Growing

Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton
Growing
Latest episode

149 episodes

  • Growing

    Let’s Hear It for the Mums

    2026-05-19 | 39 mins.
    This week we’re back in your ears feeling wildly grateful for the women around us because honestly… the girls ARE the glimmers.  
    Beth is trying to rise from the depths of the absolute feral house guest that is mastitis - a cruel mistress we did not invite, do not like and absolutely do not need. We unpack the intensity of feeding twins, the physical toll of breastfeeding and the emotional rollercoaster that comes with trying to care for everyone whilst also feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck. 
    Meanwhile Lil is entering a brand new season with her husband back at work, juggling two kids, attempting toilet training but that’s a story for another day.
    Lil’s recipe recommendation is for the freshly postpartum mums finally ready to emerge for a crispy vino, sashimi and a tiny taste of freedom. Trust us — this one is elite. Tuna Sashimi Dip 
    And Beth’s cosy watch recommendation this week is Off Campus on Prime - fluffy, romantic, easy watching for tired mums wanting to float into another world at the end of the day.
    Join us on Instagram @growingthepodcast and share with your fellow friends, sisters, mums - the wonderful women in your life.
  • Growing

    Please not the park, again.

    2026-05-12 | 42 mins.
    Another glimpse inside the utter chaos that is our deeply postpartum lives right now. Beth and Lilly unpack the glimmers and growing pains of life at home with very little babies — both starting to feel slightly ready to re-enter society while also being firmly in the trenches of newborn life. 
    We also chat about the weird emotional pressure cooker that can be Mother’s Day — and if you finished the day feeling a little overstimulated, underwhelmed or strangely emotional… we completely get it.
    Lil has been experiencing the challenges of an unsettled baby and the girls hold hands and remind each other that yes this parts: equally normal, hard, magical and utterly mad.
    Plus our usual R&R recommendations because we’ll never stop trying to romanticise the trenches.
    Lilly found this podcast episode with Dr Eliza Hannam helpful for reassuring her on unsettled babies: Bloom with Body, Birth & Baby episode with Dr Eliza Hannam
    Lil’s current nervous system obsession: Krumbled Magnesium Hot Chocolate (Adding collagen because we’re trying to thrive, not just survive.) Use Beth’s code: BIRTHWITHBETH
    Beth’s recommendation: a postpartum wardrobe refresh. Nothing dramatic — just a few pieces that help you feel a tiny bit more like you when leaving the house with milk stains and two minutes of sleep.
    Beth’s Recipe: nourishing lemon chicken soup that’s freezer-friendly and genuinely delicious: Avgolemono Soup Recipe
    Huge thanks to ergoPouch for supporting the podcast this month.
    We are deep in our newborn cocoon era and leaning heavily on ergoPouch right now — from their beautiful swaddles and sleep suits to the cot sheets that somehow survive the endless overnight changes.
    We’re also obsessed with the Drift Away Sound Machine, which has become part of our entire nighttime rhythm.
    Use our code BIRTHWITHBETH for 20% off until the end of May.
    If this episode made you feel seen, send it to a mum friend who’s also somewhere between blissed out and barely holding it together 💛
    And don’t forget to follow Growing wherever you listen to podcasts.
  • Growing

    Beth’s Birth Story: Identical Twin Boys

    2026-05-05 | 1h 7 mins.
    This week Beth shares the birth story of her identical twin boys, a story that holds both careful planning and a last-minute pivot.
    After a high-risk twin pregnancy, many appointments, and a clear plan to be induced at 36 weeks, things changed *right* at the finish line. 
    If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a fellow Mum friend, if you haven’t already follow us on your streaming platform of choice and leave a review if you love the show. This helps us to grow and land in the ears of those who need a little solidarity amongst the magic and madness of motherhood.
  • Growing

    The Wheels Simply *Must* Keep Turning: Updates From The Postpartum Trenches

    2026-04-28 | 58 mins.
    This week we are coming to you live from the trenches — where time is meaningless, snacks are essential, and the witching hour feels like a personal attack. We’re gasbagging (professionally) and pulling at all the loose threads of early postpartum life — from the chaos of juggling multiple naps in one household (who knew sleep could require this much admin?) to the nightly spiral of “is this the witching hour or just… our personality now?”
    Lil is, once again, back in her toxic situationship with her phone (again… again 🙃), while Beth is emerging - phoenix-like — feeling a little more like herself physically, which we are celebrating loudly. Somewhere in the middle of all of this, we’re both finding a rhythm… not a good one, not a consistent one, but a rhythm nonetheless and honestly that feels like growth.
    It’s chaotic, it’s honest — and if you’re in early postpartum too, this one will feel like sitting on the couch with friends who are also just trying to piece it together 🤍
    🍝 R&R — Recipe & Recommendation
    Beth’s Recipe: Crispy chilli oil — less of a recipe, more of a personality trait at this point. Put it on everything and suddenly you’re thriving.
    Beth’s RecommendationStrangers by Belle Burden - a beautifully raw memoir about identity, motherhood, and rebuilding when life doesn’t go to plan. 
    Lil’s Recommendation For freshly postpartum, breastfeeding mums: lymphatic massage for breast engorgement — game changing. Lil swears by doing it in the shower with a lush oil or body wash and pretending it’s a wellness ritual instead of survival. It’s gentle, effective, and can bring real relief when things feel full, tight, and borderline offensive.
    Watch: Lymphatic Massage for Breast Engorgement (Step-by-Step)

    Lil’s Recipe: Burger nights at home 🍔 when capacity is low but vibes are still important. Head to Coles and grab the at-home Grill’d burger patties… elite, no notes.
  • Growing

    Lil’s VBAC and Franklin’s Birth Story

    2026-04-21 | 57 mins.
    We are so happy to be sharing Lilly’s birth story of her second baby boy, Franklin 🤍
    If you haven’t listened to Lil’s first birth experience with Ru, it’s a beautiful place to start and adds a layer of context to this journey: Listen to Ru’s Birth Story
    This episode is a reflection of Lil’s slow and steady unfolding into labour — the layers she needed to shed, the surrender required, and the support systems she leaned into to move towards her VBAC.
    Like so many births, it isn’t completely linear… but that’s often where the magic lives.
    We talk through the mindset shifts, the body work, and the preparation that helped Lil feel ready to step into this experience — and what it actually looked like in real time.
    If you’re preparing for a VBAC or exploring your options, these episodes were a huge part of Lil’s preparation:
    VBAC with Hazel KeedleBody Work with G.LorriLil’s VBAC Preparation Episode
    This one is tender, powerful, and such a beautiful reminder of what it can look like to trust your body and your path — whatever that may be.
    💛 If this episode resonated, please share it with someone preparing for birth or navigating their own VBAC journey. And if you haven’t already, leaving a review helps more women find Growing — we’re so grateful you’re here.
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About Growing
Growing is your handbook for birth, babies and beyond brought to you by midwives and mums Beth Ryan and Lilly Claxton. Join us every Wednesday for a solid dose of solidarity as we explore all things motherhood.
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