Parental Control

My Baba

Parental Control is a monthly parenting and lifestyle podcast created by My Baba and hosted by the website's founder Leonora Bamford. The first episode came about when Leonora became increasingly frustrated at how challenging it is to keep her children safe online and wanted to find out what teenagers really think about being online and staying safe. Parental Control is about feeling in control as a parent or prospective parent and feeling confident tackling problems head-on. Each month, we'll discuss current and on-going issues that affect mums and dads throughout parenthood and tease out the solutions with the help of some brilliant guest and expert speakers. My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Heavy Periods: What's Normal, What's Not, And When to Get Help

    Heavy periods affect millions of women, yet for many, they remain something to quietly endure rather than openly discuss. In this episode, Parental Control explores the real impact of heavy and painful periods on women's physical health, emotional wellbeing, work and relationships — and asks why period-related disruption is still so often dismissed or minimised. Ellie Thompson is joined by Dr Nisa Aslam, GP and women's health expert, and Anna Maxwell, pharmacist and founder of healthcare brand Maxwellia, to unpack the findings of the Don't Go With the Flow report. Together, they discuss what actually counts as a "normal" period, when pain or heavy bleeding may signal an underlying condition, and why so many women feel uncomfortable seeking help. From workplace stigma and iron deficiency to being dismissed by healthcare professionals, the conversation focuses on empowering women with clear information, reassurance and practical next steps — and challenges the long-held belief that period problems are simply something women should have to put up with. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Evana® and Ultravana®. Follow Dr Nisa Aslam on Insta @drnisaaslam What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

    31 min
  2. 19 JAN

    Healthy Babies After Aneuploid Embryo Transfers? An Embryologist Explains IVF Headlines and Embryo Selection

    In this episode, Parental Control takes listeners inside the IVF lab to understand how embryos are assessed and selected during fertility treatment, including PGT-A and time-lapse IVF. Ellie Thompson is joined by embryologist and founder of All About Embryology, Victoria Wigley, to answer key questions about genetic testing, embryo development and the complex decisions made behind the scenes. Victoria explains what embryologists do during the IVF process and breaks down PGT-A testing, including what it can and cannot tell patients. She also discusses how recent reports of healthy babies born from embryos labelled aneuploid are challenging long-held assumptions. The conversation explores the difference between aneuploid and mosaic embryos, whether viable embryos may sometimes be ruled out, and how patients can interpret results when the science is uncertain. The episode also looks at how time-lapse incubators have transformed embryo observation, allowing embryologists to track development over time and support clinical decisions. Drawing on both professional expertise and patient experience, the discussion highlights how fertility specialists balance transparency, uncertainty and hope, and examines the advances shaping the future of IVF. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Follow Victoria on Instagram:@allaboutembryology Book a consultation with Victoria today: https://www.allaboutembryology.co.uk/contact What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

    57 min
  3. 6 JAN

    Leading Psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE Talks To Ellie About Losing Billy

    Leading UK psychotherapist Julia Samuel MBE joins Ellie Thompson to talk about child loss and the lifelong impact of grief. Julia is one of the most trusted voices in the UK on bereavement, trauma and healing, and has spent decades supporting families through the unimaginable. Her work has shaped how we understand grief, not as something to "get over", but as something we learn to live alongside. As many listeners will know, Ellie lost her son Billy, aka Billy the Brave, to DIPG, and grief has since become woven into everyday life in ways she could never have imagined. Like so many bereaved parents, she has learned that we don't move on from our children; we move forward carrying them with us. In this conversation, Julia brings compassion, clarity and deep insight as we explore what it truly means to live with grief: how it shows up in relationships, how siblings experience loss, and how parents can find moments of meaning and hope again — while continuing to hold the profound love we have for the children no longer in our arms. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Child Bereavement UK - Child Bereavement UK helps children and young people (up to the age of 25), parents and families, to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. Podcast Therapy Works — Julia's main podcast Grief Works A Living Loss Books Grief Works – A compassionate guide to understanding grief and how it affects us. This Too Shall Pass – On surviving life's challenges and finding strength through adversity. Every Family Has a Story – Exploring family relationships, trauma and healing. App Grief Works App - A supportive grief app offering tools, reflections and guidance for those living with loss. Social Media Instagram: @juliasamuelmbe X (Twitter): @juliasamuelmbe Website juliasamuel.co.uk — for therapy work, writing, speaking and resources What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions, please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

