Happy Mum

When birth takes an unexpected turn, staying calm can make all the difference. This week two midwives share the emergencies they'll never forget. If you’re interested in being part of the Life of a Midwife series, we’d love to hear from you — just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk Links from our midwives: Little Light Support offers independent, trauma-informed birth debriefs for women and fam...

Former MP Theo Clarke joins Giovanna this week to share the story of how the birth of her daughter led her to become a campaigner for better maternity care. Theo talks about navigating pregnancy while working in politics, including the challenges of having no statutory maternity leave as an MP and the pressure of being on duty during a period of major political upheaval. She also opens up about he...

Was home birth different in the 1970s compared to today? This week, two midwives take us inside the world of birth beyond the hospital: from pioneering one of the earliest home water births to facing the realities, risks, and unexpected moments that come with bringing a baby into the world at home — even when the carpet is cream! If you’re interested in being part of the Life of a Midwife series,...

In this episode Giovanna sits down with NHS GP, resident GP on BBC Morning Live and bestselling author, Dr Punam Krishan! Punam opens up about her own traumatic first birth and the life-threatening complications, postnatal depression, and PTSD that followed. She also talks about the breast cancer diagnosis she received last year that reinforced the importance of listening to her body and advocatin...

How do midwives hold it together in times of immense pressure? In this episode we hear from two midwives who have learned how to stay calm during overwhelming moments. If you’re interested in being part of the Life of a Midwife series, we’d love to hear from you — just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk Links from our midwives: Petition · Make birth safer: protect midwives' working hours - Unit...

This week, we’re marking Father’s Day with a very special episode as we welcome Adam Frisby and Jamie Corbett to the studio! They join Gi to share their remarkable journey to parenthood, including the moment their first surrogate withdrew from the process, how their own childhoods shaped the parents they wanted to be, and the joy of welcoming their beautiful baby Leven to the world. Adam and...

What happens when birth leaves a mark that doesn't just disappear?  In this episode we hear from two midwives who understand the lasting impact of birth trauma and what it means for the families who are left without clear answers. If you’re interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midwife , we’d love to hear from you — just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk Links from our...

This week, we’re so excited to welcome Lauren Cowell for her first ever podcast interview ! After years of keeping a low profile while navigating public scrutiny, Lauren opens up to Gi about life after divorce, co-parenting, and how she handled the intense media attention surrounding her pregnancy with partner Simon Cowell. Lauren also shares more about her involvement in the ‘Raise the Age’ campa...

In this episode of Life of a Midwife , Giovanna shares the extraordinary journey of one midwife who turned her own hardships into a lifelong calling. From an orphaned child to an abandoned mother of triplets, to becoming the midwife she once desperately needed herself. If you're interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midwife we'd love to hear from you! Just drop us an email at mi...

This week Giovanna welcomes legendary singer-songwriter Laura Marling to the studio! Laura tells Gi about her early fears that becoming a mother might stifle her creativity, and shares her experiences of having two home births. She also discusses her mission to create children's music that parents can genuinely enjoy, and introduces her new venture, 'Laura Sings Raffi,' a 17-track cover album of b...

"If my gut is telling me something is wrong, something is wrong." This week we hear from two midwives who know the power of following their instincts. If you're interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midwife we'd love to hear from you! Just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk Links from our midwives: Midwife Pip: The Home of Trusted Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Support For Pa...

This week Gi reunites with her old friend Susannah Fielding! You’ll know Susannah from This Time with Alan Partridge , Man vs Baby , and Wolf Hall — but her most important role is being mum to her two-year-old son Alfie. Susannah opens up to Gi about growing up with a single mother and an intermittently absent father, how those experiences shaped her relationships, and why she’s so focused on brea...

Trigger warning: this episode incudes challenging experiences relating to baby loss. If you feel this may be a difficult listen please consider choosing another episode 💜 This week on Life of a Midwife we hear more of Anna’s extraordinary story, beginning with one of the first births she attended in South Sudan before she had even qualified as a midwife. Anna also speaks candidly about her own ex...

