My favourite podcasts for bump & pram walks
I spent a lot of time walking on maternity leave… and I mean a lot! Long and gentle strolls around Glasgow to help my baby “drop down” when I was pregnant and hopefully (oh please, please, please) kick start labour. I found this time so helpful to help me mentally prepare for birth.
Then it was long walks with the pram when my baby arrived. I loved this bit.
It can feel a bit lonely sometimes though and one thing that I found really helped was sticking on a podcast, popping in my headphones and just getting lost in someone else’s chatter.
So here are my top podcasts - some birth and baby related, some not - that I hope you’ll enjoy too.
Happy Mum, Happy Baby - Giovanna Fletcher
Firstly, Giovanna’s voice is just divine and could instantly put the most stressed out parent at ease. She also manages to bag some pretty great guests who open up their hearts, sharing their birth and parent stories. Prepare yourself though - some might leave you reaching for the hankies!
Sh**ged, Married, Annoyed - Chris & Rosie Ramsey
Bloody hilarious, completely crude and sometimes utterly ridiculous. I’ve literally lost days of my life listening to this pair talk total nonsense but it’s so worth it. Always my go to when I need a bit of a laugh and a pick me up.
Made by Mammas: the Podcast - Zoe Hardman & Georgia Dayton
Real chat about all things motherhood. A great balance of funny, moving and helpful. They end each podcast with a review of their favourite parenting products - I’ve found some real gems through this!
How did we get here? - Professor Tanya Byron & Claudia Winkleman
Real-life parents and family members share their stories in a completely unscripted session. It’s amazing to hear them work through their stories and begin to find solutions to move forward. Definitely not one to listen to if you’re having a tough day but super interesting.
Desert Island Discs - BBC Radio 4
An oldie but a total classic. I love to go back and listen to old recordings with Kirsty Young (she’s currently on hiatus). Her voice is completely soothing yet she also manages to get her guests to open up about some pretty intense topics. My go to, fail-safe - never disappoints.
You could of course listen to your BORN READY BABY. Hypnobirthing tracks too. ;) Oh and remember to switch to something else if any difficult or dramatic birth stories start to creep in and you’re pregnant. Positive birth stories only! You can always go back to it once you’ve had your baby.
So there you have it. Hopefully that keeps you going for a while. There’s nothing quite like getting lost in a podcast to make you feel part of a great conversation… without the effort of having to actually get involved!