This week our host Theo Clarke, former MP and Chair of the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry, is joined by Dr Kim Thomas, CEO of the Birth Trauma Association to answer listener questions on birth trauma. They share information for expectant mothers and families who’ve experienced a traumatic birth, including recovery from mental and physical health issues after childbirth, and provide some practical advice to help affected families.Topics that we discuss on the show include: dealing with postnatal PTSD; available therapies for new mothers; advocacy during birth and after; advice for partners or families who’ve witnessed traumatic births; how to access birth debriefs; requesting a planned caesarean; the importance of self-care and creative practices; and where to find support for pregnant and new mothers on birth and complications.

BIOGRAPHY

Dr Kim Thomas is CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, a charity that supports parents experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after birth. She was also the secretariat for the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) inquiry into birth trauma, and wrote the inquiry report, published in May 2024. She has published two books about birth trauma: Birth Trauma: A Guide for You, Your Friends and Family to Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Birth; and Postnatal PTSD: a Guide for Health Professionals. Her book Broadmoor Women looked at the lives of women committed to Broadmoor in the nineteenth century. She also worked as a freelance journalist for more than 20 years, writing for national newspapers and magazines, with a specialist focus on health and medicine.

Birth Trauma Association:

https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/

Theo Clarke was the Member of Parliament for Stafford. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. Theo has served as parliamentary private secretary at the Departments for Education, Business and Trade and HM Treasury, in addition to being trade envoy for the Prime Minister. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. Theo hosts the hit podcast ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health and a book club at ‘A Thread of One’s Own’. She has also published a memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma‘. Don’t suffer in silence! Listen in and let’s break the final taboo in women’s health #breakingthetaboo.

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

Instagram: @Theoclarkemp @birthtrauma

Website: www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Producer: Natasha Feroze

Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social Media: Bella Carter

Studio Manager: Adam Woodward

Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club

This week our host, former MP and Chair of the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry in Parliament, Theo Clarke, is joined by Hannah Barnes, Investigations Editor at the New Statesman, to discuss their special investigation: “Britain’s Next Maternity Scandal?” – an in-depth look at the rising concerns around safety, staffing, and accountability across maternity services at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: the shocking findings from the New Statesman and Channel 4 recent investigation into the state of maternity care in Oxford; why maternity safety is once again under scrutiny; how repeated warnings are being ignored across the NHS; how the voices of families affected by preventable tragedies are not being listened to; what systemic issues are driving failures in care; and how the Government needs to take urgent action to improve maternity care.

Hannah Barnes is the Investigations Editor at the New Statesman. She previously worked at the BBC. She is an award-winning journalist and author of Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children (Swift) – a Sunday Times Bestseller and shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford and Orwell prizes.

📖 Read the full investigation: Britain’s Next Maternity Scandal? – New Statesman🎥 Watch Channel 4 News – Part 1: YouTube🎥 Watch Channel 4 News – Part 2: YouTube

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

Instagram / TikTok: @newstatesman X / Twitter: @hannahsbee

@Theoclarkemp

Website:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Producer: Natasha Feroze

Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social Media: Bella Carter

Studio Manager: Adam Woodward

Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club

This week our host and former MP, Theo Clarke, is joined by Shauna Leven, Chief Executive of Twins Trust, and Tia Brown, mother of twins, to discuss twins, multiples, IVF and fertility treatment, and birth trauma.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: the emotional and physical trauma of a high-risk twin pregnancy; challenges faced by families with multiples; ensuring the right care during a multiples pregnancy and birth; the work of the Twins Trust; advice on preparation for parenthood; campaigning to make sure families’ voices are heard; premature ovarian insufficiency; the process of IVF and egg donor conception and expense.Shauna Leven has worked in senior management roles in the charity sector for more than 10 years. She is also a human rights lawyer, a successful campaigner and strategist, but her most important role is mum to boy/girl twins.

