permission to do this in a way that works for you and your family.
Renee explores the realities of combining breastfeeding and paid work, including the systemic gaps that make it harder than it needs to be. She shares practical strategies to prepare before you return, alongside gentle reminders that there is no single right way to feed or work.
This episode is about clarity, choice and giving yourself room to adapt as your needs change.
You’ll hear about:
How to talk to your workplace about expressing, your rights and the space you need
When to introduce bottles, and what to try if your baby won’t take one
Setting up a pumping and feeding rhythm that actually fits your workday
What usually happens to supply when you go back, and why small dips are common
The emotional load of this season, and why guilt, grief and relief can all show up at once
Success isn’t about how long you breastfeed or how often you pump. It’s finding what works for your body, your baby, your work and your mind, and letting that be enough. You don’t have to nail it on day one. You’re allowed to tweak, change your mind and ask for support as you go.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself wi…
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Ep 211. Is Breastfeeding Feeling More Complicated Than You Expected?
26 januari 2026 · 55 min
Breastfeeding is often spoken about as something that should feel natural, intuitive, and just click. But for many mums, the reality looks very different. Lees meer
Pain that doesn’t settle. A baby who feels tense, sleepy, or unsettled at the breast. And a quiet question running in the background, why is this so hard for us?
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Emily Jones, an Advanced Paediatric Osteopath, IBCLC Lactation Consultant, mother, and founder of Align & Nurture, to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface when feeding feels challenging, and why struggling does not mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Together, they explore breastfeeding through both a physical and emotional lens, helping make sense of how birth experiences, body tension, positioning, and nervous system regulation can all shape early feeding journeys.
You’ll hear about:
How different birth types can shape early feeding
Signs your baby’s body might be making latching harder
When breastfeeding pain needs more than “pushing through”
Simple positioning tweaks to ease feeding for you both
Ways to look after your mental health while you work on feeding
Breastfeeding challenges are rarely about effort. They’re often about your baby’s body, your recovery from birth, and the support around you. This episode gives you practical context for what might be going on, and what you can do next, without blame.
Resources & Links:
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Learn more about Australian Breastfeeding Association https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
🔗 Connect with Emily and Align & Nurture
Website: https://www.alignandnurture.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignandnurture
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.
If this episode helped, share it with a…
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Ep 210. Postpartum Food Made Simple: What Your Body Really Needs
19 januari 2026 · 1 uur 5 min
Have you ever wondered why you’re still so hungry after having a baby, or why postpartum recovery feels heavier than you expected? Lees meer
For many mums, the early months after birth are a mix of healing, feeding, broken sleep and trying to make sense of advice that often feels confusing or contradictory. Especially when food and blood sugar have already felt closely monitored during pregnancy.
This episode is part of The Science of Motherhood Summer Series, where Dr Renee White revisits some of your most listened to conversations, the ones that help you feel calmer, more informed, and less alone.
In this replay, Renee is joined by Lily Nichols, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, researcher and author, known for her evidence based approach to prenatal and postpartum nutrition. Together, they unpack what the research actually shows about postpartum nutrient needs, breastfeeding hunger, and recovery after gestational diabetes.
It’s a steadying conversation that offers clarity without pressure, and context for why your body might be asking for more right now.
You’ll hear about:
Why postpartum hunger can feel intense and persistent, especially while breastfeeding
How pregnancy and breastfeeding draw on nutrient stores, and which ones are commonly depleted
Why protein needs are higher postpartum than many mums are told
What follow up after gestational diabetes is actually for, and why constant monitoring isn’t always needed
How to think about food, rest and recovery in a way that supports your body, not controls it
If postpartum nutrition or life after gestational diabetes has felt confusing, overwhelming, or loaded with pressure, this episode offers reassurance and evidence to help you breathe out.
