Breastfeeding: Not so ‘natural’?

Mental health professionals struggle too

Vanessa on her struggles as a new mum to twins

No shame in seeking therapy

Returning to work as a mum never gets easier 

Dysregulation and the hand model of a brain

Parenting excavates your entire childhood 

Becoming the parents we wish we had

‘Baby steps’ – tips on letting go

Millennial parents vs boomer parents 

Recognising when mums need help 

One actionable tip for mums 

How women navigate careers, caregiving and the expectations that come with both.

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 2-30 with episodes out every Thursday.

We begin with a question many quietly ask themselves: Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming even when everyone says it's supposed to be joyful?

What happens when mum is depleted, running on empty, and yet still tries to keep going? 

From the hormonal and neurological changes of matrescence to the relentless mental load of caregiving, we examine why motherhood can feel so all consuming – and why so many struggle in silence.

Host Vanessa Chelvan is joined by clinical psychologist Elysia Tan from Annabelle Psychology, who is navigating life with her nine-month-old daughter, and parent coach Joline Lim, co-director of Chapter Zero, who is raising two neurodivergent children. 

Highlights (click/tap above):

5:50 Breastfeeding: Not so ‘natural’?

9:26 Mental health professionals struggle too

10:35 Vanessa on her struggles as a new mum to twins 

16:35 No shame in seeking therapy

18:50 Returning to work as a new mum never gets easier 

24:42 Dysregulation and the hand model of a brain

28:25 Parenting excavates your entire childhood 

31:45 Reparenting and becoming the parents we wish we had 

40:38 ‘Baby steps’ – tips on letting go

42:27 Millennial parents spend more time caregiving than boomer parents 

45:35 When does hard become “too hard”? Recognising when mums need help 

51:34 One actionable tip for mums 

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Read more:

First Stop For Mental Health: https://mindline.sg/fsmh

It All Starts Hear: https://www.iash.sg/ 

Annabelle Psychology: https://www.annabellepsychology.com/ 

Chapter Zero: https://www.chapterzero.org/

Host: Vanessa Chelvan (vpchelvan@sph.com.sg)

Read Vanessa's articles: https://str.sg/gr5Z

Follow Vanessa on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jHdJ 

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Elizabeth Law

—

Follow The Mother Load limited series every Thursday (July 2-30):

Channel: https://str.sg/oMofY

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/8Kbv

Spotify: https://str.sg/DELD

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

—

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast 

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

—

Helplines:

MENTAL WELL-BEING
National Mindline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)
Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)
Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019
Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928
Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 
Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)
The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)
Tinkle Friend (for primary school-age children): 1800-2744-788

