Mum Club 101

It’s our last episode before maternity leave! Vicky is 39 weeks pregnant and giving one final check-in before baby girl arrives.

In this week’s episode of Mum Club 101, we’re catching up on the final stretch of pregnancy, chatting backyard chickens, and diving headfirst into the bizarre world of baby names.

As always, there’s plenty of real talk, laughter, and parenting truths in the mix.

Catch-up:

• Vicky’s 39-week pregnancy update and our final catch-up before maternity leave
• Katy’s latest gardening obsession: chickens and ducks!

She Named Her Child What?!

Inspired by a viral baby shower story, we’re exploring the strangest and most inappropriate names parents have ever chosen, from historic disasters to “what were they thinking?” moments.

Links:

• AD: ⁠Comfier Sleep⁠ – Award-winning baby bedding. Use code MUMCLUB101 for a discount!
• Fresh Start For Hens: https://freshstartforhens.co.uk

Join the Mum Club Community:

• Follow us on Instagram: @mumclub101
• Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss our return after maternity leave!
• If you love the show, leave us a quick review, it really helps more mums find us.

This week on Mum Club 101, we’re catching up on everything from end of pregnancy challenges to camping with toddlers, before diving into a fascinating debate about Gen Z independence and how much parents should step in once kids become adults.

Catch Up:

• Pregnancy Update: Vicky shares her experience with polyhydramnios and navigating low iron levels during pregnancy.
• Primary School Prep: Katy’s deep in research mode as she looks into schools for her eldest.
• Camping with Toddlers: Katy review’s a recent family trip, the highs and the chaos, plus our best camping tips with little ones in tow.
• Decluttering & Reorganising: Both of us are on a mission to reset our homes and create calmer, more functional family spaces - our top tips for approaching a big declutter.

Recommendations:

• AD: ⁠Comfier Sleep⁠ – Award-winning baby bedding. Use discount code MUMCLUB101
• Glaize Nail Sets – Stick on gel manicures: glaize.co
• Home Reno Programmes – Our latest obsession on Discovery+

Critique of the Week: Are Parents Overstepping with Gen Z?

We unpack a recent survey revealing that nearly half of Gen Z adults (18–27) say their mum regularly contacts their boss on their behalf.

• What does this say about parenting shifts between generations?
• Are parents helping, or unintentionally holding young adults back from developing core life skills like negotiating pay and handling workplace conflict?
• Is this parental involvement driven by Gen Z asking for help, or by parents inserting themselves?

We discuss the balance between protecting our kids and giving them space to build resilience, fail safely, and grow into independent adults. If you’ve ever wondered how much is too much when it comes to stepping into your kids’ lives, this conversation is for you.

Join the Mum Club community:

👉 Hit subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s episode of Mum Club 101. And if you enjoyed today’s catch up, share it with a friend who’s in the parenting trenches with you.

👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠@mumclub101

This week on Mum Club 101, we’re bringing you a big catch up at the end of pregnancy: Braxton Hicks, pregnancy massage, and all the final-stretch feelings. With baby almost here, Vicky shares the ups and downs of the last weeks before birth.

We’ve also packed in some brilliant recommendations for mums-to-be, plus our Critique of the Week, where we dive into the Stylist article “7 Questions You Should Ask Your Partner Before Having Kids.”

💬 What We Chat About in This Episode

• End of pregnancy catch up: Braxton Hicks contractions, pregnancy massage, and the countdown to birth.
• Pregnancy self-care: why massage is more than just a luxury at this stage.
• Critique of the Week: unpacking a relationship coach’s advice on the seven key questions couples should ask before having kids.

🌟 Recommendations from This Episode

• AD: Comfier Sleep – Award-winning baby bedding. Use code MUMCLUB101 for a discount!
• Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Oil – the cult multi-purpose dry oil for face, body, and hair (pregnancy safe!)
• Shark Stratos Cordless Hoover – cordless, anti-hair wrap, and kid/pet-proof.
• SC Massage Therapy – massage at home to ease body and mind.
• Jessica Urlichs’ Poem: The Mental Load – a must-read for every mum navigating the invisible load.

👉 Hit subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s episode of Mum Club 101. And if you enjoyed today’s catch up, share it with a friend who’s in the parenting trenches with you.

✨ Mum Club 101: Come for the parenting truths, stay for the giggles.

