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

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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

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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 

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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

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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

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#themotherload