No Place Like Homb

As we prepared to record this episode, our final episode of No Place Like Homb (for now), we took a moment to pause, reflect, and explore what the future my hold.

Homb has nurtured families, supported women through the profound transition of matrescence, and sparked meaningful conversations about how we can better care for mothers.

We’d love that conversation to continue with your support so that every parent can feel seen, heard and never alone x

Have you experienced the pressures of “bounce back” culture and felt the weight of impossible standards that mothers are expected to live up to?

From toxic mummy blogger trends that poke fun at the messy realities of early parenthood, to the highly curated content that makes “relatable” look effortless, pop culture and social media has played a big role in shaping what mothers think they should look and feel like after birth.

But there’s a shift happening. More influencers and public figures are choosing to share their unfiltered experiences, challenging the myths and reminding us that real motherhood is never picture-perfect.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, we explore how these messages impact mothers and how embracing honesty over perfection can help create a more supportive, compassionate narrative around motherhood and postpartum recovery.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, hosts Larissa and Kath return to the heart of why Homb exists. Reflecting on their own postpartum journeys, they share insights into the preventative model of care we’re proud to champion.Parenthood isn’t one-size-fits-all, and trying to squeeze yourself into a box that doesn’t fit can be the difference between simply surviving and truly thriving. Together, we explore what it means to create a supportive space where families feel empowered to take what resonates, leave what doesn’t, and find their own rhythm.This is the Homb way: a compassionate, flexible approach that honours the many paths to parenting and reminds us that every path is valid.

In the previous 2 episodes of No Place Like Homb, we spoke with Cassandra about her background and personal experience with postpartum anxiety, depression and psychosis.

Postpartum psychosis is a rare and devastating mental health condition that can occur after childbirth. The estimated incidence of postpartum psychosis ranges from 1 to 2 cases per 1,000 births.

In this episode, Part 3 of ‘Coming back from the brink’, Hosts Kath and Larissa unpack some of the themes and questions that came up from those episodes with Perinatal and Reproductive Psychiatrist, Dr Edna Lekgabe.

Find out more; drednalekgabe.com.au

If you need support, speak to a trusted healthcare professional.

You can also find a directory for national helplines via;

pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy-helpline-numbers

A speech pathologist is a specialised health professional who assesses, diagnoses, and treats communication and swallowing disorders. Their work goes far beyond helping with speech sounds; it includes assessing and treating difficulties related to language development, social communication, voice, fluency, and the safe introduction of food and drink.

In early childhood, they play a key role in supporting foundational skills that impact learning, development, and quality of life.

In this episode, host Kath speaks with speech pathologist Jess Andrewartha to get an introduction to the role of a speech pathologist, her education and pathway to this important work and her own experience becoming a mother.

The concept of the ‘wounded healer’ speaks to the deep connection found in shared experience. It often gives healthcare professionals a unique sense of empathy and insight—enabling them to offer more compassionate, personalised care.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Kath speaks with Clinical Nutritionist Jennalea about her work supporting women through pre-conception, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Jennalea shares her own experience with Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), as well as a complicated birth and postpartum journey—experiences that now inform her practice, bringing compassion and lived wisdom to her work—not despite her wounds, but because of them.

It’s our 100th episode!

There have been tears, there has been laughter and a whole lot of vulnerability and connection and we’re celebrating by sharing a small selection of some of our favourite moments!

We’re so grateful to each and every guest who has taken time out of their busy schedules to share their stories and expertise with us, what incredible company we find ourselves in week after week.

Thank you for listening and showing your support for the work we do; Our purpose is to start a conversation, educate, and inform; connecting in shared experience to break down stigma and encourage new parents to seek help when and where they need it, without fear of judgment.

No Place Like Homb exists to support the vision of Homb Postpartum, Australia’s first of its kind postpartum Hotel - A place where mothers are mothered.

If you’ve ever felt lost in a sea of advice, endless product lists, and the pressure to buy all the things—you’re not alone.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, hosts Larissa and Kath chat with Phoebe, co-founder of The Memo, about the messy, beautiful early days of parenthood, the power of asking honest (and sometimes awkward) questions, and why you really don’t need an overflowing collection of baby gear to feel prepared.

Phoebe also opens up about her own experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum—and how those chapters helped to shape the way she supports other parents through The Memo.

If you’re a first-time parent feeling a little (or a lot) overwhelmed, this episode is for you.

Find out more at thememo.com.au/

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, hosts Larissa and Kath welcome back registered nurse and midwife, Pamela Nunan.

Picking up the conversation from part one, they dive into Pam’s postpartum experience — from the plans she had in place, with the support system ready to step in, and the real-life realities of recovery.

Together, they explore what every new parent deserves in their postpartum support — and all the things that can still catch you off guard, even with all the knowledge of an experienced midwife.

From growing up in a religious household and feeling the weight of family disapproval after coming out as a teen, to studying nursing in Ireland, relocating across the world, and navigating reproductive healthcare as part of a same-sex couple in a system not built for diverse families—Midwife Pamela Nunan, brings a wealth of experience and insight to this episode of No Place Like Homb.