Keywords we cover in this episode:

The Emotional Mental Load of Motherhood, end of pregnancy tips, Braxton Hicks contractions, pregnancy massage benefits, parenting podcast UK, preparing for parenthood, relationship questions before kids, mental load of mothers, self-care for mums, parenting truth podcast

Welcome back to Mum Club 101, your virtual mum club and weekly mix of real-life parenting stories, big belly laughs, and honest chats about what’s going on in the motherhood space right now. From the everyday chaos to unpacking the headlines that have mums talking, we’re here to swap stories, share support, and maybe challenge a few old ideas along the way.

This week on Mum Club 101, we’ve got a big catch up for you:

• Vicky has officially started maternity leave! With baby girl due in just a few weeks, she shares how she’s preparing, plus the ups and downs of getting everything ready for newborn life again
• Potty training confessions. Vicky fills us in on real-life potty training progress (the wins and the fails) along with some hard-earned tips for parents navigating this messy milestone.
• Therapy updates. Katy talks about her journey in therapy and some positive progress that might resonate with anyone working on their own mental health.

Recommendations This Week

📺 Chief of War on Apple TV

📺 The Sopranos on NOW TV (because it’s never too late to start a classic)

📲 The Sleep Spot on Instagram: brilliant baby sleep advice

Instagram Life Hacks & Automations

We dive into the world of viral Instagram life hacks, from clever parenting shortcuts and household automations to the downright unhinged. Which ones are actually worth trying, and which ones go way too far?

Nonsense Time

Katy’s back with another chaotic tale… this time about losing her keys for the fourth time (yes, fourth). Spoiler: it’s her most dramatic key-losing saga yet.

Join the Mum Club community:If you’re a parent looking for honest chat, giggles, and real-life parenting truths, you’re in the right place. Hit subscribe so you never miss an episode.

👉 Follow us on Instagram: @mumclub101
👉 Leave us a review if you enjoyed today’s episode – it helps other parents find the club!

Welcome back to Mum Club 101, your virtual mum club and weekly mix of real-life parenting stories, big belly laughs, and honest chats about what’s going on in the motherhood space right now. From the everyday chaos to unpacking the headlines that have mums talking, we’re here to swap stories, share support, and maybe challenge a few old ideas along the way.

Catch Up

Real-life mum moments and some personal updates:

• Low iron in the third trimester: Vicky shares her symptoms, how she’s managing them, and the impact on her energy levels.
• Toddler swimming lesson tantrums: how we’re surviving the meltdowns (and still getting them in the pool).
• Manifestation on the Lionsgate Portal: a little ritual and what it means for setting intentions.
• Helping kids say sorry: how to guide young children to genuinely feel remorse and make amends after mistakes.

Our Recommendations this Week

This week’s watch-and-follow list you’ll want to add to your queue:

• Louis Theroux – The Settlers (BBC)
• Dexter: Resurrection (Paramount+)
• Platonic (Apple TV)
• Instagram account: 9irlnews

Critique of the Week: The Sophie Turner Mum-Shaming Backlash

When Sophie Turner posted Oasis concert snaps, a troll accused her of “forgetting she has two kids.” Her perfect reply?

“So… Get this… There’s this crazy thing called shared custody. Maybe they were with their dad that day.”

We unpack the bigger issue:

• Mum as the “always-on” parent: UK ONS data shows mums of young kids do 65% more unpaid childcare than dads, even when both work full-time.
• The dad halo effect: fathers get public praise for basic caregiving (“He’s babysitting”) while mums are judged on perfection, all the time.
• Why it matters: fuels mum guilt, burnout, and undervalues dads as equal co-parents.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

  🚼 Low iron in pregnancy: symptoms, treatment & energy tips

  💦 Managing toddler tantrums at swimming lessons

  ✨ A Lionsgate Portal manifestation ritual

  ❤️ How to teach kids to say sorry and mean it

  🎥 TV & culture picks to binge this week

  🍼 Why mums face harsher judgment than dads in parenting

In this week’s episode of Mum Club 101, we’re catching up on the chaos and charm of third trimester pregnancy while juggling life with a toddler, from navigating public meltdowns to the bittersweet task of clearing out baby items when you know it’s your last child. If you’ve ever found yourself welling up over a tiny sleepsuit or stealth-negotiating with a toddler in a supermarket aisle, this one’s for you.

