Mother Bodies

Clinical psychologist Dr Emma Svanberg (@mumologist) speaks to Rosie Taylor about why parents today are experiencing more anxiety, loneliness and isolation than ever before – and how we can find joy in parenting despite that. She also discusses the links between physical and mental postnatal health problems and why society needs to start valuing parents for the incredible job they do.You can buy Emma’s latest book, Parenting for Humans, here.She also offers therapy and group support for parents through The Psychology Co-Operative, here.You can also follow her on Facebook: Dr Emma Svanberg, Psychologist.***Please don’t suffer in silence! You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.***Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)www.motherbodies.comInsta: @motherbodiesTwitter: @motherbodies

Sarah Graham, author of the book Rebel Bodies and the blog Hysterical Women, speaks to Rosie Taylor about all the reasons science, medicine and governments fail to recognise the importance of postnatal health – and the revolution beginning to change things for the better.Sarah chats about medicine’s patronising attitudes towards women and the fact mothers are expected to sacrifice their own health for their children, as well as how she was pleasantly surprised by her own positive experiences of birth and postnatal recovery.You can buy Sarah’s book Rebel Bodies here and read her blog here. Follow her on Instagram: @sarahgraham7writer and Twitter: @sarahgraham7.***Please don’t suffer in silence! You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.***Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)www.motherbodies.comInsta: @motherbodiesTwitter: @motherbodies

Yes, there’s a dad on Mother Bodies! Paul Morgan-Bentley, author of The Equal Parent, chats to Rosie Taylor about his experience of becoming a gay dad via surrogacy and how that opened his eyes to gender inequalities in parenthood. Paul chats about the research debunking the idea that only women are biologically primed to care for babies, his ongoing struggle to find gender-neutral baby changing places - and what equal parenting looks like when there aren’t any cultural pressures for one parent to do more.You can buy Paul’s book The Equal Parent here. Follow him on Twitter: @pmorganbentley.***Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)www.motherbodies.comInsta: @motherbodiesTwitter: @motherbodies

TW: This episode discusses pregnancy loss, infertility and secondary infertility.Jennie Agg, journalist and author of Life, Almost, speaks frankly to Rosie Taylor about one of the greatest taboos around postnatal health: recovery after pregnancy and baby loss. Jennie talks about her own experiences of recurrent miscarriage, the research developments which could help us better understand infertility and baby loss - and the conflicting feelings she experienced when she finally became a mum. You can buy Jennie's book Life, Almost here and subscribe to her Substack here. Follow her on Instagram: @jenniemonologues and Twitter: @jenniferagg.***If you’ve been affected by issues discussed in this episode, these organisations could help:Tommy’s provides evidence-based advice and information around miscarriage and baby loss, as well as offering support.The Miscarriage Association has a support helpline and Sands supports families who have experienced baby loss. Fertility Network UK has a support group for people experiencing secondary infertility.Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues Pandas and Make Birth Better.***Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)www.motherbodies.comInsta: @motherbodiesTwitter: @motherbodies

Midwife and birth debrief facilitator Illiyin Morrison (@mixing.up.motherhood) speaks frankly about how maternity systems need to change to prevent birth trauma, why the concept of ‘self-care’ is a con designed to make you feel guilty – and how she ultimately found joy in motherhood.Illy’s book The Birth Debrief is out now – you can buy it here.You can book a postnatal debrief session with Illy here and buy a ‘pay it forward’ session for someone who can’t afford to pay here.***Please don’t suffer in silence! You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.***Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)www.motherbodies.comInsta: @motherbodiesTwitter: @motherbodies

Musician, author and Instagrammer Izzy Judd opens up to journalist Rosie Taylor about everything from postnatal anxiety and parenting under the spotlight, to the challenges of breastfeeding and the realities of her physical recovery after having three children. Izzy also chats about the inspiration behind her books Mindfulness for Mums and Dare to Dream - including her attempts to find calm amid the chaos of family life. Follow her on Instagram: @mrs_izzyjudd.TW: This episode mentions IVF and miscarriage.***Please don’t suffer in silence! You can request an NHS referral to a women’s health physiotherapist via your GP, or search for a local private physio here.Organisations that offer help and support with postnatal mental health issues include Pandas and Make Birth Better.***Journalist Rosie Taylor is on a mission to find out why we so often fail to give mothers the care and support they need after birth and in the months and years afterwards. On the Mother Bodies podcast, she speaks to fascinating guests about how politics, prejudices and systemic problems are affecting the postnatal care we receive – and what we can do to improve parents’ lives for the better.Subscribe now to get new episodes every Monday.(And please leave a review if you like what you hear!)www.motherbodies.comInsta: @motherbodiesTwitter: @motherbodies