Tia Brown is a mother of boy/girl twins, Maliyah and Kawhi, who were born in January 2022. Tia was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency when she was just 29 and underwent a tough IVF battle, spending around £40,000, to become a mother through egg donor conception. She now shares her story on her social media @life_with_the_brown_family to help raise awareness around the issues about early menopause.

Theo Clarke was the Member of Parliament for Stafford in the UK. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. Theo hosts the hit podcast ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health. She has also published a bestselling memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma’. This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.Connect with Twins Trust:www.twinstrust.orgX / Twitter: @twinstrustWebsite:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

@theoclarkemp Breaking The Taboo production team:Producer: Natasha FerozeResearchers: Max Austin and Elliott MalikDesigner: Emily RyderSocial Media: Bella CarterStudio Manager: Adam WoodwardStudio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power ClubThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host, former MP and bestselling author Theo Clarke, is joined by Meg Murray Jones, founder of Postpartum Plan, and Zara Kadir, Child, Adolescent, Adult & Family Psychotherapist and founder of The Therapy Shed, to discuss intrusive thoughts, recovery and parenting after birth trauma.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: why intrusive thoughts happen; what’s normal and what might be a sign that the body is stuck in trauma; the physical impact of intrusive thoughts; regulating your emotions as a parent; boundaries with your thoughts and your children; the role of shame and silence; and practical ways to support recovery, including breath and body work, compassion, and therapy.

Biographies

Meg is a reflexologist, breath-work practitioner and mum of three. Her first traumatic birth in 2016 led her to create Postpartum Plan to support new parents with their emotional and physical recovery postpartum. The foundation of her work is to raise awareness of the postpartum period and parents’ nervous system health after birth through corporate employee benefit inclusion, HR training and employee coaching.

Zara Kadir is a Child, Adolescent, Adult & Family Psychotherapist and the founder of The Therapy Shed - a space dedicated to helping families understand emotions, strengthen relationships and find calm in the chaos of modern parenting. With two MAs in Psychotherapy and years of clinical experience, Zara blends evidence-based practice with real-life parenting insight. She shares compassionate, down-to-earth guidance with her growing online community, helping parents and children feel seen, supported and understood.

Resources:www.the-therapy-shed.co.ukwww.postpartumplan.co.uk

Instagram: @postpartumplan

Instagram: @the.therapy.shed

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER:This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

Website:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast@theoclarkemp

Breaking The Taboo production team:Producer: Natasha FerozeResearchers: Max Austin and Elliott MalikDesigner: Emily RyderSocial Media: Bella CarterStudio Manager: Adam WoodwardStudio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Abbie Harris, Education and Operations Manager at Action on Pre-eclampsia, and Professor Andrew Shennan, Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health at King’s College London, to discuss pre-eclampsia in pregnancy.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: signs and symptoms of pre-eclampsia; who gets pre-eclampsia and what it means for that mother and her baby; how women can reduce their risk; what checks are needed to pick it up; advances in understanding and management; neonatal experience; pregnancy after loss; and where to find help and support.

Biographies:

Abbie Harris

Abbie is the Education and Operations Manager at Action on Pre-eclampsia, where she also serves as the primary contact for helpline calls and as the organisation’s designated mental health first aider. She has been a part of the charity since 2022.

In 2017 Abbie developed severe pre-eclampsia and gave birth to her son, Jude, prematurely at 24 weeks and 5 days. Jude survived for 32 days in neonatal care. This heartbreaking experience has fuelled Abbie’s passion for raising awareness of pre-eclampsia, advocating for better support for families affected by it, and contributing to the search for a cure.

She is also a devoted mum to her vibrant six-year-old daughter, Thea, and her cocker spaniel, Maxy. Outside of work, Abbie finds strength in time with family and staying active at the gym.

