In this episode of The Baby Tribe, Afif and Anne tackle an important but often overlooked topic: what happens when things don’t go to plan after a baby is born.

While most women recover well after delivery, a small number require closer monitoring or escalation of care. Anne, a consultant obstetric anaesthesiologist, explains how maternity teams identify early warning signs, what triggers a move from the postnatal ward to high dependency or intensive care, and what that experience looks like in practice.

They break down the differences between ward care, HDU, and ICU, the most common reasons mothers need escalation such as haemorrhage, infection, and preeclampsia, and why early recognition is so important for good outcomes.

The episode also explores the emotional impact of unexpected complications, how hospitals support mothers and babies during these situations, and what symptoms should never be ignored after going home.

This is an honest, reassuring, and informative conversation designed to give parents a clearer understanding of how maternity care works when it matters most.

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We all grow up with a version of how life is supposed to go. Meet someone, settle down, have kids. But what happens when that version doesn’t unfold the way you expected? In this episode, comedian Aideen McQueen joins us for a funny, honest, and deeply personal conversation about identity, addiction, recovery, and coming to terms with not having children.

From always imagining herself as a mother to confronting that reality in her 40s, Aideen shares the emotional complexity of grief, acceptance, and finding purpose in unexpected places. This isn’t a story about giving up. It’s a story about redefining what a meaningful life looks like and discovering that care, connection, and fulfilment can exist in many different forms.

FInd Aideen and info on all her shows at:

https://www.instagram.com/comedymcqueen/

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Parenting is hard enough… so when did “wellness” become another thing to get right?

In this episode, we’re joined by Clare McKenna, host of Alive & Kicking and author of Would You Be Well?, to unpack the modern obsession with wellness and why, for many parents, it’s doing more harm than good.

We explore Clare’s journey from chasing diets, routines, and “perfect health” to realising that wellness had quietly become another source of pressure. Together, we talk about how social media, unrealistic expectations, and guilt-driven habits are shaping how we think about health… and why so many parents feel like they’re getting it wrong.

Afif shares his own experience of going all-in on fitness and achieving the goal… only to feel worse. Anne reflects on how motherhood reshapes identity, routine, and self-care in ways nobody prepares you for.

This episode is about stripping things back. Not perfection. Not optimisation. Just figuring out what actually works in real life.

If your version of wellness is making you feel worse… it might be time to rethink it.

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“Sleeping like a baby” is one of the biggest myths in parenting.

In this episode, we strip back the noise around infant sleep and look at what the science actually tells us. From circadian rhythm development to night waking, we explain why babies don’t sleep the way we expect them to, and why that doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

We explore the full spectrum of sleep training methods, from cry-it-out to so-called “gentle” approaches, and break down what they are really doing: not changing biology, but changing behaviour.

We also examine the evidence behind sleep training, what improves (parent perception, sometimes sleep onset), what doesn’t (night waking), and why the conversation around “self-soothing” is often misunderstood.

Finally, we talk about the modern sleep industry, the rise of rebranding, and how vulnerable parents are being sold solutions to a problem that may not exist in the first place.

No guilt. No ideology. Just clarity.

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Becoming a parent changes how you see everything.

In this episode, we’re joined by Hilary McGann (News by Hil), journalist and creator, to talk about what happens when someone whose job is to understand the world becomes a mother in it.

Hilary shares her deeply personal journey through a complicated and anxiety-filled pregnancy, including emergency surgery, ovarian torsion, and the constant fear of losing her baby. What follows is a powerful reflection on resilience, perspective, and what it really means to become a parent.

We also explore how parenthood reshapes our relationship with the world around us: Does the news hit differently after having a child? How do you stay informed without becoming overwhelmed? And how should we talk to our children about a world that often feels chaotic?

This is an honest, thoughtful conversation about motherhood, information overload, and finding balance in a noisy world.

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A practical and honest conversation with clinical psychologist Dr David Coleman, author of Fear Less, on childhood anxiety. We explore why anxiety feels so common in children today, the difference between normal fear and something more serious, and how parents can support their child without overprotecting them. From the science behind anxiety to simple tools that actually work, this episode focuses on one key idea: your child doesn’t need to be fearless, they just need to know how to handle fear.

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When Emma McGuinness was pregnant with her second child, she discovered a swelling in her neck that turned out to be Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her son was delivered at 36 weeks and spent his first 14 days in neonatal intensive care. Just weeks later, Emma began six months of chemotherapy while caring for a newborn.

In this powerful episode, Emma shares the reality of navigating cancer during pregnancy, the emotional experience of having a baby in NICU, and how her own experience exposed a gap in Irish maternity leave legislation. That gap ultimately led to a national campaign and a change in the law.

This episode is recorded in collaboration with Daffodil Day in support of the Irish Cancer Society. To donate check out www.cancer.ie

You can find Emma's page here: https://www.instagram.com/a_little_link/

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When parents hear the word NICU, it can feel frightening. But the reality is that many babies who spend time there are simply adjusting to life outside the womb.

In this episode, Afif and Anne break down the most common reasons newborns are admitted to the neonatal unit, including breathing difficulties, low blood sugar, infection checks, temperature regulation, and feeding challenges.

Afif explains the physiology behind these issues and why most NICU stays are short and part of a baby’s normal transition after birth. If you’re expecting a baby or have ever wondered what really happens in NICU, this episode offers clarity and reassurance.

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Epidurals are often blamed for triggering a cascade of interventions, harming babies, and interfering with breastfeeding. But what does the actual evidence say?

This week we’re joined by Professor Rachel Kearns, consultant anaesthetist and population health researcher, to unpack the data. From maternal morbidity and fever to neonatal outcomes and long term child development, we examine what large scale studies really show and where the myths fall apart. If you’re making decisions about pain relief in labour, this is the evidence based conversation you need.

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This week on The Baby Tribe, we’re joined by broadcaster and podcaster Doireann Garrihy for an honest and deeply personal conversation about pregnancy, birth, and the early weeks of becoming a parent.

Doireann shares her experience of induction on her due date, the moment plans changed in the delivery room, and what it felt like to hear that a C-section was needed. She reflects on the relief of hearing her daughter Rosie’s first cry, the unexpected challenges in recovery, and the surreal first night as a family of three.

We also talk about feeding, the pressure new mothers put on themselves, and the “wins and losses” mindset that can quietly take over in those early weeks. Doireann opens up about the emotional weight of breastfeeding struggles, delayed milk, sleep deprivation, and how easy it is to become your own harshest critic.

As always, we explore what it means when birth doesn’t go to plan, why emergency doesn’t always mean catastrophe, and how partners can play a vital role in advocacy and support.

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