Breaking the taboo with Theo Clarke

This week our host, Theo Clarke, is joined by Auriana Griffiths, Partner and Head of the Medical Negligence Department at Irwin Mitchell’s London office, and Julianne Boutaleb, Consultant Perinatal Psychologist and Director of the Parenthood In Mind practice, to discuss avoiding family breakdown after birth trauma.
Topics that we discuss on the show include: how birth trauma impacts couples’ relationships; bonding difficulties following birth injuries; the impact on wider family and siblings; importance of communication; impact of traumatic birth on physical intimacy; how dads and partners experience trauma as “forgotten fathers”; what parents can do to support themselves and each other; the impact of returning to work with financial/medical pressures; consequences of medical negligence; mental health support, early intervention and available UK resources; and examples of families who have positively worked through birth trauma.
BIOGRAPHIES
Auriana Griffiths is a highly experienced Partner and Head of the Medical Negligence Department at Irwin Mitchell’s London office. Auriana specialises in high-value clinical negligence cases, with a particular focus on obstetric incidents resulting in brain injuries, paediatric brain injury, wrongful birth claims, maternal injuries and spinal injuries. Renowned for her strategic litigation and relentless client advocacy, she prioritises early liability decisions to secure essential interim payments for therapy, care and equipment, making a transformative difference in the lives of affected clients and their families. Auriana is recognised in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500 in the top ranks of clinical negligence specialists.
https://www.irwinmitchell.com/our-people/auriana-griffiths
Julianne Boutaleb is the Clinical Director and Founder of the Parenthood In Mind practice and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society. She is a passionate and highly experienced perinatal psychologist who has worked for over 23 years in the NHS and private practice with parents and parents-to-be and their babies (and bumps) who have needed support with a wide variety of perinatal mental health issues during and after pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth and reproductive loss, attachment issues, re-emergence of childhood issues and couples issues.
Instagram: @parenthoodinmind
Birth Trauma Association:
https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk/
This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.
DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.
www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast
Breaking The Taboo production team
Producer: Natasha Feroze
Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik
Designer: Emily RyderSocial Media: Bella Carter
Studio Manager: Adam Woodward
Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host, Theo Clarke, former MP and Chair of the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry, is joined by Shaun Lintern, Health Editor of The Sunday Times, to discuss their recent investigation into failings in maternity care and the role that natural birth ideology plays. Despite a litany of scandals, universities are still pushing ‘normal birth’ over medical interventions.
Topics that we discuss on the show include: how natural or ‘normal’ birth ideology continues to shape university midwifery training; the impact this has on clinical practice and patient safety; the wider implications for maternity services, safety culture, and public trust; and how the newspaper’s investigation has prompted the regulator to act.
BIOGRAPHY
Shaun Lintern is Health Editor of The Sunday Times. An investigative health journalist for more than a decade, he has helped expose some of the worst scandals in NHS history, including the Shropshire and Telford maternity disaster and poor care at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust and subsequent public inquiry. He was health correspondent for The Independent and previously bureau chief for the Health Service Journal.
Theo Clarke (Host) was the Member of Parliament for Stafford. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. Theo has served as parliamentary private secretary at the Departments for Education, Business and Trade and HM Treasury, in addition to being trade envoy for the Prime Minister. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. Theo hosts the hit podcast ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health and a book club at ‘A Thread of One’s Own’. She has also published a memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma‘. Don’t suffer in silence! Listen in and let’s break the final taboo in women’s health #breakingthetaboo.
Read the full article:https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/midwife-maternity-university-education-natural-births-investigation-2dbg80l0cX / Twitter: @ShaunLintern @theoclarkemp
This podcast is sponsored by the Global Birth Trauma Alliance.
DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.
Website:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast
Breaking The Taboo production team:
Producer: Natasha Feroze
Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik
Designer: Emily Ryder
Social Media: Bella Carter
Studio Manager: Adam Woodward
Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host Theo Clarke, former MP and Chair of the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry, is joined by Dr Kim Thomas, CEO of the Birth Trauma Association to answer listener questions on birth trauma. They share information for expectant mothers and families who’ve experienced a traumatic birth, including recovery from mental and physical health issues after childbirth, and provide some practical advice to help affected families.Topics that we discuss on the show include: dealing with postnatal PTSD; available therapies for new mothers; advocacy during birth and after; advice for partners or families who’ve witnessed traumatic births; how to access birth debriefs; requesting a planned caesarean; the importance of self-care and creative practices; and where to find support for pregnant and new mothers on birth and complications.
BIOGRAPHY
Dr Kim Thomas is CEO of the Birth Trauma Association, a charity that supports parents experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder after birth. She was also the secretariat for the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) inquiry into birth trauma, and wrote the inquiry report, published in May 2024. She has published two books about birth trauma: Birth Trauma: A Guide for You, Your Friends and Family to Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Following Birth; and Postnatal PTSD: a Guide for Health Professionals. Her book Broadmoor Women looked at the lives of women committed to Broadmoor in the nineteenth century. She also worked as a freelance journalist for more than 20 years, writing for national newspapers and magazines, with a specialist focus on health and medicine.
Birth Trauma Association:
https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/
Theo Clarke was the Member of Parliament for Stafford. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. Theo has served as parliamentary private secretary at the Departments for Education, Business and Trade and HM Treasury, in addition to being trade envoy for the Prime Minister. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. Theo hosts the hit podcast ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health and a book club at ‘A Thread of One’s Own’. She has also published a memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma‘. Don’t suffer in silence! Listen in and let’s break the final taboo in women’s health #breakingthetaboo.
This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.
DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.
Instagram: @Theoclarkemp @birthtrauma
Website: www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast
Breaking The Taboo production team:
Producer: Natasha Feroze
Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik
Designer: Emily Ryder
Social Media: Bella Carter
Studio Manager: Adam Woodward
Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host, former MP and Chair of the UK Birth Trauma Inquiry in Parliament, Theo Clarke, is joined by Hannah Barnes, Investigations Editor at the New Statesman, to discuss their special investigation: “Britain’s Next Maternity Scandal?” – an in-depth look at the rising concerns around safety, staffing, and accountability across maternity services at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Topics that we discuss on the show include: the shocking findings from the New Statesman and Channel 4 recent investigation into the state of maternity care in Oxford; why maternity safety is once again under scrutiny; how repeated warnings are being ignored across the NHS; how the voices of families affected by preventable tragedies are not being listened to; what systemic issues are driving failures in care; and how the Government needs to take urgent action to improve maternity care.
Hannah Barnes is the Investigations Editor at the New Statesman. She previously worked at the BBC. She is an award-winning journalist and author of Time to Think: The Inside Story of the Collapse of the Tavistock’s Gender Service for Children (Swift) – a Sunday Times Bestseller and shortlisted for the Baillie Gifford and Orwell prizes.
📖 Read the full investigation: Britain’s Next Maternity Scandal? – New Statesman🎥 Watch Channel 4 News – Part 1: YouTube🎥 Watch Channel 4 News – Part 2: YouTube
This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.
DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.
Instagram / TikTok: @newstatesman X / Twitter: @hannahsbee
@Theoclarkemp
Website:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast
Breaking The Taboo production team:
Producer: Natasha Feroze
Researchers: Max Austin and Elliott Malik
Designer: Emily Ryder
Social Media: Bella Carter
Studio Manager: Adam Woodward
Studio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power Club