Catch-Up Topics:

• Pregnant in the third trimester with a toddler: the real talk on insomnia, restless legs, nesting, and keeping up with a tiny whirlwind.
• Letting go of baby things: the nostalgia, the emotions, and the sense of closing a chapter.
• Public toddler meltdowns: how we handle them, the pressure of other people’s eyes, and why compassion is key.

This Weekly Recommendations:

• Magnesium Sleep Spray – Game changer for restless legs: Norfolk Natural Living Magnesium Body Spray
• The Summer I Turned Pretty – Perfect teen-drama escapism: Watch on Amazon Prime
• David Attenborough: Parenthood – Fascinating animal parenting stories: Watch on BBC iPlayer
• Aldi Pistachio Crème – The affordable treat you need in your cupboard.

Critique of the Week: The Social Media Ban That Might Suffocate Kids’ Curiosity
Australia is introducing a new law that will ban anyone under 16 from creating a social media account from December. This includes TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and now YouTube. While it’s designed to protect kids from harmful algorithms, could it actually remove one of their biggest creative and educational tools?

We unpack:

• Why YouTube is different for kids compared to other platforms
• The unintended consequences of banning accounts
• The differences in consuming vs creating content
• Potential alternatives to a full ban
• Our opinions on the ban

Nonsense Time:
We wrap things up with the wildest wildlife parenting facts, inspired by the new David Attenborough series because animal parents really put us to shame.

🎙 Listen now for honest motherhood chat, recommendations worth trying, and a critique that might change the way you see kids and tech.

Mum Club 101 is the podcast where best friends (Katy and Vicky) navigate the chaos of modern motherhood with honest chats, big laughs, and zero judgment. Come for the parenting truths, stay for the giggles.

In this week’s episode of Mum Club 101, we’re catching up on lots of recent goings on in both of our families and households. From new sofas to toddler bed struggles, and child-free camping trips it’s a jam-packed catch-up before diving into a big conversation on why one in four mums quit work after maternity leave. We explore the stats, the stories, and the systemic problems and reflect on our own experiences of navigating motherhood and our careers.

Catch Up:

There’s a lot going on behind the scenes lately! In this week’s catch-up, we share:

• Pregnancy update – Vicky sees her consultant to discuss and agree a birth plan following a previous postpartum haemorrhage.
• Toddler bed transitions – The highs, the lows, the wild 3am wanderings.
• Katy goes camping – Child-free! We talk about why time away as a couple is so needed when you’re deep in the parenting trenches.

Critique of the Week: Why So Many Mums Quit After Maternity Leave

A huge number of mums leave their jobs within a year of returning from maternity leave, not because they want to, but because the system makes it too hard to stay.

Key Facts:

• 1 in 4 mums (27%) quit within 12 months of returning to work.
• Only 1 in 3 returning mums have access to flexible working.
• 12% face direct workplace discrimination.
• The long-term cost? Lower pay, lost confidence, and mental health struggles.

We share our own experiences trying to balance motherhood with work and what has led Katy to take a six-month career break to focus on family. We reflect on the emotional weight of that decision and why so many women are walking away from jobs they once loved.

Useful Links:

• Your Right to Request Flexible Working in the UK (GOV.UK)
• Support for Working Parents – Working Families
• Your Rights: Pregnant Then Screwed
• Unpaid Parental Leave UK (GOV.UK)

Nonsense Time

Unreal 1950s housewife facts that made us laugh... and cringe. From advice to women about taking tranquillisers to manage their mental health to tips on how to “greet your husband,” you won't believe some of these real-life vintage ‘advice’ gems.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave us a review, and share this episode with a friend who’s navigating parenthood and work-life decisions.
💌 Come say hi on Instagram @mumclub101

This week on Mum Club 101, we're covering everything from toddler chaos to one of the most debated parenting topics of the year.

Catch-Up:
Vicky shares her third trimester update, including her experience with the gestational diabetes test and pregnancy vaccines. Meanwhile, Katy reflects on the logistics (and sheer stamina required) of managing two toddlers at swimming lessons.

Critique of the Week:
Should children as young as 11 be prescribed weight-loss injections?
We’re diving into a controversial and emotionally charged topic this week, sparked by a viral This Morning interview with an 11-year-old girl named Sophia and her mum. Sophia shared her painful experience of bullying, body image struggles, and why she asked to go on weekly GLP-1 injections like semaglutide (Wegovy) or liraglutide (Saxenda).

