The Ultimate Birth Partner Podcast
Everything a pregnant woman and her partner need to know to support them in preparation for labour, birth, and the early days with a new baby. This podcast gives both you and your partner the confidence and knowledge about the role they play throughout your birth, so they don't undermine or ruin the birth for you. Throughout these episodes, my guests and I will share with you our experience of being a birth keeper and advocate for women across the globe. This podcast is inclusive and invites guests from all backgrounds to enable you to hear a wide range of experiences.
Episodes
166 episodes
Episode 165 - The Baby I Dreamed Of — And the Feelings I Didn’t Expect
In this final episode of the year, I’m talking about something I see all the time in my work — but something women rarely feel able to admit out loud: that the desperate longing for a baby doesn’t always match how they feel once they are actual...
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Season 6
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Episode 165
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34:10
Episode 164 - Beyond the BRAIN Acronym – Rethinking Communication in the Birth Room
In this episode, we dive deep into communication in the birth room — going beyond the widely taught BRAIN acronym. While BRAIN (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Nothing) can be a helpful tool, waiting until labour to rely on it often m...
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Season 6
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Episode 164
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22:05
Episode 163 - Why Early Labour Matters More Than You Think with Jen Culley
In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow birth worker Jen Culley to talk about the reality that early labour is often overlooked in modern birth preparation.We explore how early labour is represented on social medi...
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Season 6
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Episode 163
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1:09:38
Episode 162 - Is My Lived Experience More Important Than Your Future One?
In this episode, I explore one of the most delicate and important questions in birth work: Is my lived experience more important than your future one?So many women feel torn between wanting to share their birth story — whether i...
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Season 6
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Episode 162
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24:55
Episode 161 - The Waiting Game – Why Patience in Late Pregnancy Matters More Than Ever
In this episode, I talk about one of the most emotionally testing times in pregnancy — the waiting game.When your due date is approaching, or has come and gone, it can feel as though the world is on pause while everyone keeps as...
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Season 6
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Episode 161
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45:47
Episode 160 - Sliding Doors – When Chance Determines Your Antenatal Advice and Birth Outcome
Have you ever wondered why two women can walk into the same antenatal clinic and have completely different experiences? In this episode, I explore what I call the 'Sliding Doors' effect in maternity care — how the door you walk through...
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Season 6
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Episode 160
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27:39
Episode 159 - Kintsugi and Birth Healing – How Trauma Can Make You Stronger
In this episode of The Ultimate Birth Partner Podcast, I am exploring the Japanese art of kintsugi — repairing broken pottery with gold — as a powerful metaphor for healing after a difficult or traumatic birth.Instead o...
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Season 6
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Episode 159
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35:16
Episode 158 - The Four Tendencies in Birth: How Knowing Yourself Shapes Your Experience
The Four Tendencies in Birth: How Knowing Yourself Shapes Your ExperienceIn this episode of The Ultimate Birth Partner Podcast, I explore how Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies framework can help women, partners, and...
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Season 6
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Episode 158
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41:23
Episode 157 - Beyond the Headlines: Paracetamol in Pregnancy and Early Childhood
In this episode, I’m speaking openly about the ongoing debate around paracetamol (Tylenol), especially its use during pregnancy and in young children.Headlines and politics — including Donald Trump jumping on a microphone with bol...
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Season 6
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Episode 157
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35:13
Episode 156 - The Wobble – How to Feel Supported in Labour if You Say 'I Can’t Do This Anymore'
Every birth has a moment that feels impossible. For many women, it comes right before the pushing stage — a sudden rush of overwhelm, doubt, or fear. This is what I call 'The Wobble'.In this episode of The Ultim...
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Season 6
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Episode 156
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24:57
Episode 155 - Are Doulas Guardians or Gatekeepers?
In light of the recent NMC and Doula UK video, I decided to record this special episode as I felt it relates this this season's theme: The Reality of Birth.The video tried to define the role of a doula but missed the mark — sugg...
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Season 6
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Episode 155
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29:50
Episode 154 - Expectations vs. Reality — The Untold Elements of Poppy’s 2nd Birth Story
In this episode of The Ultimate Birth Partner Podcast, I’m joined by Poppy Child from Pop That Mumma, who shares parts of her second birth story that she has ...
