By Your Side

barronkt
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Parenting

Pregnant or navigating life with a newborn? By Your Side is the podcast that gets it. Hosted by Katie Barron — educator, parent support advocate and big believer in honest conversations — each episode brings real talk, expert insight and emotional backup for the messy magic of early parenthood. From baby sleep to identity shifts, crying to co-regulation, this is the place to feel calmer, more connected, and a little more like yourself. Because no one should have to figure this out alone — and now, you don’t have to.

  1. Mar 19

    When Relationships Feel Unsafe: Recognising Domestic Abuse in Pregnancy and Early Parenthood

    In this episode, Katie speaks with Lauren Seager-Smith, CEO of For Baby’s Sake, about something that can quietly emerge or escalate during pregnancy and early parenthood: domestic abuse, particularly coercive control. Lauren explains why this period of huge transition can place strain on relationships, and how past trauma and early life experiences can shape the way partners relate to one another. She also helps unpack the warning signs of coercive control — behaviours that may initially appear subtle but can deeply affect a parent’s wellbeing and sense of safety. Together they discuss: Why pregnancy and early parenthood can be a time when abuse first appears or intensifies How trauma can influence relationship patterns The warning signs of coercive control Why speaking to a trusted professional can be an important first step Lauren also shares practical guidance on safety planning and where parents can find support — from midwives and health visitors to specialist helplines and local charities. At the heart of this conversation is a simple message: support is available, and no one should feel they have to face this alone. This episode centres the wellbeing of both parents and babies, recognising that when parents are supported and safe, babies are safer too.   To find out more or ask for support, you can contact: 👉 https://forbabyssake.org.uk/ 👉 Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 👉 NSPCC - 0808 800 5000 ⚠️ Disclaimer: This podcast is for information and awareness only and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice. If you are worried about your safety or someone else’s, please speak with a trusted professional or contact a specialist support service.

    32 min

  2. Feb 18

    Is Kids’ TV Addictive? How Screens Hook Little Brains

    In this episode, I’m joined by Will Mauer, founder of the Children's Media Research and Reform Lab and a TEDx speaker. We talk about something almost every parent wrestles with: screens. Will explains how many children’s shows aren’t designed for development — they’re engineered for engagement. Fast cuts. Flashy visuals. Autoplay. Stacked episodes. All carefully structured to trigger dopamine hits and keep young viewers watching. For babies and toddlers — especially under two — that matters. We unpack: What “junk food media” actually means Why rapid pacing and autoplay affect the developing brain How addictive viewing patterns form The difference between quality and quantity Why co-viewing changes everything What to choose when you do need to use a screen This isn’t a shame-fest. It’s clarity. If screens are part of your life (and let’s be honest, for most of us they are), this episode will help you make steadier, more intentional choices — and be kinder to yourself in the process. Because protecting early development doesn’t require perfection. It requires awareness.   To find out more about Will you can find him on Linktree: https://linktr.ee/willmaurer or contact him on  willmaurer@cmrrl.org

    35 min

  3. Feb 7

    If This Feels Hard, You’re Not Doing It Wrong: Busting Baby Myths with Emily Little, PhD

    New parenthood is full of shoulds. You should find breastfeeding natural. You shouldn’t hold your baby too much. You should feel back to normal by six weeks. But what if those stories were never true? In this episode of By Your Side, researcher Emily Little, PhD joins us to gently dismantle some of the most persistent baby myths — and replace them with science, context and compassion. Drawing on her research across more than 30 countries, Emily explores: Why breastfeeding is often hard (and why that’s not a personal failure) What infant contact really does to a baby’s nervous system How cultural norms , not biology, shape many parenting expectations Why the body and brain continue changing long after the six-week check This is an episode for anyone who’s ever wondered, “Is it meant to feel like this?” You’ll leave with reassurance, practical perspectives, and a deeper understanding of why support, not willpower, matters most in early parenthood.   👉 To learn more about Emily's work, visit hyperlink   The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

    36 min

  4. 11/14/2025

    Dad Matters: The Untold Story of Fatherhood — with Kieran Anders

    Why do dads often feel like the “plus one” in pregnancy and early parenting? In this powerful conversation, Katie talks with Kieran Anders, National Lead for Dad Matters, powered by Home-Start, supporting dads in the perinatal period to build strong relationships with their babies. He’s passionate about improving outcomes for families by ensuring dads are included, informed, and supported from the start. Together, they unpack: 👶 How dads bond from birth (yes, hormones play a part!) 🧠 Why play, touch and presence are vital for baby brain development 💬 How to bridge the “dad engagement gap” in pregnancy and postnatal care 💛 Why supporting fathers means stronger, calmer, more connected families   Kieran also shares his personal story — the highs, the struggles, and the reminder that dads don’t need to have it all figured out. They just need the support, space and agency to show up as themselves. 🎧 Tune in to this compassionate and eye-opening episode — for dads, partners, and anyone who believes that every parent deserves to feel they matter 👉 To learn more about Kieran’s work, visit Dad Matters   The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

