A Better Start to Motherhood

Postnatal Care - a window into a woman's future health. With Professor Liona Poon

In this episode we sit down with Professor Liona Poon, one of the world's leading researchers in maternal and fetal medicine, to ask a deceptively simple question: why does postnatal care matter, and why is it so easily overlooked? We talk about pregnancy as a stress test on the body, like running a marathon every day for nine months, and how complications such as preeclampsia can act as a window into a woman's long-term health. We explore why the mother so often comes last, behind the baby, the family and her own expectation to simply cope, and we look at Liona's research showing that a woman's heart can still be recovering a full year after birth, long after the six-week check has declared her well. We also discuss what a genuine shift in postnatal care could look like, and the small, practical changes that might protect women's hearts for decades to come.

Mental Health Support: Getting the Help You Need Before You Need It

In this second conversation with Vanessa Rio, co-founder of Mothering Minds, we move from "is this normal?" to something more practical: how do you actually get help, and why is it worth doing before you reach crisis point? We talk about the early signs worth paying attention to and why so many parents wait until they're redlining, what the system in England realistically offers and where people fall through the cracks, how to describe what you're going through clearly enough to actually be heard, and why support for couples - not just mothers - can change everything at home. A grounded, honest look at getting help early, and why that's a strength rather than a failure. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to Seeking Support09:05 Understanding the Current Support System16:28 Exploring Mothering Minds and Its Offerings24:34 Envisioning a Better Start to Motherhood Resources mentioned Mothering Minds - https://motheringminds.uk [https://motheringminds.uk]Mothering Minds enquiries - hi@motheringminds.uk [hi@motheringminds.uk]Matrescence by Lucy JonesGAD-7 anxiety questionnaire #MaternalMentalHealth #PostnatalDepression #PerinatalMentalHealth #Matrescence #PostnatalSupport #NewParents #Motherhood #CouplesTherapy #MentalHealthSupport #MotherhoodUnfiltered

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.