The Science of Motherhood

Have you ever wondered why some Australian families travel overseas for surrogacy? Or been confused by headlines about proposed payments for surrogates and whether that crosses a line?
Australia's surrogacy laws have been called "confusing, restrictive, and not fit for purpose." Now there's talk of reform, including monthly payments to surrogates. But it raises questions about whether we're finally acknowledging the labour involved, or creating new problems.
In this episode, Dr Renee White explores Australia's proposed surrogacy law reforms and sits with some uncomfortable questions that don't have simple answers. Like whether it's more exploitative to pay someone for nine months of physical and emotional labour, or to expect them to do it for free while the doctors, lawyers and agencies all get paid.
This isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating space to think about what fair support and real protection actually look like.
You'll hear about:
Why 369 families a year go offshore for surrogacy and whether our current laws are protecting anyone
The thinking behind altruistic surrogacy and why surrogates are the only ones not compensated
What the proposed reforms actually include and why people are so divided
Whether we can put a price on pregnancy and who gets to decide what counts as exploitation
How this connects to bigger questions about valuing reproductive labour and care work

Whether you've considered surrogacy, know someone who has, or you're just trying to understand this complex issue, this episode offers space to think critically about what we owe to surrogates, children and families navigating this path.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village.
If this episode sparked something for you, share it with someone who'd value the conversation. And don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood.
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

You've heard breastfeeding protects against allergies and asthma. But have you ever wondered what's actually happening inside your baby's body to make that possible?
It's one of those things people say all the time, but rarely explain. And when you're in the thick of feeding, you deserve more than soundbites.
In this episode, Dr Renee White sits down with Dr Toby Mansell, a researcher from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute here in Australia. His team studied nearly 900 babies from pregnancy through childhood, and what they found is genuinely fascinating.
Together they talk about what happens at the molecular level when babies breastfeed, why certain fats in breast milk seem to reduce inflammation, and what this might mean for immune health down the track.
It's science, yes. But it's also context. And hopefully, it helps things make a bit more sense.
You'll hear about:
How the Barwon Infant Study tracked 900 babies to understand what influences health from early life
Plasmalogens, lipids abundant in breast milk but absent in formula, and why they reduce inflammation
What chronic inflammation in infancy means for allergies, asthma, and metabolic health later
How breastfeeding changes infant metabolism at the cellular level
What this could mean for formula composition and supplements for all babies

Whether you're breastfeeding, formula feeding, or somewhere in between, this episode helps you understand what's happening biologically. It's research-based clarity without pressure or judgment.
Resources & Links:
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Connect with Dr Toby Mansell: Murdoch Children's Research Institute - Inflammatory Origins Group
🌐 Resources mentioned:
Barwon Infant Study
Murdoch Children's Research Institute
Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia's first doula village.
If this episode helped you feel more informed or less alone, share it with a mum who needs a steadier perspective. And don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not...

If you’re staring at a breast pump late at night and wondering how this is meant to work once you’re back at work, you’re not alone.
Returning to work while breastfeeding is one of the most common and least supported transitions in early motherhood. It’s practical, emotional and deeply personal. Many mums feel caught between feeding their baby, returning to their role at work and trying to hold onto a sense of themselves in the process.
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White offers a calm, evidence-informed conversation about what this transition really looks like. Not the Instagram version. The real one. With practical guidance, emotional reassurance and permission to do this in a way that works for you and your family.
Renee explores the realities of combining breastfeeding and paid work, including the systemic gaps that make it harder than it needs to be. She shares practical strategies to prepare before you return, alongside gentle reminders that there is no single right way to feed or work.
This episode is about clarity, choice and giving yourself room to adapt as your needs change.
You’ll hear about:
How to talk to your workplace about expressing, your rights and the space you need
When to introduce bottles, and what to try if your baby won’t take one
Setting up a pumping and feeding rhythm that actually fits your workday
What usually happens to supply when you go back, and why small dips are common
The emotional load of this season, and why guilt, grief and relief can all show up at once