    36 min

  5. 10/15/2025

    It Starts With You: Parenting Beyond Fear and Shame — with Suzanne Scott

    How our childhood experiences shape the way we parent isn’t always obvious — but it’s always powerful. In this week’s episode, Katie talks with Suzanne Scott, founder of Trauma-Informed Parenting, about how childhood adversity (ACEs) can quietly influence our reactions, our patience, and even the stories we tell ourselves as parents. Together, they unpack: 💛 What trauma really means (beyond the big events) 🧠 Why shame and fear drive so many of our responses 🌿 How pausing, breathing, and repairing can transform connection This is a deeply grounding, hopeful conversation about starting where you are — with compassion for yourself first. Because you can’t regulate a child if you’re running on empty. 🎧 Listen now on By Your Side. 👉 To learn more about Suzanne’s work, visit traumainformedparenting.uk    The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

    31 min

  6. 10/06/2025

    Rupture & Repair: Therapeutic Parenting for Children with Trauma

    Becoming a new parent changes EVERYTHING.  Gareth, a single foster dad to three children, shares his unfiltered journey into parenting kids with early-life trauma and how it reshaped his life. He explains why trauma is relational, how healing happens through relationships, and why therapeutic parenting focuses on repair over punishment. This is a must listen for all parents about how you don't need to be perfect, you just need to relate.  Key takeaways include the power of adult-led, fast, authentic repair, choosing “time in” over “time out,” balancing structure with flexibility, and learning from triggers. Practical, hopeful guidance for carers and parents supporting children who’ve experienced trauma.   The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

    26 min

  7. 09/26/2025

    When the Expert Wonders: A Midwife’s Honest Confessions

    In this episode, I sit down with Lucy Nicholson, a midwife with over 15 years’ experience, to talk about the very real pressures parents feel to be “perfect” — and why even the experts carry their own worries about pregnancy and early parenthood. Lucy opens up about her own journey, from navigating expectations to making choices about care. She shares: How to choose (and change) caregivers in a way that feels right for you The role of self-compassion in easing new parent stress Why building community matters — and how her Nesting Lotus classes create a safe, supportive space for parents We also touch on something many parents face but few talk about: SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction), a painful pelvic condition that can affect mobility and confidence during pregnancy. Lucy offers her insights on how gentle movement in water can help, but please make sure you seek further medical advice if you are experiencing symptoms of SPD. It’s a warm, honest conversation packed with reassurance and practical takeaways — for anyone navigating pregnancy, postpartum, or the messy middle in between. 👉 You might also like to go back and listen to our episode with Professor Helen Ball on sleep — another myth-busting, reassuring chat that parents tell us makes a big difference. Link to episode     The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

    32 min

  8. 09/08/2025

    From Orphanage to PhD: Mothering on My Own

    Becoming a parent is challenging - but imagine becoming a parent without a partner, in a country you didn't grow up in and feeling that you couldn't tell the people who raised you that you were pregnant. In this truly inspirational episode I speak to Jill Samukimba, who shares her journey from orphanage beginnings to earning a PhD while raising her son largely on her own. Jill describes how unexpected community support, faith groups and small acts of kindness helped her through pregnancy, study and early parenting. She reflects on the challenges of asking for help, managing self-judgment, and the urge to overcompensate for childhood loss, and offers concise advice: be patient, remember hardship is a phase, lean on others, and trust that you will get through it.   🎧 Please listen with care — and join the conversation in the Podcast Lounge. By Your Side app.    The conversations shared on this podcast reflect personal experiences and professional insights, but they’re not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. If you’re struggling or have questions about your wellbeing or your baby’s, please speak to a qualified professional. You’re not alone, and help is available.

    32 min
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About

Pregnant or navigating life with a newborn? By Your Side is the podcast that gets it. Hosted by Katie Barron — educator, parent support advocate and big believer in honest conversations — each episode brings real talk, expert insight and emotional backup for the messy magic of early parenthood. From baby sleep to identity shifts, crying to co-regulation, this is the place to feel calmer, more connected, and a little more like yourself. Because no one should have to figure this out alone — and now, you don’t have to.

Information

  • Creator
    barronkt
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    By Your Side