A Better Start to Motherhood

The seen and unseen side of maternity care - with Kaida Care

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 07:00:00 GMT

So much of maternity care goes into pregnancy and birth, and then most of the attention moves to the baby. In this episode we're joined by Alice and Katie, who are building Kaida Care together, to talk about the seen and unseen sides of that care. Katie has been a physiotherapist in the NHS for 15 years and runs her own pelvic health clinic. She compares the recovery pathway after a hip or knee operation with what most women get after a C-section, and shares her own experience of two C-sections. We explore why antenatal education rarely prepares women for the range of births they might have, what Alice has seen of the confinement month since moving to Singapore, and what continuity of care could look like from pregnancy into the months after.

Chapters

00:00 Trailer
01:24 Welcome Alice and Katie from Kaida Care
05:48 The seen side: hip surgery vs C-section recovery
09:15 Preparing for the 96%: why the gap exists
17:27 Katie's own birth story
22:13 What goes unseen, and reaching mums before birth
27:45 Confinement and postnatal culture in Asia
31:47 Fragmentation and continuity of care
35:42 A better start to motherhood

#MotherhoodClinic #MaternityCare #MaternalHealth #PostnatalRecovery #CSectionRecovery #Postpartum #AntenatalEducation #BirthPreparation #PelvicHealth #WomensHealth #NewMum #ContinuityOfCare #MotherhoodPodcast

What is Success? A discussion on business, entrepreneurship and motherhood - with Ahana Banerjee

The Motherhood Clinic — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 11:30:00 GMT

In this episode, Ahana Banerjee shares her journey as a young entrepreneur, her insights on success, and her proactive approach to planning for motherhood while building a thriving business. We explore the influence of her mother, defining success beyond work, and preparing for the unpreparable in life and parenthood.

Chapters:

01:34 Ahana's entrepreneurial journey and YC experience

04:41 Building a health tech company at 21

07:30 Balancing long-term relationships and career

12:12 Her mother's influence and cultural background

19:26 Redefining success and personal values

Motherhood & Misinformation: Finding Trusted Care - with Hormonally

The Motherhood Clinic — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 12:50:43 GMT

Feeling lost in the noise on women’s health? In this episode, Lauren Redfern (Executive Director & Founder, Hormonally) joins us to unpack how algorithms, culture and community shape what mothers see - and how to get back to trusted care. We cover the rise of misinformation, why the experience of care matters, and practical self-advocacy tools you can use in real appointments.

You’ll learn:

3 quick checks to spot misleading health content
Community vs echo chamber: finding spaces that fit you
“Waiting well” on long referral lists (practical steps)
How partners can support without “fixing”
A simple script for handling pushback in appointments

Find more at: https://hormonally.org/

Postnatal Hypertension (pt1): What It Is and Why It Matters

The Motherhood Clinic — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:19:12 GMT

One in ten pregnant women develops high blood pressure during pregnancy — but what happens after the baby arrives is where the system too often falls short.

In this episode, we explore why postnatal hypertension is one of the most commonly missed windows in maternal care, how it can present silently with no obvious symptoms, and why the grey zone of responsibility after discharge leaves so many women without the support they need. We also talk about what it actually feels like to navigate this as a new mother, and why knowing the signs and advocating for yourself can make a real difference.

Resources mentioned:

Stride BP – Validated blood pressure devices for pregnancy: https://stridebp.org

Action on Preeclampsia – UK charity for preeclampsia and blood pressure in pregnancy: https://action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk

Preeclampsia Foundation – US-based resources and information: https://www.preeclampsia.org
MEGI Health – FemTech startup focused on women's cardiovascular health: https://megihealth.com
FIGO Pregnancy Passport – Tool for tracking pregnancy health information
NHS 10-Year Plan – Healthcare transformation strategy

You Planned the Birth But Not the Return to Work: Maternity Leave (from 0 to 1 Kids)

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 07:30:00 GMT

You planned the birth. You researched the pregnancy. But what about the bit after?

We talk with Alexa Starks, founder of Executive Moms, about what it really takes to return to work after your first baby. Alexa shares her own story of going into spontaneous labour with no handoff plan, coming back to a manager who said nothing, and figuring out the hard way that maternity leave is something you can actually plan for.

We get into why most first-time mums don't prepare for the return, how to advocate for what you need at work when you're sleep-deprived and postpartum, and the identity shift that quietly starts when you become a mother.

Why the Second Baby Changes You More Than You Think

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 07:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we welcome back Alexa Starks for the second part of our conversation about returning to work after maternity leave. Last time we talked about the leap from zero to one - this time we get into the shift from one to two kids, which Alexa describes as the harder transition by far.

We explore what happens to your identity when you go from "me with a baby" to full parenting mode, why the mental load doesn't just double but multiplies, and what it actually looks like to grieve the freedoms you've lost while finding ways to evolve into the version of yourself that fits today. Alexa shares what helped her - from an honest conversation with her husband to protecting just one hour a week for herself - and why rushing to figure it all out at three months postpartum is a trap.

