ABOUT THIS EPISODE
NEW SEASON ALERT: OUR FIRST EXPERT EPISODES DROP FROM 22 SEPTEMBER — THIS WEEK, THOUGH, IT'S JUST US.
Seats swapped. This week founder Paula turns the microphone on host Olivia — because before she starts asking our experts your questions, we thought you should know she's figuring out the very same things you are.
Olivia shares the first year she didn't see coming: a surprise pregnancy just weeks after getting engaged, the fear that motherhood would change her more than she was ready for, a birth that took a different route than planned, a breastfeeding start that hurt for nine weeks before it finally clicked, and a baby who woke every hour for four months. She also shares what turned out better than expected; the friendships, the joy of weaning, the confidence she never saw coming — and the best piece of advice she was given while pregnant.
In this episode, Paula and Olivia talk about:
— Expectations vs. reality: what Olivia imagined motherhood would be, and what it actually was
— "I wasn't scared of the baby. I was scared of the change in myself" — losing and finding yourself in the first year
— A painful breastfeeding start, the pride around formula, and the day it stopped hurting
— Making peace with a birth that didn't go to plan
— The sleep saga: hourly wakes, contact naps, gentle sleep training, and why she stopped asking "why me?"
— Co-sleeping, and a bedtime routine that burns energy instead of calming it
— The tiny things that turned out to be the big things: the first "bye-bye", the nursery pick-up cuddle
— Why Olivia joined The Tiny Big Joys — and how to handle everyone's advice: "say thank you, then take it away"
Whether you're pregnant, deep in the newborn fog, or a partner trying to understand what she's going through, this is the conversation that says: you're not doing it wrong.
No fear-based messaging. No one-size-fits-all answers. Just warm, honest conversation that leaves you feeling more capable — not more anxious.
The big shifts happen in the tiny moments of understanding. That's where the joy starts.
Throughout this season we'll be talking about the first year with your baby, bringing in experienced experts and asking the questions that matter to you. If there's something you'd love to ask one of our experts, send it to us — it might just make an episode.
Show notes, resources and the free Mum's Circle newsletter: thetinybigjoys.com
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This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider with any personal health concerns.
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