Beyond The Cot with Eva Beke

Eva Beke
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  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

The conversations parents wish someone had with them sooner. Hosted by Eva from @thesleepylittlebubs, Beyond The Cot explores the reality of modern parenthood through honest conversations with experts and parents who have lived it. From sleep deprivation and feeding challenges to postnatal mental health, relationships, identity and everything in between. Because parenting was never meant to be done alone.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    6| Mum Rage, Anxiety, Depression and Insomnia | My Story

    This week, I’m stepping out of the host’s chair. Patria Lee from Your Village On Call is taking over the microphone and interviewing me about the parts of my motherhood journey I have shared in pieces, but never all together and never quite this openly. After becoming a mum, I experienced severe sleep deprivation, insomnia, intrusive thoughts, anxiety, depression and mum rage. Behind it all was a baby with feeding difficulties, low weight gain, reflux, intolerances and medical concerns that went unrecognised for months. I was repeatedly told that what I was experiencing was normal. I was told not to hold or rock my baby too much, that she needed to get used to sleeping in her cot, and later that my milk was not fatty enough. I sought help from multiple professionals, but the red flags in both my baby and me continued to be missed. In this episode, I speak honestly about the moments I am least proud of, the point at which I knew someone was going to get hurt, and what finally helped me begin to recover. We also talk about becoming pregnant again, the fear of reliving my first postpartum experience, how I approached motherhood differently the second time, and why my own experience now shapes every part of the way I support families. This is a raw conversation about what can happen when exhaustion, isolation, medical concerns and mental health struggles continue to compound—and why mothers deserve to be heard before they reach crisis point. In this episode, we discuss: Mum rage and emotional overwhelmPostnatal anxiety and depressionSevere insomnia and prolonged sleep deprivationIntrusive thoughts after having a babyFeeding difficulties, low weight gain and triple feedingReflux, intolerances and missed medical red flagsFeeling disconnected from your babyBeing dismissed when seeking helpThe pressure not to hold, rock or support a baby to sleepHealing and approaching motherhood differently the second timeLearning to trust your instincts and advocate for supportContent warning: This episode includes discussion of postnatal depression and anxiety, intrusive thoughts, mum rage, thoughts of self-harm and harming a child, and distressing moments involving a baby. Please listen when you feel ready and seek immediate support if any part of this conversation reflects what you are currently experiencing.

  2. Jul 22

    5 | I Nearly Died Giving Birth | Chloe's Story

    What started as a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy quickly became every parent's worst nightmare. In this deeply personal episode of Beyond the Cot with Eva Beke, Eva sits down with her friend of more than 20 years, Chloe, alongside her husband Anthony, to share the birth story they've never publicly told before. After an induction at 38 weeks, Chloe's labour took a devastating turn. As her condition deteriorated and their baby's heart rate continued to climb, Anthony watched helplessly while trying to make sense of what was happening around him. Within moments, they were told an emergency caesarean was their only option. Together, they reflect on the fear, the uncertainty, the aftermath of birth trauma, and how they each processed the experience differently. They also share how welcoming their second son became an important part of Chloe's healing journey. This episode is an honest conversation about surviving birth trauma, advocating for yourself, and finding hope after one of the hardest days imaginable. In this episode we discuss: Birth trauma and emergency caesarean birthInduction and unexpected labour complicationsA partner's perspective during a medical emergencyHypervigilance and anxiety after birthProcessing trauma differently as a coupleHaving another baby after a traumatic birthHealing, hope and moving forwardContent warning: This episode contains discussion of birth trauma, emergency medical intervention and life-threatening complications during labour, which some listeners may find distressing.

