As a GP, Dr Sarah Andrews used to regularly carry out six-week checks on new mums. But when she had her own child, she was completely shocked to discover how little she really knew about postnatal recovery.

In this episode, Dr Andrews – co-founder of postnatal health information service Mumie – speaks to Rosie Taylor about why even medically trained professionals aren’t taught about the reality of postnatal symptoms; how she coped with sleep deprivation and hair loss; and why she thinks health support for mums shouldn’t end at the six-week check. You can follow Mumie on Instagram: @mumie.health and on Facebook.

Rosie also hears from the author and campaigner Lyanne Nicholl with an update on the campaign for all mums to have a #9monthcheck. If you’d like to know more about the campaign and how you can help, please fill out this short survey.

***

Please don’t suffer in silence! If you have any concerns about your physical or mental health, please contact your GP. You can also search for a private women’s health physio here. 

Pandas and Make Birth Better are organisations which offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Clinical psychologist Dr Emma Svanberg (@mumologist) speaks to Rosie Taylor about why parents today are experiencing more anxiety, loneliness and isolation than ever before – and how we can find joy in parenting despite that. 

She also discusses the links between physical and mental postnatal health problems and why society needs to start valuing parents for the incredible job they do.

You can buy Emma’s latest book, Parenting for Humans, here.

She also offers therapy and group support for parents through The Psychology Co-Operative, here.

You can also follow her on Facebook: Dr Emma Svanberg, Psychologist.

***

Please don’t suffer in silence! 

You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.

Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.

(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah Graham, author of the book Rebel Bodies and the blog Hysterical Women, speaks to Rosie Taylor about all the reasons science, medicine and governments fail to recognise the importance of postnatal health – and the revolution beginning to change things for the better.

Sarah chats about medicine’s patronising attitudes towards women and the fact mothers are expected to sacrifice their own health for their children, as well as how she was pleasantly surprised by her own positive experiences of birth and postnatal recovery.

You can buy Sarah’s book Rebel Bodies here and read her blog here. Follow her on Instagram: @sarahgraham7writer and Twitter: @sarahgraham7.

***

Please don’t suffer in silence! 

You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.

Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.

(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes, there’s a dad on Mother Bodies! Paul Morgan-Bentley, author of The Equal Parent, chats to Rosie Taylor about his experience of becoming a gay dad via surrogacy and how that opened his eyes to gender inequalities in parenthood. 

Paul chats about the research debunking the idea that only women are biologically primed to care for babies, his ongoing struggle to find gender-neutral baby changing places - and what equal parenting looks like when there aren’t any cultural pressures for one parent to do more.

You can buy Paul’s book The Equal Parent here. Follow him on Twitter: @pmorganbentley.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.

(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TW: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, infertility and secondary infertility.

Jennie Agg, journalist and author of Life, Almost, speaks frankly to Rosie Taylor about one of the greatest taboos around postnatal health: recovery after pregnancy and baby loss. Jennie talks about her own experiences of recurrent miscarriage, the research developments which could help us better understand infertility and baby loss - and the conflicting feelings she experienced when she finally became a mum. 

You can buy Jennie's book Life, Almost here and subscribe to her Substack here. Follow her on Instagram: @jenniemonologues and Twitter: @jenniferagg.

***

If you’ve been affected by issues discussed in this episode, these organisations could help:

Tommy’s provides evidence-based advice and information around miscarriage and baby loss, as well as offering support.

The Miscarriage Association has a support helpline and Sands supports families who have experienced baby loss. 

Fertility Network UK has a support group for people experiencing secondary infertility.

Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues Pandas and Make Birth Better.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.

(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Midwife and birth debrief facilitator Illiyin Morrison (@mixing.up.motherhood) speaks frankly about how maternity systems need to change to prevent birth trauma, why the concept of ‘self-care’ is a con designed to make you feel guilty – and how she ultimately found joy in motherhood.

Illy’s book The Birth Debrief is out now – you can buy it here.

You can book a postnatal debrief session with Illy here and buy a ‘pay it forward’ session for someone who can’t afford to pay here.

***

Please don’t suffer in silence! 

You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.

Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.

(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Musician, author and Instagrammer Izzy Judd opens up to journalist Rosie Taylor about everything from postnatal anxiety and parenting under the spotlight, to the challenges of breastfeeding and the realities of her physical recovery after having three children. Izzy also chats about the inspiration behind her books Mindfulness for Mums and Dare to Dream - including her attempts to find calm amid the chaos of family life. Follow her on Instagram: @mrs_izzyjudd.

TW: This episode mentions IVF and miscarriage.

***

Please don’t suffer in silence! 

You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.

Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.

(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women’s health and sexual wellbeing advocate Clio Wood speaks to journalist Rosie Taylor about all things postnatal sex. Whether you're in a straight or LGBTQ+ relationship, becoming a parent can turn your sex life upside down. Clio chats about everything from when it is “normal” to restart your sex life after birth, where to seek help for common postnatal sexual health problems, and why it can seem impossible to feel like a “good mother” and “sexy partner” at the same time. 

Clio’s book Get Your Mojo Back is out now and you can buy it here. Follow her on Instagram: @andbreathewellbeing and @itscliowood.

You can find out more about And Breathe's family and postnatal retreats here.

***

Please don’t suffer in silence! 

You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.

Organisations which offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better (for birth trauma).

***

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth. 

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting postnatal care – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.

Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday. And please leave a review if you like what you hear!

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“I felt so looked after during pregnancy but as soon as I had my baby, I felt like I didn't matter anymore.”

Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth - and in the weeks, months and years afterwards.

On the Mother Bodies podcast, she uncovers the politics, the prejudices and the systemic problems in postnatal healthcare which are affecting parents’ lives.

In this second series, Rosie chats with experts and well-known mums to debunk myths around the maternal mental load, break down taboos on sex after birth, reveal why the system is failing women who experience birth trauma or pregnancy loss, uncover the secrets to enjoying motherhood – and much more.

Mother Bodies is a must-listen if you’ve ever wondered why everyone seems to stop caring about your health the moment you have a baby. 

You’re not alone.

Listen in every Monday to be reassured, informed and empowered.

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lyanne Nicholl speaks to journalist Rosie Taylor about the inspiration for her book Your Postnatal Body: A top-to-toe guide to caring for yourself after pregnancy and birth. Lyanne shares why she felt abandoned after the birth of her first child; the challenges she faced caring for her second baby during lockdown; and how big gaps in women's health research have a real effect on our postnatal wellbeing. She also discusses the encouraging new schemes which could improve life for new mums in the UK - and why making a postpartum plan could be the best thing you ever do.

You can order Lyanne's book here and follow her on Instagram: @thatLyanne and Twitter: @ThatLyanne.

There is some information here on the maternal mental health hubs and some here on the plans for pelvic health hubs, including lists of pilot areas, which Lyanne describes in the episode. If your region is on the lists you should be able to search for details of your local service.

If you're interested in booking an appointment with a women's health physio, you can request an NHS referral via your GP or search for a local private physio here.

Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better (for birth trauma).

On the Mother Bodies podcast, Rosie is on a mission to find out why postnatal health is still so overlooked and to uncover the biases and inequalities which mean women so often don’t get the care, support or treatment they need after having a baby. She speaks to fascinating guests about their personal stories of recovery after birth, how the politics of postnatal health affects us all - and the big ideas which could change mothers' lives for the better.

www.motherbodies.com

Insta: @motherbodies

Twitter: @motherbodies

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.