47 | The Motherwhelm with Jen | Birth Trauma, Postpartum Anxiety & Intuitive Parenting

In this episode of The Motherwhelm, I sit down with Jen, a mum of three and founder of Sleep Thrive Grow, to talk about birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, intuitive parenting, and learning to trust yourself as a mother.Jen reflects on her first pregnancy, an emergency caesarean birth, and a difficult postpartum period marked by physical pain, postpartum anxiety, delayed bonding, and a distressing early hospital experience. She shares with great honesty how those early challenges shaped her transition into motherhood, and how they ultimately led her to question perfectionism and reconnect with her instincts.As her family grew, so did her confidence. Through two planned caesarean births, Jen embraced a more intuitive, cue-based approach to parenting, discovering that there is no one-size-fits-all path through motherhood. We also discuss feeding challenges, the impact of motherhood on relationships, and the profound exhaustion that so many mothers carry.These experiences eventually inspired Jen to found Sleep Thrive Grow, where she now supports families with compassionate, responsive, and individualised sleep guidance. Her story is a beautiful reminder that healing doesn't happen all at once—it unfolds as we learn to trust ourselves, honour our children, and let go of impossible expectations.If you've experienced birth trauma, postpartum anxiety, delayed bonding, or you're looking for a more intuitive approach to parenting, I hope Jen's story leaves you feeling reassured, understood, and empowered.Topics discussed: birth trauma, emergency caesarean, postpartum anxiety, delayed bonding, matrescence, intuitive parenting, cue-based parenting, responsive parenting, infant sleep, motherhood identity, healing, Sleep Thrive Grow.