—

#themotherload

How women navigate careers, caregiving and the expectations that come with both.
Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood from July 2-30 with episodes out every Thursday.
We begin with a question many quietly ask themselves: Why does motherhood feel so overwhelming even when everyone says it's supposed to be joyful?
What happens when mum is depleted, running on empty, and yet still tries to keep going?&nbsp;
From the hormonal and neurological changes of matrescence to the relentless mental load of caregiving, we examine why motherhood can feel so all consuming &ndash; and why so many struggle in silence.
Host Vanessa Chelvan is joined by clinical psychologist Elysia Tan from Annabelle Psychology, who is navigating life with her nine-month-old daughter, and parent coach Joline Lim, co-director of Chapter Zero, who is raising two neurodivergent children.&nbsp;
Highlights (click/tap above):
5:50 Breastfeeding: Not so &lsquo;natural&rsquo;?
9:26 Mental health professionals struggle too
10:35 Vanessa on her struggles as a new mum to twins&nbsp;
16:35 No shame in seeking therapy
18:50 Returning to work as a new mum never gets easier&nbsp;
24:42 Dysregulation and the hand model of a brain
28:25 Parenting excavates your entire childhood&nbsp;
31:45 Reparenting and becoming the parents we wish we had&nbsp;
40:38 &lsquo;Baby steps&rsquo; &ndash; tips on letting go
42:27 Millennial parents spend more time caregiving than boomer parents&nbsp;
45:35 When does hard become &ldquo;too hard&rdquo;? Recognising when mums need help&nbsp;
51:34 One actionable tip for mums&nbsp;
---
Read more:
First Stop For Mental Health:&nbsp;<a href="https://mindline.sg/fsmh" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://mindline.sg/fsmh&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1QtNGWG_JrWAsAx0xW9f15">https://mindline.sg/fsmh</a>
It All Starts Hear: <a href="https://www.iash.sg/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.iash.sg/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2p3qBp0xTcis9NT-Vipwsi">https://www.iash.sg/</a>&nbsp;
Annabelle Psychology: <a href="https://www.annabellepsychology.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.annabellepsychology.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1l-zPyg9J1TRNa-Vbl3_iC">https://www.annabellepsychology.com/</a>&nbsp;
Chapter Zero:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.chapterzero.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.chapterzero.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Kgdvucwr6uWU8LXJxYFsX">https://www.chapterzero.org/</a>
Host: Vanessa Chelvan (<a href="mailto:vpchelvan@sph.com.sg">vpchelvan@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Vanessa's articles: <a href="https://str.sg/gr5Z" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/gr5Z&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0FLfpzwpaJ4OR4CebqIYkw">https://str.sg/gr5Z</a>
Follow Vanessa on LinkedIn:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/jHdJ" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/jHdJ&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3-2O--Fa0Fozj-JwKd_4Qu">https://str.sg/jHdJ</a>&nbsp;
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Elizabeth Law
&mdash;
Follow The Mother Load limited series every Thursday (July 2-30):
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/oMofY" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/oMofY&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw113DfGO3IC0-3pFx6SOZV_">https://str.sg/oMofY</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/8Kbv" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/8Kbv&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3sWFchkZV2dAT9C8Cb0lUa">https://str.sg/8Kbv</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/DELD" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/DELD&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3N8ztZTo01BBNR_ccvYOsW">https://str.sg/DELD</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
&mdash;
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/wvz7&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Yg0F6qwE-V0E1SEp7F4dn"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://str.sg/stpodcasts&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0LvllfcAH_fQGBqXHBwe2r"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw04w37O3t2hapfHjczcm8-g"> https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>&nbsp;
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:<a href="https://str.sg/icyB" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/icyB&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1tznZ6n7B4pDQwsuR-cLYN"> https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:<a href="https://str.sg/icyX" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://str.sg/icyX&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1782976422087000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2VN1S1eBBJYAF1bkoVNTHi"> https://str.sg/icyX</a>
&mdash;
Helplines:
MENTAL WELL-BEING
<ul>
<li>National Mindline: 1771 (24 hours) / 6669-1771 (via WhatsApp)</li>
<li>Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp)</li>
<li>Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019</li>
<li>Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928</li>
<li>Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1&nbsp;</li>
<li>Women&rsquo;s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)</li>
<li>The Seniors Helpline: 1800-555-5555 (weekdays, 9am to 5pm)</li>
<li>Tinkle Friend (for primary school-age children): 1800-2744-788</li>
</ul>
&mdash;
#themotherload

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood: honest conversations and real stories about how women navigate careers, caregiving and the expectations that come with both.

This series isn’t just for mums – it’s for anyone trying to make sense of where careers and motherhood intersect. Through candid conversations and lived experiences, we unpack the issues shaping everyday decisions - from childcare and career progression to guilt, ambition and the invisible mental load.

New episodes every Thursday. 

Host: Vanessa Chelvan

Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Elizabeth Law

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Join us for a five-part series on working motherhood: honest conversations and real stories about how women navigate careers, caregiving and the expectations that come with both.
This series isn&rsquo;t just for mums &ndash; it&rsquo;s for anyone trying to make sense of where careers and motherhood intersect. Through candid conversations and lived experiences, we unpack the issues shaping everyday decisions - from childcare and career progression to guilt, ambition and the invisible mental load.
New episodes every Thursday.&nbsp;
Host: Vanessa Chelvan
Produced and edited by: Teo Tong Kai
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Elizabeth Law
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.