Episode 28 |

In this episode, Caitlin shares her experience of becoming a mother to her daughter Maeve while living in New Zealand, thousands of kilometres away from both her family in the US and her husband Stefano’s family in Italy.

As a NICU nurse, Caitlin went into pregnancy with an intimate understanding of the things that can go wrong. She reflects on the anxiety that can come with knowing too much, while also acknowledging that when it came to postpartum itself, she had prepared much more for the practicalities than for what it would actually feel like to become a mother.

Caitlin shares Maeve’s birth, which quickly moved into theatre when Maeve’s heart rate began dropping, before she was born with the assistance of an episiotomy and vacuum. While Caitlin describes her early postpartum experience as largely positive, she was surprised by how difficult her physical recovery was and how much she needed to slow down. We also talk about breastfeeding, her experience at Birthcare and travelling to Italy with a young baby for Caitlin and Stefano’s wedding.

A particularly raw part of this conversation touches on what it has been like for Caitlin to become a mother without her own mum, who passed away when Caitlin was 23. She describes motherhood as bittersweet, experiencing enormous joy alongside grief for the person she wishes could be there to share it. She reflects on the ways her mum continues to influence the mother she wants to be.

We also talk about the intense protective instinct Caitlin experienced after Maeve was born, raising a child without family nearby, and the importance of the friendships and community she has built in New Zealand.

After more than a decade working as a NICU nurse, Caitlin also shares how becoming a mother has changed the way she cares for babies and their families. Returning to work has deepened her empathy for NICU parents, while also making the emotional weight of her work more apparent and changing how she thinks about balancing a career she loves with motherhood.

Now pregnant with her second baby, Caitlin reflects on preparing for another postpartum season and the emotions that come with changing their family from three to four. Looking back, her message to herself is simple - difficult seasons do pass, and as a mother, you often know more than you realise. Trust your gut.

Thank you to this week’s sponsor, Rest in the Postpartum Season - guided yoga nidra practices created for mothers.

If you’re looking for a simple way to slow down, rest and take a little time for yourself, you can find practices ranging from five to fifteen minutes at

https://www.thepostpartumseason.com/rest-in-the-postpartum-season-1