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Season 6
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Episode 154
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57:21
Episode - 153 - The Romanticism of Birth – Beyond the Picture-Perfect Vision
Season Six - The Reality of Birth TodayWelcome to a brand-new series of The Ultimate Birth Partner PodcastIn this first episode, I am exploring the romanticised idea of birth that we can sometimes hold.I share<...
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Season 6
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Episode 153
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27:22
Episode 152 - Dr Rachel Reed - Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid: variation or complication?
It's the season finale, and I’m delighted to wrap up with a powerful and thought-provoking conversation featuring the incredible Dr Rachel Reed - midwife, educator, author, and advocate for physiological birth.In this episode, we dive de...
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Season 5
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Episode 152
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1:05:03
Episode 151 - Amelia's Story - MLU Birth with High BMI and Gestational Diabetes
In this inspiring episode, I’m joined by Amelia, who shares her powerful birth stories - welcoming both of her daughters in a Midwife Led Unit, despite being labelled ‘high risk’ due to a high BMI and insulin-controlled gestational diabetes.
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Season 5
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Episode 151
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1:08:42
Episode 150 - Why I Left the NHS - Midwife Insights with Rosemary
In this powerful episode, I’m joined by former NHS midwife Rosemary, who bravely opens up about her time working within the UK’s maternity system - and why she ultimately made the difficult decision to walk away.With her knowledge and ex...
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Season 5
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Episode 150
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1:21:02
Episode 149 - Postpartum Prolapse - And Why We Need to be Talking About It!
In this essential episode, I open up a conversation with Hayley Schoenberg and Dr Margo, where they explain, that far too many women are suffering from postpartum prolapse - in silence. Despite how common it is, prolapse is r...
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Season 5
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Episode 149
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1:06:55
Episode 148 - Why a Physiological Birth in 2025 Requires More Than Just a Birth Plan
In today’s episode, I explore one of the most profound truths about birth - the fact that you are the creator of life. I dive into how modern maternity services undermine women's instincts, why doubt is a normal part of labour, and how the subc...
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Season 5
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Episode 148
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32:14
Episode 147 - The First Moments of Life – How Your Body Supports Your Baby’s Transition to the World
In today’s episode, I am sharing the incredible biological design of birth and how your body naturally prepares your baby for life outside the womb. Modern maternity care often disrupts this process, but when we understand how nature ...
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Season 5
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Episode 147
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28:26
Episode 146 - Doulas Can’t Protect You from the System, But They Can Help Protect You from Yourself
In this powerful episode of The Ultimate Birth Partner Podcast, we dive into a topic that may challenge how you think about birth support: the role of a doula or birthkeeper. While many believe our job is to shield you from the medical...
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Season 5
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Episode 146
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26:46
Episode 145 - The Power of a Full Body Yes - How to Make Decisions with Confidence and Clarity
In this episode, I explore the concept of the 'Full-Body Yes' and its profound impact on decision-making, particularly in the context of childbirth. Key topics include:Understanding the Full-Body Yes: Recognising when ...
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Season 5
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Episode 145
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28:29
Episode 144 - Why Long Contractions are Not Necessarily a Sign of Progress in Labour
In this episode of The Ultimate Birth Partner Podcast, I am diving into the idea that intense, long contractions don't necessarily indicate progress in labour. I’ll take you through why contraction length alone isn’t a reliable indicat...
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Season 5
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Episode 144
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33:45
Episode 143 - What is the Privacy Instinct - And Why it Matters for Neurodiverse Women
In this episode, I explore the 'privacy instinct' and its profound significance for neurodiverse women during childbirth. I delve into how an innate desire for privacy and autonomy can influence birth experiences, especially for those with heig...
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Season 5
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Episode 143
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32:14
Episode 142 - Why You Need to Interview Your Hospital or MLU
In this episode, I’m diving into the importance of thoroughly researching and interviewing your chosen place of birth. Many women assume that midwife-led units or hospitals will automatically align with their birth preferences, but policies and...
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Season 5
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Episode 142
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42:05
Episode 141 - Simple Strategies For a Calm and Empowered Labour
In this episode, we are diving into two game-changing strategies for labour: STOP and FLOP. These simple, yet powerful tools can help you navigate your birth journey with a sense of calm, control, and empowerment.Developed through years ...
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Season 5
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Episode 141
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24:29