Dana Stephensen on PND & Identity | Elite Ballerina, Wiggles Performer, Twin Mum

From centre stage, to an incredible natural twin birth - her "best performance" yet, navigating PND during record-length COVID lockdowns, to her identity metamorphosis – Dana Stephensen, professional ballerina and mother x3 shares her journey, lessons and what's next. Dana shares:00:00 - Her rise in ballet: dance 6 days a week, travelling the world to appearing in the movie Mao’s Last Dancer24:11 - Becoming a mother for the first time 27:45 - What it's like being pregnant as an elite athlete, Ballerina, where her body and strength defines her job32:49 - Twin pregnancy with Purple Wiggle Lachy Gillespie after meeting at the Australian Ballet X Wiggles collaboration, 40:13 - What it's like dancing Ballet whilst pregnant with twins (!!)42:41 - Delivering twins vaginally her "Best performance yet" and why  43:09 - Battling postnatal depression (PND) amidst COVID restrictions, her tips for others 59:29 - Her Twin Feeding experience compared to her single baby1:15:00 -  An incredible return to professional ballet at 35 (after 2 pregnancies!) – proving mums can come back stronger 1:18:00 - Transitioning her identity after motherhood - where she's at now, what's next for Dana Why Listen:Whether you're deep in the trenches of newborn life and the parenthood identity shift, juggling the chaos of multiple children or simply love a good comeback story, Dana’s honest insights will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and empowered. This is an episode about strength and evolution – the quiet, unglamorous kind. A raw, real, and uplifting chat for parents, elite performance fans, and anyone navigating a new identity after children. 🎧 Don’t forget to click ✨subscribe✨ — we’ve got a lineup you won’t want to miss: parenting relationship psychologists, celeb, inspirational and intriguing twin and multiple, or multiple... multiples parent stories- real, raw, from the frontlines of life with two (or more!) Plus, top global multiple-focused experts, laughs, and a whole lot of “OMG!” moments.🎙️Hey There Thrivival: Twins+ & Parenthood Podcast:I help Gen Y and Gen Z multiples parents be better set up to THRIVE (rather than just survive!). Global experts, inspiring parent stories. I'm Emily Haigh, a twin (with x17 twins in my family) AND recent twin mum. I have researched extensively, curating the most modern (frump-free) tips, efficiency hacks, expert advice - as well as the most recent research and data. Books, white papers, medical papers, online groups, articles - sifted through it all, for you.Twin Tools Dana Used & Episode Links: Twin Z feeding pillow My Brest Friend feeding pillow Follow Dana on Instagram 💬 CONNECT WITH OUR TWIN, TRIPLET+ PARENT COMMUNITY: Instagram | @HeyThere_EmilyFacebook Podcast Page | Hey There Thrivival PodcastTikTok | @HeyThere_EmilyYouTube | @Hey There EmilyPodcast | Hey There Thrivival (on most Podcast platforms)Facebook Podcast Community Chat Group | HEREWebsite | www.dwoh.group/pages/podcastEmail |  [email protected] - guest submissions (expert or parent story), ideas, feedback 🎧 PLAY & SUBSCRIBE TO NEVER MISS AN EPISODE: ❱ Spotify Podcasts: https://open.spotify.com/show/5suG1hI...❱ Apple Podcasts:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...❱ (On most platforms)❱ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@HeyThere_Emily⁩YOU MIGHT ENJOY OUR YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS (Shorts and full VIDEO episodes)..❱ Twin Dad/ Partner Playlist |   • Twin Dad and Soon Triplet Dad: He Came, He...❱ How to Help Twins Sleep  |    • 👶👶 The 6x Twin Sleep Strategies Finally Ex...❱ Feeding and Breastfeeding Twins |    • How Can Twin Dads of Breastfeeding Twin Mu...❱ Twin Mum Skin, Body, Abdominal Separation Expert Care Tips |    • Things I Wish I Knew On Caring for Skin Af...❱ Hear from ALL our Twin+ Experts |    • 😔A Wife With Post Natal Depression After T...❱ Hear from ALL our Parent Stories - Twin, Triplet, Quadruplet, Double Multiples (yes twins AND Triplets!)  |    • Quadruplet Mum Taylah on Post Natal Depres...❱ Identifying and Managing Twin+ Parent Mental Health and Post Natal Depression (parent stories, dads, expert psychologist) |    • 😮‍💨 Twin Parenthood magnifies emotional pi...❱ Twin Parent and Twin Family Finances and Money Tips (easy, fun, practical from a parent who gets it):    • The Tips You Need - Top Twin Family Financ...  Where available some links may be affiliate.