When both of our children were newborns, both Kim and Leila were told, repeatedly, that they looked just like their dads. Which, to be honest, wasn't always what we wanted to hear. We explore why it might be a good idea to look like your dad, what the science actually says, and how sometimes resemblance is all in the eye of the beholder. 

In this episode:

You can find more Science Baby at...

Our blog: https://thesciencebaby.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_science_baby/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesciencebaby

Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesciencebaby

And if you like what you see, consider supporting our work with a one-off or recurring tip: https://ko-fi.com/leilabattison

Last episode, we talked about the practical side of IVF - who is eligible, what testing there is beforehand, and what the procedure actually entails. But we didn’t talk about any of the squishy human stuff: the ups and downs of being an IVF patient and parent. So this time around, we tackle the physical and psychological impacts of IVF, and some of the things you might want to consider before starting treatment.

In this episode:

We're back afer a short break over the holidays, and we're kicking off with a really special one. Leila's son Felix (the OG Science Baby) was brought into the world through the medical miracle that is IVF. But to anyone from the outside looking in (or thinking about going through it themselves), the whole process can be a bit of an overwhelming mystery. So in this episode, we break down the IVF process, from where it sits within the assistive reproductive landscape, to who is eligible, how to get referred, and the ins and outs of what's involved. 

In this episode:

Being mums and trying to make a podcast means that sometimes, things don't always go to plan! This episode, that means that we have a full house and not a little bit of chaos. Kim and Stella, and Leila and Felix take a look back at the last few months since the launch of The Science Baby Podcast, read your comments and answer your questions. Expect terrible audio, questionable continuity, and lots of real life tangents!

In this episode: 

How soon can you know whether your baby is going to be right or left handed, and what can that tell you about how their brains are developing? Kim and Leila dive into the surprising science that links dominant hand with language, emotion, genes, and the environment. And since Science Baby himself is a leftie, we consider his experience growing up in a right-handed world.

In this episode:

Okay, maybe not everyone's relationship with their loved one is in the pan after having a child, but anecdotally and statistically, many parents find themselves facing relationship challenges with a little one in the mix. 

Leila and Kim are no exceptions, and we share a very cathartic chat about how and why our marriages have changed, and what we can do about it. 

In this episode:

I'm a big fan of Philippa Perry's book "The Book You Wish Your Parents Had Read (And Your Children Will Be Glad You Did)", which you can buy here. 

As babies and toddlers learn to move around and experience the world, they're soon going to be accumulating injuries, whether from their own fingernails or from the inevitable bumps and scrapes of toddlerdom.

But no sooner do those injuries appear, than they heal, uncannily quickly, and rarely leaving behind any scars at all. We dive into what's going in inside their tiny Wolverine bodies to give them this super-healing ability. 

In this epsiode:

When your baby is a few months old, it's time to start facing down the next big milestone in your parenting journey: weaning them onto solid foods. But while the official guidance is clear, the advice you get from different people can vary. So when should you start the process?

Right now, Kim is just about to start weaning, and Leila is shocked to discover that she and Felix have been at the solid foods game for over two years. So this is a great opportunity to compare notes on when is the right time to wean your baby, as well as some of the things to look out for in those early months. 

In this episode:

Solid Starts is the app that we mention in this episode, which helps to guide you on appropriate foods to introduce, and how to prepare them for babies of different ages. 

https://solidstarts.com/app/ 

Around three months after giving birth, many women are alarmed to find their hair starting to fall out. Although this is a pretty ubiquitous anacdote shared among new mothers, the science - where it exists - tells us that it might not be a real phenomenon.

In this episode, Leila and Kim dive into the pitiful research that has been done to figure out if postpartum hairloss is a real thing, and what might be causing it.

In this episode:

On average, one in every four pregnancies ends in loss, and yet miscarriage, stillbirth, and pregnancy loss are still taboo subjects in many cultures. As a result, women who go through it experience shame, guilt, and loneliness which is entirely a product of attitude, and not science. This Baby Loss awareness week, we want to cast a light on a not at all uncommon phenomenon. 

In this episode:

Find out more about Baby Loss Awareness Week: https://babyloss-awareness.org/

Charities that can offer support and guidance for people going through pregnancy loss:

https://www.sands.org.uk/ 

https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/