The birth-ed podcast

Think scientific evidence is going to give you a clear a 'best' path forward in your birth decision making? Unfortunately, it's rarely that simple. With midwife Beth Russell, we explore the messy middle where numbers meet lived experience: why absolute risk matters more than scary “your risk doubles” headlines, how studies like the Big Baby Trial get misread, and why nuance changes...

What happens when your birth experience completely contradicts everything you prepared for? For author Hannah Marsh, an emergency cesarean section after 30 grueling hours of labor left her feeling not just physically scarred, but emotionally devastated. Despite cesarean sections accounting for roughly 43% of UK births today, Hannah found herself woefully unprepared for this possibility – having fo...

Davina McCall joins the Birth-ed Podcast to share her transformative journey from anxious first-time mum to empowered birth advocate. Celebrating the launch of Davina's new book "Birthing," co-written with midwife Marley Henry – a judgment-free guide that supports women through conception, pregnancy, birth and beyond. Davina and I explore what's missing from modern maternity ca...

Season 5 of The Birth-ed Podcast launches THIS WEEK.  On Friday 26th September (and every Friday thereafter), we are back with world leading expert guests, heart warming wisdom, fascinating science and the warm hug you need every week during pregnancy!  Make sure you're subscribed so you never miss an episode, and come join the weekly chats over on Instagram @birth_ed. Sign up to The Birth-ed...

When to clamp the cord that leads from placenta to baby has become a contested issue in recent years. Today’s guest, Amanda Burleigh, has fought long and hard to introduce evidence-based practice and advocates delayed cord clamping for better baby health. Amanda talks openly about her personal journey to discover the benefits of delay and how it works in practice. We also bust some myths that wome...

Some women choose to labour in hospital, others feel they arrive there through the course of their care. If you find yourself in a delivery suite or labour ward for your birth, this episode aims to help you feel the most comfortable and prepared to be there. I’m speaking to Lily Brockenhurst, a midwife who specialises in holistic care in a hospital setting, about what your expectations should be o...

Why is so much importance placed on how much you weigh in pregnancy? Is a mother with over 30 BMI really at a high risk of complications in birth? This week, I’m speaking to Alice Keely, the Heavyweight Midwife, about the stigma attached to plus size parents, what to expect in pregnancy and labour if you’ve been labelled high risk, and how to approach interactions with healthcare professionals so...

Our culture surrounds us with pressure to look a certain way and be a certain way, and no more so than after pregnancy. The focus on whether you ‘bounce back’ after birth can be overwhelming.  My guest this week challenges us instead to focus on postnatal rehab, functional movement and enjoyment. Hollie Grant is a Pilates PT and founder of The Bump Plan. Together we talk about when you can start m...

If you’re a regular listener to the show, or you’ve done a Birth-ed course, you’ll know that I really value breathwork in labour, but I hadn’t realised the calm that breathwork can bring to pregnancy until I read today’s guest’s book.  This week I’m talking to Carolyn Cowan, embodied psychotherapist, yoga teacher and author of Breathing for Pregnancy. Carolyn explains why and how conscious breathi...

C-section recovery is one of those subjects that is rarely mentioned before you experience it. So this week, I’ve got together with Clare Bourne, a pelvic health physiotherapist, to talk you through what you need to know to recover well. We cover everything from how to get out of bed in those first few hours, to exercise, to long term recovery and scar massage.  For more information on Caesarean S...

This episode is essential listening if you’re trying to decide whether to labour in a birth centre or midwife-led unit. I’m exploring everything birth centres, with my friend, midwife, Issy Bourton.  Issy and I look at what a birth centre/midwife-led unit is, how your experience there can differ from a hospital birth, what you can expect to happen during your labour, how to request a birth centre...

Many parents feel that they have to pick a side on the feeding debate - breast or bottle. But the reality is that often families find themselves a compromise, whether that is adding an occasional bottle to their routine, or switching to formula during the day, and breastfeeds when mum gets home from work. Despite this, information about how to go about mixed or combination feeding has been scarce,...