Links and Resources
📲 Want to chat more about this? Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Want to learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 If you want to gobble up our famous Chocolate + Goji lactation coo…
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Ep 209. The Baby Sleep Myths Mums Are Told (and What Science Actually Says)
12 januari 2026 · 1 uur 29 min
Have you ever wondered if you’re doing something wrong because your baby won’t sleep the way you were told they “should”? Lees meer
Because it’s not just the broken sleep.
It’s the pressure. The timelines. The numbers. The feeling that everyone else has it figured out, and you somehow missed the memo.
This episode is part of The Science of Motherhood Summer Series, where Dr Renee White revisits some of your favourite conversations, the ones that made you feel calmer, more informed, and less alone.
In this replay, Renee is joined by Dr Laura Gainche Ph.D., a Family Sleep Educator with a background as a neuroscientist and sleep scientist. Through her Scienceforallwomen platform, Laura helps parents turn sleepless into more blissful nights using science and connection, and supports families to find their own unique way to parent at night.
Together, Renee and Laura unpack how modern sleep expectations have been shaped, why the “12-hour night” has become such a powerful benchmark, and what the research actually shows about normal baby sleep. It’s a conversation that offers science, yes, but also permission to breathe out and stop treating night waking like a personal failure.
Together they explore:
Why the “12-hour night” expectation sets so many families up to feel like they’re failing
What sleep research actually shows about normal baby sleep and night waking
Why the “best” approach at night depends on your family, not one set of rules
How fear-based sleep messaging can fuel guilt and self-doubt
What it can look like to find your way at night, with science and connection
If baby sleep has been making you question yourself, this conversation is a steadying one. Share it with a parent who needs the reminder that they’re not broken, and hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next replay.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goj…
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Ep 208. Breastfeeding Myths Busted: Feeding to Sleep, Milk Supply, and Returning to Work
5 januari 2026 · 1 uur 4 min
Have you ever googled something at 2am and walked away feeling more confused than before? Lees meer
Feeding and sleep advice can be loud, conflicting, and often loaded with unnecessary pressure, especially in the early weeks when you’re already tired and trying to figure everything out as you go.
This episode is part of The Science of Motherhood Summer Series, where Dr Renee White revisits some of your favourite conversations, the ones that made you feel calmer, more informed, and less alone.
In this replay, Renee chats with Melissa Hays, international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC), holistic sleep coach, and former paediatric nurse and midwife, about the myths that cause the most stress for new mums. They talk about feeding to sleep, milk supply, breast size, contact sleep, and the belief that going back to work means breastfeeding has to end.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing it wrong because your baby feeds often, settles best close to you, or doesn’t fit the “should” advice you’ve heard, this episode brings things back to what’s normal and what’s actually supported by evidence.
You’ll hear about:
Why feeding to sleep is normal, and why guilt around it is so common
Why breast size has nothing to do with supply, and what affects feeding patterns instead
What’s happening in the early weeks when milk supply regulates
Why newborns are wired for closeness, and why “only sleeps on me” is so common
Why you don’t have to wean to return to work, and what continuing can look like
If feeding or sleep has felt heavier than you expected, this one will help you breathe out. Share it with a mum who needs a steady voice, and hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next replay.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
📲 Connect with Melissa Hays on Instagram: @cocoonandcradle
🌐 Learn more about Meli…
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Ep 207. Why You Feel Different After Having a Baby (Matrescence, Explained)
29 december 2025 · 57 min
Have you ever felt like becoming a mum changed more than your daily routine? Like it changed you? Lees meer
If you’ve felt a shift in your identity, confidence, or sense of self since having a baby, this episode will put words to it.
This episode opens The Science of Motherhood Summer Series, where Dr Renee White revisits some of your favourite episodes, the ones that made you feel seen, understood, and less alone in your motherhood journey.
In this replay, Renee sits down with Lucy Jones, science writer and author of Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood, to unpack the real transformation that happens in pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Not just emotionally, but biologically and socially too.
