Bits of Me Linnea Dunne

In this bonus episode, I talk to Ruth Brennan, whose periods started to change when she was 36 years old, and who eventually went on to be diagnosed with POI (premature ovarian insufficiency). We talk about her journey to a diagnosis, what it was like to realise that she was infertile, navigating treatments and bone health issues, and the psychological and identity aspects of POI.

Since this episode was recovered, I've spoken to Ruth again and written an article about her experience, including the results of her latest DEXA scan, which she was still waiting for when we recorded this podcast. You can read the article here. 

There are currently no new episodes of Bits of Me in the pipeline, but there's a back catalogue of 44 episodes about everything from pregnancy loss and pelvic organ prolapse to cervical cancer, the mesh implant and period poverty. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it on iTunes, share an episode with a friend and subscribe on your choice of podcast platform to help others discover it too.

Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.

#POI #prematureovarianinsufficiency #prematureovarianfailure #prematuremenopause #menopause #earlymenopause #HRT #womanhood #motherhood #periods #osteopenia #osteoporosis #bonehealth #perimenopause #midlife #infertility #queercommunity

Jenny Cooper has experienced more loss and grief than most, and in this episode of Bits of Me she shares her story of having four consecutive miscarriages, followed by a full-term pregnancy that ended in the birth of her daughter, Georgia Penelope, who died in the womb at 38 weeks' gestation. It's about love and fear, about anxiety and loss, and about learning to say goodbye way too soon.

Jenny generously shares everything from the hopes and fears throughout the pregnancy with Georgia, to the day she noticed that the movements had stopped, the birth and the days at the hospital following the birth, the time spent at home with Georgia and the funeral, which took place under pandemic restrictions.

People say that you should always try to remain reasonably neutral as an interviewer, that you shouldn't allow yourself to get too emotional. My interview style tends to give a lot of space – but I don't switch my feelings off. So perhaps, in this episode, that means I've failed – but so be it. This episode is also the first to go over 1h in length, despite my commitment to keeping all episodes under an hour. It's just what this episode needed – I didn't feel it would be fair to edit more.

If you've experienced something similar to Jenny, you might want to follow her on Instagram as she regularly talks about her experience and about Georgia. Bits of Me is on Instagram here and on Twitter here.

This is the last episode of season two of Bits of Me. 

Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.

#bitsofmepod #bitsofme #stillbirth #babyloss #pregnancyloss #miscarriage #babylossawareness #bereavedmother #mybabydied #childloss #grief #bereavement #motherhood #childbirth #rainbowbaby #infantloss #womenshealth #womensstories #womensvoices #stillborn #bereavedparents #grieftalk #oneinfour #oneinthirty 

In this episode, I talk to Margaret O'Connor, a counsellor and psychotherapist who is childfree by choice. A few years ago, she decided to set up a dedicated service called Are Kids For Me, specifically for those trying to make the decision whether or not to become parents.

We talk about the factors that influence the decision, the reasons why it's not always a straight-forward one, and the societal norms and lack of representation that sometimes make being childfree by choice that bit more difficult.

You'll find information about Margaret O'Connor's work, services and podcast on her website, as well as on Instagram and on Facebook. Bits of Me is on Instagram here and on Twitter here. Any sharing, tagging, rating and reviewing is much appreciated. 

Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.

#bitsofmepod #bitsofme #womenshealth #motherhood #parenthood #pregnancy #childbirth #childfree #childless #childfreebychoice #childlessness #childfreeness #childfreedom #arekidsforme #fertility #parentingchoices #lifechoices #therapy #counselling #societalnorms #socialnorms #gendernorms #becomingaparent 

Is breast always best? Can mastitis always be treated with cold cabbage leaves? And if we talk about the uptake of breastfeeding being too low, what does that even mean?  