What to Expect When You're Expecting - with Namrata Rastogi

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:18:00 GMT

In this conversation, Namrata Rastogi, a GP and Chief Medical Officer at 101 Gen AI, shares her insights on the journey of motherhood, focusing on what expectant mothers should know before, during, and after pregnancy. She discusses the importance of prenatal vitamins, tracking ovulation, and mental health, as well as the challenges faced during early pregnancy and the postpartum period. The conversation emphasises the need for education, support networks, and self-care for new mothers.Key takeouts:

It's crucial to take prenatal vitamins like folic acid and vitamin D before conception.
Tracking ovulation can significantly improve chances of conception.
Expectant mothers often feel isolated during early pregnancy due to limited appointments.
Breastfeeding can be challenging; preparation and support are essential.
Postpartum depression is common and should be addressed with healthcare providers.
Expectations around childbirth can be unpredictable; flexibility is key.
Planning for maternity leave and childcare is essential for new parents.

Navigating Your Career Journey as a Working Parent

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 15 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Susie Powis, founder of HiHo Coaching, and move from recognition into action. We explore Susie's three-pillar framework; Return, Navigate, Accelerate - and what practical steps look like at each stage.

We talk about how to identify your values as the person you are today, how to avoid knee-jerk career moves that close off future options, and how to position yourself for growth without losing sight of family life. Susie also shares her own experience of leaving corporate life, moving through a startup that wasn't quite right, and eventually building HiHo - the hardest year and a half of her life, and the most purposeful.

Dealing With Birth Trauma: How to Recognise It, Navigate the System, and Start to Heal

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Dr. Emma Thornton - doctor, former obstetrician, GP specialising in women's health, and founder of Cocoon - and move from understanding birth trauma into what you can actually do about it.

We cover how to recognise the signs in yourself or someone you care for, when to seek help and what that looks like, and how to make the most of the support that's already available through the NHS. Emma also introduces Cocoon - a digitally delivered, clinically guided platform built to give women access to birth trauma support on their own terms and in their own time. This is part two of two - part one covers what birth trauma is and why it matters.

Gestational Diabetes: The Condition Affecting 1/4 Pregnancies That's Still Widely Misunderstood

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Gestational diabetes affects around one in four pregnancies globally - yet it's one of the most under-discussed conditions in women's health.

Many women receive a diagnosis with little context for what it actually means, not just for their pregnancy, but for the next decade of their health. In this episode, we're joined by Dr Fareeha Rizvi - consultant diabetologist, endocrinologist, and a widely recognised authority in diabetes care - alongside Dr Fiona, consultant obstetrician leading diabetes and pregnancy care in East London.

Together, we explore what gestational diabetes really signals, why its long-term risks are so routinely underestimated, and what the window around pregnancy makes possible if it's taken seriously. We get into what diet and lifestyle changes can realistically achieve, when medication becomes the right conversation, how clinicians tailor care to the individual woman in front of them, and what postnatal follow-up should - but often doesn't - look like.

The Cost of Screen Time on Our Kids: Building a Healthy Relationship With Screens

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Hannah Hagon, founder and author of Unplugged Tots, to talk about something every parent is navigating — screen time. We explore what screen use is actually displacing in our children's development, why not all screen time is the same, and how the real goal isn't banning screens but building an intentional relationship with them. Hannah shares the stats, the research, and the story of how a Raspberry Pi festival with her two- and four-year-old daughters led to a book that's changing how families think about play, tech and childhood.

What to Do Instead of Screens: Building Independent Kids Through Play

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 01 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Hannah Hagon from Unplugged Tots - moving from the problem with screens to what we actually do about it.

We get into the practical side: how everyday activities like sorting washing and building patterns with Lego can become genuine learning moments, why your child's boredom isn't yours to fix, and how screen-free play needs to compete with the dopamine hit that screens deliver.

Hannah shares examples from her book and her own family, and we talk about the parental effort it takes upfront to build kids who can entertain themselves - and why that investment compounds over time.

Understanding Birth Trauma: What It Is, Why It Happens, and Why It Matters

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 29 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emma Thornton - doctor, former obstetrician and GP with a specialism in women's health, and founder of Cocoon - to build a clear picture of birth trauma: what it is, how it shows up, and why it matters.

We cover the definition, the prevalence, the signs and symptoms, and the wider spectrum of perinatal trauma that often goes unacknowledged. We talk about what actually causes trauma - and why feeling unheard or uninformed during birth is often more damaging than the medical events themselves. We also get into the state of birth debriefs, the gaps in postnatal care, and why addressing birth trauma early rather than pushing through is so important for long-term health. This is part one of two - next episode, we look at what you can actually do about it.

Is it NORMAL to feel this way? Why Struggling in Early Parenthood Isn't a Failing

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 26 Jun 2026 06:30:00 GMT

In this first of two conversations with Vanessa Rio, founder of Mothering Minds, we discuss the question every new parent asks themselves: is this normal? We talk about the blind spot in how we prepare for parenthood - planning for the birth but not for the way it reshapes us emotionally; why so many parents only reach for help once they're already at breaking point; the difference between "therapy" and simply "support"; and why feeling like you're failing is so often a sign of a system that leaves parents isolated, not a personal shortcoming.

Resources mentioned
Mothering Minds - perinatal mental health platform offering one-to-one and couples therapy: https://www.motheringminds.com

#PerinatalMentalHealth #MaternalMentalHealth #PostnatalSupport #Matrescence #NewMum #Motherhood #ParentingSupport #PerinatalSupport #MentalHealthMatters #FourthTrimester

Mental Health Support: Getting the Help You Need Before You Need It

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 03 Jul 2026 06:30:00 GMT

In this second conversation with Vanessa Rio, co-founder of Mothering Minds, we move from "is this normal?" to something more practical: how do you actually get help, and why is it worth doing before you reach crisis point?

