The Parent Hood

That positive pregnancy test is often riddled with mixed emotions within the spectrum of sheer joy and utter fear And then there's the nagging feeling that you might not be doing what you're supposed to. Marina talks to Dr Chiara Hunt about what to do when you're newly pregnant, what to do, what to avoid and what to expect.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We trust schools to educate our children and while they take care of the academics, it's us who bear the responsibility of giving our children real life skills. Marina's guest this week is Suzy Glaskie, a health coach, entrepreneur and mother of three who reflects on her experiences both as an employer and mother and discusses what we can be doing as parents to teach our children life lessons that will give them a head start.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When it comes to what we want our children to be, happy is at the top of the list. But in a world in which mental health illness seems to be becoming more prevalent, is there anything we can be doing to make our children and ourselves happier? Marina talks to journalist and author, Helen Russel, about what she's learnt from exploring what different cultures do to make them happy.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How we imagine parenting is rarely what it turns out to be; it's harder than we anticipate and a lot of us feel disapointed that we haven't done well enough. But what is it that really matters? Marina talks to Clinical Psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin and author Tanith Carey about what we really need to focus on and what we should let go of.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marina talks to parenting expert Alexa Taylor about how teaching children how to behave and how to listen helps them understand empathy and is the kindest way to parent.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With well publicised Measles outbreaks all over the world, Marina talks to Dr Chiara about what exactly Measles is, when you or your child might be at risk and what you can do to protect your family.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've all been told that we need to check our breasts, but what exactly are we checking for? Marina talks to Helen Addis, founder of the Change And Check campaign about what the signs are that things aren't right and how exactly to check your breasts.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Parents are lost when a baby dies, but what about when it's even more complicated, when one twin dies and the other survives. Marina talks to Kitty Wengraf and Katie Schiff about the conflict of grief and joy and how they are bringing up their daughters without their twins.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marina chats to Deborah James, aka Bowel Babe and Helen Addis aka. Titty Gritty, about how to have the conversation no-one has practised for.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why do 21st Century parents feel a need to be perfect the whole time and what is it about this perfection that may be damaging our children? Marina talks to coach, teacher, writer and podcaster Zoe Blaskey about why our quest for perfection may be the most toxic thing in our narrative as mothers.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's the parenting era we all dread, but do we know enough about it, to adequately prepare our children? Marina chats to Dr Chiara Hunt about when puberty happens, what changes to expect in both boys and girls and why all children should have the HPV vaccination.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

With six weeks of holidays spreading before us, Marina talks to teacher Harriet Swanwick about the importance of holidays for our children, but also how their learning can continue even though school is on break.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every year thousands of women use hypnosis to help them through labour. Marina and Dr Chiara talk to Hypnobirthing teacher, Margaux Richmond about what it actually is and how it can help women give birth.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

That frustration when you've lovingly prepared a meal which is swifly rejected by your children is a feeling familiar to all parents. But author and food blogger Emily Leary says she has the answer. Marina talks to Emily about just how you can encourage your children to become an adventurous eater.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Being a parent to a baby in NICU is something few of us are prepared for but some of us have to face. Marina talks to author Francesca Segal about her experience of having her premature twins in NICU and what she wished she'd known at the time.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We have a tendency to think that until they can speak, babies are unable to communicate. Well, today we find out that's far from true as child psychiatrist Kathryn Hollins explains how, from the moment they are born, babies are able to tell us a good amount about who they are, if we give them the opportunity.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

While exercise may have been high on our agendas before we had children, for many of us, once we've had a child, we simply don't find the time to do it. Olympic Gold Medallist and mother of two talks to Marina about the how she managed to become the only heptathlete to medal as a mother and how her fitness app, Jennis, will make incorporating exercise into the hectic schedule of a mother, achievable.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We all know how great we feel after a good night's sleep, but sometimes, when we, or our kids need it the most, it's hardest to come by. Marina talks to Pediatric Dietitian Bahee van der Bor and Dr Chiara Hunt about why we sleep and what we can do to ensure both we and our kids sleep well.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Having a baby changes everything, how you look, how you eat, how you feel.Marina talks to Madeleine Shaw, nutritional therapist and bestselling author about what we can do to fall back in love with ourselves and regain that fire in our bellies, after becoming parents.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

They say that it takes a village to raise a child, not just for the sake of the child but for the parents. Marina and Dr Chiara Hunt chat to family psychiatrist Dr Kathryn Hollins about the needs of the parents during pregnancy and the first two years and how, when these needs are met, the biggest beneficiary is the baby.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.