Mum Brains Abroad

EP 10 - Understanding Your Nervous System as a Mother

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 12:00:00 +0200

On today's episode of Mum Brains Abroad, we welcome our very first special guest expert — Friederike Steinbeck, a yoga teacher, yin yoga specialist, and nervous system educator based in Copenhagen. This episode was produced by Anjelli and the conversation was led by Annika.

Friederike breaks down why understanding your nervous system is one of the most important things a mother can do — not to become a "perfect calm mother," but to build a compassionate relationship with your own body. She explains how motherhood rewires your nervous system, what regulation actually means (hint: it's not about being calm all the time), and how to read the early signals your body is sending before it reaches the breaking point.

We also get super practical: Friederike shares simple, under-one-minute tools you can use whenever you're overwhelmed, from breathwork to grounding, slowing your walk, releasing your jaw, and even screaming into a pillow. Plus, she shares three powerful journaling prompts to help you start recognizing your own patterns. These will also be posted on our socials (see our instagram account details below).

Whether you're in survival mode, struggling with sensory overload, or just curious about why motherhood feels so hard on your body — this episode is for you.

🕐 Timestamp Guide — Key Topics

0:00 — Welcome & intro to our first guest expert, Friederike Steinbeck
2:43 — Why every mother should understand her nervous system
4:02 — What is the nervous system? Sympatheticus vs. parasympatheticus explained
7:39 — How motherhood changes and affects the nervous system
16:28 — What "regulation" actually means (it's not about being calm)
23:14 — "The body whispers before it screams" — reading your body's signals
40:59 — Practical under-1-minute tools to regulate your nervous system
52:55 — 3 journaling prompts to understand your nervous system patterns
56:46 — Final message for every mother: "You're not failing"

Instagram: @mumbrainsabroad

Friederike´s Instagram: @friederike.steinbeck

EP 9 – Summer in Copenhagen with Kids: Sunshine, Giants & No Structure

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Summer in Copenhagen hits different when you've got a toddler and no clear routine. In this episode, Annika and Anjelli talk candidly about what summer actually looks like as expat moms in Denmark — from daycare closures and substitute pedagogues to summer houses, swimming spots, and the legendary Thomas Dambo giants hidden across the city.

They also compare summer culture in Denmark with their home countries (Germany and the Philippines), discuss how they're juggling work and childcare during the long school break, and share their honest mom lights and mom lows of the week — including midnight swims, weaning struggles, and toddlers who think they're invincible.

Topics covered:

0:55 – Summer plans: building a business vs. summer houses & a Norway fjord cruise
4:46 – How daycare & school breaks work in Denmark (including the summer merge model)
8:51 – Free activities & family events in Copenhagen
11:06 – The Thomas Dambo giants: Copenhagen's hidden wooden troll sculptures
17:54 – Summer house life: what a day actually looks like with a baby
25:52 – How summer compares to Germany & the Philippines
25:24 – Mom light & mom low of the week

Instagram:@mumbrainsabroad

Ep8 - Parenting Rules (we broke), Home Cravings & Danish Life

Tue, 30 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Mom Brains Abroad, hosts Annika and Anjelli dive into a fun and candid Q&A using ChatGPT-generated questions about motherhood, parenting abroad, and chasing ambitions while raising little ones. Recording from a Copenhagen heatwave, they reflect on what it truly means to build a life — and a family — far from home.

From cargo bikes and forest kindergartens to the realities of Danish parental leave, the episode takes a heartfelt and honest look at the joys and challenges of expat motherhood. They discuss the tension between career ambitions and family life, unpack the myth of work-life balance, and share relatable stories about the parenting rules they vowed to keep — until they didn't. The episode wraps up with their weekly Mom Light and Mom Low, including a tender milestone moment and a gut-wrenching playground incident.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & welcome
1:00 – If you could import one thing from home to make parenting easier, what would it be?
6:21 – The most Copenhagen parent thing you've caught yourself doing
12:08 – The biggest myth people back home have about raising kids in Denmark
19:48 – Have you ever felt like you're chasing two dreams at once — a career and a family?
31:35 – A parenting rule you swore you'd never break — until you had kids
46:48 – Mom Light & Mom Low of the week

Instagram: @mumbrainsabroad

Ep 7 – Raising Kids Far From Home: The Grief, the Guilt, and the Village We Build

Tue, 23 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

In this deeply honest episode, Anjelli and Annika — two expat moms living in Copenhagen — open up about what it's really like to raise children far from home and family. They share the emotional weight of missing milestones, the guilt of choosing a life abroad, and the grief that comes with aging parents living thousands of miles away — feelings that many expat parents carry quietly.