We talk about the early signs worth paying attention to and why so many parents wait until they're redlining, what the system in England realistically offers and where people fall through the cracks, how to describe what you're going through clearly enough to actually be heard, and why support for couples - not just mothers - can change everything at home.

A grounded, honest look at getting help early, and why that's a strength rather than a failure.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Seeking Support09:05 Understanding the Current Support System16:28 Exploring Mothering Minds and Its Offerings24:34 Envisioning a Better Start to Motherhood

Resources mentioned

Mothering Minds - https://motheringminds.ukMothering Minds enquiries - hi@motheringminds.ukMatrescence by Lucy JonesGAD-7 anxiety questionnaire

#MaternalMentalHealth #PostnatalDepression #PerinatalMentalHealth #Matrescence #PostnatalSupport #NewParents #Motherhood #CouplesTherapy #MentalHealthSupport #MotherhoodUnfiltered

Dealing with Pregnancy loss: Closing the Acuity Gap

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 06:30:00 GMT

In part one we looked at why pregnancy loss falls through the gap: medically low priority, personally enormous. In this conversation with Melissa from Sibyl, we look at what can actually be done about it, at three levels.

We talk about what an individual can do in the days after a loss, why so few products are built for an experience that affects up to one in four pregnancies, and what partners and friends can offer that genuinely helps.

We also get into what a better system would look like: research that gives people real answers instead of "nature taking its course", and closing the digital black hole where women delete their pregnancy app and find nothing waiting for them until they download it again.

Timestamps

01:55 Understanding the Acuity Gap in Maternal Health15:53 Building Community Support for Mothers25:01 Envisioning a Better Future in Maternal Healthcare

Find your fit: Postnatal exercise that works for you

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 09:21:37 GMT

New mums don’t need a “bounce back” plan. You need something kind, doable, and honest. In this episode, we sit down with women’s strength coach Nancy Best (Ladies Who Crunch) to map four common postnatal profiles - anxious, high-performing, overwhelmed, and nature-led - and match each with realistic ways to move. From breathwork and walking clubs to short strength sessions with compound movements, we explore how to build consistency without burnout.

You’ll learn:

Why “more cortisol” isn’t always better - and when calm movement helps

The 10–20 minute approach to strength that actually sticks
How community and accountability beat perfectionism
Why building muscle now supports long-term bone health
How to negotiate time, permission, and support at home

The Value of Community for New Mothers

The Motherhood Clinic — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 09:12:00 GMT

In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Frank discusses the importance of community for new mothers, exploring the unique needs and experiences that shape their journey.

She highlights the value of both digital and physical communities, the role of experts, and the cultural perspectives that influence motherhood.

The discussion also delves into the challenges of navigating community dynamics, the significance of mental health, and the future of community engagement in motherhood.

Takeaways:

Community is unique to each individual, especially for mothers.
Digital communities fill the gaps left by traditional support systems.
Mothers often seek reassurance and connection through community.
Cultural perspectives shape the way communities are formed and utilized.
The role of experts in communities can provide valuable support.
Navigating community dynamics requires understanding personal needs.
Finding the right community can take time and patience.
The hybrid of digital and physical communities is essential for support.
Mental health discussions are crucial in postpartum care.
Future communities will likely focus on niche concerns and maintaining human connection.

Don't Be An Athena (2/3): The Societal Impact of Judgement and Stereotypes

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we explore societal influences on individual and community judgment, healthcare disparities, and the importance of awareness and empowerment in overcoming systemic challenges.

Guest Kayla Branstetter shares insights from her work and personal journey, emphasising the need for cultural understanding and systemic change.

Finding Resilience and Hope in the Face of Adversity: Dale Atkinson's Story

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Dale Atkinson - former finance professional, cancer patient, writer, and founder - to talk about resilience and hope in the face of extraordinary adversity. In the space of a few weeks in late 2024, Dale received a terminal stage four cancer diagnosis, lost his mother, and found himself holding his family together while his partner recovered from her own cancer surgery. We talk about what it actually feels like to be in that place, how Dale found the motivation to push through it, and the remarkable journey that followed - from researching thousands of medical papers to building his own complementary protocol alongside standard care. We also talk about family, about how to have honest conversations with very young children about serious illness.

Dale's story is not a motherhood story. But it speaks directly to something we believe at The Motherhood Clinic: that motherhood doesn't happen in isolation. The health and wellbeing of any family member - mothers, fathers, parents, children - all of it lands on the family unit. The themes running through Dale's story - being thrown into something you couldn't prepare for, holding yourself together so you can hold everyone else together, and finding hope when the road ahead is uncertain - will feel deeply familiar to anyone navigating a hard season of family life.

Breaking the Silence on Postnatal Depression

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 07:56:09 GMT

Before we begin, a gentle note: this episode touches on postnatal mental health, including depression and loss. Please take care while listening, and reach out for support if you need it.

Postnatal depression and other perinatal mental health conditions affect far more families than we often talk about — across cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. In this episode, we’re joined by Hamish Magoffin, founder of the PAM Foundation, to explore why these issues remain so difficult to speak about and what can be done to change that.

We unpack the stigma, the spectrum of experiences beyond the “baby blues,” and why support for both mothers and partners is essential. Drawing on personal experience and his work across the UK, Thailand, and the US, Hamish shares thoughtful insights into how awareness, care, and research can create a better start to parenthood — for everyone involved.

Whether you’re a new parent, supporting one, or simply want to understand this space better, this is a conversation for you.

