Breaking the Taboo with Theo Clarke

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 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 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

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 Dr Chris Dewhurst, a neonatologist, and an affected mother to discuss premature babies and support for families in NICU. Topics that we discuss on the show include: what is NICU; reasons babies are admitted to NICU; prematurity and what this means; the family's role in the care of their babies; what does the journey look like after discharge from the NICU; and coping with baby loss.



Dr Chris Dewhurst is a neonatologist and the Medical Director at Liverpool Women’s Hospital where they deliver approximately 7,500 babies per year. He has previously been the clinical Director for both neonatal and maternity services in Liverpool. Alongside his medical leadership role he continues to provide clinical care on the neonatal intensive care unit where he has a special interest in neonatal ventilation. He is driven to minimise health inequalities, particularly in relation to impact of deprivation on neonatal and maternity outcomes.



Zalena Vandrewala is mum to Sam born at 24+2 weeks gestation and Ava born at 36+5 weeks gestation and wife to Martin. Zalena actively supports and advises the neonatal unit at Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital on various matters including family integrated care and parental experience as well as having supported and advised the Liverpool Neonatal partnership as they prepare to open the largest neonatal unit in Europe in 2026.



Baby Lifeline: https://www.babylifeline.org.uk/

Special care (ill or premature babies): https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/after-the-birth/special-care-ill-or-premature-babies/



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



Instagram: @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

This week is Birth Trauma Awareness Week so our host, Theo Clarke is joined by Ailsa Adams, an affected mother, and Leena Savjani, a Partner at Irwin Mitchell, to discuss life after birth trauma. Topics that we discuss on the show include: requesting a birth debrief or reflections; the importance of peer support; access to perinatal health services; repair surgery and the realities; how to request your medical records and navigating the complaints process.



Ailsa Adams is a mother of three—first a singleton, followed by twins—who experienced a severe birth injury (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury, OASI) during her second delivery in 2020 whilst living in London. The repair surgery she underwent immediately after birth was later found to have been inadequately performed, leaving her with physical and mental challenges that have impacted every aspect of her life. In 2024, she underwent colostomy surgery as part of her ongoing recovery. Navigating life post-OASI has been complex, with limited guidance or healthcare pathways following such an injury. While still managing the effects of her experience, Ailsa is determined to support others facing similar challenges and advocate for improvements in maternity care and post-birth recovery resources. Ailsa works as a physiotherapist for the NHS and now lives in Scotland with her husband and three children.



Leena Savjani is a Partner at national law firm Irwin Mitchell and a specialist in medical negligence law with over 19 years of experience in the field. She has acted on some of the most complex and sensitive cases in the field, often involving serious injury and systemic failings in healthcare. Leena has a particular expertise in maternal injury cases, including those involving obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI) where she is recognized for her compassionate client care and deep understanding of the long-term impact on women’s lives. Known for her rigorous legal mind, empathy, and unwavering commitment to her clients, she is a trusted advocate for driving accountability and improving maternity safety.



Birth Trauma Association: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/

MASIC: https://masic.org.uk/downloadable-guides/ 

PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service): https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

AvMA (Action Against Medical Accidents): https://www.avma.org.uk/



Instagram: @colostorymum @IrwinMitchell 



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



Instagram: @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

This week our host Theo Clarke is joined by Sandra Igwe, founder of The Motherhood Group, and Neya Joshi, peer supporter for the Birth Trauma Association, to discuss inequalities in maternal health and birth trauma.

Topics that we discuss on the show include: racial disparities in maternal health outcomes; black maternal health and wellbeing; the power of community and culturally safe support; mental health being a taboo in Asian culture; how to access psychological support post birth; advice on navigating pregnancy and motherhood; and ways to improve postnatal care for new mothers.

Sandra Igwe is a maternal health advocate, author, and founder of The Motherhood Group, a social enterprise supporting Black mothers through culturally safe peer support, events, and community engagement. She is also the creator of the BlackMums App — a femtech innovation designed to connect and empower Black mothers through AI-powered community tools. Sandra leads the annual Black Maternal Health Conference UK, founded Black Maternal Mental Health Week, and regularly works with the NHS, government bodies, and international partners to drive policy and practice change in maternal care. Her work has been featured in Vogue, BBC, Channel 4, and The Guardian.



Neya Joshi is mum to a 5 year old son and 2.5 year old daughter. In May 2020, after the birth of her son by emergency c-section she was abandoned on the postnatal ward. Covid visiting restrictions meant her husband wasn’t allowed to visit at all, and she was unsupported for the first 30 hours after major surgery. The ordeal left her with PTSD and she found adjusting to life as a new mum difficult. She recovered with therapy and is now passionate about raising awareness of birth/postnatal ward trauma to help others feel less alone. She is currently training to be a postnatal doula so she can be a source of support and comfort to mothers during such a transformative time in their lives. She also volunteers as a peer supporter for the Birth Trauma Association.



Birth Trauma Association: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/

The Motherhood Group: https://themotherhoodgroup.org/

Instagram: @sandeeigwe  @themotherhoodgroup @birth_trauma_association_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: http://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast



Instagram: @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

This week in a special episode our host Theo Clarke takes the podcast on the road to the Everywoman Festival in Cardiff. She joins the panel on the changing landscape in women's health which was recorded live in the main tent.



