The Family Tribe

Afif El-Khuffash & Anne Doherty
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual — but The Family Tribe is here to be part of the village that helps you through it. Hosted by husband-and-wife medical experts Dr Afif El Khuffash and Dr Anne Doherty, The Family Tribeoffers honest, evidence-based advice for parents and guardians of children from newborns right through to teenagers. Bringing together more than 40 years of combined clinical experience, as well as their own lived experience as parents, Afif and Anne help listeners navigate the chaos, love, worry, tears and awe of family life. With two episodes each week, the podcast cuts through the noise of online advice and misinformation to explore the topics that matter most — from pregnancy, newborn care and child development to mental health, family relationships, teenage challenges and common parenting worries. Main episodes are released every Tuesday, with a shorter Baby Bonus episode focused on pregnancy and baby health every Thursday. Expect myth-busting conversations, expert interviews, real listener stories, well-known guests and practical guidance designed to reassure, inform and support parents, guardians and the wider family at every stage of the journey.

  1. 2d ago

    The Baby Tribe: Is Your Phone Interrupting Your Toddler?

    We spend plenty of time worrying about children’s screen time. But what happens when the adults are the ones reaching for their phones? Following our recent Family Tribe discussion about children and technology, Afif and Anne turn their attention to parents’ device use and the small attempts at communication we can miss while checking a message. A new study from Calgary examined 107 parent-child pairs, with toddlers aged 13 to 18 months. It found that parental technology use during play was associated with more missed communication cues, alongside small associations with language scores. Crucially, it did not establish that phone use causes language delay. We explore what these findings mean in everyday family life, including: • How pointing, sounds, gestures and play become conversations before fluent speech.• What “technoference” means and what the research can actually tell us.• Why nappy changes and ordinary routines offer opportunities to connect.• Parental exhaustion, independent play and the pressure to be constantly available.• Why this study cannot give parents a prescribed number of phone-free minutes.• Practical ways to protect shared attention and return to an interaction after an interruption. There is also an escaped toddler, a cold coffee and an uncomfortable question about whether adults follow their own screen rules. Study discussed Keskin G, McArthur BA, Marsh A, et al. Missed Child Communication Cues During Parent Technology Use and Child Language Development. JAMA Pediatrics. Published online 4 October 2026. Read the study If this episode resonates, share it with another parent and explore our recent Family Tribe episode on children and technology.

    The Baby Tribe: Is Your Phone Interrupting Your Toddler?

  2. 4d ago

    What Pregnancy Really Does to Your Body

    Why can pregnancy leave you utterly exhausted before there is even a visible bump? How does your body adapt to support a growing baby? And why might your favourite shoes never fit quite the same way again? This week on The Family Tribe, Prof Afif EL-Khuffash and Dr Anne Doherty explore the extraordinary changes happening throughout a woman’s body during pregnancy. Anne shares her experience of first trimester exhaustion and pregnancy sickness, including why years of demanding hospital shifts had not prepared her for how tired she would feel. Afif reflects on what partners can miss when so much of that work is invisible. Together, they discuss changes in the heart, circulation, breathing, kidneys and metabolism, alongside the less glamorous realities of reflux, constipation, pelvic discomfort, acne and changing feet. They also explore research into the maternal brain and why pregnancy deserves greater understanding and respect. You can be amazed by what your body is doing and still feel sick, sore, exhausted or completely fed up. Needing treatment, rest or support does not diminish that achievement. We finish with symptoms that deserve medical assessment, mental health support, and practical ways families can help during pregnancy and after birth. Useful HSE information Pregnancy and birth information Warning signs in pregnancy and when to seek help When to get medical help after birth Share this episode with a partner, friend or family member who would benefit from understanding what pregnancy asks of a woman’s body.

  3. Oct 22

    The Baby Tribe: CMV and Autism: What Does the New Research Really Tell Us?

