To Baby or Not To Baby?

Naomi chats with her husband, Dan, to discuss their experience of being new parents.They discuss: the different experiences men and women have of parenting, how tough the first months are, thinking about a second child, the impact it’s had on their relationship, taking on too much work too soon, working from home due to the pandemic.

Naomi speaks to Cat, who experienced extreme postnatal depression and was sectioned after the birth of her second child.They discuss: the thoughts that started to invade her mind, admitting that something wasn’t right, having suicidal thoughts, being admitted to hospital and eventually sectioned, hitting rock bottom, the road to recovery, returning home, managing her condition going forward.TRIGGER WARNING: this conversation includes in-depth discussion of suicidal thoughts and a suicide attempt. Please think carefully if this is something you’re comfortable listening to.

Naomi chats with Gemma, who suffered a molar pregnancy and was given little chance of getting pregnant through natural means.They discuss: what a molar pregnancy is, the lottery of your IVF opportunities, being prescribed Clomid, the struggle to find out she’s even had a molar pregnancy, the grieving process, her very positive experience with hypnobirthing, deciding to do it again.

Naomi meets LeNora, who made the conscious decision in her early 20s to not have children.They discuss: the revelation that having children is a choice, telling her family the news, how it’s affected her dating life, discovering the childfree community.

Naomi speaks to Rachel, whose journey to motherhood included ovarian cancer, IVF and a lockdown birth.They discuss: Rachel’s teenage battle with ovarian cancer, going through IVF at a young age, the doubts over whether she’ll be able to get pregnant, the experience of pregnancy, birth and looking after a newborn through lockdown.

Naomi chats with Rachel, who got pregnant by and is a co-parent with a friend.They discuss: being in no rush to have children, the discussions and contract involved in co-parenting, the challenges and benefits of co-parenting, having a child who lives in two places.

After starting this podcast to decide whether she wanted to have children, Naomi gave birth to her daughter just a few weeks ago. She (virtually) sat down with Camilla to tell the story of the dramatic birth of her daughter, a month before the due date.

Naomi chats with Angharad, who is a mum of two (with one on the way), but that doesn’t stop their family from travelling the world.They discuss: how travelling changes when you have a baby in tow, the ideal ages to take young children away, the places their children have already visited, her experiences of flying with young children, taking your child to a foreign hospital, tips for travelling with your family.

Naomi speaks to Marcia, who chose never to have children. They discuss: the book that changed her life, how her family reacted to her decision, launching the National Organization for Non-Parents, wavering on her decision to not have children, the things she’s been able to achieve without the responsibilities of being a parent, what she says to people who are on the fence about becoming a parent.

Naomi chats with Charlotte, who has two children of her own, but is currently pregnant as a surrogate for her friend.They discuss: wanting to be a surrogate despite not enjoying being pregnant, donating eggs, the problem with laws around surrogacy in the UK, the different feeling from carrying your own child to carrying someone else’s, building a birth plan when the person giving birth isn’t the mother.If you’re interested in becoming a surrogate or donating your eggs, listen to the end of the episode for some useful links.

Naomi chats with Lorraine who is a mum of one, but also a doula.They discuss: what a doula does for an expectant mother, the differences between a doula and a midwife, the misconceptions about what a doula is for, understanding the options available to you when in labour, the case against having an induction, feeling empowered to make the decision in the labour ward, what to think about when making a birth plan, the experience of being a black mother and having a mixed race child.

Naomi meets Caroline, who has stopped trying to get pregnant after nine years.They discuss: assuming you’ll have children, having bad experiences at fertility clinics, overseas clinics, living through a miscarriage, moving on with your life, the business that has come out of her experience. Where you can get support if you’re going through something similar to Caroline.

Naomi speaks to Mike and Wes, who are dads to two surrogate babies. They discuss: broaching the subject of wanting children with a new partner, the options open to same-sex couples, the legalities of surrogacy in the UK and elsewhere, their relationship with the egg donor and surrogate, the questions they get asked when out with their children, changing the perception of same sex families in society.