Returning Well (1/2): Understanding the Real Challenges of Coming Back to Work After Maternity Leave

Is it NORMAL to feel this way? Why Struggling in Early Parenthood Isn't a Failing

In this first of two conversations with Vanessa Rio, founder of Mothering Minds, we discuss the question every new parent asks themselves: is this normal? We talk about the blind spot in how we prepare for parenthood - planning for the birth but not for the way it reshapes us emotionally; why so many parents only reach for help once they're already at breaking point; the difference between "therapy" and simply "support"; and why feeling like you're failing is so often a sign of a system that leaves parents isolated, not a personal shortcoming. Resources mentioned Mothering Minds - perinatal mental health platform offering one-to-one and couples therapy: https://www.motheringminds.com [https://www.motheringminds.com] #PerinatalMentalHealth #MaternalMentalHealth #PostnatalSupport #Matrescence #NewMum #Motherhood #ParentingSupport #PerinatalSupport #MentalHealthMatters #FourthTrimester

Returning Well (2/2): Practical Strategies for Going Back to Work After Maternity

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Kirstie Sneyd — organisational psychologist, return-to-work specialist, and author of Returning Well — and move from challenges to strategies. We cover how to identify which challenges matter most for you, the practical and emotional tools available before and after returning to work, and two of Kirstie's key frameworks: the three Fs (finance, fulfilment and flexibility) for thinking through how you go back, and the three Cs (cover, communications and career) for what to sort before you leave. We also get into boundary-setting — what it looks like in practice, why it reduces guilt, and how to have those conversations with your workplace.

Returning Well (1/2): Understanding the Real Challenges of Coming Back to Work After Maternity Leave

In this episode, we sit down with Kirstie Sneyd - organisational psychologist, return-to-work specialist, and author of Returning Well - to map out the challenges that come with going back to work after maternity leave. We explore her research-backed framework across three areas: being out of the loop, managing a dual role, and navigating culture and norms. Kirstie draws on her coaching work, her academic research, and her knowledge of the psychological dynamics at play - covering everything from lost confidence and missed career opportunities, to identity shifts, guilt, and the compare-and-despair trap. This is the first of two conversations; the second focuses on practical strategies for each challenge.

Dealing With Birth Trauma: How to Recognise It, Navigate the System, and Start to Heal

In this episode, we pick up where we left off with Dr. Emma Thornton - doctor, former obstetrician, GP specialising in women's health, and founder of Cocoon - and move from understanding birth trauma into what you can actually do about it. We cover how to recognise the signs in yourself or someone you care for, when to seek help and what that looks like, and how to make the most of the support that's already available through the NHS. Emma also introduces Cocoon - a digitally delivered, clinically guided platform built to give women access to birth trauma support on their own terms and in their own time. This is part two of two - part one covers what birth trauma is and why it matters.

Understanding Birth Trauma: What It Is, Why It Happens, and Why It Matters

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Emma Thornton - doctor, former obstetrician and GP with a specialism in women's health, and founder of Cocoon - to build a clear picture of birth trauma: what it is, how it shows up, and why it matters. We cover the definition, the prevalence, the signs and symptoms, and the wider spectrum of perinatal trauma that often goes unacknowledged. We talk about what actually causes trauma - and why feeling unheard or uninformed during birth is often more damaging than the medical events themselves. We also get into the state of birth debriefs, the gaps in postnatal care, and why addressing birth trauma early rather than pushing through is so important for long-term health. This is part one of two - next episode, we look at what you can actually do about it.