Happy Mum Happy Baby

Former MP Theo Clarke joins Giovanna this week to share the story of how the birth of her daughter led her to become a campaigner for better maternity care.Theo talks about navigating pregnancy while working in politics, including the challenges of having no statutory maternity leave as an MP and the pressure of being on duty during a period of major political upheaval.She also opens up about her traumatic birth experience and the lack of adequate postnatal support she received afterwards, experiences that led her to launch the first UK parliamentary debate on birth trauma. Since then, she has continued campaigning alongside Louise Thompson for the introduction of an independent maternity commissioner.UPDATE: Since recording this episode, the government has announced the appointment of the UK’s first-ever Maternity and Neonatal Commissioner, as part of efforts to improve maternity and neonatal care across England. Links:Follow Theo on Substack Breaking the Taboo bookBirth Trauma AssociationMaternity Commissioner PetitionOur interview with Louise ThompsonDo you follow our new Substack yet? Join the private village behind the podcast! xx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Giovanna sits down with NHS GP, resident GP on BBC Morning Live and bestselling author, Dr Punam Krishan!Punam opens up about her own traumatic first birth and the life-threatening complications, postnatal depression, and PTSD that followed.She also talks about the breast cancer diagnosis she received last year that reinforced the importance of listening to her body and advocating for herself. Please take this conversation as a reminder to check your chests!Dr Punam's latest book, The Mother Load Every Mother’s Guide to Juggling Health, Life & Happiness, is out now! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re marking Father’s Day with a very special episode as we welcome Adam Frisby and Jamie Corbett to the studio!They join Gi to share their remarkable journey to parenthood, including the moment their first surrogate withdrew from the process, how their own childhoods shaped the parents they wanted to be, and the joy of welcoming their beautiful baby Leven to the world.Adam and Jamie also open up about the public scrutiny they’ve faced as a same-sex couple starting a family, and why they’re advocating for surrogacy law reform to better recognise intended parents from birth.You can learn more about Adam and Jamie’s petition to change surrogacy law here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we’re so excited to welcome Lauren Cowell for her first ever podcast interview!After years of keeping a low profile while navigating public scrutiny, Lauren opens up to Gi about life after divorce, co-parenting, and how she handled the intense media attention surrounding her pregnancy with partner Simon Cowell.Lauren also shares more about her involvement in the ‘Raise the Age’ campaign — and since recording this episode, Keir Starmer has announced plans for under-16s to be banned from social media by spring 2027 👏👏👏 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.