Happy Mum Happy Baby

Fresh from celebrating Mother’s Day, Gi has delved into the archives and picked out some of her favourite moments that celebrate what it really means to be a mum:Kamille on finding her way as a new mumColeen Rooney on embracing the chaos of four boysIsma Almas on adopting her son and the moment she first felt like his mumLydia Bright on the guilt from balancing her career and motherhoodAshley James on healing from traumatic birth and regaining her ‘pink’Plus, we receive some questions from a very special guest!

On this week's episode of Happy Mum Happy Baby, Clinical Psychologist Dr Julie joins Giovanna to talk about perfection, parenting and letting go of the expectations we place on ourselves.  Julie opens up about being diagnosed with breast cancer last year and tells Gi why and how she talked to her three children about it.Plus Gi and Julie discuss hypnobirthing and the importance of having agency during birth. Dr Julie’s new book Open When is available to buy now: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/453995/open-when-by-smith-dr-julie/9780241663936

On this month's Parenting SOS, we’re joined by Clinical Psychologist and expert on maternal rage Dr Caroline Boyd.Anger is a natural response to the overwhelming demands of motherhood in today’s society. Many of us feel pressure to be supermums - calm, coping and in control at all times - and were raised to see anger as a ‘forbidden’ emotion for women. This often means our feelings stay simmering under the surface, until we reach a breaking point. Caroline shares her insight on what happens to us when we’re angry, how can we move through the emotion, and letting go of the inevitable guilt that comes after an angry reaction. Gi and Caroline also touch on the different contextual forces at play that shape our responses to anger. These social contexts are numerous and varied for every individual, often including important identities such as race, class and sexuality, which influence how we feel and express anger.Plus, we answer some of your questions, including how to manage anger towards your partner, keeping your cool when overstimulated, and identifying burn out.Caroline offers a self-paced anger course for mothers (USE THE CODE “HMHB” TO CLAIM YOUR £100 DISCOUNT):https://dr-caroline-boyd.mykajabi.com/maternal-rage-sign-upDownload Caroline’s FREE GUIDE on how to handle partner rage: https://dr-caroline-boyd.mykajabi.com/3rs-free-downloadCaroline’s book, Mindful New Mum: A Mind-Body Approach to the Highs and Lows of Motherhood, is available to buy online Amazon, Waterstones or Bookshop

Our guest this week is the insightful, witty, and all-round wonderful Cherry Healey, who over the years has graced our screens with the likes of SAS Who Dares Wins, Inside the Factory, and numerous BBC3 documentaries.Cherry opens up to Giovanna about her complex relationship with her dad, and how having children herself and leaning into therapy helped to heal her childhood wounds.Plus, Cherry admits that she once subscribed to the societal stereotypes associated with being a single parent - until she became one herself. She also expresses heartfelt admiration for her ex-husband and tells Gi she feels lucky that her children have the best dad in the world.

This week Giovanna sits down for a raw and hilarious conversation with comedian Sara Pascoe.Sara speaks candidly about the highs and lows of her mental health during IVF and after having her first child.Plus Sara and Gi describe how their respective relationships evolved after becoming parents.Sara Pascoe will tour the UK and Ireland with all new show, I Am A Strange Gloop in 2025/26, including the London Palladium on Sunday 1st March 2026. Tickets: sarapascoe.co.uk

Giovanna's guest this week is Love Island winner, TV personality, and podcast host Dani Dyer!Dani opens up about becoming a single mum after the birth of her son, discussing the guilt she felt about how expanding her family might affect her first child.She also delves into the challenges of dating as a single mum and shares the story of how she met her fiancé footballer Jarrod Bowen.Plus how her dad, the legendary Danny Dyer, reacted to the news he was going to become a grandparent, and the chaos (and joy!) of raising three under three.