00:00 Trailer

01:24 Introduction: Hamish and PAM Foundation

05:29 Pillar 1: Awareness and Education

12:47 Signs to seek help

18:14 The value of dealing with trauma - even years later

19:49 Initiatives to Raise Awareness

22:43 Cultural Differences to PPD: Thai, UK, US

28:11 Learning to Talk about Our Struggles

33:03 Pillar 2: Care

37:37 The Role of Carers

41:30 Pillar 3: Research

Resources mentioned in this episode:

PAM Foundation (Pranaiya & Arthur Magoffin Foundation): ⁠https://pamfoundation.org⁠
Maternal Mental Health Alliance (UK): https://maternalmentalhealthalliance.org/
Postpartum Support International (Global / US-based): https://postpartum.net/
NHS: Symptoms of Postnatal Depression: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/post-natal-depression/symptoms/

What Is Chinese Confinement? Exploring a Centuries-Old Approach to Postnatal Care

The Motherhood Clinic — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:37:21 GMT

Chinese postnatal confinement is a 4–6 week tradition centred on rest, community support, and warming foods. It’s a practice that has existed for hundreds of years across East and Southeast Asia - but one that many people in the UK may never have heard of.

In this episode, we speak to a good friend and confinement cook Lucy Lam, who grew up seeing confinement as an old-fashioned idea… until she tried it after the birth of her second child. Lucy shares what the practice looked like for her, why she decided to give it a go, and how her own recovery felt the second time around.

This conversation isn’t medical advice or a recommendation - it’s an exploration of a cultural tradition that places the mother at the centre of care. We discuss:

what confinement is (and what it isn’t)
why so many mothers in the UK describe feeling unsupported after birth
Lucy’s personal recovery experiences across her first and second births
how parents adapt confinement today in a modern UK setting
why women from many backgrounds are curious about traditions that prioritise rest and community care

Every postnatal journey is unique. Our aim is to open up honest conversations about what different cultures do to support mothers - and what we can learn from them.

#ChineseConfinement #PostnatalCare #PostpartumCare #AfterBirth #MotherhoodJourney

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Confinement: Definition and Cultural Significance

01:25 The Role of Family in Confinement Practices

02:42 Modern Challenges: Confinement in the UK

05:07 Practical Solutions: Hiring Doulas and Meal Services

07:13 Benefits of Confinement: Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

15:03 The Importance of Confinement for Long-Term Health

17:28 Personal Journey: From Skeptic to Believer

27:26 Transforming Experience into a Business

34:31 Connecting with the Community and Future Plans

🔗 Resources & Links in This Episode:

Lucy’s recipes and blog: www.lucylovesto eat.com

The State of UK Postnatal Care Today

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 22 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Susie Crowe - consultant obstetrician and one of the most senior voices in UK maternity care - to take an honest look at postnatal care as it stands today.

We cover what postnatal care actually includes, why the quality and depth of that care varies so significantly depending on where you live, and what needs to change.

We talk about birth debriefs, maternal mental health, pelvic health, physical recovery, and the case for trauma-informed care. Susie also shares what she believes every woman should feel entitled to ask for - and why self-care in the postnatal period isn't selfish, it's essential.

Returning Well (2/2): Practical Strategies for Going Back to Work After Maternity

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Kirstie Sneyd — organisational psychologist, return-to-work specialist, and author of Returning Well — and move from challenges to strategies.

We cover how to identify which challenges matter most for you, the practical and emotional tools available before and after returning to work, and two of Kirstie's key frameworks: the three Fs (finance, fulfilment and flexibility) for thinking through how you go back, and the three Cs (cover, communications and career) for what to sort before you leave.

We also get into boundary-setting — what it looks like in practice, why it reduces guilt, and how to have those conversations with your workplace.

Practicing postnatal confinement - foods, dishes & practices

The Motherhood Clinic — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 07:25:19 GMT

Postnatal recovery looks very different around the world.In many cultures, food isn’t just nourishment, it’s part of healing.

In Part 2 of our conversation with Lucy Lam, we explore Chinese confinement foods and the principles behind them; from “hot vs cold” to why recovery is often split into two distinct phases after birth. Lucy shares how these traditions show up across Asia, and what it looks like to adapt them to modern life in the UK.

We explore:

How confinement foods are designed to support recovery, digestion, and replenishment
The “hot, cold, and neutral” food framework — and how to interpret it practically
What postnatal care looks like in places like Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore
Why rigid rules don’t always help — and how Lucy adapted confinement to protect her mental health
Realistic ways to take the principles of confinement and make them work at home

This episode isn’t about following tradition perfectly.It’s about asking what new mothers need after birth - and what we might learn from cultures that take recovery more seriously.🎧 Listen to The Motherhood Clinic Podcast — real, honest conversations about postnatal care, recovery, and support.

