Welcome back to Storme Diaries 🤍
This week I’m joined by my 24th guest, Sophie, for an honest conversation about childhood, rebellion, birth trauma, motherhood, relationships, co-parenting, faith and building a business.
Sophie opens up about growing up with strict parents, feeling misunderstood and becoming the black sheep of her family. We discuss how rebelling as a teenager shaped her, how she became a good liar to avoid getting into trouble and how different the world is now compared to when we were growing up.
From a young age, Sophie always knew the name she wanted to give her future babies. But becoming a mum wasn’t quite the experience she had imagined. She shares how her waters broke five weeks early, being given an epidural just as her baby’s head was coming and giving birth during COVID. Sophie still experiences PTSD from her birth, and we talk about the lasting impact of a traumatic birth experience.
Things became even more frightening when her baby was initially misdiagnosed with reflux and a milk allergy before doctors discovered a diaphragmatic hernia. Her baby needed emergency surgery and spent around a month in NICU. Sophie describes the fear of watching her baby so unwell and the moment a surgeon described her recovery as a miracle.
We discuss the power of a mother’s instinct, trusting your gut when something doesn’t feel right and finding the strength to keep pushing for answers when you know something is wrong.
We then talk about relationships, co-parenting when the other parent lives abroad and the reality of craving a family unit for your child. Sophie opens up about ignoring the signs in an unhealthy relationship, why it can be difficult to walk away and how the dream of having a family together can sometimes keep you holding on for longer than you should.
Sophie also shares how going to church has helped her find peace, alongside her journey of running a business while navigating motherhood. We discuss her thoughts about having another baby, including the possibility of using a sperm donor, and the different ways we can create the family we’ve always dreamed of.
This is a conversation about the experiences that shape us, the moments that change us forever and the strength it takes to keep moving forward when life doesn’t go to plan. 🤍
✨ In this episode we discuss: • Strict parents and a rebellious teenage years • Feeling misunderstood and being the black sheep • How the world has changed since our teens • Always knowing her future baby’s name • Going into labour five weeks early • An unexpected epidural as her baby’s head was coming • Giving birth during COVID • Birth trauma and living with PTSD • Her baby being misdiagnosed with reflux and a milk allergy • Discovering a diaphragmatic hernia • Emergency surgery and a month in NICU • A surgeon describing her baby’s recovery as a miracle • The power of a mother’s instinct • Co-parenting when the other parent lives abroad • Craving a family unit and stability for her child • Ignoring the signs in an unhealthy relationship • Finding peace through faith and church • Running a business alongside motherhood • Considering a sperm donor and having another baby • Healing, personal growth and finding your own path • And everything in between 🤍
Sophie’s story is a reminder that life doesn’t always look the way we imagined. From feeling misunderstood growing up to facing the terrifying reality of her baby needing emergency surgery, she has experienced challenges that have changed her perspective on life.
We talk about trusting your instincts, recognising when a relationship isn’t right for you and understanding that there isn’t just one way to build the family you dream of.
Because sometimes the journey looks completely different from what you expected — and that doesn’t make your story any less beautiful. 🤍
If you enjoyed this episode, please like, comment, subscribe and share. Your support genuinely helps Storme Diaries reach more people who might need to hear these stories. 🫶🏻
🎙️ Watch & listen on YouTube, Spotify & Apple Music via www.stormediaries.com