The Mum Drum is a series that explores the range of challenges that many mothers (and fathers) experience on their journey to becoming a parent, and being a mum in the early years.
We know that pregnancy, birth and the first years of motherhood can bring a range of challenges, yet so often we are unaware of, and unprepared to cope with them.
We also know that there are often very high, and often unrealistic expectations associated with what pregnancy, birth and motherhood is supposed to be like. These are often perpetuated in our society, and particularly with the rise of social media.
When things do not go to plan, this can leave parents feeling alone, vulnerable, and feeling like they are failing. Furthermore, as people often don’t speak openly and honestly about their challenges, this can leave many parents feeling like they are the only ones who may be struggling.
In turn this can affect our confidence as individuals and as mothers, and ultimately our emotional wellbeing.
The Mum Drum was created to shine a light on the realities of becoming a parent.
The Mum Drum serves to open the real conversations with expectant and new parents, uncover the realities of other’s experiences, to enable others in our community to gain valuable insights about how to cope.
Nicole Highet and Amy Felman
Meet the program hosts
The Mum Drum series is hosted my two Psychologists, both with expertise in emotional and mental health in the perinatal (pre and postnatal) periods and mums themselves.
Amy Felman
Amy is a Clinical Psychologist, working with expectant and new parents across a range of settings.
Amy is also the creator, producer and host of a psychology podcast for early career psychologists called We All Wear it Differently (WAWID). WAWID aims to motivate and inspire others through exposure to the diversity and strength of the psychology profession through conversations with experienced players in the field. Visit weallwearitdifferently.com to check out the interviews.
Before studying psychology Amy completed a Media Studies Bachelors Degree, presented on SYN FM community radio, and studied acting for a year at the VCA (amongst other random, soul searching activities).
Dr Nicole Highet
Nicole is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre of Perinatal Excellence: COPE.
Following her extensive research and consultation with women, men and health professionals about their needs and experiences at this critical time of life, Nicole established COPE in 2013 to provide much needed information and support.
The Mum Drum Episodes
The Pilot: What is the Mum Drum All About?
The Mum Drum hosts Amy Felman and Nicole Highet unveil what the Mum Drum is all about. Amy interviews Nicole about the current context of motherhood and why COPE was established to address the range of challenges that modern parents face.
Episode 1: The Mother's Group
In this episode, seven mothers talk openly about their hopes, expectations and experiences of becoming a mum. Through open and honest conversations, the women discuss the unique challenges they each faced, their reflections and what advice they would give to other hopeful, expectant and new mums.
Episode 2: Our Real Birth Experience
Rachel Watts, known for her role in Yummy Mummies, talks candidly for the first time about the traumatic birth experience with her first son, Harvey. Rachel and her husband Jayson describe the unplanned events that unfolded at birth, and the profound impact this has had on them. Drawing from their experience, the couple share their advice for others.
Episode 3: Living with Anxiety and Depression - One Coffee at a Time
In this episode we speak with Renee and Stevie about the range of emotional challenges that they both experienced on their journey to motherhood. They discuss the highs, the lows, and the importance of finding each other and working together to realise their dreams and create a village of support for other mothers at this often challenging, and isolating time of life.
Episode 4: Coping with Postnatal Depression
In a raw interview with Nia, mum of two, Nia reflects on the range of challenges that she faced on her journey to becoming a mother, and how these are likely to have contributed to her experience of postnatal depression. Nia talks candidly about the lack of awareness that something was wrong, as, like many parents, she thought her experiences were simply part and parcel of 'motherhood'. She openly talks about about her feelings of shame and failure, and how her treatment by health professionals compounded her experience, and delayed help-seeking.
Episode 5: The Work-Life Juggle Part 1
In this episode we talk to mum Evelyn about her experience of coping with the work life-juggle.
Episode 6: The Work-Life Juggle Part 2
In this episode we talk to mum Rosemary about her experience of coping with the work life-juggle
Episode 7: Transitioning to Working Parent
The show interviews Psychologists Dr Sarah Cotton and Justine Alter about how their program serves to support families and organisations in the transition from a working person to working parent.
Episode 8: Relationships and Parenthood
Nami and Andy, parents of two, talk openly about the range of challenges that they have faced on their path to parenthood. In particular we focus on the impacts of parenthood on their relationship, and how they have battled through the difficult times to come through to the other side - together. The couple talk candidly about the important role that relationship counselling has played in helping them through the difficult patches.