We explore the clinical context, ethical concerns, and emotional layers behind the use of weight-loss medication in children—particularly when it’s prescribed off-label.
Is this a compassionate medical response to a growing health crisis, or a troubling message about bodies and self-worth?

Please note: this segment contains sensitive discussion around childhood weight, bullying, and body image. If this topic feels heavy for you today, feel free to skip ahead or listen when you’re ready.

If you or your child is struggling with food, body confidence, or emotional wellbeing, you are not alone. Support is available:

• BEAT Eating Disorders | Helpline: 0808 801 0677
• YoungMinds – Mental health support for young people and parents

Link to Interview on This Morning 

Nonsense Time:
We try to guess the meaning of words from other languages that don’t have a direct English translation. Spoiler: we're mostly wrong.

Welcome back to Mum Club 101! Your favourite Motherhood Podcast with besties Katy and Vicky.

This week’s episode is packed with laughs, real talk, and a deep dive into one of the most pressing parenting topics today: is screen time doing more than just tiring out little eyes?

This Week’s Catch-Up:

• Vicky shares her journey getting tested for gestational diabetes
• Katy’s in the thick of toddlerhood with a big cot-to-bed transition, we talk challenges and top tips 
• Katy prepares for our youngest to turn two and all the emotions associated with the end of 'the baby phase'

Critique of the Week: Is Screen Time Undermining Our Kids’ Sense Development?
We’re hearing more about kids developing myopia (short-sightedness) and even vertigo, but there’s a much quieter concern in the background: underdeveloped sensory systems.

We’re unpacking:

• How screens might be limiting proprioceptive (body awareness) and vestibular (balance) input.
• Why kids are moving less and why it matters.
• The real-life, practical strategies we can use to bring back sensory-rich play (even if it's raining and the soft play is shut).

What Can We Do as Parents? We share small, doable ideas to help balance screen use with sensory development, no guilt or Pinterest perfection parenting required.

New Segment Alert:We introduce a bit of fun with our own version of the game ‘Last One Laughing’

Links & Mentions:

• Sleep Consultant Kerry Secker (Care It Out): @careitoutsleepconsultant
• Our current binge-watch: The Better Sister on Amazon Prime: Watch here

Subscribe & Share:Love what you’re hearing? Subscribe, leave us a review, and tag us on Instagram @mumclub101podcast. Sharing the episode helps us reach more parents navigating modern motherhood—one cup of cold tea at a time.

Welcome back to your favourite motherhood podcast! In this episode of Mum Club 101, Katy and Vicky catch up on all the emotional, chaotic, and surprisingly reflective moments that come with modern motherhood.

• ​Katy shares all about her much-anticipated child-free weekend in the Cotswolds… which sadly took a turn thanks to an untimely bug 😷
• ​Vicky gives a pregnancy update as she starts prepping the nursery for her soon-to-be-born baby girl
• ​Katy reflects on the bittersweet end of babyhood as her youngest turns two—cue all the emotions
• ​We talk toddler bed transitions: what we’re researching, our honest feelings about it, and how we’re (sort of?) preparing ourselves for this huge milestone at home

From baby gear clear-outs to deep chats about growing kids and growing pains, it’s one of those episodes that feels like a voice note with your best mum friend.

Critique of the Week: Tattle Life & the Cost of Gossip Culture

This week, we take a closer look at the rise—and recent reckoning—of Tattle Life, the anonymous UK gossip forum targeting women, especially parenting influencers.

• ​With millions of monthly users, Tattle Life claims to "hold influencers accountable" but often veers into body-shaming, doxxing, and unrelenting personal commentary.
• ​We explore the recent legal case that awarded £300,000 in damages to a defamed couple, and how the site’s founder has now been publicly named.
• ​Influencers like Emily Clarkson, Mrs Hinch, and Ashley James have all spoken out about the mental health impact of being targeted.
• ​We reflect on the difference between traditional “gossip” (which historically created community and connection among women) and modern anonymous commentary that feels more like public punishment than conversation.
• ​Why are we so invested in tearing down mums online—and how do we shift back toward community, empathy, and accountability that actually helps?

New Segment: I’m Not Crying, You Are

This week we introduce a new segment celebrating the tender, raw, and emotional side of motherhood.We read a motherhood poem from Jessica Urlichs and reflect on the transitions we’re moving through: the end of babyhood, the toddler chaos, and everything in between. Prepare for all the feels.