Hosts Larissa and Kath sit down with Pamela to unpack the messy, raw, beautiful truths that rarely make it into the parenting books.

Are you ready, lads?
Grab a cuppa—or a whiskey if it’s that kind of day—and settle in. You’re in good company.

When it comes to babies and sleep, it’s easy to get swept up in the noise of conflicting advice and opinions.So why is the topic of infant sleep so controversial?What does “normal” really look like for newborn sleep?And is there truly a risk of creating “bad habits” when settling your baby?In this episode of No Place Like Homb, we welcome back Katie—holistic sleep coach and founder of Katie’s Babies—to unpack some of the biggest questions parents have around infant sleep and settling.Find out more or get in touch with Katies via katiesbabies.com.au

So often on the journey of motherhood, we find ourselves thinking, “If only I knew then what I know now.”

It’s a sentiment shared by nearly every parent—even those with years of experience and relevant education. This was certainly true for this week’s No Place Like Homb guest, Katie.

Katie is now a full-time sleep consultant, following a 25-year career in midwifery and raising four children of her own. In this episode, hosts Larissa and Kath chat with Katie about her personal journey through motherhood.

This week on No Place Like Homb we welcome back our regular host and Homb founder Larissa. After taking some time to recover from surgery, Larissa provides a brief update on her personal situation and along side Kath shares some information on Supported stays at Homb via The Homb Trust.

Every parent should have access to postpartum care and support and we’re working hard to ensure fair and equitable access to the preventive care model at Homb.

Find out more or donate at Homb.com.au/charity

The dominant narrative around postpartum movement often centres on "restoring" the pre-pregnancy body, rather than embracing the natural evolution that occurs after childbirth. This pressure to return to intense exercise too soon can increase the risk of injury or complications—such as pelvic floor dysfunction—especially when the body hasn't had sufficient time to heal.

So, when is the right time to start moving your body and safely return to exercise postpartum?

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Kath speaks with physiotherapist Caroline Johnson about postpartum movement, pelvic health, and how to set realistic goals and timelines for physical recovery and exercise after birth.

Find out more via https://beactivephysio.com/

Women frequently report receiving inadequate or incomplete information about procedures, risks, benefits, and alternatives in perinatal healthcare, with communication often falling short of what is needed for truly informed consent.

Informed decision-making is too often rushed during labour instead of being initiated earlier during antenatal care. Proactive discussions about birth plans, potential interventions, and complications can lay the foundation for more informed and confident choices during labour and birth.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Kath speaks with midwife Rachel Wilson to explore some of the most common obstetric terms and abbreviations—when you're likely to hear them, what they mean, and why it's important to understand them.

An informed and empowered pregnancy and birth experience can positively shape your postpartum journey and help you thrive in the early stages of parenthood.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Kath welcomes back Jason Seeman to share more about his early experiences of fatherhood and the inspiration behind creating his organisation, Raising Fathers.

We know that 1 in 10 fathers will experience postnatal depression or anxiety—and that fathers are 50% more likely to develop symptoms if the mother is also struggling. Yet, it’s still not widely known or understood that fathers and non-birthing partners can be affected by postnatal mental health challenges. It's a topic that isn't spoken about enough.

Creating open and honest conversations, while offering meaningful support for new and expectant fathers, is essential—not just for reducing these statistics, but for helping families to truly thrive.

Raising Fathers exists to educate and support dads emotionally, mentally, and practically as they navigate the joys and challenges of fatherhood.

Find our more via https://www.raising-fathers.com/

Despite research showing that 7–9% of new fathers experience paternal postnatal depression, societal narratives continue to frame postnatal mental health as an exclusively maternal issue. This misconception can leave many fathers unaware that their struggles are valid, reinforcing stigma and discouraging them from seeking the support they need.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Kath speaks with Jason Seeman, founder of Raising Fathers, about his personal journey into fatherhood and the pivotal moment he recognised the impact of the profound shift in identity that becoming a parent can bring.

In this episode, special guest host Kath Taylor returns, joined by No Place Like Homb producer Rachel, to share a brief update and acknowledge the noticeable absence of our regular host and Homb Owner/Director, Larissa.

Kath reflects on the questions and ongoing feedback she’s received since sharing her story in our episode Meet Kath.

We also take a moment to revisit our core mission: to spark meaningful conversations, educate and inform, and build connection through shared experience.

It’s time to challenge the narrative that motherhood should always be easy or joyful.

We're committed to breaking down stigma and encouraging new parents to prioritise self-care and seek support—whenever and wherever they need it—without fear of judgment.

The demand for egg donors far exceeds the supply, with Monash IVF Group reporting that 20 times more donors are required to meet current needs. As of May 2024, there were 52 hopeful parents waiting for every available egg donor.

Despite its significance, egg donation remains widely misunderstood by the general public.

In this week’s episode of No Place Like Homb, host Larissa welcomes special guest Jess Newton—a registered nurse, paramedic, and egg donor—to shed light on the egg donation process and its impact.

