The MAMA Podcast

Sophie Eldridge, better known as The Happy Midwife, joins Heidi Eldridge for a frank conversation about what maternity services need to change, and how change actually happens.Sophie is a practising midwife, mum, and perinatal governance professional with a passion for quality improvement. Together, they explore why transparency and communication sit at the heart of safer care, how “flattening the hierarchy” can protect families and staff, and what leaders can do right now to improve culture and retention.They also discuss flexible working, psychological safety, accountability, and why Sophie believes “keep asking why” is one of the most powerful tools in maternity care.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:
• Why transparent leadership improves culture and safety
• The real reasons staff leave, and what retention looks like in practice
• How to challenge unsafe or outdated practice without being silenced
• What “flattening hierarchy” means on the shop floor
• Why communication is at the root of most incidents
• Sophie’s message to midwives and future leaders: go for the job, speak up, keep asking why

Follow Sophie:
TikTok: @thehappymidwife
Instagram: @thehappymidwifeig

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at:
Our Website – https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ Or @mamaacademy on all your favourite social media platforms.

If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
‘MAMA05’ to 70085 to donate £5
‘MAMA10’ to 70085 to donate £10
‘MAMA50’ to 70085 to donate £50

In this episode of The MAMA Podcast, Heidi is joined by Theo Clarke to talk about her personal experience of birth injury and the long road to recovery that followed.
Theo shares what it was like navigating physical recovery, postnatal care, and mental health challenges after a traumatic birth  and reflects on how unprepared many parents feel for complications after labour.The conversation explores the realities of postnatal recovery, the importance of clear information and follow-up care, and why many parents struggle to access the support they need in the weeks and months after birth.
Theo also discusses how lived experience can shape public conversations about maternity care, and why listening to parents’ experiences matters.
This episode focuses on awareness, reflection, and the ongoing need for better understanding and support around birth injuries and postnatal recovery.

If you’d like to follow Theo Clarke’s work, you can do so here

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at:
Our Website – https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ Or @mamaacademy on all your favourite social media platforms.

If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
‘MAMA05’ to 70085 to donate £5
‘MAMA10’ to 70085 to donate £10
‘MAMA50’ to 70085 to donate £50

Dr Alice Keely is a plus size specialist phd midwife with 25 years experience and a passion for helping women of all sizes have calm in control pregnancies. When her PHD research exposed how challenging the plus size pregnancy journey can be, Alice launched the Heavyweight Midwife to help women get knowledge, reassurance & be in control for pregnancy & birth.

If you’d like to learn more about Dr Alice Keely, you can do that here:Website: https://theheavyweightmidwife.com/ Instagram: @theheavyweightmidwife

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at:Our Website – https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ Or @mamaacademy on all your favourite social media platforms.

If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
‘MAMA05’ to 70085 to donate £5
‘MAMA10’ to 70085 to donate £10
‘MAMA50’ to 70085 to donate £50

In this episode, Heidi is joined by midwife, author and maternity advocate Leah Hazard to explore what life on the real frontline of maternity care is like, and what midwives wish the system truly understood. Drawing on almost 12 years as an NHS midwife in a busy urban maternity unit, Leah offers a powerful, honest insight into staffing pressures, moral injury, and the emotional toll of not being able to provide the standard of care midwives are trained, and desperately want, to give. Together, Heidi and Leah unpack how system pressures impact safety, staff wellbeing and families, and why safe staffing and proper resourcing are non-negotiable if we want better outcomes for parents and babies.

We also cover:
• what a day in maternity triage is really like
• how staff shortages affect safety, compassion and continuity of care
• moral injury, burnout and why so many midwives are leaving
• the culture of fear around speaking up and whistleblowing
• the importance of listening to parents and frontline staff in national reviews
• Leah’s hopes (and worries) for the future of maternity care
• honest advice for anyone considering a career in midwifery

If you’d like to learn more about Leah Hazard, you can do that here:
Website: https://www.leahhazard.co.uk/  Instagram: @leahhazard

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at:
Our Website – https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ Or @mamaacademy on all your favourite social media platforms.