Instagram: @apec_uk | @harrishome8

Professor Andrew Shennan OBE

Andrew Shennan is Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health and Head of Department, Women’s and Children’s, at King’s College London. He is based at St. Thomas’ Hospital. He is chairman of the charity Action on Pre-eclampsia and founder of APEC International. He is a passionate educator.

His research interests include interventions to predict and prevent preterm birth and pre-eclampsia, and he specialises in innovations to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality, especially in low and middle income settings. He advises the House of Lords, NHS England, FIGO and the WHO. His global research into reducing mother and baby deaths is based throughout Africa, India and South America.

He was awarded an OBE for services to maternity care and is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Science.

X / Twitter: @OBSevidence

Resources:

www.action-on-pre-eclampsia.org.uk

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

Website:

www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

@theoclarkemp

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Producer: Natasha Feroze

Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social Media: Bella Carter

Studio Manager: Adam Woodward

Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

‘BREAKING THE TABOO’ - THE INSTANT BESTSELLER

MY BOOK IS OUT NOW, ORDER HERE

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Charlotte Howden, CEO of Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS) and Afshan Azad, former Harry Potter actress and Ambassador for PSS, to discuss Hyperemesis Gravidarum - a severe and debilitating condition affecting women during pregnancy.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: what Hyperemesis Gravidarum is; symptoms of extreme morning sickness; the physical and mental challenges it presents during pregnancy; available support for severe nausea and vomiting; the impact on family life; and how it can affect future pregnancies.

Biographies:

Charlotte Howden

Charlotte Howden has been a campaigner and Trustee for Pregnancy Sickness Support (PSS) since 2018 and is well known for presenting and producing the world’s first documentary about Hyperemesis called Sick – The Battle Against HG. Charlotte joined the charity as CEO in August 2023 and is passionate about building on the legacy of previous leaders to further the charity’s impact. Charlotte brings deep professional expertise alongside personal experience as a sufferer of HG. She is determined to develop the charity further and continue helping sufferers with both the physical and mental aspects of this condition.

Afshan Azad

Afshan Azad is a British actress and public figure best known for her role as Padma Patil in the Harry Potter film series. Beyond her career in the entertainment industry, Afshan is also a proud mother of two girls and serves as an Ambassador for Pregnancy Sickness Support. She shares her story to raise awareness of the realities of HG and to support others experiencing it. Through her advocacy, she hopes to break the silence around severe hyperemesis and ensure more women feel seen, heard, and supported.

Don’t suffer in silence! Listen in and let’s break the final taboo in women’s health #breakingthetaboo.

Instagram: @afshanazad @pregnancysicknesssupport

Resources:

www.pregnancysicknesssupport.org.uk

The Hyperemesis Files podcast

Sick: The Battle Against HG documentary

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

Website:

www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

@theoclarkemp

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Producer: Natasha Feroze

Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social Media: Bella Carter

Studio Manager: Adam Woodward

Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Karen Burgess, CEO and Founder of Petals, The Baby Loss Counselling Charity, and Molly Hunter, lawyer and mother of three, to discuss miscarriage and birth trauma.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: meaning and stigma attached to the term ‘miscarriage’; the psychological impact of pregnancy loss and the trauma it brings; the overlooked experiences of fathers and partners; how pregnancy loss can affect relationships and intimacy; psychological support and implications for families and society; the emotional and physical toll of recurrent miscarriage; the lack of understanding and research around causes and treatment; and the challenges of navigating pregnancy after recurrent loss.

Biographies:

Karen Burgess is the CEO and Founder of Petals, The Baby Loss Counselling Charity.Karen has been a practising counsellor for 25 years. In 2009, Karen established and ran a counselling service within the Rosie Maternity Hospital at Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge. When budget cuts forced the closure of the service in 2011, Karen was determined that this invaluable support should not be lost to bereaved parents and Petals Charity was formed. From its formation in 2011, Karen has grown Petals into a national charity that delivers a free counselling service with a unique and effective approach that provides a safe space for devastated lives to recover.