You’ll hear about:
What matrescence is, and why motherhood can feel like a full-body identity shift
How your brain and body change through pregnancy and postpartum
Why the “this should be natural” narrative can fuel shame and silence
What helps mums feel steadier, supported, and more like themselves again
If you’ve been thinking, “Why didn’t anyone tell me it could feel like this?”, you’re not alone. This episode gives you language, validation, and a way to make sense of what you’re experiencing.
If it helped, share it with a mum who needs it, and hit subscribe so you don’t miss the next replay.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
📚 Lucy Jones’ book: Matrescence: On the Metamorphosis of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood
🌐 Lucy’s website: https://lucyfjones.com/
📲 Lucy on Instagram: @lucyfjones
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as …
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Ep206. Staycation Tips for Mums: Hotel Hacks, Packing Lists, and Nap-Friendly Plans
22 december 2025 · 19 min
Have you been scrolling past everyone’s overseas holiday photos and feeling that quiet pang of “we can’t afford that right now”? Lees meer
And even if a local getaway sounds doable, you might be thinking about the packing, the nap timing, the feeding stuff, the toddler meltdowns, and wondering if it’s even worth the effort.
In this episode, Dr Renee White shares practical, mum-tested tips for planning a staycation that actually feels like a break. Not perfect. Not Instagrammable. Just genuinely restorative.
Renee walks you through what to pack, what to skip, simple hotel hacks that make life easier, and one money-saving tip that could save your family hundreds on accommodation. Because sometimes the reset you need isn’t a week overseas. It’s a couple of nights close to home where someone else makes the bed and you don’t have to do the dishes.
You’ll hear about:
A simple membership tip that can save hundreds of dollars on accommodation
Renee’s essential packing list for travelling with babies and toddlers (and what you can leave behind)
Easy hotel hacks to make sleep, feeding, and settling smoother
How to plan your days around naps without feeling stuck in the room
The mindset shift that helps staycations feel enjoyable in this season of motherhood
If you’ve been craving a break but feeling like holidays are off the table, this episode will meet you right where you are. You don’t need to go far to feel the benefit. You just need a change of scenery, fewer jobs on your plate, and permission to keep it simple.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.
If this episode helped, share it with a mum who needs a break but doesn’t want the chaos. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of…
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Ep 205. The Invisible Link Between Mum and Baby Brains
15 december 2025 · 22 min
Have you ever felt like your baby knows what you’re feeling before you even say a word? Lees meer
Maybe you’ve noticed them light up when you’re feeling calm and happy — or pull away a little when you’re flat or overwhelmed. These little moments often feel invisible, but they’re doing more than we think.
In this episode, Dr Renee White explores new research on how a mother’s brain and her baby’s brain can literally sync up during moments of connection. Using a tool called dual EEG, researchers were able to capture real-time brain activity between mums and babies, showing that our emotional tone can directly influence how our brains work together.
This isn’t about being “on” all the time. It’s about understanding why the moments where you feel most present with your baby matter so much.
You’ll hear about:
What brain-to-brain connection looks like between mum and baby
Why emotional tone plays a big role in learning and development
The science behind eye contact, cooing and everyday connection
How maternal wellbeing supports brain synchrony
Why it's not about perfection, but presence
What matters most is remembering that even on the tough days, your presence is powerful. You don’t have to perform. You don’t need to do more. You’re doing enough, and it’s making a difference.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
If you found this episode helpful, share it with a friend or tag @fillyourcup_ on Instagram. And don’t forget to follow The Science of Motherhood so you never miss an episode.
Disclaimer:
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeut…
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Ep 204. Why Women Feel Different About Their Career After Becoming a Mum
8 december 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
Motherhood changes the way you see yourself, your work and what you’re capable of. And when everything feels unfamiliar, it can be hard to recognise the opportunities that come with those changes. Lees meer
In this week’s episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Renee Barnes, People and Culture professional and Director of The People Paradox. After navigating her own identity shift in motherhood, Renee created The FOUND Program, supporting parents to feel more confident, capable and empowered in both work and home life.