Anjelli and Annika explore how community becomes a lifeline when you're building your "village" from scratch in a new country, and why connecting with fellow expat parents can feel like therapy. They also discuss the unexpected freedom and joy in raising your child on your own terms, away from family pressure and generational expectations.

The episode closes with their "Mom High & Mom Low" — from the challenges of teething and work-life balance to the heartwarming moments of found family stepping in to help.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Introduction: Anjelli and Annika on raising kids far from home
0:03 – The grief of missing milestones & wishing grandparents were near
6:04 – Building your village from scratch as an expat parent
11:03 – Have you ever questioned staying abroad after having kids?
17:15 – Advice for new expat moms: trust your instincts & ask for help
21:37 – Episode takeaways: the strength of a small family unit & parenting freedom
24:30 – Mom High & Mom Low: teething, work-life guilt, and chosen family moments

Instagram: @mumbrainsabroad

Ep 6 Boobs & Bottles: Our Two Very Different Stories

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Episode Summary

Hosts Annika and Anjelli open up about one of the most personal topics yet: their breastfeeding journeys. Two very different experiences, one honest and judgment-free conversation.

Anjelli prepared thoroughly after her midwife's encouragement, but a post-birth infection sent her body into stress, tanking her milk supply. Despite over a month of triple feeding, pumping around the clock, lactation cookies, and Facebook groups — there was never enough milk. She's been formula feeding her daughter ever since, and describes it as one of her real heartbreaks as a mom.

Annika went in with almost no preparation, but her daughter Amalia latched perfectly from birth. The challenge came later: oversupply, constant spitting up (likely reflux), a bout of mastitis, and months of painful positions. A lactation consultant proved invaluable. Now at 16 months she's still breastfeeding, has become a passionate advocate — and openly admits she used to judge extended breastfeeding before becoming a mom herself.

Together they cover: formula feeding logistics (sterilizing, milk makers, the "pharmacy bag" that goes everywhere), Denmark's supportive breastfeeding culture and public resources, the WHO's 2-year recommendation that most doctors don't mention, the real link between feeding method and sleep (Anjelli's daughter slept through at 3 months; Annika's woke hourly until 12 months), and what they'd tell any expecting mom. The episode closes with their mom highs and lows: a magical first conscious Mother's Day with flowers, a handwritten card and a "Mor" balloon — versus relentless toddler sickness and daycare separation anxiety in full swing.

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro & Episode Overview
0:52 – Breastfeeding Expectations Before Birth
4:41 – After Birth: Latching, Infections & Triple Feeding
5:47 – Anjelli's Journey: Low Supply, Pumping & Formula
8:21 – Annika's Journey: Oversupply, Mastitis & Finding Confidence
14:24 – Formula Feeding: Equipment & Challenges
26:14 – Breastfeeding in Denmark: Public Support & Resources
31:23 – Sleep, Night Wakings & Night Weaning
33:51 – Anjelli: Sleep & Formula Feeding at Night
35:56 – Advice for Expecting Moms
38:25 – Mom High & Mom Low of the Week

Coming up: Annika and Anjelli plan to invite a lactation consultant or breastfeeding expert for a dedicated guest episode — so stay tuned for a deeper dive into the science and support behind breastfeeding. They'll also check back in with a breastfeeding update as both their journeys continue to evolve.

Ep 5 The First Days After Birth — What Nobody Really Tells You

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Episode Summary:

The first days after birth are intense, emotional, and nothing like the Instagram version.

Annika and Anjelli get honest about what those early days really looked like — the hospital stays, the pain, the sleepless nights, and the moments that caught them completely off guard.