Topics that we discuss on the show include: changing the narrative and how women’s health is portrayed in the media; lessons from the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry and the perspective of a  clinician in the House of Lords.

Rosie Taylor is an award-winning freelance journalist, specialising in women’s health. She write for publications including The Times, the Independent, the Telegraph, the Guardian, the Daily Mail and the i paper, and is the host of Mother Bodies, the podcast about postnatal health and why it matters.



Baroness Finlay is a Deputy Speaker and Crossbench Peer, was on the Assisted Dying Bill Select Committee and co-edited “The Reality of Assisted Dying: understanding the issues”.  A palliative medicine doctor, she established Marie Curie’s Penarth Hospice and is Vice-President of Cardiff’s City Hospice. 



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 on Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. She won 'Political Speech of the Year' at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the Top 100 Women in Westminster in 2024. Theo is the author of a bestselling memoir  'Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma'.



Diane Danzebrink (Chair) is a personal and corporate consultant, speaker, educator and the author of Making Menopause Matter. She founded the purpose over profit organisation Menopause Support in 2015 and has led the call for better menopause care and support in the U.K. with her national #MakeMenopauseMatter campaign since 2018



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.



Everywoman Festival: Offering education, empowerment and support for women's health across generations https://www.everywomanfest.com/aboutus



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



Read 'Breaking the Taboo' here.



Instagram: @theoclarkemp @rosietaylorjournalism @dianedanzebrink



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

This week in a special episode our host Theo Clarke is joined by Rosie Duffield MP, the Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the UK Parliament. We discuss the Health Secretary’s recent announcement of a rapid national maternity investigation.  



Topics that we discuss on the show include: the Government’s approach to maternity care; lessons and recommendations from the Birth Trauma Inquiry; the work of the cross party APPG for birth trauma; campaigning to improve postnatal care and why women’s heath is often ignored in Government policy.  



Rosie Duffield is the Member of Parliament for Canterbury, Whitstable and the Villages and Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma. She co-chaired the Birth Trauma Inquiry in Parliament with Theo in 2024 which resulted in changes to NHS policy and improvements to maternity care announced by the then UK Government. 



UK Birth Trauma Inquiry Report

https://www.theo-clarke.org.uk/birth-trauma-report



Birth Trauma Association

https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org



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.



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



Instagram: @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

This week our host Theo Clarke is joined by Tinuke Awe and Clo Abe, co-founders of Five X More, to break the taboo on black maternal health and birth trauma in the UK. They reflect on the experiences that led them to campaign on this issue; discuss data about inequalities in healthcare, and explain how their work is helping affected families with some practical tools for parents.



Topics that we discuss on the show include: ending racial disparities in maternity care; rights in childbirth; maternity safety; the importance of peer support; mental health support for black mothers; and ways the UK Government can end inequalities in healthcare. 



Tinuke Awe is the co-founder of Five X More CIC – an award-winning organisation campaigning to improve Black maternal health outcomes in the UK. She is also the founder of Mums & Tea, a social platform aimed at connecting Black mums and building supportive communities. Black motherhood and parenthood are central to Tinuke’s work, and she is passionate about creating accessible resources and spaces for the advancement and empowerment of Black families.



Clo Abe is co-founder of Five X More, an organisation founded in 2019 in response to the MBRRACE reports highlighting that Black women were five times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than white women (current figures show it is still four times more likely). She has worked in maternity units in hospitals across London and was an Expert by Experience for NHS England/Improvement contributing to the Ockenden Report. She helped develop the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate role and is founder of Prosperitys, a maternal wellbeing social enterprise supporting Black and Ethnic Minority parents with a focus on early intervention, perinatal mental health awareness, and tackling social isolation.



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



Five X More: https://www.fivexmore.com/

Six Steps to Safer Care (Five X More): https://fivexmore.org/6steps

Tommy’s Midwife Video Call Service: https://www.tommys.org/pregnancy-information/about-tommys-pregnancy-information/video-call-service

Your Basic Birth Rights (translated): https://birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/your-basic-birth-rights-translated/



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



Instagram: @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

This week our host Theo is joined by Dr Kim Thomas, CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, and campaigner and affected mum Gill Castle 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: birth plans; advocating for yourself and rights in childbirth; what is a prolapse; challenges with breastfeeding after a traumatic birth; accessing maternal mental health services; dads support for mothers with birth trauma and impact on wider family; postpartum psychosis; babies suffering from brain damage; medical negligence; contraception post birth; premature babies in NICU and difficulties with bonding.



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.



Gill Castle is Chief Executive of Chameleon Buddies and a former police officer who suffered a missed 4th degree tear, recto-vaginal fistula and perineal abcess during the birth of her only child in 2011. This led to a permanent colostomy, and medical retirement from the police force due to extensive mental health problems resulting from the birth, including PTSD and severe anxiety. Gill has campaigned for changes to the maternity system in the UK for many years, and has featured extensively in the national media for her work.  In 2022 Gill set up an international charity, Chameleon Buddies, to support women in Kenya and the UK to adjust to life with an ostomy after fistula. In 2023 Gill became the first person to swim the English Channel solo with a stoma.

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



Birth Trauma Association: https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/



Chameleon Buddies:



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



Instagram: @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