Sense by Meg Faure: Real Life Parenting

Sam Smith is back on Sense by Meg, and this time she’s 30 weeks pregnant with quadruplets.
After previously sharing her extraordinary pregnancy journey, Sam joins Meg Faure and paediatric dietitian Kath Megaw to talk about navigating the final weeks of a high-risk multiple pregnancy, getting enough nutrition when there simply isn’t much room to eat, and preparing for what comes next.
Kath shares practical guidance on protein, calories, smoothies and supplements during the third trimester, before unpacking what Sam can expect when her four babies arrive and enter the NICU. They discuss TPN, donor breast milk, colostrum, establishing breast milk production, skin-to-skin contact and the important role Sam can play in her babies’ feeding journey.
With Sam now at 30 weeks, the focus is on reaching the next milestone while preparing emotionally and practically for the birth of four premature babies.
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IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
How to increase calories without having to eat significantly larger meals

What to look for when choosing a protein powder during pregnancy

How nutrition can support placental health and fetal growth

Why protein is particularly important during pregnancy, especially with multiple placentas and growing babies

What TPN (parenteral nutrition) is and why it may be used in the NICU

How donor breast milk can support premature babies while a mother establishes her own milk supply

The role of colostrum in the early days after birth

How mothers can contribute to their babies’ NICU journey through breast milk and skin-to-skin contact

How mums can look after their own nutrition while establishing breast milk production

What Sam is preparing for as she gets closer to the planned birth of her four babies

CHAPTERS
00:47  How is the quadruplet pregnancy going?
05:50  Eating during a quadruplet pregnancy
13:37  Can nutrition influence baby’s growth?
15:49  Preparing for the NICU
18:33  What happens when premature babies enter the NICU?
20:15  TPN, breast milk & early feeding
23:02  A mother’s role in the NICU
24:42  Colostrum & establishing breast milk
26:18  Nutrition and breast milk production
28:34  What’s next for Sam?

ABOUT THE GUEST
Sam Smith is a Cape Town-based mum who is currently pregnant with quadruplets. She previously joined Sense by Meg to share her pregnancy journey and returns at 30 weeks to talk honestly about the physical realities of carrying four babies, preparing for the NICU and getting ready for life with four newborns alongside her toddler, Teddy.
Follow Sam Smith on Instagram: @samsmithofcapetown

𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘄Kath Megaw is a paediatric dietitian and a specialist voice in infant nutrition. She is the CEO of Nutripaeds Follow along on Instagram: @nutripaeds

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is the parenting podcast from occupational therapist, parenting expert and Parent Sense founder Meg Faure.
With more than 20 years of experience in occupational therapy and a special focus on infant regulation, sensory processing, attachment and early relationships, Meg brings together leading experts, researchers and parents to explore the science behind raising happy, healthy and resilient children.
The podcast is part of Parent Sense, a science-backed parenting solution designed to help parents understand their children and feel more confident in their parenting journey.
Download the app here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

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What is really happening at six weeks with your baby and what can you expect from this important stage?
In this episode of Sense by Meg Faure, Meg checks in with paediatrician Dr Nellie Balfour as she continues to navigate life with her second baby, Uyakile. At six weeks old, he is already showing some fascinating differences from his older brother, from his temperament and sleep to his social engagement.
Nellie shares what it feels like to be a second-time mum, why she feels more confident this time around and how experience has changed the way she responds to the inevitable challenges of newborn life.
Meg and Nellie explore the six-week developmental window, including early smiles, tummy time and eye contact. They also dive into the fascinating idea of sensory personality, comparing Nellie's firstborn's slow-to-warm-up temperament with her new baby's more settled and potentially social nature.
It's an honest, reassuring snapshot of life with a six-week-old and another beautiful chapter in Nellie's real-time journey through pregnancy, birth and early motherhood.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why being a second-time mum can feel very different from the first time

What babies may be doing developmentally around six weeks

When babies typically begin showing their social smile

Why tummy time, eye contact, head lifting and visual tracking matter

How temperament and sensory personality can begin to emerge

The difference between a slow-to-warm-up baby, a settled baby and a potential social butterfly

What breastfeeding can look like when exclusive breastfeeding isn't possible

The emotional side of breastfeeding and stopping breastfeeding

What happens during a typical six-week paediatric check-up

Why growth curves matter more than focusing on a single weight

How Nellie's experience as both a paediatrician and a mother shapes her parenting journey

CHAPTERS
01:00 Why the second baby feels differentNellie explains why she feels more confident and less anxious this time around.
03:20 The six-week fussiness phase Is Uyakile fussy? Nellie compares his temperament and sleep with her firstborn.
05:50 The six-week smile When does the social smile appear and is that early smile really a smile?
07:15 Tummy time, head control and eye contact The early developmental milestones Uyakile is already showing.
08:00 Two brothers, two very different temperaments Why Nellie thinks one child may be a slow-to-warm-up baby while the other could become a social butterfly.
09:00 Understanding sensory personality Meg explains how sensory sensitivity, fussiness and social engagement can relate to temperament.
13:00 Breastfeeding, formula and mixed feeding Nellie shares honestly about feeding her second baby and managing her milk supply.
15:25 The emotional side of breastfeeding Why stopping breastfeeding can feel like a genuine loss and why the “lasts” of motherhood can be emotional.
21:30 The six-week paediatric check-up What parents can expect from the appointment, including vaccinations, growth, feeding and developmental checks.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Nellie Balfour is a paediatrician and mother of two. She returns to Sense by Meg Faure for the 6-week update, following her earlier appearances during her pregnancy and the unexpected birth.
Follow Dr Nellie Balfour on Instagram