  3. Jul 14

    4 | Sex After Kids with Sexologist Aleeya: Libido, Pain, Intimacy and Relationships Postpartum

    Why don't people talk about what happens to your sex life after having a baby? So many women experience a loss of libido, painful sex, relationship changes and a completely different connection with their partner after childbirth. Yet it's rarely discussed openly. In this episode of Beyond The Cot with Eva Beke, Founder and Head Sleep Consultant at The Sleepy Little Bubs, sits down with Aleeya Hachem, sexologist, fertility counsellor and founder of Great Sexpectations, for a completely honest conversation about postpartum sex, intimacy, mental load, breastfeeding hormones and navigating relationships after children. Together, they discuss why low libido is often completely normal, how pain after birth can affect intimacy, the difference between spontaneous and responsive desire, why communication matters, and when it may be time to seek support from a sexologist, pelvic floor physiotherapist or your healthcare team. Whether you're six weeks postpartum or several years into parenthood, this episode is a reminder that your relationship isn't broken - it's adapting to one of the biggest transitions you'll ever experience. • Loss of libido after having a baby• Postpartum sex and painful intercourse• Mental load and motherhood• Responsive vs spontaneous desire• Breastfeeding hormones and libido• Pelvic floor recovery after birth• Vaginismus, vulvodynia and prolapse• Rebuilding intimacy after children• Communication in relationships after kids• When to seek support from a sexologist or pelvic floor physiotherapist If you've ever wondered whether what you're are experiencing is "normal", this episode is for you. Beyond The Cot with Eva Beke is the parenting podcast by The Sleepy Little Bubs, where real parenting stories meet evidence-informed conversations about baby sleep, child development, feeding, maternal wellbeing and everything nobody prepares you for after becoming a parent. Follow @sleepylittlebubs for evidence-informed parenting support, and great.sexpectations for expert education on relationships, intimacy and sexual wellbeing.

  4. Jul 1

    3 | IVF at 44: Becoming a Solo Mum by Choice

    What does it really take to become a mum on your own? In this episode of Beyond The Cot, I sit down with Jaime, who shares her remarkable journey to becoming a single mum by choice through IVF at 44. From feeling the pressure of the biological clock to choosing a sperm donor, surviving a life threatening surgery, navigating IVF, and finally hearing the words she'd dreamed of for years, Jaime opens up about every step of her path to motherhood. We also talk about: • Becoming a single mum by choice• IVF over 40 and fertility after 40• Choosing a sperm donor• Endometriosis and fertility• The emotional rollercoaster of IVF• Pregnancy at 44• Life without a village• Dating as a solo parent• Why it's never too late to write your own story Whether you're considering IVF, navigating fertility challenges, thinking about becoming a single parent, or simply love hearing honest stories about motherhood, this episode is one you won't forget. Beyond The Cot is hosted by Eva Beke, founder of The Sleepy Little Bubs, where we have real conversations about parenthood and everything in between.

  5. Jun 24

    2 | Motherhood, Guilt, Rage & Why You're Not Failing with Patria Lee

    Trigger warning: this episode includes discussion of intrusive thoughts. In this episode of Beyond The Cot, Eva sits down with psychology student Patria Lee to explore some of the most common yet least talked about experiences of parenthood. From postnatal anxiety and mum guilt to maternal rage, identity shifts and the overwhelming mental load many parents carry, this conversation dives into the realities behind the highlight reel. If you've ever wondered whether you're doing enough, felt like you've lost yourself in motherhood, or struggled with the pressure to get everything right, this episode is for you. Because sometimes the reminder we need most is that we're not failing, we're human.

  6. Jun 24

    1 | My Story: Why I Created Beyond The Cot

    In the very first episode of Beyond The Cot, Eva Beke shares the personal story behind the podcast. From tongue ties, breastfeeding challenges, reflux, intolerances and Sandifer syndrome to hourly wakes, COVID isolation, postnatal depression, anxiety and mum rage, Eva opens up about the early motherhood journey that changed everything. This episode is an introduction to the heart of Beyond The Cot: honest conversations about parenthood, sleep, feeding, mental health, identity and everything that happens beyond the highlight reel. Because parenting was never meant to be done alone.

  • 6 Episodes

About

The conversations parents wish someone had with them sooner. Hosted by Eva from @thesleepylittlebubs, Beyond The Cot explores the reality of modern parenthood through honest conversations with experts and parents who have lived it. From sleep deprivation and feeding challenges to postnatal mental health, relationships, identity and everything in between. Because parenting was never meant to be done alone.

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