EP.1 | THE INTENTION | POSTPARTUM IS FOREVER | WITH KETURAH STOLTENBERG

Postpartum Is Forever - with Keturah Stoltenberg

Hello and Welcome to the Postpartum is Forever Podcast.

My name is Keturah Stoltenberg, mother of two and Postpartum Doula, and I am super excited to bring this heart-led podcast to you. I’d like to spend a few minutes explaining how this Podcast came to be, what it offers and how it can benefit you, as the listener.

My motherhood journey began in the year 2000, with the birth of my first son, Ezra, and I went on to birth my second son, Otto in the year 2006. I have dedicated most of my working life to facilitating the wellbeing of mothers in the Perinatal space, firstly as a Massage Therapist, then as a Birth Doula, and now as a Postpartum Doula and Matrescence Educator. I truly believe that Postpartum is forever and that motherhood is the most enriching personal development program you will ever embark on. Whilst we may be our child’s first teachers, our children are our greatest teachers, and I have personally learnt more about myself, my highest values, priorities, and the person that I truly am, through and because of being a mother. One of the things that I have consistently noticed over this time is that women, who aremothers, are both powerful, yet vulnerable.

I noticed as they entered their motherhood journeys, they were deeply called firstly, to connect with other mothers, and secondly to share their stories. However, for many, the opportunities to connect with other mothers, or we could say, the village, just does not exist. I am not referring to the superficial conversation when we are saying a quick hello at the school gate, or the endless discussion we have with our mother’s group about our baby’s sleep routine, feeding and reaching developmental milestones.

What I am referring to is the deeper conversations about how we view ourselves now, as mothers, but also as women, what is causing us joy and what is causing us grief. What we are really asking for is a listening ear, a kind face to empathise, or a warm hug to help us reset our nervous system. We need to be able to talk freely & openly about the so-called ‘taboo’ subjects, without guilt, or fear of judgement. And that is why I created this podcast. To give mothers a voice to share from the heart the highs & lows of their mothering experiences, to let go of the mum guilt, and not feel ashamed for things that they cannot control, and to offer wisdom & tools to others who might be struggling in their current season of mothering, something we were designed to do solo.

As mothers, we are often isolated, and by this I don’t mean living in rural areas, I’m referring to isolation that comes from not feeling emotionally safe to share our real struggles and reflections, and if we are not being held in these ways, we can begin to feel empty, and sadly, we often internalise this, wondering if we are the only ones having these feelings around motherhood, and if there is something wrong with us. I want you to know that if you are finding parts of mothering hard, you are not alone in these struggles and there is nothing wrong with you. It is hard. And we won’t love every aspect of it. At times, you may feel ‘less than’, but know that you are not failing, it’s a failing system with little support.

Many women say they feel lost, as if existing between two worlds as it were, the world that they had known before becoming a mother, and the one that they find themselves in now. And this takes time, firstly to understand what we are feeling, make sense of, and then adjust to this period that might feel unsettling for a time. So, if you are a woman listening to this podcast because you have birthed a baby, I would like to acknowledge that what you have experienced is huge and your story matters. I also want to say that it okay to grieve the loss of the identity you had before becoming a mother.

Along with the birth of your baby, you have also been birthed as a Mother, and this is whether your baby is live, or sleeping, if you have experienced pregnancy loss, or adopted a child. This is not just for first-time mothers. Each and every time you birth a baby, there is also a birth of YOU as a mother. What I have also recognised is that there are seasons of motherhood. Some seasons, like the early years will be all-consuming, and perhaps lonely & monotonous. Other seasons may feel lighter, and you may notice more autonomy as your move through your days.

This podcast is designed for mothers-to-be, mothers, and those wanting to nurture another mother. It is not just relevant for early postpartum mothers but mothers of children of any age, to recreate pieces of the village of support that sadly many of us don’t have in person. I invite you to take a little time out of the busy-ness of each week, to tune in to this podcast, as a way to feel seen in your mothering role, heard in your struggles, and supported through the highs & the lows.

The episodes in this podcast will arrive 2-3 times per month in the form of warm and sometimes raw conversations with a variety of mothers, sharing their personal experiences of pregnancy, birth, postpartum and motherhood with all its beauty, but also what they have learned through the challenges, struggles and a-ha moments, both in the early days of Postpartum, as well as at every stage.

Each month we will bring at least one episode that offers a conversation with an expert or professional with expertise in the Perinatal and Woman’s Health space to inform and educate and bring us strategies and tools to enhance our mothering experience. It is my hope, and intention, that this podcast will add enrichment and nurturance to your mothering experience, that you will find some resonance with another mother’s story and in doing so, you will offer yourself the same kindness and grace that you so deeply deserve.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FULL VIDEO PRESENTATION HERE: https://youtu.be/sUjXNCc1Kk8