In this episode:

What the first 24 hours felt like for each of them — C-section recovery vs. an unmedicated birth in a hotel-wing room
The golden hour: why that uninterrupted time matters so much
Triple feeding, tracking sheets, and setting alarms every 3 hours while sharing a room with another couple
Anjelli's post-birth infection that went undiagnosed for a week — and what she wishes had been caught sooner
The great visitor debate: why both hosts say they would do it very differently next time
Contradictory breastfeeding advice from nurses, and how to navigate the information overload
What it's like recovering from a C-section at home — and the ibuprofen allergy Annika discovered the hard way
Practical advice for expat parents giving birth away from family, plus why your "birth plan" should extend past the birth itself
This week's Mom Light & Mom Low: first words, new shoes, and two very shaken toddlers after back-to-back falls

Next episode: The breastfeeding and feeding journey — expectations vs. reality, what worked, what didn't, and navigating the fourth trimester.

Timestamps

0:00 — Intro & episode overview *(Annika & Anjelli)*

0:17 — Annika: first 24 hours — C-section recovery, shared room, surreal feeling

2:14 — Anjelli: first 24 hours — unmedicated birth, golden hour

4:44 — Anjelli: the hotel-wing room — two beds, no nurses, "why did we even bring a bag?"

5:44 — Annika: C-section aftermath — pain kicking in, couldn't stand, 4-night stay

6:59 — Anjelli: post-birth complications — pain dismissed, readmitted, infection missed for a week

9:53 — Both: triple feeding, the ML tracking sheet & shared room alarm chaos

12:24 — Anjelli: the sleeping couple story — baby had jaundice, they slept anyway

14:15 — Anjelli: infection finally diagnosed by GP a week after discharge

15:38 — Annika: officially discharged but stayed extra nights due to scar pain; the placenta question

16:31 — Both: visitors at hospital — regrets, boundaries, the couple with 1,000 visitors behind the curtain

20:40 — Annika: the nurse who told them to tidy up "as practice for going home"

23:10 — Both: contradictory breastfeeding advice from different nurses 26:17 — Both: first nights at home — relief, better sleep, newborn sounds at 3am

28:00 — Annika: C-section recovery at home — ibuprofen allergy, first family walk at 2 weeks

29:07 — Anjelli: grieving the postpartum she expected — 3 weeks unable to walk due to untreated infection

31:16 — Both: parental leave in Denmark, missing family from abroad, mom support

34:08 — Both: advice for expat parents — research, open mindset, network, placenta tip

38:43 — Annika: breastfeeding expectations — going in without over-researching

40:18 — Anjelli: choosing what's best for your baby without added guilt

41:53 — Mom Light: Anjelli's daughter saying new words / Annika's daughter's new confident shoes

43:41 — Mom Low: Anjelli & daughter fall together / Annika's daughter's double fall at daycare

46:33 — Outro & next episode: breastfeeding & the fourth trimester

Ep 4 From Birth Plan to Birth Reality

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:25:00 +0200

Episode Summary:

In this episode of Mom Brains Podcast, hosts Anjelli and Annika go deep on their birth experiences in Denmark.

They share how they each approached their birth plans — Anjelli hoping for a natural, unmedicated birth and Annika facing the reality of a planned C-section due to her daughter being breech.

From birth prep classes (public vs. private, Danish vs. English) to the moment they first held their babies, they cover it all with honesty, humor, and heart.

Anjelli recounts a lightning-fast labor that nearly ended in a car delivery, a crowning moment she wanted to forget, and a post-birth infection that clouded an otherwise uncomplicated birth.

Annika shares what it was like to have a scheduled C-section, the surreal calm of the operating room, and the challenging recovery that followed.