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to podcaster and mother of one (very soon two) Laetitia Gordon-Furse, who went through hell pumping relentlessly for weeks when her first son ended up spending five weeks in NICU. She explains what it's like to spend days on end in 'the dairy' with industrial-style pumps, how the narratives surrounding breastfeeding impacted on her mentally, how long it took for her to make sense of it all and the post-natal depression that followed, and how she learnt to read her son's cues and bond with him while bottle feeding at home.

We also talk about the politics of it all: the lie that breastfeeding is free, the lacking supports post-natally and in society in general, and the damage the shaming of mothers does. You'll find the Nutshell article we talk about here, and the Emily Oster book Laetitia mentions is this one.

Also check out Laetitia's own podcast, New Leaf, which aims to support new mothers when they're going back to work, and check out the hashtag #mymotherhoodmychoice. You can also follow Laetitia and her podcast on Instagram.

Bits of Me is on Instagram here and on Twitter here. Any sharing, tagging, rating and reviewing is much appreciated. 

Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.

#bitsofmepod #breastfeeding #pumping #lactating #lactation #feeding #motherhood #babyfeeding #bottlefeeding #thedairy #mastitis #shame #NICU #nursing #womenshealth #womensbodies #womensstories #PND #postnataldepression #postnatalanxiety #pregnancy #birth #childbirth #Csection #Csectionrecovery #antenatalcare #postnatalcare #SIDS #feedingmyths #breastfeedingmyths

In this episode, I talk to Anita Elawure, who was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) at just 19, meaning that she entered premature menopause. We talk about what it was like to be told that she would be infertile and had to go on HRT at such a young age, what it means to enter menopause prematurely, her encounters with healthcare professionals and all the research she has done, and the emotional and psychological journey of it all.

You can follow her at @blossomlivingwithPOI on Instagram as well as on YouTube, where she shares her experience and tips, and talks to other women with knowledge and experience of POI. Bits of Me is on Instagram and Twitter, and there's a Patreon page for those of you who may want to support the making of this podcast.

If you're listening for free, please take a moment to rate the podcast and giving it five stars on Apple Podcasts, and maybe even leave a short review or share an episode on your socials. It helps others discover the podcast and might make another woman feel less lonely in her experience.

Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.

#POI #prematureovarianinsufficiency #prematureovarianfailure #prematuremenopause #menopause #earlymenopause #HRT #hotflushes #brainfog #ovulation #periods #osteopenia #osteoporosis #bonehealth #hearthealth #midlife #infertility #adoption

Jen Hall is the social media and website coordinator at The MASIC Foundation, which supports women who have suffered serious injuries during childbirth. Jen suffered a third-degree tear after a forceps delivery in 2013, and shares her story of the birth, the consequences, and her work with MASIC. We talk about the Ockenden report, the culture that contributes to severe birth injuries, the narratives surrounding C-sections and vaginal births, and the implications for informed choice and consent.

You can follow MASIC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and as usual, Bits of Me is on Instagram and Twitter as well. If you know anyone who's recently had a birth injury, send them a link to this episode and point them in the direction of MASIC. If you haven't already, it'd also be much appreciated if you'd give the podcast a quick five-star rating on iTunes, and maybe even a short review, as it helps others discover it.

Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe.

#bitsofmepod #birthinjuries #OASItears #thirddegreetear #fourthdegreetear #3rddegreetear #3ctear #4thdegreetear #analsphincterrupture #prolapse #pelvicorganprolapse #incontinence #urinaryincontinence #fecalincontinence #childbirth #birthing #maternitycare #postnatalcare #forcepsbirths #forceps #instrumentalbirths #instrumentaldelivery #Csection #caesareansection #motherhood #postnatalanxiety #postnataldepression #PND #NHS #Ockendenreview #Ockendenreport #vontouse #donnaockenden #shrewsburyandtelford #informedconsent #informedchoice #maternityrights #bodilyautonomy #abortionrights #whoseneedsarebeingmet #traumaticbirth #birthtrauma #traumainformedcare #masic