Molly Hunter is a wife and a mother to three children, a boy aged 8 and two girls aged 2 and 8 months. She is also a lawyer at the law firm Mishcon de Reya. Between the births of her first and second children, Molly had four miscarriages.

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

Connect with Petals, The Baby Loss Counselling Charity:www.petalscharity.orgX / T

witter: @petalscharity

Website:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Producer: Natasha Feroze

Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social Media: Bella Carter

Studio Manager: Adam Woodward

Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host, Theo Clarke is joined by Dame Andrea Leadsom, Founder of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, and Dr Matt Price, Clinical Psychologist and Director of Research & Grants at the Foundation, to discuss baby bonding and the first 1001 critical days of a child’s life.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: why bonding with your baby is so important after birth and the challenges that can arise following a difficult delivery; what the 1001 Critical Days are and why they matter for every child; the importance of parent–infant relationships and their lifelong impact; what perinatal mental health services are available to new mums; what Family Hubs are and how parents can access support; why it is important to support the wider family including fathers; the government’s Start for Life programme; why women’s health is so often ignored by policymakers; and how the Foundation’s latest projects are championing babies and families.

Dame Andrea Leadsom

Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom is the Founder of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation and has been a tireless advocate for babies and families for more than thirty years. Alongside her distinguished political career, she founded several charities supporting babies in the UK. As a Minister and the UK Government’s Early Years Advisor, she developed a national Vision for the 1001 Critical Days and led the rollout of the pioneering Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

Dr Matt Price

Dr Matt Price is a clinical psychologist and Director of Research & Grants at the 1001 Critical Days Foundation. He has led parent–infant relationship services in the NHS, was Strategic Lead for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy at the UK’s largest children’s charity, and designed the perinatal mental health and parent–infant relationship element of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme at the Department of Health and Social Care.

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.

* X / Twitter: @1001CDF

* LinkedIn: The 1001 Critical Days Foundation

* Instagram: @1001CriticalDaysFoundation

This week our host, Theo Clarke is joined by Louise Thompson, the author, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate who rose to fame on Made in Chelsea in 2011 to discuss her recovery from birth trauma and her new book ‘Lucky: Learning to Live Again’.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: pregnancy after loss; chronic illness; her experience of birth trauma; mental health and recovery post birth; body image and self-acceptance; the impact on motherhood and family life; and advice on living with PTSD.

Biography:

Louise Thompson is an author, entrepreneur, and wellness advocate who rose to fame on Made in Chelsea in 2011. Her priorities shifted when she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis back in 2018, when she decided she wanted to embark on a more purposeful way of life. This was further amplified when her life dramatically turned upside down following a near-death experience in 2021 during the birth of her son, Leo, whom she shares with fiancé Ryan Libbey. Since then, Louise has battled a series of debilitating health conditions and surgeries including having a total colectomy, numerous laparatomy’s, battling the autoimmune condition lupus, an IBD all of which have led to multiple hospital stays.

In 2024, she released her bestselling memoir Lucky: Learning to Live Again In 2024, which details her harrowing journey through life-threatening illness, mental health struggles, and recovery after the traumatic birth of her son. The book offers an honest and emotional account of her battle with PTSD, chronic illness, and the challenges of motherhood, while also highlighting her resilience and determination to rebuild her life and find joy again. She also co-hosts the podcast He Said, She Said with her fiancé Ryan Libbey, where the couple candidly discuss relationships, parenthood, mental health, and their personal experiences navigating life’s highs and lows together.

This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.

DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice please seek advice from a GP or Doctor.

Website:

http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast

Https://louise-thompson.co.uk

Instagram: @louise.thompson

@theoclarkemp

Breaking The Taboo production team:

Producer: Natasha Feroze

Researcher: Max Austin and Elliott Malik

Designer: Emily Ryder

Social media: Bella Carter

Studio manager: Adam Woodward

Studio: Studio 55 part of Wolfe Power Club

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com