Chapters:

00:00 Episode trailer

01:10 Confinement across different cultures

06:45 Hot vs cold foods — what it actually means

14:30 The two phases of confinement eating

22:10 Signature dishes and common misconceptions

31:40 Adapting confinement for real life (and mental health)

44:10 Making postnatal recovery more intentional

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.lucylovestoeat.com

Feeding your baby: what to expect in pregnancy and the first two weeks

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Breastfeeding gets framed like something you should just instinctively know how to do. The reality? Most new parents are underprepared, overwhelmed, and left trying to decode latching, pain, milk supply, pumping, bottles, and whether they’re "doing it right" in the middle of total postpartum chaos.Andrea Ippolito, founder and CEO of SimpliFed, shares the hard-earned lessons she learned across three very different feeding journeys - and the clinical, practical support that can change everything when you’re in the thick of it.You’ll discover:- Why milk often takes 2 to 5 days to come in, and why this is more than most people realise- What to do if breastfeeding is painfully toe-curling- Why feeding rhythms are different for every baby, and why trying to force a rigid schedule can backfire- How to create a real back-to-work feeding plan weeks in advance- What "control, choice, and grace" actually look like when your plans changeWe also break down the emotional side of feeding that rarely gets spoken about: the feeling of failure when expectations and reality collide, the pressure to suffer in silence, and the relief that comes from knowing you are not trapped by one perfect path. Andrea explains why inclusive lactation support matters, how prenatal consultations can set you up for success, and why getting help early can make breastfeeding last longer and feel more manageable.This conversation is especially valuable if you’re pregnant, in the first few postpartum weeks, preparing to return to work, or supporting someone who is. If you want realistic guidance instead of social-media fantasy, this episode gives you exactly that.Andrea also shares how SimpliFed supports families from pregnancy through postpartum with virtual breastfeeding and baby-feeding care. Essential listening if you want to feel more prepared, less reactive, and far less alone.

Rethinking Obesity: What Every Woman Should Know Before, During and After Pregnancy

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Dr Fareeha Rizvi, an endocrinologist and obesity specialist, alongside obstetrician Dr Fiona, to explore what modern medicine now understands about obesity - and why so much of what we've been told needs revisiting.

We explore why obesity is a chronic disease and not a character flaw, what the latest GLP-1 medications can and can't do, how to think about weight before and after pregnancy, and why sleep, nutrition, and resistance training are just as much part of the picture as any injection.

Self-Advocacy in Motherhood: How to Speak Up and Get the Care You Deserve

The Motherhood Clinic — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 10:06:32 GMT

🎙️ Episode 1: Learning to Self-Advocate

In our first ever episode of The Motherhood Clinic podcast, we speak with Charlotte Brown - brand strategist, startup founder, and mum of two - about what it really takes to find your voice in early Motherhood.

She shares her experience of navigating a difficult first pregnancy, including a late diagnosis of hyperemesis and the internal struggle to speak up when things didn’t feel right.

We talk about:

How easy it is to downplay your symptoms - and why that matters
The quiet pressure to be fine, even when you’re not
What self-advocacy looks like in real life - and how to build that skill
The slow work of rediscovering your identity after birth
How writing and movement helped her take ownership of her story

This conversation is about what happens when you stop minimising what you’re going through - and start backing yourself instead.

What’s the Matter With You - or What Matters to You? Rethinking Health Through Social Prescribing

The Motherhood Clinic — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 15:56:32 GMT

What if health isn’t just about medicine, but also about connection?

In this episode, pharmacist and NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Arun Nadarasa joins us to talk about social prescribing — an approach that shifts healthcare from treating symptoms to understanding the person behind them.

We explore how loneliness, isolation and lack of support can shape postnatal health, and why connection, movement, and community are sometimes the most powerful prescriptions of all.

You’ll hear about:

The difference between “what’s the matter with you” and “what matters to you”
How social prescribing works — and how to access it through the NHS
Real stories showing the power of non-medical care
How digital tools, AI and even the metaverse could help build connection in the future

A grounded, hopeful conversation about re-humanising healthcare — and what a better start to motherhood could look like.

🎧 The Motherhood Clinic Podcast — honest conversations about postnatal care, connection, and recovery.

#MaternalHealth #PostnatalCare #SocialPrescribing #WomensHealth #MentalHealth #MotherhoodClinicPodcast

Returning Well (1/2): Understanding the Real Challenges of Coming Back to Work After Maternity Leave

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 12 Jun 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Kirstie Sneyd - organisational psychologist, return-to-work specialist, and author of Returning Well - to map out the challenges that come with going back to work after maternity leave.

We explore her research-backed framework across three areas: being out of the loop, managing a dual role, and navigating culture and norms.

Kirstie draws on her coaching work, her academic research, and her knowledge of the psychological dynamics at play - covering everything from lost confidence and missed career opportunities, to identity shifts, guilt, and the compare-and-despair trap. This is the first of two conversations; the second focuses on practical strategies for each challenge.

Why Group Therapy Works Better Than We Think - and Why Women Aren't Getting It

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:59:49 GMT

In this episode, we talk with Claudia Radu, founder of Circe, the first digital platform connecting women to online group therapy. With an estimated 1 million women on NHS waitlists and wait times stretching up to 18 months, accessible mental health support has never been more urgent – especially for new mothers navigating isolation, hormonal shifts, and the weight of unmet expectations. We explore why group therapy is not only more affordable but often more effective than one-to-one support, how being there for others helps us heal ourselves, and why rebuilding community might be the missing piece in postnatal mental health care. Claudia also shares her personal journey through anxiety and OCD, what it means to build as a non-clinical founder, and why loneliness is as harmful to our health as smoking.

Resources mentioned

Circe: https://hello-circe.com
Circe on Instagram: @hello.circe
Harvard Study on Adult Development (social connection and health): https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org

The State of Women's Health and FemTech Today

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 08 Aug 2025 14:15:48 GMT

Women’s health is not a niche - it’s 51% of the population’s health.In this episode, we speak with Jess Somauroo, co-founder of SomX, about the state of the HealthTech industry and why Women’s Health is still not being treated as a priority; by innovators, investors, and policymakers.