This week, Giovanna sits down with singer, presenter and all-round ray of sunshine Mollie King ! Mollie chats to Gi about life with her two young daughters, the realities of motherhood (no sleep), and her exciting new venture into podcasting. She also opens up about navigating her father’s terminal illness while preparing to welcome her first baby. Don’t forget to check out Novel Idea — Mollie’s b...

Trigger warning: this episode contains descriptions related to childbirth that may be distressing or upsetting to some listeners. Purpose isn't always comfortable. Sometimes it takes you somewhere extraordinary. This week we delve into the inspiring stories of two midwives whose paths were shaped by a pull they simply couldn't ignore. If you’re interested in being part of the next series of Life o...

TRIGGER WARNING: this episode contains some difficult conversations, including discussions around suicidal thoughts. We know this can be a lot to take in, so please do take care of yourself while listening and know that it's completely okay to step away and come back when you're ready 💛 May is Maternal Mental Health Month, a reminder that keeping the difficult conversations going matters more tha...

What does it feel like to hold a life for the first time? In this episode of Life of a Midwife, three midwives tell us what it feels like to catch a baby! If you’re interested in being part of the next series of Life of a Midwife , we’d love to hear from you — just drop us an email midwives@pixiu.co.uk Links from our midwives: BabySZN™ is a platform built to help women train specifically for...

Over the past nine years, Happy Mum Happy Baby has evolved — and so has our mission! Increasingly, our conversations have centred on mums themselves: their mental health, wellbeing, relationships, and identity. Because when a mum feels supported, seen, and heard, everything else can flourish. So... welcome to the era of Happy Mum ! And joining us to start this exciting new chapter is the gorgeous...

To celebrate the international day of the midwife we’ve got something very special for you — the very first episode of our brand-new miniseries! Every Thursday, we’ll be sharing powerful stories from midwives, past and present, as they reflect on the moments that have shaped their lives and careers. In this first episode, we'll trace the moments two women were pulled into midwifery. We’ll return t...

We’ve got a special delivery coming your way… a brand-new miniseries! Life of a Midwife brings you raw, honest, and deeply personal stories from midwives — past and present — as they share the moments that shaped not just their careers, but their lives. Our first episode drops on Tuesday 5th May, perfectly timed to celebrate International Day of the Midwife! And new episodes delivered every Thursd...

This week Giovanna sits down with creator and OG YouTuber Hannah Witton! Hannah opens up about navigating motherhood while living with long-term chronic illness. She also shares her journey with secondary infertility and the emotional challenges of coping with other people’s pregnancy announcements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Simpson thought she was failing as a mother throughout the first 10 years of her daughter Nina's life. After a decade of misdiagnosis, blame, and searching for answers, she finally discovered the truth: Nina is autistic. In this episode of Happy Mum Happy Baby, Catherine sits down with Giovanna for a conversation about the journey to getting Nina—now 31—her diagnosis. This episode is all...

In this episode Giovanna sits down with comedian, author, and podcaster Emma Doran. Emma reflects on becoming pregnant as a teenager while attending an all-girls convent school, and the challenges that followed. She also shares how she began stand-up on maternity leave, performing her first open mic when her baby was just six weeks old! Catch Emma on tour! Emma Doran has extended her Emmaculate UK...

When it comes to having children, what happens when you’re just not sure? This week, Vicky Pattison and husband Ercan Ramadan join Gi for a chat about the pressure to decide, the different paths available—from having children to adoption, surrogacy, or choosing a child-free life—and why the answer isn’t always simple. Vicky also opens up about her childhood, shaped by complex family dynamics and h...

This week, we welcome broadcaster, High Performance Podcast host, and father of two, Jake Humphrey , to the studio. Jake and Giovanna share their experiences of being bullied at school, with Jake sharing how those early challenges later helped him navigate public scrutiny as the BBC’s F1 presenter. He also talks candidly about fertility struggles and the deal he made with his wife while trying to...