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition, and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.
Meg Faure 
Instagram | LinkedIn | Website
Parent Sense 
Instagram | LinkedIn | Website

What if raising a thriving child isn't about getting parenting right, but about connection?
In this episode Meg Faure speaks to paediatrician and professor of paediatrics at Georgetown University, Dr David Willis, about early relational health. The powerful role that connection, attachment, co-regulation and meaningful moments play in a baby's development.
They also unpack some of the challenges facing modern parents, including the loss of the village, information overload, technology and the pressure to be a “perfect” parent.
Most importantly, Dr David offers a deeply reassuring message to parents who feel they have already made mistakes:
It is never too late to repair.
Relationships are built through thousands of small moments that don't need to be perfect, they simply need to happen.
And when things go wrong, there is always another opportunity to reconnect.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why modern parents may be experiencing more pressure than previous generations
Why parents don't need to constantly “intervene” to support their child's development
Why eye contact, reading, talking, feeding and everyday routines can become powerful moments of connection
Why repair may be more important than perfection
How the loss of the traditional “village” has changed the parenting experience
Why parents should spend less time trying to know everything and more time being with their baby

ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr David W. Willis
Dr David Willis is a paediatrician, developmental-behavioural paediatrician and leading voice in the field of early relational health.
He is a professor of paediatrics and psychiatry at Georgetown University and leads Nurture Connection, an impact network focused on advancing early relational health and strengthening connections between children, families and communities.
Follow Dr David Willis on LinkedIn.

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT & author Meg Faure, each episode brings expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported.
The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website

Parent Sense
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LinkedIn
Website

What if the biggest talent pool businesses are overlooking isn't graduates or overseas recruitment, but working parents?
In this eye-opening episode, Meg Faure sits down with Denise Heavey, founder of Mentorhood Jersey, to unpack the cost of outdated workplace models. From the motherhood penalty and fatherhood forfeit to rebuilding the lost village, this conversation challenges everything we think we know about work, parenting and success.
Meg and Denise discuss why traditional workplace structures no longer serve modern families, how flexible work benefits both employers and employees and why parenting develops some of the strongest leadership skills imaginable.
Whether you're a parent returning to work, an employer building a team or someone passionate about family wellbeing, this episode will change your perspective.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
✔ Why parents are the world's largest hidden workforce
✔ How becoming a parent actually makes you a stronger employee and leader
✔ Why flexible work is about better job design, not lower standards
✔ The importance of rebuilding the "village" for modern parents
✔ Practical first steps for rebuilding confidence before returning to work

ABOUT THE GUEST
Denise Heavey is the founder of Mentorhood Jersey, an organisation dedicated to helping parents successfully return to work while advocating for more family-friendly workplaces.
Denise works with employers, government and community organisations to redesign work around modern family life. Through workshops, career coaching and advocacy,

Follow Denise Heavey on LinkedIn
If you’re in Jersey, join the Mentorhood Support Group on Facebook:

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition and expert advice. Download it here and use code SENSE50 for 50% off.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
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LinkedIn
Website

Parent Sense
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Dr Nellie Balfour is a paediatrician and spent years telling anxious parents their babies were safe in the NICU. But when it was her own son on the monitor, and the numbers she understood too well it was a whole different experience.
On this week's episode of Sense by Meg Faure we welcome back Dr Nellie Balfour to share the birth story of her second son. It's a story about when a paediatrician becomes the patient, and what happens when medical expertise collides with a mother's fear.
Nellie's pregnancy took a sharp turn after week 34. Her baby wasn't growing as expected, and daily monitoring eventually revealed fetal distress. What followed was an emergency caesarean and a birth weight far smaller than anyone had anticipated.
Nellie speaks candidly about what it meant to leave hospital without her baby, and how being a doctor made that harder, not easier. We also unpack the emotional toll of a high-risk delivery and how this experience is reshaping her own bedside manner as a paediatrician.
Nellie shares her experience with the rare honesty of someone who has sat on both sides of the NICU glass.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
What fetal distress actually means and how it's detected on a CTG
Why an umbilical cord around the neck can restrict growth and movement in utero
How compensated preeclampsia can go undetected until late pregnancy
What low platelet counts can signal in newborns, and why they're taken seriously
Why delayed cord clamping and skin-to-skin can still happen after an emergency C-section
What it's really like for a mother to leave hospital without her baby
When the RSV vaccine is offered to newborns and why timing matters
How combining breastfeeding, expressed milk, and formula can support a fragile newborn
ABOUT THE GUEST
Dr Nellie Balfour is a paediatrician and mother of two. She returns to Sense by Meg Faure to share the birth story of her second son, following her earlier appearance during her pregnancy. Her professional experience in the NICU gave her a unique, and at times harder, vantage point on her own son's care.
Follow Dr Nellie Balfour: @drnelliepaeds

ABOUT THE SENSE BY MEG PODCAST
Sense by Meg is a weekly podcast for parents who want evidence-based, compassionate guidance. Hosted by OT, author and parenting expert Meg Faure, each episode brings together expert insight and real-world experience to help parents feel informed and supported. The podcast is proudly associated with Parent Sense, the all-in-one parenting app for routines, sleep, nutrition and expert advice.
Parent Sense App: Your all-in-one baby care app for routines, nutrition and expert advice.

FOLLOW US
Meg Faure
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website

Parent Sense
Instagram
LinkedIn
Website