The Soft Ground
Welcome to The Soft Ground. It’s a blog where you’ll find reflections, practices, and stories that honour the messy, beautiful, and often tender journey of being a mother but firstly a human.
Twin Motherhood and the Nervous System - Why So Many Mums of Multiples Live in Survival Mode
Twin and multiple motherhood places unique and often invisible demands on the nervous system. From pregnancy and birth through to sleep deprivation and constant caregiving, many mums of multiples live in survival mode without understanding why. This compassionate, somatic reflection explores the nervous system impacts of twin motherhood, the hidden grief and loneliness many mums carry, and how coming back to yourself happens slowly through safety, nature, breath and being met.
I Didn’t Realise How Much Motherhood Would Pull Me Out of My Body - A personal reflection
Motherhood can pull us out of our bodies in ways we never expect. From birth trauma and sleep deprivation to constant nervous system activation, many mothers live in survival mode while quietly wondering where they went. This personal, somatic reflection explores how early motherhood disconnects us from ourselves, why this makes sense through a nervous system lens, and how coming back into the body happens slowly, gently and in relationship. A compassionate read for mothers who feel foggy, vigilant, lonely or not quite themselves yet.
When the New Year Doesn’t Mean Much Anymore - An invitation for mothers to turn inward
If the new year feels like just another day of caring, feeding and holding everyone together, you’re not alone. This post is an invitation to step away from pressure and perfection, and instead turn inward with kindness.
When Motherhood Feels Lonely and the Feelings Feel Too Big
Motherhood can feel deeply lonely, even when you are never actually alone. Big emotions like overwhelm, rage, grief, guilt or numbness are not signs that something is wrong with you, but signals from a nervous system under pressure. This article gently normalises the emotional intensity of motherhood and offers a somatic, body-led perspective on how to meet these feelings with kindness rather than fixing. It also introduces a supportive Insight Timer course created for mothers who want simple, grounding practices they can return to in real life.
Millennials & Gen Z, Motherhood, and the Beautiful Burden of Cycle-Breaking
Millennial mums are the first generation widely parenting while healing their own wounds. It is beautiful and heavy work. This blog explores the research on cycle-breaking and offers simple, body-based practices to ease the pressure, so you can choose presence over perfection and grow real connection with your little one.
The Soft Art of Letting Go - (Letting Go of Parenting Pressure and Finding Presence in Motherhood)
A heartfelt reflection on the pressure so many mothers feel to “get it right.” This piece explores how the self-improvement mindset and constant stream of parenting advice can leave our nervous systems overwhelmed and disconnected from our own intuition.
The Somatic Landscape of Breastfeeding and Weaning
Explore what happens in your body during and after breastfeeding from hormonal shifts in oxytocin and prolactin to the emotions of weaning. A gentle, somatic reflection to help mothers understand, normalise, and honour this transition.
When Parenting Turns Into Survival (“mess around and find out” parenting)
There’s a new kind of parenting trending — the “mess around and find out” approach. It’s sold as strength, as firm boundaries and tough love. But beneath the tone, you can feel something else. The tightness. The exhaustion. The quiet grief of parents who are stretched beyond capacity and just trying to survive the day. This isn’t bad parenting; it’s the sound of nervous systems crying out for rest and connection. Maybe what we need isn’t more control, but more compassion — for ourselves and for the children who are learning from the way we soften.
How Can I Be More Present With My Children?
Discover how to be more present with your children by working with your nervous system, noticing glimmers, and softening old patterns.
Numb, Flat, Exhausted: Motherhood Can Feel Heavy
Motherhood can sometimes feel flat, numb, or disconnected, a quiet exhaustion that goes beyond tiredness. This post explores dorsal shutdown and protective patterns, helping mothers understand why their body pulls away and how gentle, somatic practices can help them reconnect with presence and vitality.
The Hidden Heart of Anxiety in Motherhood - What Your Body Really Longs For
Feeling anxious as a mom? You’re not failing, your body is trying to keep you safe. Explore how anxiety shows up through your nervous system and protective patterns, and discover gentle ways to come back to your body, your breath, and presence.
How to Support Your Nervous System After Birth (A Mother’s Guide)
Becoming a mother transforms not only your body, but also your nervous system. After birth, it’s common to feel wired-yet-tired, anxious, or disconnected from yourself, even while deeply in love with your baby. This guide shares gentle, realistic practices—like rest, nature, movement, connection, and self-compassion—to help you feel grounded and supported in early motherhood.
Nature’s Role in Calming a Mother’s Overloaded Mind
Discover how nature supports a mother’s mental health and nervous system. Learn research-backed benefits and practical ways to connect with nature, even at home, to reduce stress and feel grounded.
Why Taking Care of Your Body and Nervous System is the Greatest Gift to Your Child
When mothers heal their own bodies and nervous systems, they create the safety and presence needed for their babies’ brain growth and emotional wellbeing. Discover why your healing matters deeply.
A Mother’s Guide To Understanding and Regulating Your Nervous System
Motherhood reshapes your nervous system in deep, powerful ways from sleep deprivation to emotional overwhelm. This article helps you understand your body’s signals, normalise dysregulation, and offers simple, embodied practices to come back to calm and connection.
Sleep Deprivation in Motherhood: How Exhaustion Affects Your Nervous System & Parenting
“Before I became a mother, I thought I understood tiredness. The kind that comes from late nights or busy work weeks. But the exhaustion of early motherhood lives in a completely different realm. Sleep loss in motherhood is not just ‘being tired’, it is a nervous system event.
What the Non-Birthing Parent Often Misses (But Needs to Know)
When a baby is born, it’s not just the child who transforms the mother does too, in ways that are often unseen. For the partner standing beside her, understanding this shift is essential. This piece offers insight into the emotional, physical, and somatic changes of early motherhood and how to show up with presence, compassion, and care.
Embodied Motherhood: Rediscovering Your Body on the Journey of Becoming a Mother
Embodiment in motherhood is a profound yet often overlooked part of the transition into parenthood. This blog explores how pregnancy, birth, postpartum and past trauma can deeply impact a mother's connection to her body. It shares my personal insights and research around body image, disconnection, fatigue and emotional overwhelm. And a path to reconnection and healing.
What Is Somatic Therapy? A Guide for Mothers
Somatic Therapy supports mothers to reconnect with their bodies and emotions in a gentle, creative way. It blends mindfulness, body awareness, and expressive practices to help release tension, process held experiences, and build a deeper sense of inner connection. Especially during pregnancy, postpartum, or parenting, it offers a safe space to come home to yourself and feel more grounded, present, and resourced.
Motherhood, Guilt, and the Myth of Getting It Right All the Time
Many of us newer mothers face intense pressure to be perfect, present, and conscious. In this blog I explore how shame fuels burnout and why self-compassion can be the answer.