Find out more about becoming an egg donor;

https://monashivf.com/services/donor-surrogacy/become-an-egg-donor/

One of the biggest challenges people face during postpartum is managing nutrition. Whether it’s understanding which foods support recovery and breastfeeding, finding the time to prepare and eat meals, or knowing how many calories are needed to maintain breastmilk supply—it can feel overwhelming.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, we welcome back nutritionist and naturopath Claire Eden (they/them) to share some simple nutritional information and practical tips for feeding postpartum and making nourishment easier.

No matter how much you plan and prepare for your reproductive journey, unexpected surprises can still arise.

The chances of naturally conceiving triplets in your third pregnancy are rare, but it does happen, and that was the case for this week’s guest on No Place Like Homb, Nurse, midwife, and mum of five, Josephine Heard.

In this episode, Jo sits down with Larissa to share her experience of raising triplets.

Too often in western culture postpartum care is viewed as a luxury with the perception that comprehensive postpartum care is not essential unless medically necessary.

Rates of postpartum depression have doubled in the last decade and Australia is facing a postpartum mental health crisis, with high prevalence of perinatal mood disorders and mental health challenges, significant economic costs, and major gaps in support services with little to no acknowledgement or support from government and policy makers.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, Larissa and special guest host, Kath discuss the cost of postpartum care and the true and significant ongoing cost to our society and future generations if we do nothing to address the current mental health crisis we find ourselves in.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Larissa introduces us to Kath Taylor, Homb’s Director of Operations and a Registered Nurse.

Kath shares her personal journey through pregnancy and childbirth, reflecting on her contrasting postpartum and recovery experiences. She also discusses her wealth of experience in various aspects of healthcare and what drives her passion for advocating for women and families in the postpartum care space.

In this episode of No Place Homb, Larissa speaks with Doula and Naturopath, Claire Eden.

Claire (they/them) is a mum of 2 and has a wealth of experience working in the postpartum space.

Reflecting on their own experiences with maternal healthcare, Claire shares their story of family planning, conception, managing Hyperemesis Gravidarum though pregnancy; as well as their experience with home birth and supporting postpartum.

You can find out more about Claire and their work via claireeden.com.au/about/

This mini series was created by Ready or Not in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, Ready or Not host, Lucinda McKimm and Homb founder Larissa Leone, interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. 

Lu shows so much strength and vulnerability sharing her own experience as a second time mum, talking about all the things mothers may go through that are hard to talk about; moments of sadness, rage, depletion and frustration like you’ve never known before and what seeking support at Homb looked like.

While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/

This mini series was created by Ready or Not in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, Ready or Not host, Lucinda McKimm and Homb founder Larissa Leone, interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. 

Lu shows so much strength and vulnerability sharing her own experience as a second time mum, talking about all the things mothers may go through that are hard to talk about; moments of sadness, rage, depletion and frustration like you’ve never known before and what seeking support at Homb looked like.

While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/

Part 1 - Treading water

This mini series was created by Ready or Not in partnership with Homb, the postpartum hotel where mothers are mothered. Across three episodes, Ready or Not host, Lucinda McKimm and Homb founder Larissa Leone, interrogate what it means to navigate motherhood and matrescence in modern Australia. 

Lu shows so much strength and vulnerability sharing her own experience as a second time mum, talking about all the things mothers may go through that are hard to talk about; moments of sadness, rage, depletion and frustration like you’ve never known before and what seeking support at Homb looked like.

While this series sets to open up the conversation of what the everyday mother goes through, if you think that you might be struggling more than that, there’s help available at https://www.cope.org.au/

"There comes a time when we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in."
– Desmond Tutu

This powerful quote from Desmond Tutu captures the essence of the work Amy O'Brien is doing to support women and mothers. In this episode of No Place Like Homb, Amy joins Larissa and special guest host, Robynne to explore how this philosophy shapes the model of care in her practice, Reverence Story.

https://www.junospecialists.au/

https://www.reverencestory.com/

Does your qualification and training as a paediatrician set you up with the tools for parenthood? Or does your experience of parenthood make you a better doctor?

Hosts Larissa and Kath unpack this question and more on this episode of No Place Like Homb with special Guest Dr Victoria Mckay.

Find out more about Victoria’s work via paediatricpeople.com.au

Healthcare professionals have a unique understanding of maternity care, including both its challenges and joys. But how does this experience shape the stories of young midwives as they embark on their own motherhood journeys? In this episode of No Place Like Homb, host Larissa welcomes special guest Robynne Klyne—Nurse, Midwife, and IBCLC—to discuss her personal journey through motherhood and her experiences with maternal healthcare. Find out more about Robynne’s work and qualifications via newbiesandbewbies.com.au

Societal pressures and the unrealistic expectations we often put on ourselves to be a 'Good Mother' can create undue stress and lead to feelings of inadequacy and guilt.

In this episode of No Place Like Homb, Larissa and special guest host Jaz Flowers, discuss the social narrative that exists online perpetuating the idea that motherhood is entirely instinctual or easy for everyone.

Motherhood is a learning process, every mother's experience is unique and it's okay to ask for help and support.