Elective Caesarean or Natural Birth? | Why There's No Right Way to Give Birth

Elective Caesarean or Natural Birth? | Why There's No Right Way to Give Birth

Can you have a positive birth experience regardless of how your baby arrives? In this honest and deeply personal episode of Health Applied, Kelly and Harriet share two very different birth stories and the lessons they've learned about fear, control, pain relief and trusting your instincts. Harriet reflects on her positive water birth experience, the impact of hypnobirthing, and why understanding the science of labour helped remove much of the fear she felt during pregnancy. Now expecting her second child, she also discusses why she's considering a home birth. Kelly opens up about a lifelong fear of labour, her decision to pursue a caesarean birth, and the traumatic complications that led to an emergency procedure. She explains why having a caesarean was always the right choice for her and why women should never feel judged for choosing pain relief or surgical delivery. Whether you're pregnant, planning a family, or simply curious about the realities of birth, this episode offers reassurance that there is no single "right" way to bring a baby into the world. Watch The Full Series Of Health Applied Here - https://www.youtube.com/@UCbenIdBaHJsQ6w1oHRvR8AA 💬 Join the Conversation Have questions about cosmetic surgery? Comment below or message us on Instagram. Follow Health Applied: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/healthappliedpodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@healthappliedpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Health-Applied-Podcast/61584575055523/ Chapters 00:00 Why Kelly would only consider a caesarean birth 00:33 Introducing today's conversation on positive birth stories 01:08 Why most birth stories people hear are negative 02:42 The childhood experience that created Kelly's fear of labour 04:54 How Harriet developed a completely different mindset around birth 06:15 Hypnobirthing explained: what it really is 07:13 Fear, adrenaline and the science of labour 09:50 Harriet's water birth experience and managing contractions 10:41 The debate around pain relief and caesarean births 11:59 Why every woman should choose the birth that's right for her 13:10 Inside Harriet's unexpectedly perfect birthing environment 15:04 Epidurals, birth plans and feeling in control 16:10 Kelly's traumatic labour experience before her emergency caesarean 19:28 How a spinal transformed Kelly's birth experience 20:29 Advocating for yourself during labour and delivery 21:50 Home birth considerations and second pregnancies 25:10 Your right to choose how you give birth 26:03 The pressure some women face around caesareans 27:16 Why women need more positive birth stories 28:28 There is no right or wrong way to give birth 29:41 Harriet prepares for baby number two This episode is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and is not sponsored, promotional or affiliated with any specific clinic, treatment provider or commercial service discussed during the conversation.

I Was Told to Remove My Bladder... Then One Surgery Changed Everything

For 13 years, Kelly lived with chronic urinary leakage after the birth of her first daughter.She saw multiple specialists, underwent countless tests, tried physiotherapy and medications, and was even told that removing her bladder could be an option.In this deeply personal episode of Health Applied, Kelly sits down with co-host Harriet to share the full story behind her recent tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) and the unexpected health improvements that followed.This episode isn't about promoting surgery. It's about sharing information, encouraging women to ask questions, explore all available options, and advocate for their health. If you've ever experienced pelvic floor issues, abdominal separation, back pain, urinary leakage, or felt unheard in your healthcare journey, this conversation is for you.Watch The Full Series Of Health Applied Here - https://www.youtube.com/@UCbenIdBaHJsQ6w1oHRvR8AA 💬 Join the ConversationHave questions about cosmetic surgery? Comment below or message us on Instagram.Follow Health Applied:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/healthappliedpodcast/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@healthappliedpodcastFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Health-Applied-Podcast/61584575055523/Chapters00:00 A bigger women's health problem we need to discuss00:26 Introduction01:16 Why Kelly chose to have a tummy tuck02:41 What is diastasis recti?03:50 13 years of unexplained bladder leakage05:15 The shocking suggestion to remove her bladder06:48 How incontinence affects everyday life08:13 Why women aren't hearing about all their options08:56 The research linking tummy tucks and bladder health10:34 The moment Kelly realised the leakage had stopped11:45 Why the result felt frustrating as well as life-changing13:41 What cosmetic surgeons can and can't discuss14:13 The importance of patient education and self-advocacy15:52 One in three women live with long-term incontinence16:42 Should healthcare systems be connecting the dots?18:32 When treatment options come with a price tag19:53 Kelly's honest tummy tuck recovery experience20:57 Recovery as a single parent with a new puppy23:58 What helped recovery most25:13 The unexpected challenges after surgery26:44 Why more women need access to this information27:57 What Kelly would tell herself 13 years ago28:06 How abdominal muscle repair may improve bladder support29:57 Why sharing patient stories matters30:41 Final thoughtsThis episode is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and is not sponsored, promotional or affiliated with any specific clinic, treatment provider or commercial service discussed during the conversation.

