Ali Heppell on Being a Motherless Mother and Navigating Grief

Hi mamas. In this episode of Life After Birth, I am joined by Ali Heppell, a postpartum doula, matrescence educator and guide, and women’s circle facilitator. She is also a wife and mum to two boys.

In this conversion, we discuss Ali’s experience of becoming a mother after losing her own mother to cancer just a few years prior. We discuss Ali’s experience of the grief of losing her mother, her honouring of this grief and how it shaped her own mothering journey. Ali shares her immense loss and longing for her mother, and her journey of going inwards and seeking solace and comfort in parenting herself. 

We also discuss:

• Grief, how it changes and evolves over time, and the power of self-compassion, mindfulness and sharing, to connect to the shared common humanity of the experience. 

• The ‘unravelling’ and the ‘becoming’ of matrescence, and how motherhood can so often catalyse a huge journey of growth, a shifting of priorities and a change of identities, and the parallels of this with grief. 

• The seasons of matraescence, and the power of knowing in the darker and more challenging times, that things are everchanging and it won’t always feel this hard.  

• The power of self-compassion in motherhood; mothering yourself, being kind to yourself, and gently nudging your inner voice in a kinder and more compassionate direction.

This is a beautiful, vulnerable and raw conversation, and I hope it brings comfort and strength to you mamas.

Here is where you can find out more about me (Yara), how to work with me and some resources:

Why Am I So Angry Workshop

*** Waitlist for The Rebirth, Group Coaching for Mamas ***This is my signature 3 months online group coaching container for mothers which covers family of origin, inner child work, nervous system basics, anger, boundaries and much more. 

@lifeafterbirthpsychology  

www.lifeafterbirth.com.au

Free Inner Critic Workbook

Free Values Aligned Living Workbook 

Find out more about Alison and access her resources in these places:

https://aliheppell.com/

Ali on Instagram

Looking for support for anger while you mother? To access my Why Am I So Angry Workshop click HERE