    59 min
  4. 08/12/2025

    The Truth About Skin Treatments: Botox, Fillers, Fat Dissolvers Part 1

    Ellie Thompson sits down with a dear friend and go-to skin expert, Valerie Millington this week to discuss everything from fillers, botox, fat dissolvers, laser hair removal and more. Ellie has known Val for years, and like so many of her loyal clients, she trusts her completely. Val is known for her honesty, her integrity, and her deep commitment to natural, healthy skin. Val focuses on education, skin health, and treatments that truly support the skin rather than mask it. In this episode, Val and Ellie dive into all things skin: what actually works, what's a waste of money, the biggest mistakes people make, how to care for skin at every age, and why healthy skin never needs overdoing. Welcome to part one of a warm, honest, myth-busting episode with a woman who has devoted her career to understanding skin, and isn't afraid to tell the truth about what really works. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Valerie Millington's website: https://www.veeaesthetics.com/ Valerie Millington's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vee_aesthetics_cobham/ What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

    44 min
  5. 28/11/2025

    Coping With Christmas After Child Loss: A Conversation With Child Bereavement UK

    Today's episode is one that sits incredibly close to Ellie's heart, as she discusses coping with Christmas after child loss. As many listeners will know, Ellie lost her beautiful boy Billy to DIPG, and this is her second Christmas without him. The festive season can bring a complex mix of emotions for bereaved parents, the memories, the empty space, and the pressure to appear "festive" when the heart is somewhere else entirely. In this episode, Ellie is joined by Bereavement Support Service Lead Rachel Tegg from Child Bereavement UK for an open, gentle and honest conversation about what it means to face Christmas after losing a child. Whether someone is in their first year, their fifth year or anywhere in between, this discussion offers comfort, understanding and the reminder that no parent walks this path alone. Content Warning This episode includes discussion around the death of a child, grief and the emotional challenges of Christmas. Listeners are encouraged to take care of themselves while listening and to step away at any time if needed.   Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Child Bereavement UK - Helpful Resources Helpline Number: 0800 02 888 40. Normal Opening Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Christmas Opening Hours: Friday 24th December, 9.00 am – 1.30 pm Saturday 25th December - Tuesday 28th December, Closed Wednesday 29th December - Friday 31st December, 10.00 am - 4.00 pm Monday 3rd January, Closed Tuesday 4th January onwards, Normal hours 9.00 am – 5.00 pm Email: helpline@childbereavementuk.org.uk Website: www.childbereavementuk.org (Live Chat support and other resources can be found here) Managing Christmas Resource: https://www.childbereavementuk.org/managing-special-occasions What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

    33 min
  6. 18/11/2025

    Sexpert Samantha Marshall Talks Self-Pleasure, Sexual Wellness And Vibrators

    One of the most-searched questions in sexual wellness today is "Why are vibrators healthy?" — and few people are better positioned to answer it than Samantha Marshall, Head of Brand at Smile Makers Collection. As a leader in the global intimate-wellness space, Sam has spent the past five years helping redefine pleasure as an important part of self-care. Under her leadership, Smile Makers' colourful, wellness-driven vibrators and tools have entered mainstream retailers like Sephora, Ulta, and Selfridges, pushing the conversation around sexual wellbeing further into the open. Sam also leads Vulva Talks, Smile Makers' free, pleasure-positive sex-education programme, where she offers clear, accessible guidance on everything from self-pleasure to understanding your body. Her work directly addresses why vibrators can support sexual health — from boosting confidence to reducing stress and improving body awareness. In today's episode, we explore sexual wellness, self-pleasure, and how changing the narrative around intimacy empowers people to build healthier relationships with their bodies. Email us at info@mybaba.com Follow us on Instagram @mybabainsta and @mybabagram Show notes Debby Herbernick: https://theweek.com/articles/749978/female-price-male-pleasure   Smile Makers Collection Instagram: @smilemakerscollection What is My Baba? My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting. Visit mybaba.com  The Content on this podcast is provided by My Baba and represents our sole opinions and views. For more information on our terms and conditions please refer to the website: https://www.mybaba.com/terms-conditions/

    52 min
4.9
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

Parental Control is a monthly parenting and lifestyle podcast created by My Baba and hosted by the website's founder Leonora Bamford. The first episode came about when Leonora became increasingly frustrated at how challenging it is to keep her children safe online and wanted to find out what teenagers really think about being online and staying safe. Parental Control is about feeling in control as a parent or prospective parent and feeling confident tackling problems head-on. Each month, we'll discuss current and on-going issues that affect mums and dads throughout parenthood and tease out the solutions with the help of some brilliant guest and expert speakers. My Baba provides the daily scoop on family, food and lifestyle - we're not just experts at all things parenting.