    Afif and Anne examine a new Swedish study of almost 3.7 million people exploring associations between diagnosed congenital infections, autism and intellectual disability. They explain what TORCH infections are, why comparing siblings strengthens the research, and why an association still cannot establish the cause of an individual child’s diagnosis. They also discuss a crucial limitation: clinically recognised infections do not represent every baby who acquires an infection before birth. With CMV as the main focus, the conversation separates maternal illness from congenital infection and explores what families can take from the evidence, including practical prevention advice, antenatal screening and hearing and developmental follow-up. Throughout, the message is clear: this research cannot tell a parent why their child is autistic, and it should not become another source of guilt. Study discussed Sjöqvist and colleagues. Congenital TORCH Infections and Neurodevelopmental Outcomes. JAMA Pediatrics, published online 21 September 2026. Read the paper and access its supplementary tables Useful information HSE: Understanding the different types of CMV infection in pregnancy HSE: Reducing your risk of CMV during pregnancy HSE: Vaccines before pregnancy, including rubella protection HSE: Infectious disease screening during pregnancy HPSC: Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy precautions CDC: Congenital CMV and hearing follow-up If you have a specific concern about an exposure during pregnancy or your child’s development, speak with your maternity team, GP or paediatric team.

    The Baby Tribe: CMV and Autism: What Does the New Research Really Tell Us?

  4. Oct 20

    Síle Seoige: Can You Be Grateful and Still Struggle?

    Can you feel incredibly lucky to be a mother and still admit that it’s hard? Afif travels to Galway for an honest, funny and moving conversation with Síle Seoige about motherhood at 38 and 42, miscarriage, and the anxiety of pregnancy after loss. Síle shares a moment in a swimming pool when grief caught her completely off guard, and explains why having another baby doesn’t erase what came before. They discuss being heard and believed during labour, making space for partners’ grief, and the pressure to appear constantly grateful. Afif also opens up about how working in neonatal intensive care shaped his fears during his own family’s pregnancy. Plus, returning home to Galway, finding the confidence to put family before work, and talking to children about Palestine, compassion and injustice. An episode about the feelings parents don’t always give themselves permission to have. This episode includes discussion of miscarriage and pregnancy after loss.

  5. Oct 15

    Baby Bonus: He Was Here: Dylan McKenna On Fatherhood After Baby Loss.

    Content note: This episode discusses stillbirth, bereavement and mental health. Please listen when it feels right for you. Irish support details are included below. “If I have a son, I’m a father.” Dylan McKenna’s son Hunter was stillborn on 15 October 2025. In this episode, released on Hunter’s first birthday and Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day, Dylan joins Afif and Anne to share his son’s story and what the past year has meant for him as a dad. Dylan speaks about losing his own father during Caitlín’s pregnancy, the hope Hunter brought to their lives, and the devastating experience of leaving hospital without him. He explains why recognising bereaved parents as mothers and fathers matters, and how even well-meant words can leave them feeling unseen. We explore fathers’ mental health, the exhaustion of appearing to cope at work, and the challenges of supporting each other when grief feels different for each partner. Dylan also shares his experience of counselling and his plans to connect with other bereaved fathers through Féileacáin. As Dylan and Caitlín prepare to welcome Hunter’s little brother, he describes the fear, guilt and growing joy of pregnancy after loss, and their determination that both sons will always have a place in their family. We also hear about his request for the Late Late Toy Show to light a Christmas tree blue and pink in memory of babies who have died, and why that small gesture could mean so much to families watching. A conversation about love, fatherhood, saying our children’s names and continuing to show up for grieving parents. Support in Ireland If this conversation brings up difficult feelings, support is available: Féileacáin: Call 085 249 6464 for support following stillbirth or neonatal death. Visit feileacain.ie. Féileacáin Fathers: Connection and peer support for bereaved dads through football and social activities. Visit feileacainfathers.com or email feileacainfathers@gmail.com. A Little Lifetime Foundation: Bereavement support and counselling, including a dedicated dads’ group. Visit alittlelifetime.ie or email info@alittlelifetime.ie. Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line: Freephone 1800 80 70 77, Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm, for support with grief or concern about someone who is grieving. More information. Samaritans Ireland: Call 116 123, free, 24 hours a day, if you need someone to listen. samaritans.org.