Fertility, IVF & The Hidden Stress Affecting Pregnancy

Why are more couples struggling to conceive than ever before? In this powerful conversation, NHS women’s health doctor and fertility expert Dr Ravina Bhanot breaks down the biggest myths around fertility, IVF, egg freezing, hormones and women’s health. Watch The Full Series Of Health Applied Here - https://www.youtube.com/@UCbenIdBaHJsQ6w1oHRvR8AA 💬 Join the Conversation Have questions about cosmetic surgery? Comment below or message us on Instagram. Follow Health Applied: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/healthappliedpodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@healthappliedpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Health-Applied-Podcast/61584575055523/ Chapters 00:00 The mindset shift that changed fertility outcomes 00:30 Introduction to Dr Ravina Bhanot 01:29 Ravina’s journey into women’s health & PCOS diagnosis 05:00 Why fertility education is still lacking 06:45 How long should couples try before seeking help? 09:20 Fertility after 40 & perimenopause misconceptions 11:50 The reality of IVF & postcode lottery funding 16:40 BMI, IVF eligibility & controversial NHS criteria 21:07 Why fertility rates are declining 23:15 Microplastics, hormones & modern lifestyle risks 27:36 The 3 biggest fertility factors couples ignore 28:32 How stress impacts conception 30:30 Why ovulation tracking can backfire 34:43 Nutrition, supplements & improving egg quality 38:12 Male fertility mistakes nobody talks about 40:44 Egg freezing myths & success rates 44:47 What women should know before starting IVF 47:48 Perfumes, soaps & hormone-disrupting chemicals 52:41 Why women’s health education needs to change This episode is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and is not sponsored, promotional or affiliated with any specific clinic, treatment provider or commercial service discussed during the conversation.

Why So Many Women Stay Stuck With Chronic UTIs...And What Can Help | Part 2

Why do so many women keep getting UTIs, even when tests come back negative? In Part 2 of this conversation, we sit down with Dr Catriona Anderson, GP and specialist in chronic and recurrent UTIs, to unpack the science, frustration and reality behind persistent bladder infections in women. We discuss why standard urine tests often miss infections, how chronic UTIs can relapse repeatedly, the role of menopause and vaginal oestrogen, and why so many women feel dismissed despite ongoing symptoms. Dr Anderson explains the evidence behind treatments like Hiprex, D-mannose, probiotics and antibiotics, while also challenging some of the current approaches to recurrent UTI treatment. This episode is for any woman who feels stuck in the cycle of cystitis symptoms, negative tests and short antibiotic courses — and wants to better understand what may actually be happening. Watch The Full Series Of Health Applied Here - https://www.youtube.com/@UCbenIdBaHJsQ6w1oHRvR8AA 💬 Join the Conversation Have questions about cosmetic surgery? Comment below or message us on Instagram. Follow Health Applied: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/healthappliedpodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@healthappliedpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Health-Applied-Podcast/61584575055523/ Chapters 00:00 – Why women feel “on the edge of cystitis” constantly 01:18 – Do urine cultures actually identify the real infection? 03:33 – Understanding “good” vs harmful bladder bacteria 08:05 – D-mannose, probiotics & supplements explained 11:13 – Biofilms and why infections keep returning 14:02 – Hiprex: how it works for recurrent UTIs 17:41 – Why supplements don’t work for everyone 18:52 – Antibiotic fears, resistance & gut health 23:49 – Vaginal oestrogen and the menopause connection 25:52 – “Every woman over 40 should get vaginal oestrogen” 29:07 – How oestrogen impacts bladder and urinary symptoms 31:28 – The problem with 3-day antibiotic courses 35:18 – The study comparing 3 days vs 7 days of antibiotics 37:43 – How women can advocate for themselves 38:50 – Why standard UTI tests often miss infections 41:00 – Private extended testing and severe chronic infections 43:24 – The antibiotic that finally worked 44:06 – Why this conversation matters for women everywhere This episode is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and is not sponsored, promotional or affiliated with any specific clinic, treatment provider or commercial service discussed during the conversation.

Why Your UTI Symptoms May Be Getting Missed...And What To Do Next | Part 1

Always have a negative urine dipstick at the doctors despite having all the symptoms of a UTI? In Part 1 of this important conversation, We sit down with Dr Catriona Anderson, GP and specialist in chronic and recurrent UTIs, to uncover why standard urine dipstick tests so often fail women and what you need to know to challenge outdated advice and get the treatment you deserve. This is an honest, deeply informative discussion around chronic urinary tract infections, menopause, bladder pain, sleep deprivation and the emotional toll these conditions can take on women’s lives. Kelly also shares the reality of living with chronic UTI symptoms for over 13 years, including the impact on sleep, relationships, work, confidence and everyday life. If you’ve ever been told “your tests are negative” despite knowing something is wrong, this episode will leave you feeling informed, validated and better equipped to advocate for your health. Watch The Full Series Of Health Applied Here - https://www.youtube.com/@UCbenIdBaHJsQ6w1oHRvR8AA 💬 Join the Conversation Have questions about cosmetic surgery? Comment below or message us on Instagram. Follow Health Applied: Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/healthappliedpodcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@healthappliedpodcast Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/people/Health-Applied-Podcast/61584575055523/ Chapters 00:00 The reality of chronic UTIs in women 00:21 Introducing Dr Kat Anderson 02:19 How Dr Kat specialised in chronic UTIs 05:45 The breakthrough that changed her approach 11:16 Why chronic UTIs are still dismissed 12:26 The difference between acute, recurrent & chronic UTIs 14:10 The devastating impact on women’s lives 15:45 Misdiagnosis & interstitial cystitis explained 19:18 When “interstitial cystitis” is actually infection 21:24 Kelly’s personal experience with bladder pain 23:12 Why urine dipstick tests often fail women 26:13 Why standard urine cultures miss infections 27:20 Dormant bacteria & embedded bladder infections 30:00 The problem with NHS testing thresholds 33:39 Why women keep getting overlooked 35:16 The movement to redefine chronic UTI treatment 41:13 How treatment pathways could finally change 42:08 Living with chronic UTI for 13 years 44:32 The anxiety & isolation of bladder pain This episode is intended for educational and awareness purposes only and is not sponsored, promotional or affiliated with any specific clinic, treatment provider or commercial service discussed during the conversation.