This week we welcome Lucy. 

Lucy left her 16 year career as a probation officer to start a new life as an Instagram marketing mentor.

Why? Covid, that's why. The pandemic turned all our lives around and for Lucy, it gave her opportunity to re-evaluate her work/life balance and retrain in social media marketing.

In this episode we talk about the worries parents have when wishing to change careers, how working from home can be difficult when you have a family sometimes and how it's important to ensure that what you do for work is positive and rewarding for your mental health and family.

If you would like to get in touch with Lucy, then you can find her at lucyjohnstone.katra.com/pagelinks

If you have a story that you would like to share, then please get in touch with Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Eddie. You may remember Eddie from the First season of the show, where we talked about his experiences of being a stay at home dad.

In that episode Eddie explained the dynamics of his family and I asked him straight away if he would be kind enough to record another episode about blended families and now, here we are!

Eddie has a biological daughter from a previous relationship and 2 step-daughters and 2 biological daughters with his current partner also. A house of girls!! Go Eddie!!

Blended families are the norm these days. But that doesn't necessarily mean that it's easier and we discuss the in's and out's of what life in a blended family can be like and how we both navigate our way through it all.

If you have a story that you would like to share, then please get in touch with Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com.

Trigger Warning : This episode contains descriptions of baby loss, some swearing and also some other details that listeners may feel uncomfortable listening to.  This week is a little bit different. This week I talk to my big sister Clare about her experience of losing her son Ethan to stillbirth 18 years ago. This is a true and honest episode, where Clare talks candidly about her experience of having a baby born sleeping. We discuss the symptoms before the experience, the actual experience and the trauma and grief that has followed since. We discuss how this loss affected not only her, but her husband and family. We discuss how their family keep Ethan's memory alive with traditions and their decision to go on and have another baby after their loss. I was 21 when my nephew passed away. It would have been his 18th birthday in November and this episode is dedicated to you Ethan G. You will forever be thought of and loved little one. If you have been affected by this weeks episode then please reach out to the many charities and support networks available. I have listed a few below: Sands: https://www.sands.org.uk/ - Sands works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby; improve the care bereaved parents receive; and create a world where fewer babies die. Tommy's: https://www.tommys.org/ - Fund vital research into miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth, so we can keep saving babies' lives. Each donation takes us one step closer. Lily Mae Foundation: https://www.lilymaefoundation.org/ - The Lily Mae Foundation supports Parents and Families who have tragically and traumatically lost a baby to Stillbirth or to Neonatal Death. 4Louis: https://4louis.co.uk/ - 4Louis is a UK charity that works across the country to support anyone affected by miscarriage, stillbirth and the death of a baby or child.

This week we welcome Claire to the podcast. Claire is a mum to 3 year old Arthur. Claire works part time, but also runs a number of successful blogs. One being the  https://staposthriftylifehacks.co.uk/, where she helps you to make and save money. She helps others to manage their mental health around your finances too (expect friendly finance tips!)

In this episode Lynne and Claire talk about all the ways in which they try to save money in their day to day lives and also discuss the hot topics of food budgets, the ever increasing fuel bills that the country is facing and share their top 10 tips for you all.

These tips will not make you millionaires sure! But I think we can all agree that if you 'look after your pennies, your pounds will look after themselves'.

Here are the links promised by both Claire and Lynne on the episode:

Claire's blog: https://staposthriftylifehacks.co.uk/
Prolific Academic: https://www.prolific.co/
Monzo: https://monzo.com/
IFTTT: https://ifttt.com/
Shoppix: https://shoppixapp.com/
Shopimum: https://www.shopmium.com/uk/

Airtime Rewards App: https://www.airtimerewards.co.uk

HuYu App: https://www.huyuapp.co.uk/

TopCashback App: https://www.topcashback.co.uk

Ipsos Isay Surverys: https://www.ipsosisay.com

Checkout Smart App: https://www.checkoutsmart.com/

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome fellow podcaster Jamie. Jamie is the host of the Talking Dad UK podcast.  Talking Dad UK is a podcast where men discuss all things dad. Fatherhood, mental/physical health and lifestyle chats. The whole aim of Jamie's podcast is to encourage men and dads to talk more.

Lynne asks Jamie his opinions on what more could be offered to new dads after the birth of their children, whether dads would like to take more of the parental roles within the family and about the importance of getting men to open up and get talking to other men and dads to improve their overall mental health.

If you would like to follow Jamie's podcast please visit https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/talking-dad-uk/id1551828354

This week we welcome Louise, who very kindly agreed to talk about her IVF journey and her pregnancy so far.

In this episode Louise talks openly about the whole IVF process from her own personal experiences. IVF is a very personal and individual process and Louise talks openly about the numerous medical appointments, the numerous injections, the numerous scans and of course the mental strain that the whole IVF process can impact couples. 

This is by no means a doom and gloom episode. More of a reality check for those wishing to go down the IVF route. The time and patience needed. The financial impact it will have, if you decide to go private and the impact it can have on your relationships.