Jess shares her unique perspective on the state of HealthTech today - leading communications for some of the most innovative companies in healthcare and co-hosting the HealthTech Pigeon podcast.

We discuss:

The boom and correction in HealthTech after COVID
Healthcare Innovation - the conditions for it to happen and thrive
The ripple effect of women’s health on families and communities
The systemic and intersectional barriers holding back women’s health
How policy, investment, and trust all shape the future of care

Whether you’re in healthcare, technology, or simply care about the future of women’s health, this conversation offers a grounded, human look at what needs to change - and where hope lies.

🎧 Listen now to understand why improving women’s health is key to improving health for everyone.

Dealing with your Inner Critic (part 1)

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 08:00:00 GMT

In this first of two conversations with Kathryn Lovewell, self-compassion coach and founder of the Kind Mind Academy, we explore the inner critic — that background voice so many of us have learned to tune out, or worse, accept as truth.

This episode is about awareness: understanding what that voice is, where it comes from, and why it tends to get louder in motherhood. We get into why trying to silence it may be the wrong approach entirely, the difference between constructive self-criticism and the kind that quietly erodes us, and what the science actually says about how we motivate ourselves best.

In part two, Kathryn returns with practical tools and everyday techniques for responding to that voice differently - and building a more self-compassionate inner world.

Resources:

Kathryn Lovewell – Kind Mind Academy: www.kindmindacademy.com

The Voices in My Head – Kathryn Lovewell (children's book)

What happens when your Career meets Motherhood?

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 08 May 2026 06:30:00 GMT

In this episode, we sit down with Susie Powis, founder of HiHo Coaching, to explore what happens when your career journey collides with your motherhood journey. We talk about the identity shifts that come with becoming a parent, why mothers can find the early months particularly destabilising, and how the things that feel like setbacks - the lost confidence, the changed priorities, the daily unpredictability of life with a baby - are quietly building something new.

Susie draws on 20 years in corporate leadership, her own difficult return to work after her second child, and her experience coaching parents back into their careers to help us understand why this moment deserves more recognition than it usually gets. This is part one of two - next episode, we get into what to do about it.

Parenting on Purpose: Why Your Child’s Emotions Trigger You

The Motherhood Clinic — Sat, 03 Jan 2026 11:30:22 GMT

Parenting isn’t just about raising children - it’s also about coming face to face with yourself.

In this episode of The Motherhood Clinic Podcast, parenting coach Shilpa joins us for an honest, thoughtful conversation about emotional triggers, boundaries, and what it really means to parent with intention.

We explore how children’s big emotions can surface unresolved feelings in parents, why modern parenting feels uniquely challenging, and how awareness - not perfection - is often the missing piece.

This isn’t about blame or “doing it right”. It’s about understanding what’s happening beneath the surface, for both you and your child.

We explore:

Why children’s emotions feel so triggering to parents
How emotional awareness changes the way we parent
The idea of “growing together” rather than fixing behaviour
Boundaries, discipline, and responsibility - without shame
How parents can stay centred in emotionally charged moments

Parenting on purpose doesn’t mean getting it right every time.
It means noticing what’s happening, learning from it, and adjusting as you go.

Feeding your Baby - The Fourth Trimester & Going Back to Work

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:20:26 GMT

In this second conversation with Andrea Ippolito, founder of SimpliFed, we pick up where feeding gets less acute and more logistical: the fourth trimester, and the return to work. Andrea talks about the confidence that only arrived by her third baby, why she rehearses the first day back at work weeks in advance rather than the night before, what she wishes she had known about bottles and pumps before she needed them, and the line she keeps coming back to - there are things you can control, and a much bigger pile that you can't. We also sit with the tension in all of this: how to plan enough to feel steady, without turning early motherhood into a checklist you can fail at.

Dealing with your Inner Critic (part 2/2)

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:50:46 GMT

In this second conversation with Kathryn Lovewell, we get practical. Having explored the inner critic in our first episode, we turn to what it actually looks like to respond to yourself with kindness - not as a concept, but as a daily practice.

We explore why self-compassion isn't self-indulgence but a genuine shift in how your mind and body function, why isolation quietly amplifies the critical voice, and how the pressure to look like you're coping - from social media, from visitors, from the health visitor's form - makes it harder to ask for the help you actually need.

Kathryn also walks us through the Three-Step Booster Break: a simple, repeatable practice you can do in seconds, wherever you are.

Postnatal Care - a window into a woman's future health. With Professor Liona Poon

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this episode we sit down with Professor Liona Poon, one of the world's leading researchers in maternal and fetal medicine, to ask a deceptively simple question: why does postnatal care matter, and why is it so easily overlooked? We talk about pregnancy as a stress test on the body, like running a marathon every day for nine months, and how complications such as preeclampsia can act as a window into a woman's long-term health.

We explore why the mother so often comes last, behind the baby, the family and her own expectation to simply cope, and we look at Liona's research showing that a woman's heart can still be recovering a full year after birth, long after the six-week check has declared her well.

We also discuss what a genuine shift in postnatal care could look like, and the small, practical changes that might protect women's hearts for decades to come.

The FIGO Pregnancy Passport - a tool to manage health risks following pregnancy complications

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 06:00:00 GMT

In this follow-up conversation with Professor Liona Poon, we move from problem to solution: the FIGO Pregnancy Passport - a simple tool she co-authored for women and their healthcare providers on health risks following pregnancy complications. We talk about why written information matters so much in those overwhelming early days, when a new mother is unlikely to retain much of what she's told, and how the act of filling in the passport herself becomes a quiet form of empowerment. We explore what the passport actually asks women to track, from blood pressure to weight to the milestones that coincide with their baby's check-ups, and why sustained breastfeeding carries real benefits for the mother and not only the baby. We also look ahead to Liona's hopes for holistic, multidisciplinary postnatal care and a digital passport that connects with everyday health tools.