With social media platforms increasingly censoring candid images of birth and women’s bodies, I got together this week with The Naked Doula, Emma Armstrong, to talk about why we need to see real women’s experiences online. Our wide-ranging chat touches on using the correct words for female anatomy in schools, how we set realistic expectations for birth, and how reconnecting with your body through...

Continuous Foetal Monitoring can be uncomfortable, anxiety-inducing or misleading, but there’s plenty of evidence for its use, right? That’s the question Dr. Kirsten Small set out to answer after her long career in obstetrics. Her research led her to question everything about trace monitoring, from the case for low and high risk differentials to how centralised monitoring changes care in the birth...

The Birth-ed Method is finally here.  After years of supporting 10,000s of families preparing for their births using hypnobirthing, it’s time for birth-ed to wave that chapter goodbye, and introduce- The Birth-ed Method. The 4 pillars of the Birth-ed Method, Mind, Body, Choices & Communication provide you with a deep & holistic preparation for birth and early parenthood.  There’s no point...

Modern Maternity Care has a tendency to separate conception, pregnancy, birth, feeding & parenting. But there is a thread that runs from one through to another. The choices you make and experiences you have during and prior to birth have a direct impact on your postnatal experience. In this episode, we join the dots. What can we do or consider now, ahead of birth, to prepare for the 'four...

Decision making is a guaranteed part of your pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience. But it can feel like a massive responsibility when you're not really sure where to start. It's often much easier to just 'do as you're told.. often, you don't even realise you've GOT a choice in the first place. This episode is one you can come back to, time and time again, any tim...

I was once told that we should only be sharing with women 'positive birth stories'.. But as the years have gone by, I've supported 10,000s of families in their birth prep, I realised that perhaps it's not quite that simple. Dive with me into the nuances of this conversation, discover how to use birth stories as a way of deepening your understanding of birth, building your confi...

BIG NEWS. I'm expecting! Expecting a NEW SEASON of The Birth-ed Podcast (and hey, did you spot the new look?) A season that once again dives deep into the things you'd expect to learn in your antenatal appointments.. but don't! C-section recovery, fetal monitoring, mixed feeding, hospital birth.. there's so much incoming and it's going to be GOOD. Launching with a MINI ser...

  It's a solo episode from me this week, talking in detail about birth plans.. let's explore together- Can you really plan for birth? Why bother? What to include? How to write one? What to do with it? Please subscribe, rate and review! So we can get this vital info to as many parents to be as we can! ______________________ SPONSORS This episode is sponsored by Little List Start your list...

It's a solo episode from me this week, talking in detail about pain in birth.. let's explore together- What causes pain in labour? What does birth feel like? What is the purpose of pain in birth? Why most conversations about pain relief have got totally the wrong angle! Which elements of this are within our control? Everything you need to know, before you can even start considering what...

In today's episode, Psychotherapist, Author and Mother of 3 Anna Mathur & I discuss all things postnatal mental health. Whether you are currently pregnant and getting prepared for what to expect postnatally, or you're in the depths of the early days of motherhood, there's heartwarming chat, practical tools and tons of helpful info to takeaway from this conversation. In this epis...

In today's episode, Osteopath Laura Tilson & I share a little insight into the practice of Osteopathy. Something you may have heard recommended for pregnancy or for your baby. In this episode we explore: What actually IS Osteopathy? What happens in an appt Difference between Osteo, physiotherapy & chiropractic Pregnancy Pelvic Pain (What causes it, how to treat it) Cranial Osteopathy...

Pregnancy Sickness is often a welcome and exciting sign of early pregnancy. But knowing what is 'normal' and what's NOT can be hard to navigate.  In today's episode I am joined by Dr Caitlin Dean, Nurse Specialist Researcher into HG & Chairperson of the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support. Caitlin & I have worked together on many contexts over the years and this topic is...

Having a baby is one of the most transformative moments in anyone's lives, and this can go on to have a huge impact on our relationships, especially romantic relationships! In today's episode I am joined by Dr Jenna Brough, perinatal clinical psychologist, specialising in supporting people through the perinatal period.  We explore: Preparing for the impact that new parenthood might have...