Louise's story is amazing and one that I have personally followed on her Instagram account (journey_to_baby_clarke) for a year now and when I tell you I have never wanted something to succeed so much for a stranger online, I'm not exaggerating. Science is a beautiful thing and I am so happy it has been able to help Louise build her family. 

Here are the book recommendations that Louise discusses in the podcast:

1. It Starts with the Egg - Rebecca Fett https://bit.ly/3rWL60u

2. Trying to get Prgnant - Marisa Peer https://amzn.to/3IT2iuP

3. Zita West's Guide to Fertility and Assisted Conception - Zita West https://amzn.to/3g5tdap

If you'd like to be a guest on the podcast please email theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

Happy New Year and welcome to the second series of The Swan Effect Mums Coffee and Chat podcast! This week we welcome Ellie. Ellie's life in the last 2 years has been a whirlwind to say the least!! She has gone from being a single lady and cat mum to now living with the man of her dreams, her cat and her 2 stepsons. In this episode Ellie and Lynne discuss their step parenting stories and talk about the highs, lows and frustrations that come with being a stepmum.  Ellie is a new step mum and is still finding her feet with the new family dynamics that happen when being introduced to a readymade family and Lynne shares her experiences as a stepmum/turned biological mum and how her approach to situations has changed over the years.  Being a stepmum is not something you dream of becoming when you are a little girl, but it is something that many of us become and we hope that by sharing our experiences with you all that it helps assure you that you are not alone and that your feelings are valid. If you'd like to be a guest on the podcast please email theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com 

This week we welcome Collette to the Coffee and Chat podcast. Collette is an advocate for breastfeeding and in this episode she shares her struggles to breastfeed both her boys and she overcame the many obstacles that were put in her way. Collette breast fed her youngest son Jesse for 2 months, 1 month and 19 days! We discuss the two sides of the coin in this hour long episode, which sees the end of this seasons podcast episodes until 2022. Lynne (The Swan Effect Mum) discusses her story of formula feeding her two daughters and Collette shares her views on why she was so adamant that she would make it work the second time round. The one main point we both wish to make throughout this podcast is that there should never be any mum shaming when it comes to feeding your babies and we both agree that 'Fed is Best'. Listen, enjoy and I look forward to bringing you new guests in 2022!!

This week we welcome Tom from the https://thedoubtingthomas.co.uk/ blog. We discuss what it's like being the only male in a house full of females (including the family cat!), how his role as a disciplinarian is different to his wife and how they make that work between them both, preparing for the teenage years, worries that dads face when bringing up daughters in 2021 and most importantly we discuss the importance of making time for yourselves as a couple and as an individual.  It's always good to get a dads perspective on things and we are thrilled to have had Tom's insight into all things parenthood. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome James from the www.myherojoshua.co.uk blog. This is one of my lengthier podcast episodes but it's needed, as James discusses the many obstacles that he has experienced in his life. From meeting his wife, to celebrating their first pregnancy, to having to face a premature birth of their twin boys, to losing their son but having to also deal with the heartache of his twin brother being extremely ill at birth too. We discuss Joshua's health complications and how, as a family they have overcome all these complications together as a strong family unit. James also discusses how he was diagnosed with autism as an adult and the implications this has had on his personal life, work life and more importantly his family life. This is one of my lengthier podcast episodes but also one that I am so proud to have been able to record. James is so open and honest and I have learnt so much about the subject and I hope you guys can learn from James too. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Catherine from Babi Actif (Active Baby).   Babi Actif is a 3-year project launched in 2019, funded via the Healthy and Active Fund. The Healthy and Active Fund is jointly supported by Welsh Government, Sport Wales and Public Health Wales and seeks to improve people’s mental and physical health by enabling them to adopt healthy and active lifestyles.   Babi Actif aims to create a culture of active families by supporting parents and children to be active during baby’s first 1000 days (conception to age 2) by delivering a range of active interventions designed to overcome real and perceived barriers to getting active outdoors with small children and during pregnancy.     The first 1000 days of being a parent are accepted to be the most significant in a child’s development. The 1000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s 2nd birthday offer a unique window of opportunity to build healthier and more prosperous futures. There have been a number of high profile campaigns promoting the importance of good nutrition during this time, however, the associated benefits of being active post-pregnancy and during the early years has not received the same degree of attention.   Babi Actif sessions are be delivered across Conwy, Anglesey and Gwynedd and include:  + A diverse programme of organised activities that improve health such as pram walks, sling walks, confidence-building taking babies outdoors and outdoor sensory play. Sessions have an emphasis on sharing skills, fostering confidence and engaging community.  + “Things to do before you’re 2” campaign – The campaign is positive, creative and quirky – even walking in the rain can be fun if you turn it into a group puddle splash! By mixing creative fun content with eye-catching imagery and practical tips on being active with baby we will get people talking and doing!   Even if you are not in North Wales, this is a great podcast to listen to as it gives lots of ideas on how to be active with your little one. There are lots of projects similar to Babi Actif and some may be close to you.   The main message in our episode is to get out there and have fun with your little one.   If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com.