If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
‘MAMA05’ to 70085 to donate £5
‘MAMA10’ to 70085 to donate £10
‘MAMA50’ to 70085 to donate £50

In this episode, Heidi sits down with leading fertility acupuncturist Hannah Pearn to explore how acupuncture can support hormone balance, reproductive health, stress levels, and IVF outcomes.Hannah shares over a decade of specialist experience, breaking down what actually happens in a treatment, how acupuncture fits within a fertility journey, and why a holistic, whole-body approach often uncovers what standard routes can miss.Whether you’re preparing to conceive, navigating IVF, or simply curious about how acupuncture works, this conversation is packed with clarity, reassurance, and practical guidance.We also cover:
• the three key ways acupuncture supports fertility
• when to start treatment for the best results
• how it complements IVF
• common lifestyle tweaks that make a big difference
• how to choose a properly qualified fertility acupuncturist

If you’d like to learn more about Hannah Pearn, you can do that here: https://hannahpearn.com/
If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at: Our Website - https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ or '@mamaacademy' on all your favourite social media platforms. 
If you'd like to make a one time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
'MAMA05' to 70085 to donate £5
'MAMA10' to 70085 to donate £10
'MAMA50' to 70085 to donate £50

When Chris’s wife developed postpartum psychosis after the birth of their first child, life changed overnight. In today’s episode, Chris shares his family’s journey and how their experience inspired him to campaign for greater awareness of this rare but treatable maternal mental illness.He also speaks about the impact on partners, the vital role of mother and baby units, and why recognising the early signs can save lives.
Hosted by Heidi Eldridge, founder and CEO of MAMA Academy, the UK’s Safer Pregnancy Charity.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Action on Postpartum Psychosis (APP) or speak to your GP, midwife, or NHS 111.

If you’d like to learn more about Chris, you can do that here: https://www.instagram.com/wasley_postpartumpsychosis/

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at: Our Website - https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ or '@mamaacademy' on all your favourite social media platforms.

If you'd like to make a one time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
'MAMA05' to 70085 to donate £5
'MAMA10' to 70085 to donate £10
'MAMA50' to 70085 to donate £50

In this episode of The MAMA Podcast, host Heidi Eldridge chats with Manisha Sheth, co-founder of Support Me, a volunteer-led, birth-inspired group focused on helping minority ethnic people in the UK navigate the maternity system and beyond.

If you’d like to learn more about Support ME, you can do that here: https://supportmecic.com/

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at: Our Website - https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ or '@mamaacademy' on all your favourite social media platforms.

If you'd like to make a one time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
'MAMA05' to 70085 to donate £5
'MAMA10' to 70085 to donate £10
'MAMA50' to 70085 to donate £50

This week on The MAMA Podcast, Heidi speaks with Clare, a pelvic health physiotherapist and mum of two, about what pelvic health really is, and why it matters in pregnancy, birth and beyond. We get practical about bowel health (the unsung hero), simple pelvic floor exercises you can actually do, and how to stay active safely without giving up the movement you love.If you’ve ever wondered whether perineal massage helps, how to handle pelvic girdle pain (PGP/SPD), or what to look out for after birth, this episode is for you. It’s myth-busting, reassuring and full of tips you can use today.

If you’d like to find out more about Clare and her work, you can do so here.
If you’d like to find out more about the lifesaving work MAMA Academy does, you can do so here.

This week on The MAMA Podcast, Heidi speaks with Bex and Laura, co-founders of The Worst Girl Gang Ever foundation about pregnancy loss and what it’s like carrying grief when everyone around you expects you to just “be okay.”If you’ve ever felt isolated by loss, or wondered whether your reactions are valid, this episode is for you. We get honest, and we explore what grief looks like, how we cope, and why sharing matters.

If you’d like to find out more about the The Worst Girl Gang Ever community, you can do so here.

If you’d like to find out more about the lifesaving work MAMA Academy does, you do so here.

This week's episode of The MAMA Podcast was brought to you by Counselling Directory. Pregnancy and parenthood can be full of joy, but also moments that feel overwhelming, heavy, or just hard to put into words. That’s where Counselling Directory comes in. Since 2005, they’ve been helping people find the right professional support, because no one should have to struggle alone.On the site, you’ll find a nationwide network of qualified, professional counsellors – all carefully verified so you can feel confident in your choice. You can search for someone local, or connect online if that works better for you. It’s simple, secure, and completely free to browse and get in touch. Your mental health matters, and support is always within reach. Take that first step today at counselling-directory.org.uk

This week on the MAMA Podcast, Heidi chats with Dr. Kirsty Harris from Northamptonshire Perinatal Mental Health Services to discuss the work she and her team are doing to support families.

For parents who are pregnant after loss, anxiety and trauma can resurface in powerful ways. Recognising this, Dr. Harris and her team have created dedicated pathways of support, bringing together specialist midwives and psychological therapists to walk alongside families through pregnancy.

If you’d like to see more of what we do, you can find us at: Our Website - https://www.mamaacademy.org.uk/ or '@mamaacademy' on all your favourite social media platforms.

If you'd like to make a one time donation to support everything we do, you can text:
'MAMA05' to 70085 to donate £5
'MAMA10' to 70085 to donate £10
'MAMA50' to 70085 to donate £50