Together, they explore what happens to your identity, your strengths and your leadership when you become a parent, and how these shifts can open new possibilities you may not have noticed yet.
You’ll hear about:
Why identity shifts feel so strong in early motherhood
How sensitivity and hypervigilance can become leadership strengths
What parents really need when returning to work
How the emotional load builds and why it often goes unseen
Simple ways to feel more grounded and confident in this new season
Motherhood doesn’t come with a map. If you’re feeling stretched, unsure or in transition, you’re not alone. This episode will help you understand what’s changing and how to move through it with more clarity and confidence.
Resources and Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🌐 Explore Renee Barnes’ work and The FOUND Program
📲 Connect with Renee Barnes on Instagram: @found_learningmotherhood
📲 The first 10 listeners to DM Renee Barnes will receive a 15% discount on stage 1 of the FOUND program. (Expires in 10 days 19 Dec 2025)
If this episode helped you feel supported, share it with another parent who might need it. And make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss the next episode of The Science of Motherhood.
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia…
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Ep 203. How New Mums Can Make the Holiday Season Feel Less Overwhelming
1 december 2025 · 16 min
The holiday season can feel intense for many mums. The plans, the expectations, the drop-ins, the comments. It stacks up fast and makes it hard to tune into what you actually need. Lees meer
In this episode, Dr Renee White breaks down why setting boundaries can feel challenging in early motherhood and why guilt often shows up the moment you try to protect your time or space. She offers simple, supportive language that helps mums communicate their needs without feeling overwhelmed.
These insights are practical, calm and designed to help you move through the season without feeling stretched thin.
You’ll hear about:
Gentle phrases to end visits or step away when you’ve reached your limit
A calm one-sentence response to handle unwanted advice
How to step away when things feel too busy or too loud
Ways to protect your energy during busy seasons
Permission to choose what feels manageable for you and your baby
What matters most is remembering that your needs count too. You’re allowed to set limits. You’re allowed to rest. And you don’t need to justify decisions that support your wellbeing.
Resources and Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
This episode is proudly brought to you by Fill Your Cup. Head to our website to learn more about our birth and postpartum doula offerings.
🎧 If this episode gave you clarity or comfort, share it with a fellow mum who might need it too. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice.
Nothing contained in this podcast is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's …
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Ep 202. How Does Baby Massage Support Your Baby’s Development?
24 november 2025 · 46 min
If you’ve ever looked at your baby and wondered how to feel more connected, you’re not alone. The early weeks can feel busy, emotional and a little uncertain. You’re feeding, settling, changing and doing your best, but sometimes it still feels like something is missing. Lees meer
And then you hear about baby massage. Some people say it’s essential. Others say it’s just a nice extra. It’s hard to know what’s real.
In this week’s episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White chats with Vicky O’Rourke, founder of Connect Baby, experienced occupational therapist and mum of three. Vicky blends 14 years of paediatric clinical experience with the gentle practice of infant massage, offering parents a simple, evidence-backed way to support their baby’s development while strengthening their bond.
Vicky breaks down what baby massage actually is, what the research says, and why touch is one of the most powerful tools you already have.
Renee and Vicky talk through what matters, what parents often misunderstand, and how you can build more confidence in the early weeks with small, simple moments.
You’ll hear about:
How baby massage supports bonding, regulation and early development.
Why cue based touch helps you understand your baby’s signals more clearly.
The role of oxytocin and how it benefits both you and your baby.
Practical ways to use touch during unsettled days, sleep struggles or sensory overload.
Why connection matters more than perfect technique.
You’re allowed to slow down, follow your baby’s lead and use touch as a way to reconnect when everything feels overwhelming. This episode will give you grounded, evidence based guidance so you can feel clearer and more confident moving forward.
Resources and Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
📘 Connect with Vicky O’Rourke:
Website: www.connectbaby.com.au
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