This week we welcome Pam from Move, Laugh, Learn (https://movelaughlearn.com/)  Pam very kindly offered to discuss her personal experiences of post natal depression.  Pam, who was living in Australia at the time experienced PND almost instantly after having her first born child and was very lucky to have been diagnosed and treated quickly.  In this episode Pam discusses those emotions and feelings she experienced in those first few months, the treatment she received to help her PND and we also talk about the discussions Pam and her husband hand when wishing to extend their family.  PND is more common than you think, so please reach out if you feel you may be experiencing any of the signs as soon as you can. You are never alone and if you would like to reach out to Pam, she is happy to speak to you and you can contact her via the https://movelaughlearn.com/ website.  If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Nicola aka Instagram's 'play.at.home.mum'. Nicola and Lynne became friends over the social media when they were both pregnant with their second daughters. This is a whole podcast about the highs and lows of juggling parenting a toddler and a new born with Nicola sharing ideas on how to prepare your toddler for the upcoming birth of their brother or sister and how us mums can try and make life that little bit easier once the baby arrives. Toddlers sometimes struggle with the transformation in the family and Nicola and Lynne share honest accounts on how the new edition to the family affected their eldest children and how they tried to ensure the transition was as smooth as possible. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Tessa aka Instagram's 'The Sleepy Mammy'. Tessa is a sleep consultant, concentrating on birth to 5 years of age and works on gentle, family focussed & personalised approaches.  In this episode Lynne and Tessa discuss the most common area that Tessa deals with... New born sleep advice! We've all been there. The sleepless nights, the sleepy fog that parents walk with for the whole of the fourth trimester (and more sometimes) and here we talk about the top tips for new parents to help ease their new born babies to help soothe them into sleeping through the night. Of course, each baby is different but we hope these tips help you in some way.  You can contact Tessa directly by email: thesleepymammy@gmail.com If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Kat.  Kat's story is incredible! Imagine feeling the first pangs of what feel like labour to then giving birth only 45 minutes later in the hallway of the maternity ward and on a wheelchair!! We talk about the birth itself but also the affect having a precipitous labour had on Kats mental health. Quick doesn't necessarily mean that you will have no traumas. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Gem. Gem is a mother to 2 year old Scarlett and is now in her third trimester with her second daughter who is due in September 2021. I originally asked Gem if I could have her as a guest to discuss her experiences of being pregnant during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Gem quickly agreed and offered to discuss the tough journey she has experienced before getting to this point also.  Gem has very kindly opened up about her miscarriages and truly believes that speaking out to family/close friends and to the baby loss community online has helped her mental health and wants to share her story to reach out to other mums in a similar situation. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com

This week we welcome Kerry.  Kerry is a mother to Jayden who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of 5. Kerry talks about how this affects the day to day family life and also clears all misconceptions of the condition and clears up all the myths and provides us with solid facts. Life changed for them all when Jayden was diagnosed and of course it was all a steep learning curve, but Kerry also states that it's not something that has to dictate their family lifestyle. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com.

This week we welcome Lee.  Lee is a co-parenting dad who talks openly about how life has been since leaving the family home 5 years ago. There are so many 'part time' dads and The Swan Effect Mum wants to help raise the awareness that there is no such thing as a part time parent. You are their parent all day, every day whether you live with them full time or not. We discuss the complications that can arise with regards to visitation arrangements, childs adjusments to new step parents and a whole load of other issues that can happen when dealing with co-parenting. Lynne, the host has some experience of blended families and together Lee and Lynne put the world to rights.  If you are affected by any of the topics in this show then you can contact Lynne and Lee directly for a confidential chat as we both want to help anyone in a similar situation. If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com.

This week we welcome Patrice. Patrice is a mum blogger over in the USA and has spent the last year writing about the importance of self care and reducing the stigma of mental health in parenthood. Patrice and Lynne share stories from their experiences of dealing with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and Patrice shares her knowledge and advice on how parents can ensure they give themselves time for Self Care. You can check out Patrices blog at https://momlifewithp.com/  If you have a story that you'd like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmailcom

This week we talk to Kelly all the way over in USA!  Kelly Magar and Lynne talk about Kelly's book 15 Ways to Manage Stress and Stay Sane: The Actually Useful New Mom Care Package. Lynne asks questions about the importance of mothers taking time for self care, how to stay sane during those foggy days during the fourth trimester and how Kelly has coped with 3 under 5 during the lockdown in America. If you'd like to download or purchase the paperback book written by Kelly then you'll find the Amazon link here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ways-Moms-Manage-Stress-Stay-ebook/dp/B08NHZBCYG  If you have a story you would like to share and would like to be a guest on the show then please email Lynne at theswaneffectmumblog@gmail.com.