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com

This week our host and former MP, Theo Clarke, is joined by Shauna Leven, Chief Executive of Twins Trust, and Tia Brown, mother of twins, to discuss twins, multiples, IVF and fertility treatment, and birth trauma.
Topics that we discuss on the show include: the emotional and physical trauma of a high-risk twin pregnancy; challenges faced by families with multiples; ensuring the right care during a multiples pregnancy and birth; the work of the Twins Trust; advice on preparation for parenthood; campaigning to make sure families’ voices are heard; premature ovarian insufficiency; the process of IVF and egg donor conception and expense.Shauna Leven has worked in senior management roles in the charity sector for more than 10 years. She is also a human rights lawyer, a successful campaigner and strategist, but her most important role is mum to boy/girl twins.
Tia Brown is a mother of boy/girl twins, Maliyah and Kawhi, who were born in January 2022. Tia was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency when she was just 29 and underwent a tough IVF battle, spending around £40,000, to become a mother through egg donor conception. She now shares her story on her social media @life_with_the_brown_family to help raise awareness around the issues about early menopause.
Theo Clarke was the Member of Parliament for Stafford in the UK. She chaired the first parliamentary inquiry into birth trauma in British history and previously set up the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Birth Trauma in the House of Commons. She won Speech of the Year at the Parliamentarian of the Year Awards and was included in the prestigious Top 100 Women in Westminster list in 2025 and 2024. Theo hosts the hit podcast ‘Breaking the Taboo’ which ranks in the Top 5 most listened to shows in the UK for alternative health. She has also published a bestselling memoir ‘Breaking the Taboo: why we need to talk about birth trauma’. This podcast is sponsored by the law firm Irwin Mitchell.DISCLAIMER: This show is not intended to be medical advice – please seek advice from a GP or doctor.Connect with Twins Trust:www.twinstrust.orgX / Twitter: @twinstrustWebsite:www.theo-clarke.org.uk/podcast
@theoclarkemp Breaking The Taboo production team:Producer: Natasha FerozeResearchers: Max Austin and Elliott MalikDesigner: Emily RyderSocial Media: Bella CarterStudio Manager: Adam WoodwardStudio: Studio 55, part of Wolfe Power ClubThis is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com


This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theodoraclarke.substack.com