
'Nothing Came Naturally': Lydia West on Hyperemesis, Breastfeeding & Struggling to Connect
From Happy Mum by Giovanna Fletcher
May 12, 2026 · 1h 16m · Season 17 · Episode 20
About this episode
Lydia West shares her experiences with hyperemesis, breastfeeding, and the challenges of motherhood in an interview with Giovanna Fletcher.
Over the past nine years, Happy Mum Happy Baby has evolved — and so has our mission! Increasingly, our conversations have centred on mums themselves: their mental health, wellbeing, relationships, and identity. Because when a mum feels supported, seen, and heard, everything else can flourish. So... welcome to the era of Happy Mum ! And joining us to start this exciting new chapter is the gorgeous Lydia West. You’ll know Lydia from It’s a Sin , Years and Years , and Big Mood, but what you may not know is that she welcomed TWO babies between filming seasons one and two of Big Mood! For the first time, Lydia opens up about her pregnancies and births, sharing her experience of severe hyperemesis, as well as the challenges she faced with bonding and feeding. She and Gi also discuss her returning to work just eight weeks postpartum, the importance of supported childcare on set, and learning to loosen the reins amid the chaos of toddler life! Big Mood series two is now streaming on Channel 4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
People in this episode
Host: Giovanna Fletcher
Guest: Lydia West
Topics covered
- hyperemesis
- breastfeeding
- parenting challenges
- mental health
- returning to work
- childcare
Keywords
- hyperemesis
- breastfeeding
- parenting
- mental health
- returning to work
- childcare
- Lydia West
- Giovanna Fletcher
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Channel 4
Books & works: It’s a Sin, Years and Years, Big Mood, Big Mood series two
More episodes of Happy Mum
- "You’re So Much Stronger Than You Think": One Family's Double Battle with Childhood Cancer · September 8, 2026 · 58 min
- Megan McKenna: I’ve Got Another Embryo On Ice… And I’m Going To Use It · September 1, 2026 · 1h 5m
- Sam & Alice Vanderpump on Navigating Their Relationship Through Postnatal Depression · August 25, 2026 · 1h 10m
- Giovanna Fletcher: A Little Reassurance for the Summer Holidays · August 18, 2026 · 44 min
- How Can I Help My Child Feel Confident Going Back to School? · August 11, 2026 · 39 min
- The Audience Had No Idea: Zoe Birkett on Performing Through Pregnancy Loss · August 4, 2026 · 1h 1m
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Happy Mum podcast page.