Becoming a mother?
The hidden expectations and judgements about motherhood and having babies can catch you by surprise.
Conception MythsConception Myths
Trying for a baby can be stressful enough — myths don’t need to add to it.
Pregnancy MythsPregnancy Myths
Pregnancy brings big changes — let’s ease the pressure by clearing away the myths.
Birth MythsBirth Myths
Every birth is unique — unrealistic expectations only get in the way.
Postpartum MythsPostpartum Myths
Life after birth is rarely perfect — don’t let myths make it harder.
Motherhood Changes Your Life
Having babies wildly changes your life. As you’re thrust into this new territory, often you notice motherhood myths cropping up. About how to conceive. How you should feel during pregnancy. That you should birth vaginally or naturally. How you should feel after birth, and how you should parent.
Myths All Around Us
Motherhood myths abound about conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and motherhood. They are wide and varied, culturally prescribed, and often communicated by other people or in the media; for example, showing happy mothers delightedly changing dirty nappies, cleaning with a smile, or showing warmth and endless patience towards children making a mess.
Shared Stories
I’ve heard many of these from the women who have graced my office over the years. I’ve experienced some of them through having my own children. So many women have to navigate these expectations about motherhood, and often they cause extra stress on top of huge life and family changes.Motherhood myths abound about conception, pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and motherhood. They are wide and varied, culturally prescribed, and often communicated by other people or in the media; for example, showing happy mothers delightedly changing dirty nappies, cleaning with a smile, or showing warmth and endless patience towards children making a mess.
It Doesn’t Have to Be This Way
This is why I started writing this series. I was seeing the impact of unrealistic expectations and myths affecting too many women too often, and it’s unnecessary. Women deserve more – they don’t need this stress.
The Motherhood Myths Series
Enter the Motherhood Myths series. The Pregnancy Myths Guide and The Birth Myths Guide are out now, and here to help you find your way through the stresses of pregnancy and birth, all while creating your peace, confidence, and calm.
The Motherhood Myth Series
Hello! I'm Emma.
Mother of two boys.
Wife to a wonderful man.
I’m also a Clinical & Perinatal Psychologist and an author. I spent way too long studying at uni, but also, it made me the psychologist and writer that I am today.
I love reading, running, and living in Australia’s tropics. I feel the cold, and purposely moved away from the cold bottom of Australia up to the north. Year-round warmth, yes please! My other favourite things are good coffee, our dogs, the wonderful people in my life, and taking everything with a dose of humour.
One of the things that makes me tick is getting to support women each and every day. It’s been my passion right from the word go. My first job was as part of an all-female team supporting women who had been sexually assaulted, and responding at any time of the day or night. Since then, I’ve never let go of this passion, and it has been my guiding light. Women matter- and I’m here for it.
If you’d like to connect and be my pen-pal, I write a fortnightly newsletter for women. Sometimes there’s stories from my life, sometimes there’s important topics for women, and always, there’s a kind spirit about supporting women and the sisterhood. Otherwise, I might catch you on socials (fb, IG)!
(Also, if you were interested in my work as a psychologist – that’s over here.)