The episode closes with their weekly Mom Light and Mom Low, touching on daycare transitions and sleepless teething nights.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & intro
0:30 – Birth plans: what to write and why it matters
7:00 – Birth prep classes: public vs. private, Danish vs. English
22:00 – Natural induction, zone therapy & curb walking
28:00 – Anjelli's labor: from contractions at 4am to nearly giving birth in the car
35:00 – Arriving at the hospital 9cm dilated
37:00 – Laughing gas, crowning, and the pushing stage
46:00 – Meeting baby for the first time & the golden hours
53:00 – Annika's story: finding out about the C-section & getting a date
1:06 – The C-section experience: the operating room, the team, the epidural
1:11 – Baby's arrival via C-section & first moments
1:23 – The hospital stay: the "hotel" wing vs. the ward
1:27 – Anjelli's post-birth infection & difficult recovery
1:31 – Breastfeeding beginnings & what's coming next
1:42 – Mom Light & Mom Low of the week (daycare wins & sleepless nights)
1:06 – Wrap-up & preview of next episode

Ep 3 The Good, The Hard & The Unexplained: Our Pregnancies

Tue, 26 May 2026 00:10:00 +0200

Episode Decription:

In Episode 3 of Mum Brains Abroad, hosts Annika and Anjelli take listeners through their full pregnancy journeys — from the shock of those first positive tests to the final weeks before birth. They share how and when they announced their pregnancies, compare their very different first trimester experiences (including Anjelli's severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG)), laugh about unexpected cravings (oysters, healing soil, and dairy despite lactose intolerance), and discuss the emotional rollercoaster of gender scans, the 20-week scan, and feeling their babies move for the first time. The third trimester turns more serious as Annika opens up about a complicated pregnancy involving mysterious pains, a baby measuring small, breech positioning, and the stress of frequent hospital visits. Both hosts also reflect on navigating the Danish healthcare system as expats, and the episode wraps with their weekly Mum High & Mum Low ritual — covering nap transitions, stroller struggles, and the joy of watching their daughters' personalities emerge.

Topics covered:

When & how to announce a pregnancy
Miscarriage risk and building a support network
HG (hyperemesis gravidarum) and managing severe pregnancy nausea
Pregnancy cravings: the weird, the wonderful & the unexplained
Private gender scans as expats
The 20-week anatomy scan
Feeling your baby move for the first time
Navigating a complicated third trimester
Gestational diabetes testing
The Danish healthcare system vs. home country prenatal care
Mum High & Mum Low: nap transitions, strollers & personality milestones

Timestamps:

0:00 – Welcome & episode intro: pregnancy experiences overview

0:54 – Announcing the pregnancy: the secret-keeping phase, when to tell

3:42 – Angeli's announcement story (family Facebook reveal)

7:00 – First trimester: symptoms, exhaustion, HG (hyperemesis gravidarum)

8:34 – Heightened sense of smell stories

10:00 – Cravings: oysters, healing soil, dairy despite lactose intolerance

13:16 – Second trimester: energy, nausea updates & private scans

14:00 – Gender scan: finding out it's a girl

25:02 – First baby movements & kicks

27:38 – Third trimester begins

32:08 – Gestational diabetes test: the glucose drink experience

34:48 – Annika's complicated pregnancy: mysterious pains, baby measuring small, breech & C-section concerns

39:48 – Danish healthcare system as expats: 2 official scans vs. the Philippines

47:47 – Mum High & Mum Low of the week: nap transitions, stroller battles & cheeky personality milestones

Ep 2 Did We Always Want Kids? Our Journey to Becoming Moms

Tue, 19 May 2026 06:00:00 +0200

Episode description:

Did you always know you wanted to be a mum? In this episode, the hosts get honest about where they each started — one who never felt the pull until her thirties, and one who always knew but let life lead the way. They share how their relationships shaped their paths to parenthood, what their fertility journeys looked like, and the very different (and very real) moments they found out they were pregnant.

They also talk about what it means to raise children as expats in Denmark — a country that makes space for slow living, long maternity leave, and strollers on the metro (terrifying or not). The episode closes with their mum high and mum low of the week: toddler dinner meltdowns, unpredictable nap schedules, a first outdoor play session, and the peace that comes with finally making a decision about daycare.

Themes covered:

Did she always want children?
Career vs family mindset
Fertility, age, and staying stress-free
Finding out you're pregnant — the real reaction
Expat parenting in Denmark
Mum highs and lows

Timestamps: