Making Room: Pregnancy, Postpartum & You

Her Health Room

Making Room: Pregnancy, Postpartum & You is the podcast helping women navigate the physical, mental and social realities of pregnancy and life after birth. Hosted by Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Remi, the show explores pregnancy health, postpartum recovery, maternal mental health, pelvic floor problems, birth recovery, identity, relationships, returning to work and navigating maternity care. Expert insight. Honest conversations. More clarity for the whole woman.

  1. 2d ago

    Postpartum Depression, Anxiety or Burnout? When to Ask for Help

    Is it postpartum depression, anxiety, burnout or the adjustment to a life that has changed? Find out what to prioritise on your postnatal journey - Book a clarity call - https://cal.com/remi-mogekwu-sglqz0/postnatal-clarity-call I’m joined by counselling psychologist Dr Orinayo Onabanjo to explore what it can feel like to struggle during pregnancy and after having a baby Timestamps  Take the HHR Recovery Check-In:https://www.herhealthroom.com/#check-in A guided reflection to help you identify what needs attention first across your health, yourself and your life. Guest: Dr Orinayo Onabanjo, counselling psychologist. Website: https://www.dronabanjo.com/ This conversation and the HHR workshop offer education and reflection. The Recovery Check-In is not a diagnostic mental health screen. If you are concerned about your mood or anxiety, speak to your GP, midwife or health visitor. UK urgent support: If you cannot keep yourself or someone else safe, call 999 or go to A&E. In England, for urgent mental health help, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option. Outside the UK, use your local emergency or crisis service.

  2. Oct 8

    The 6-Week Postpartum Check: What to Ask Your GP and What Happens Next

    If you are postpartum and struggling to decide what needs attention first, take the Her Health Room Recovery Check-In - https://www.herhealthroom.com/#check-in On 5 November, I am also hosting the first Making Room for Yourself online workshop, where we will look at the whole woman and start building a realistic recovery plan together. Book your place - https://luma.com/tsk44z6e I’m six weeks postpartum with my third baby, and even as an obstetrician I have struggled to decide what I actually want from my six-week GP check. My recovery includes anaemia follow-up, diastasis recti, back and pelvic pain, painful breastfeeding, intrusive thoughts, poor sleep, maternity-pay problems and questions about returning to work. None of that fits neatly into a ten-minute appointment. In this video, I break recovery down into body, mind and life, explain what I wish the six-week check could do and share the postnatal support model I believe women deserve. 00:00 The Six-Week Check 00:53 Channel Intro & Workshop 02:56 Physical Recovery 06:32 Mental Health 10:03 Life After Baby 12:35 The GP Plan 14:48 A Better Model of Care 15:19 Resources & Next Steps

  3. Sep 30

    I Tried to Induce Labour "Naturally" - Here’s What Happened

    Can you really induce labour naturally? By the end of pregnancy, I was determined to find out. If your baby has arrived, take the free Her Health Room Recovery Check-In questionnaire to discover what needs attention first across your body, mind and life: 👉 https://www.herhealthroom.com/#check-in Join the Making Room Workshops waitlist for support navigating postpartum recovery: 👉 https://www.herhealthroom.com/#workshop Watch my pregnancy journey playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr9430NZ_vY&list=PLCc7lJa0YM9w I tried walking, bouncing on a birth ball, nipple stimulation, sex, colostrum harvesting, raspberry leaf tea and four membrane-sweep attempts. Some caused contractions. Some did very little. I drew the line at castor oil. I’m Dr Remi, an obstetrician and mum of three. In this video, I separate my personal experience from the evidence, explain why I wanted my baby before 40 weeks and share what finally happened: my waters were broken in hospital, and my baby arrived three hours later. WATCH NEXT  https://youtu.be/dvpgdpipPvk?si=9Drsqq5bDkITTGrY #inducelabor #inducelabour #naturallabour #40weekspregnant

  4. Sep 22

    I Thought I Could Do It All in My Third Trimester...

    I thought I had until 34 weeks to get everything done before my baby arrived. By 30 weeks, my energy had dropped, my back hurt, I was barely sleeping—and I kept going. If you’ve had your baby, take the free Her Health Room Recovery Check-In: https://www.herhealthroom.com/#check-in Join the Making Room Workshops waitlist to hear first about my postnatal recovery workshop: https://www.herhealthroom.com/#workshop I’m Remi, an obstetrician and mum of three. In this video, I take you through what my third trimester actually felt like across my body, mind and life: the iron infusion and diabetes test, the physio referral I wish I’d accepted, the irritability that came with poor sleep, the pressure to finish work, and the crib and car seat I left alarmingly late. I share what I would do differently and how a partner or friend can offer useful help. If you’re still pregnant, tell me below: what has surprised you most about the third trimester? If you know someone in it now, send her this video. Watch my first and second trimester videos and subscribe for the next part of this series, including induction, labour and early postpartum. This video is educational and shares my own experience. If your baby’s movements change, you have bleeding or think your waters have broken, contact your maternity unit promptly. Timestamps 00:00 Third Trimester: What to Expect  00:51 28 Weeks: Medical Appointments 03:30 Physical Symptoms & My Biggest Regret 05:55 Mental & Emotional Health 08:15 Swelling, Braxton Hicks & Safety 11:00 Work & Maternity Leave Reality 12:17 The 37-Week Party 14:00 Last-Minute Baby Shopping 15:45 What I'd Do Differently

  5. Aug 30

    Second Trimester Pregnancy: The “Easy” Stage No One Explains

    Second trimester pregnancy can bring more energy and fewer symptoms—but also fewer appointments, changing baby movements, a growing bump and new decisions about work. ▶ Subscribe to Her Health Room: https://www.youtube.com/@HerHealthRoom ▶ Join the Her Health Room waitlist: https://www.herhealthroom.com/waitlist ▶ Follow Her Health Room on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herhealthroom_/ Everyone calls the second trimester the “easy” trimester. And physically, it often can be easier. My nausea, bloating and intense fatigue gradually improved, and by around 18 weeks I finally started to feel more like myself. But the second trimester can also feel strangely quiet. Your bump is growing. You are waiting to feel your baby move. You may be approaching your 20-week scan. And if you are receiving routine NHS maternity care, there can be long gaps between appointments. For me, this was also the stage when my pregnancy became harder to hide at work. I was leaving one job, starting another and thinking carefully about when—and how—I wanted to tell my employers. In this episode, I explore: • When first-trimester symptoms may begin to improve • What happens at the 20-week anomaly scan • When you may begin to feel your baby move • Why the second trimester can feel medically quiet • Symptoms that still need medical assessment • How pregnancy can affect your mood and mental health • When you may need to tell your employer • Why having more energy does not mean you have to do everything I’m Dr Remi, an obstetrics and gynaecology doctor, and this series follows my journey through preconception, pregnancy, postpartum and beyond—combining personal experience with practical information to help you understand what is happening to your body, mind and life. Subscribe for the next episode about navigating the third trimester, preparing for birth and what happened at the end of my pregnancy. This video provides general educational information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Contact your maternity team if you have concerns about your pregnancy or your baby’s movements.

  6. Aug 17

    The First Trimester Nobody Prepares You For | Symptoms, Work & What to Do

    First trimester pregnancy can bring nausea, fatigue, bloating, anxiety, early scans and questions about work. In this episode, I share my early pregnancy symptoms and how I navigated the first trimester. The first trimester can feel physically intense, mentally noisy and strangely lonely. Subscribe to my youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/@HerHealthRoom Your body is changing. You may be worried about miscarriage. You might be trying to hide pregnancy symptoms at work, deciding when to tell your employer, waiting for your first scan and wondering whether what you are experiencing is normal. In this episode of Making Room, I share what my own first trimester was actually like as an Obstetrics & Gynaecology doctor, working mother and third-time mum. I talk about: first trimester symptoms including nausea, fatigue, bloating, heartburn and food aversionsstruggling to exercise in early pregnancyhaving an early pregnancy scan and discovering my dates were wronganxiety while waiting for the 12-week scanapplying for and accepting a new job while pregnantwhen to tell work you are pregnantworkplace risks and pregnancy adjustmentsthe mental load of the “silent trimester”what happens at your pregnancy booking appointmentwhy you do not have to simply put up with difficult pregnancy symptomsThere is no perfect way to navigate the first trimester. My hope is that this episode helps you understand what may be happening, think about what support you need and feel more confident asking questions about your pregnancy. Subscribe to Her Health Room for weekly videos helping you navigate pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood with more clarity, safety and support. The next episode is all about the second trimester — baby movements, the 20-week scan, work, your changing body and what happens when pregnancy starts to feel very real. And tell me in the comments: What has been the hardest part of your first trimester — the symptoms, the uncertainty, work, or something else? #FirstTrimester #Pregnancy #EarlyPregnancy #PregnancySymptoms #PregnantAtWork #Motherhood

  7. Aug 11

    Postpartum Recovery: Why Mothers Need More Than a Six-Week Check

    We talk so much about preparing for birth, but very little about what comes after. In this episode of Making Room for Pregnancy and Postpartum, I’m joined by Dr Julie Hammond - a GP, mother, founder of mamAR and author of The Fourth Trimester: The Best Friend’s Guide to Your Postpartum Body and Mind. Connect with me: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HerHealthRoom Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herhealthroom_/ Join the event waitlist: https://www.herhealthroom.com/waitlist This is a conversation about postnatal recovery and why mothers need more than a six-week check. We talk about the physical, emotional, social and cultural realities of life after birth, including postnatal depression and anxiety, intrusive thoughts, pelvic floor symptoms, painful sex, loneliness, returning to work, and the pressure to “do maternity leave well.” Julie also shares her experience of pregnancy loss, pregnancy after loss, and what it taught her about the gaps in postnatal care — especially for women who are recovering physically and emotionally without bringing a baby home. We also discuss why she created mamAR, a digital platform supporting parents from preconception through to the early years, and how better education, community and access to trusted professionals can help parents before they reach crisis point. This episode is for anyone who is pregnant, newly postpartum, recovering after loss, preparing for the fourth trimester, or supporting a mother through this season. Pre-order Dr Julie Hammond’s book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1399824678?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_VN9K37FNNZSZ5AERPKZE&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_VN9K37FNNZSZ5AERPKZE&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_VN9K37FNNZSZ5AERPKZE&bestFormat=true Find Dr Julie Hammond: Instagram: @drjulie_gp LinkedIn: Dr Julie Hammond mamAR: www.mamahealth.com If this episode resonates with you, please share it with one woman who is pregnant, postpartum, recovering after loss, or trying to make sense of her own recovery.

  8. Aug 4

    What Did Pregnancy Reveal About Your Lifelong Health?

    Pregnancy, postpartum health, women’s health and longevity are deeply connected. Learn what pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, sleep, pelvic floor health and recovery may reveal about your future. Join the waitlist - https://www.herhealthroom.com/waitlist What if pregnancy was not only about having a baby, and postpartum was not only about recovering from birth? In this episode of Making Room, I explore why pregnancy is often described as a stress test for the body—and how what happens during pregnancy and postpartum could provide clues about your health 10, 20 or even 30 years from now. Timestamps 0:00 Pregnancy as a Longevity Clue 2:17 Welcome to Making Room with Dr. Remi 4:25 Pregnancy Reveals Your Future Health Risks 8:01 The Four Horsemen of Chronic Disease for Moms 13:44 Cancer Screening & Taking Stock of Your Health Your pregnancy story and postpartum recovery are not irrelevant to your lifelong health. They are information. This episode will help you consider: What did pregnancy reveal about your body? What has postpartum exposed? What have you normalised? What should you take seriously now, rather than continuing to pay for it years later? Share in the comments: What did pregnancy or postpartum reveal about your health—and did you receive the follow-up you needed? Subscribe to Making Room for honest, practical conversations that help women navigate pregnancy, postpartum and motherhood with more clarity. Watch next: What to do after gestational diabetes. This video is for education and general information only and is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. #PregnancyHealth #PostpartumHealth #WomensHealth #Longevity #MaternalHealth

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Making Room: Pregnancy, Postpartum & You is the podcast helping women navigate the physical, mental and social realities of pregnancy and life after birth. Hosted by Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Remi, the show explores pregnancy health, postpartum recovery, maternal mental health, pelvic floor problems, birth recovery, identity, relationships, returning to work and navigating maternity care. Expert insight. Honest conversations. More clarity for the whole woman.

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