Don't Be an Athena (1/3): How Judgement Shapes a Woman's Life

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Content note: This episode discusses abuse, infertility and postnatal depression. If you're affected, support is available.

In this first of three conversations with author, TED speaker and professor Kayla Branstetter, we explore the ideas behind her book Don't Be an Athena. We talk about why women face judgment no matter which path they take, how the myth of Medusa and Athena still plays out in everyday life, what it means to reclaim the power of choice when others weigh in on your body and your decisions, and how visibility and storytelling can break cycles that pass from one generation to the next.

Pregnancy After Loss - trying to conceive, loss, and the long road to Motherhood

The Motherhood Clinic — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:18:21 GMT

Pregnancy after loss doesn’t end when the baby arrives.For many women, that’s when the emotional weight finally surfaces.

In this episode writer and advocate Seetal Savla shares her full journey through miscarriage, IVF, donor conception, pregnancy after loss, and early motherhood - including the parts that are rarely spoken about.

We explore:

Pregnancy after loss - anxiety, fear, and living with constant uncertainty
IVF and fertility treatment - why it often feels overwhelming and isolating
Community and support - what actually helps, and what unintentionally hurts
Parenting after loss - gratitude pressure, postnatal struggles, and matrescence
Fertility and miscarriage at work - culture, disclosure, and psychological safety

Resources mentioned

Big Fat Negative: https://www.bigfatnegative.com
Happy Mum Happy Baby: https://happymumhappybaby.com
Fertility Matters at Work: https://fertilitymattersatwork.com/
Seetal Savla (Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/seetalsavla/
Seetal (LinkTree): https://linktr.ee/seetalsavla

Timestamps:

00:00 – Trailer: “I was expected to be strongest when I felt weakest”
01:05 – Intro: Seetal Savla and why this conversation matters
01:57 – Seetal’s story begins: first pregnancy and early loss
03:28 – IVF, NHS funding, private treatment and repeated failures
04:52 – Donor conception decisions and COVID uncertainty
05:46 – Miscarriage after donor IVF and navigating care abroad
06:43 – Pregnancy after loss: fear, secrecy and anxiety
07:50 – Parenting after loss and reproductive trauma resurfacing
09:03 – Navigating fertility treatment without guidance or support
11:49 – Finding community: Instagram and TTC spaces
13:52 – Family, culture and the limits of well-meaning support
16:19 – Gratitude pressure after birth and postnatal reality
18:24 – Sleeplessness, breastfeeding struggles and identity shift
19:33 – What actually helped during the darkest moments
20:28 – Why birth isn’t the finish line - it’s the start
22:09 – Matrescence, grief and mourning your old self
23:54 – Postnatal support, doulas and cultural care models
25:51 – How to support someone well (and what not to say)
34:26 – Fertility, miscarriage and the workplace
39:57 – Why workplace culture matters more than policies
41:35 – Are employers improving support for fertility and loss?
45:47 – Turning pain into purpose through sharing
49:04 – “Rainbow baby” and the complexity of hope narratives
51:25 – What a better start to motherhood really means
54:34 – Practical postnatal support and realistic preparation
54:58 – Where to find Seetal and her work
58:05 – Closing reflections

Lessons in Motherhood: Acceptance & Surrendering

The Motherhood Clinic — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 15:58:33 GMT

Motherhood has a way of showing you what you can - and can’t - control.In this episode, we sit down with Jess Somauroo – founder, healthtech leader, and new mum – for an honest conversation about surrender, acceptance, and the reality of balancing business and baby.Jess opens up about:- Why surrender was the biggest lesson she’s learned as a new mother- The tension between control, perfectionism, and letting go- How she navigated pregnancy, an elective C-section, and recovery- Returning to work – and how to manage as a business owner and entrepreneur- The guilt of balancing family, work, and personal identityThis conversation explores both the systemic barriers in women’s health and the very personal journey of early motherhood – reminding us that while every mother’s story is unique, the struggles of letting go and finding balance are universal.

Debunking Postnatal Fitness Myths

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 09:23:32 GMT

In this conversation, Nancy Best - founder of female fitness community Ladies Who Crunch - discusses the importance of exercise for new mothers, addressing common myths and misconceptions surrounding postnatal fitness. The podcast emphasises the holistic benefits of exercise beyond aesthetics, the challenges new mothers face in returning to fitness, and practical advice for navigating their journey. The conversation aims to inspire and empower women to prioritise their health and well-being during the transformative period of motherhood.**Takeaways**- Exercise is crucial for emotional regulation and resilience in new mothers.- Women often face societal pressure regarding their post-baby bodies.- The fitness industry can be cliquey and intimidating for new mothers.- Exercise should be viewed as a gift to oneself, not a chore.- Breastfeeding does not guarantee weight loss; nutrition is key.- The six-week postpartum check is not a definitive guide for returning to exercise.- Pelvic floor recovery is essential postpartum.- Listening to your body is vital for safe exercise practices.- Finding enjoyable forms of movement is important for consistency.- Time and patience are necessary for postpartum recovery.