Success isn’t about how long you breastfeed or how often you pump. It’s finding what works for your body, your baby, your work and your mind, and letting that be enough. You don’t have to nail it on day one. You’re allowed to tweak, change your mind and ask for support as you go.
Resources & Links
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
✨ This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.
If this episode helped, share it with a mum who needs a break but doesn’t want the chaos. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood. 💛
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

Breastfeeding is often spoken about as something that should feel natural, intuitive, and just click. But for many mums, the reality looks very different.
Pain that doesn’t settle. A baby who feels tense, sleepy, or unsettled at the breast. And a quiet question running in the background, why is this so hard for us?
In this episode of The Science of Motherhood, Dr Renee White sits down with Emily Jones, an Advanced Paediatric Osteopath, IBCLC Lactation Consultant, mother, and founder of Align & Nurture, to unpack what’s happening beneath the surface when feeding feels challenging, and why struggling does not mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Together, they explore breastfeeding through both a physical and emotional lens, helping make sense of how birth experiences, body tension, positioning, and nervous system regulation can all shape early feeding journeys.
You’ll hear about:
How different birth types can shape early feeding
Signs your baby’s body might be making latching harder
When breastfeeding pain needs more than “pushing through”
Simple positioning tweaks to ease feeding for you both
Ways to look after your mental health while you work on feeding

Breastfeeding challenges are rarely about effort. They’re often about your baby’s body, your recovery from birth, and the support around you. This episode gives you practical context for what might be going on, and what you can do next, without blame.
Resources & Links:
📲 Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 Treat yourself with our Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies
🔗 Learn more about Australian Breastfeeding Association https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
🔗 Connect with Emily and Align & Nurture
Website: https://www.alignandnurture.com.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alignandnurture
This episode is proudly supported by Fill Your Cup, Australia’s first doula village.
If this episode helped, share it with a mum who needs a break but doesn’t want the chaos. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Science of Motherhood. 💛
Disclaimer
The information on this podcast presented by Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice. Nothing contained in this episode is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.

Have you ever wondered why you’re still so hungry after having a baby, or why postpartum recovery feels heavier than you expected?
For many mums, the early months after birth are a mix of healing, feeding, broken sleep and trying to make sense of advice that often feels confusing or contradictory. Especially when food and blood sugar have already felt closely monitored during pregnancy.
This episode is part of The Science of Motherhood Summer Series, where Dr Renee White revisits some of your most listened to conversations, the ones that help you feel calmer, more informed, and less alone.
In this replay, Renee is joined by Lily Nichols, a registered dietitian, certified diabetes educator, researcher and author, known for her evidence based approach to prenatal and postpartum nutrition. Together, they unpack what the research actually shows about postpartum nutrient needs, breastfeeding hunger, and recovery after gestational diabetes.
It’s a steadying conversation that offers clarity without pressure, and context for why your body might be asking for more right now.
You’ll hear about:
Why postpartum hunger can feel intense and persistent, especially while breastfeeding
How pregnancy and breastfeeding draw on nutrient stores, and which ones are commonly depleted
Why protein needs are higher postpartum than many mums are told
What follow up after gestational diabetes is actually for, and why constant monitoring isn’t always needed
How to think about food, rest and recovery in a way that supports your body, not controls it

If postpartum nutrition or life after gestational diabetes has felt confusing, overwhelming, or loaded with pressure, this episode offers reassurance and evidence to help you breathe out.
Links and Resources
📲 Want to chat more about this? Connect with Renee on Instagram: @fillyourcup_
🌐 Want to learn more about Dr Renee White and explore Fill Your Cup Doula services
🍪 If you want to gobble up our famous Chocolate + Goji lactation cookies, look no further!
📲 Follow Lily on Instagram: @lilynicholsrdn
🌐 Explore Lily’s work and resources: lilynicholsrdn.com
📘 Learn more about her bestselling book: realfoodforpregnancy.com
🎧 If this episode gave you a little more clarity or confidence, share it with a fellow mum or mama-to-be. And don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.
Disclaimer: The information on this podcast presented by the Fill Your Cup is not a substitute for independent professional advice.
Nothing contained in this podcast is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional's advice.