    Baby Bonus: He Was Here: Dylan McKenna On Fatherhood After Baby Loss.

  6. Oct 13

    Do Older Mothers Live Longer? The Science of Pregnancy and Ageing

    Can having a baby later in life really help you live longer? And what do scientists actually mean when they say pregnancy changes your biological age? This week on The Family Tribe, Afif and Anne investigate the research behind the headlines linking motherhood, ageing and longevity. They explore the remarkable demands pregnancy places on the body, changes in biological ageing markers during pregnancy and after birth, and why having your first baby later is a different question from having your last baby later. Along the way, they discuss telomeres, epigenetic clocks, genetics, menopause and family size, asking whether later motherhood might reflect better underlying health rather than cause a longer life. There is also Anne’s recollection of planning her family around turning 35, a discussion of age-related pregnancy risks, and some strong feelings about the phrase “geriatric pregnancy”. With plenty of teasing and a healthy scepticism towards Instagram science, this is a conversation about understanding the evidence without turning it into another reproductive deadline. Your child’s birth certificate cannot predict your lifespan.

  7. Oct 8

    Baby Bonus:  What Makes a Positive Birth Experience? Martha’s Story

    What happens when Anne’s lifelong best friend joins the podcast? Afif discovers just how much history he has missed, and a birth story somehow involves an offer to do the midwives’ hair. In this bonus episode, we welcome Martha Galvin, hairdresser, business owner, mother of three boys and honorary fifth Doherty sister. Martha shares the stories of her first son’s arrival and the later birth of her twins. She reflects on preparing for labour, discussing her preferences with her maternity team, choosing pain relief and understanding what might happen if plans needed to change. At the heart of her experience was feeling heard, supported and involved in the decisions being made. Martha also introduces her planned podcast, The Invisible Bag, exploring the unseen experiences and worries people carry through life. An affectionate, candid conversation about birth, friendship and the people who help us feel supported. Every birth is different, and Martha’s story reflects the choices and circumstances that were right for her. Put the kettle on, join us, and share this episode with someone who loves a good birth story.

    Baby Bonus:  What Makes a Positive Birth Experience? Martha’s Story

  8. Oct 6

    Should We Ban Children from Social Media?

    Would banning teenagers from social media make them safer? And what might we miss if we judge their online lives by screen time alone? This week on The Family Tribe, Afif and Anne explore teenagers, technology and the daily negotiations happening in family homes, including their own. Maggie explains why she felt she received access to social media too late, while Faisal’s experience shows how recognising a problem and asking for help can become part of learning to manage it. There is also an alarming screen-time total that turns out to involve rather more Lego than expected. Alongside these family stories, Afif and Anne discuss Irish online safety rules, research on teenage mental health, school phone restrictions and the arguments for and against blanket bans. An honest conversation about setting limits, listening to teenagers and recognising our own scrolling habits.  Follow The Family Tribe, leave a rating or review, and share this episode with a parent navigating the same conversations. Content note: This episode includes discussion of self-harm and suicide.

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About

Parenting doesn’t come with a manual — but The Family Tribe is here to be part of the village that helps you through it. Hosted by husband-and-wife medical experts Dr Afif El Khuffash and Dr Anne Doherty, The Family Tribeoffers honest, evidence-based advice for parents and guardians of children from newborns right through to teenagers. Bringing together more than 40 years of combined clinical experience, as well as their own lived experience as parents, Afif and Anne help listeners navigate the chaos, love, worry, tears and awe of family life. With two episodes each week, the podcast cuts through the noise of online advice and misinformation to explore the topics that matter most — from pregnancy, newborn care and child development to mental health, family relationships, teenage challenges and common parenting worries. Main episodes are released every Tuesday, with a shorter Baby Bonus episode focused on pregnancy and baby health every Thursday. Expect myth-busting conversations, expert interviews, real listener stories, well-known guests and practical guidance designed to reassure, inform and support parents, guardians and the wider family at every stage of the journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Afif El-Khuffash & Anne Doherty
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    160
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © The Family Tribe
  • Show Website
    The Family Tribe

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