The Parent Hood

Giving birth is often magical, a moment you'll cherish for your whole life. But what about when it isn't magical, what about when you're worried about your child's safety, or your own, what about when it's the trauma you remember rather than the joy. Marina talks to author and mother Jessica Hatcher-Moore about how to parent if the birth has left you traumatised and how to treat your trauma.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Finding our you're expecting not just one baby, but two can be daunting and the fear can often overpower the excitement. Author and twin-mum Alison Perry chats to Marina about the reality of raising twins and shares tips on how to make it easier.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following the launch of Everyone's Invited, a website that initiated stories of the shocking behaviour of sexual misconduct in schools and universities, we discuss how can we teach our children the importance of consent and how to go about saying it, hearing it and meaning it? Marina talks to Saskia Boujo, a relationship and sex educator about how we have this conversation with our children.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Have you ever felt guilty that you're not cherishing motherhood as much as you should? Journalist and author, Eliane Glaser believes that the false narrative around how joyful motherhood is, is toxic and damaging for new mothers, advocating instead that we are honest around its challenges. This honesty, she believes, will empower women and allow them to release the burden of guilt, thereby allowing them to be better mothers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're often too embarrassed to talk about the state of our vaginas and put up with discomfort, incontinence and indignity because of stigma. Marina talks to Obstetric Physiotherapist Megan Vickers about prolapse, a condition that affects up to 50% of women about what it is, the symptoms, treatment and prevention. Megan's book Stronger: The honest guide to healing and rebuilding after pregnancy and birth, is available: https://www.waterstones.com/book/stronger/megan-vickers/9781472986306  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Living through a pandemic, losing freedoms and being locked inside has been difficult. For many children this time represents a lot of what they can remember. How will this impact their long term development? Marina talks to Lucy Elphinstone, Headmistress of Francis Holland school to observe how the pandemic has effected children.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Many children are passionate about the need to look after our planet. But do their actions reflect this zeal or do they still never turn the lights off? Marina talks to Emma and Jason Ash, parents and environmentalists, about how to encourage our children to actually make a difference. https://www.youngplanet.com/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've spent the last year fearing and living with Covid. Now there are vaccines, but we, understandably have questions, we want to feel confident that in having a vaccine, we are doing the right thing by our children. Dr Chiara Hunt returns to discuss the Covid vaccine in pregnancy and breastfeeding but also when trying for a baby.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marina talks to The Five Minute Mum, Daisy Upton, and discovers the joys of supporting our children simply by playing games with them. From science and maths to how to get a better response from that age old question, 'how was school?'  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have a vested interest in looking after our planet when we become parents, but the logistics of going green can often be very daunting alongside the responsibilities of having a new family. Marina talks to Jen Gale and discovers how the small and simple things can make a big difference.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Embracing differences is something most of strive to encourage in our child, but should we also be focusing on body diversity? Marina talks to author, Molly Forbes about the many benefits of a positive body image.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Embracing diversity is something most of strive to encourage in our children, usually through positive and open conversations. Marina talks to writer, Jen Carney, about how representation has an equally important role.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Worry is something none of us parents want our children to experience, so how do we go about addressing it? Marina talks to Clinical Psychologist, Dr Julia Newbery on how to take some of the worry out of anxiety.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

All of us have anxiety around our children's health, some of it instinctive, some of it fuelled by hand-me-down tales. Marina delves deep into the misconceptions with Dr Shruti Jawahar Ganatra and breaks down the myths surrounding everything from temperatures to tummy bugs.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Having an unhappy child causes enormous worry, but can journaling help them influence their own moods and feelings of contentment. Marina talks to Francesca Geens about the science of happiness.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.