Pregnancy loss: when you're not medically sick, but still hurt - and in need of care

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Pregnancy loss sits in an awkward place. Medically it is usually low priority: predictable, rarely dangerous, often resolved with minimal intervention. Personally it can shape someone's mental health, work and relationships for years. In this conversation with Melissa Kaufman-Gomez, founder of Sibyl, we look at that mismatch and what it costs. We talk about what happens when a woman arrives at A&E during a loss and is triaged near the bottom of the list, why the quality of care in that hour is so closely tied to the mental health that follows it, why UK and Dutch guidance still asks women to go through three losses before basic testing is offered, and what changes when a generation starts telling these stories openly instead of privately. Melissa also shares her own experience of two missed miscarriages and a termination for medical reasons, and what she wishes someone had said to her at the time. This is part one, on the problem. Part two looks at what can be done about it.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction to the Acuity Gap00:43 Understanding Pregnancy Loss and Its Impact03:47 The Medical System's Response to Pregnancy Loss10:26 Navigating the System: Challenges and Solutions18:03 Cultural Perspectives on Pregnancy Loss21:39 Empowering Mothers: Key Takeaways and Support

Breaking the Cycle of Generational Trauma (Don't be an Athena, Episode 3 of 3)

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Breaking generational trauma is messy, painful, and possible. Kayla Branstetter shares the real stories behind Don't Be an Athena and the turning points that helped women stop passing wounds forward - from teen pregnancy and poverty to grief, infertility, and the pressure to live by someone else’s script.This conversation goes beyond inspiration and gets practical about what it actually takes to change a family pattern. Kayla and Patrick unpack how shame becomes a cycle, why resilience is rarely a personality trait at the start, and how awareness can become the first real act of freedom.You’ll discover:- Why Kayla’s mother Tammy became the blueprint for breaking the cycle after teen pregnancy and relentless judgment- How Toni, an Indigenous woman from the Navajo Nation, survived abuse, poverty, abandonment, and still chose a different path- Why Audrey’s story shows that generational trauma isn’t only about abuse - it can also be about rewriting the rules society hands you- What it really looks like to let go of anger, reclaim agency, and make a conscious decision that “it stops here”- How parents accidentally pass on fear, overprotection, and imbalance - even when they’re trying to do everything rightEssential listening for parents, mothers, and anyone trying to break a cycle before it reaches the next generation.

Postpartum Recovery: Preparing for the Things No One Talks About | Hilary Metcalfe

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 06:00:35 GMT

Postpartum Recovery: Preparing for the Part No One Talks About | Hilary MetcalfeMost parents prepare carefully for birth, but far fewer prepare for the weeks and months that follow.In this episode, Hilary Metcalfe, co-founder of The Sabi, shares how her first postpartum experience changed the way she approached her second. We discuss recovery, sleep, hormones, practical support, the loss of the village, and why self-care after birth is essential maintenance, not a luxury.Hilary also explains how her own experience with adenomyosis and hormonal migraines led her to explore holistic health, herbalism, and the creation of The Sabi.In this episode:- Why postpartum deserves more preparation- How Hilary’s first and second experiences differed- Building practical support before the baby arrives- Sleep, hormones, stress, and recovery- Why honest conversations about motherhood matterChapters00:00 – Introduction and Hilary’s story06:30 – From hormonal health struggles to The Sabi15:05 – Why postpartum is uniquely challenging23:08 – What changed between Hilary’s first and second babies45:26 – Sleep, self-care, and protecting maternal wellbeingFind Hilary and The Sabi at thesabi.co and @thesabi.co.This episode is for education and conversation - not medical advice. Speak with a qualified healthcare professional about your individual health and postpartum needs.

Postnatal Hypertension (pt2): What You Can Do About It

The Motherhood Clinic — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 11:27:22 GMT

Once you know the risk, what do you actually do with that information? In this episode, we get into the practical side of managing blood pressure after birth — from how often to monitor, which devices to trust, and what the numbers mean, to the limits of wearables and where the science is heading.

We also explore why cardiovascular disease remains the number one killer of women worldwide, how systemic bias in medical research has shaped the care women receive, and what a more connected, personalised postnatal system could look like. We close with something more personal — what a better start to motherhood actually feels like, in the words of two clinicians who've been through it themselves.

Resources mentioned

Stride BP – Validated blood pressure devices for pregnancy: https://stridebp.org
Action on Preeclampsia – UK charity for preeclampsia and blood pressure in pregnancy: https://action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk
Preeclampsia Foundation – US-based resources and information: https://www.preeclampsia.org
MEGI Health – FemTech startup focused on women's cardiovascular health: https://megihealth.com
FIGO Pregnancy Passport – Tool for tracking pregnancy health information
NHS 10-Year Plan – Healthcare transformation strategy

The Dad Table: Real Talk on Modern Fatherhood

The Motherhood Clinic — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:59:55 GMT

What does it mean to be a dad today?

In this episode, we sit down with Matt Lo; entrepreneur, father, and founder of The Dad Table - for a discussion on modern fatherhood, identity shifts, and the quiet power of being heard.

Matt shares his journey from running multiple businesses to stepping back and building a life around what really matters to him: connection, presence, and purpose. We talk about:

Why listening, without fixing - is one of the hardest things to learn
How therapy reshaped his relationship and fatherhood
The identity shift that comes with becoming a parent
What men need in postnatal spaces - and why they often don’t get it
How vulnerability builds stronger friendships, not weaker ones
The tension between ambition, income, and being present at home
Whether you’re a dad, a partner, or simply curious about the inner life of modern fatherhood - this one’s for you.