Raising with the village

Doing It All Alone: One Single Mum's Honest Take on the Mental Load, Sleepless Nights and Big Decisions
We are back. And what a story to return with.
Today I am sitting down with Beth — single mum, force of nature, and one of the most energising people I have had the pleasure of talking to on this podcast.
Beth is raising her son on her own. And in this conversation, she pulls back the curtain on what that really looks like. Not the highlight reel. The full picture. The sleepless nights — and there have been many, because four years in, her son still doesn't sleep through. The decisions that most parents get to make with a partner by their side — from something as personal as choosing her baby's name, to something as monumental as choosing his school — that Beth makes entirely alone. The mental load that never switches off, because when you are the only one, there is no one to hand it to at the end of the day.
But Beth's story is not one of survival. It is one of strategy, community and extraordinary heart.
From pregnancy, Beth was already thinking ahead. She knew she was going to need a village — and she set about building one, deliberately and intentionally. She joined a birthing group before her son even arrived to start making connections early. She said yes to every free group, every coffee morning, every opportunity to meet other parents — because she understood that a yes for herself was a yes for her son too. And the women she met along the way? They became her extended family.
This episode is a masterclass in what it means to parent with intention. In what community can look like when you build it from scratch. And in the quiet, fierce, unstoppable resilience of a woman who decided that her circumstances were not going to define her experience of motherhood.
Beth brings so much energy, warmth and enthusiasm to this conversation. And she leaves us with something that I think every parent — single or not — needs to hear. Obstacles can be overcome. Not alone. But when you surround yourself with your village.
In this episode we talk about:
The mental load of solo parenting and what it really feels like day to day
Four years of broken nights — and how Beth keeps going
Planning for the village she would need before her son was even born
Using birthing groups and free community groups to build lifelong connections
Being a yes person — and why it has given her son the best possible start
Making the big decisions of life without a partner — names, schools and everything in between
Where she finds her resources, her energy and her resilience
Why community is not a luxury for single parents — it is a lifeline
Resources for Single Parents
If you are a single parent looking to build your own village, here are some places to start:
Gingerbread — gingerbread.org.uk — the leading UK charity for single parent families, offering advice, support and a community of parents who get it
Single Parent Support Group — search on Facebook for local groups in your area
NCT — nct.org.uk — antenatal groups and postnatal communities for new parents, a brilliant way to build connections early
Mush App — mushmums.com — an app designed to help mums meet other local mums, great for building community from scratch
Peanut App — peanut-app.io — connect with other mums nearby, especially helpful for those early days and beyond
Family Lives — familylives.org.uk — free helpline and support for all parents, including single parents navigating difficult moments
💛 Raising with the Village
This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
 New episodes every Thursday!
🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.
If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

See You in September: 22 Stories, One Village and a Summer Break
Before the village takes a summer break, I wanted to stop — really stop — and mark this moment properly.
Twenty two episodes. Twenty two extraordinary people who trusted this space with their most personal stories. And a community that has grown into something that genuinely feels like what it was always meant to be — a village.
In this episode I take you through every story we have covered so far, from pre-eclampsia and NICU journeys, to solo parenthood, infertility, loss, blended families, and everything in between. Think of it as your summer listening guide — whether you are catching up on episodes you missed or revisiting ones that stayed with you.
I also take a moment to celebrate the milestones I was too busy to mark along the way. Ten episodes. Fifteen. Twenty. We did that together.
The podcast returns in September with more stories, more honesty, and more of the conversations that remind us we are never doing this alone.
In this episode:
A celebration of 22 episodes and everything this community has built together
A full recap of every guest and topic covered so far — your ultimate summer listening guide
A heartfelt thank you to every guest who shared their story
A sneak peek at what is coming when we return in September
Not yet following the podcast? Hit follow on your favourite platform so you never miss an episode when we return. And if there is a story you think deserves to be told on Raising with the Village — get in touch. The village is always growing. 💛
💛 Raising with the Village
This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
 New episodes every Thursday!
🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.
If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

What does pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood look like on the other side of the world?
Today, we find out.
In this episode, I sit down with Nina, who takes us through her experience of pregnancy and motherhood in Sydney, Australia. From her antenatal care to her birth story, to those precious and overwhelming early days with a newborn — Nina shares it all with warmth, honesty, and a perspective that had me nodding along, laughing in recognition, and at times, quietly thinking: why don't we have that?
Because while so much of the experience of becoming a parent is universal — the anticipation, the fear, the love that hits you in a way nothing could have prepared you for — the way different countries support women and families through it varies enormously.
Nina talks about what continuity of care looks like in her experience — the idea that the same midwife who supports you through pregnancy is there with you in the delivery room. She talks about pelvic floor physiotherapy — not as a luxury, but as something that is simply common knowledge among women in her circle. Two appointments, one before birth and one after, with remarkable results. And she talks about second parent leave, and what it meant for her family to have that time together at the very beginning.
None of these are revolutionary ideas. They exist. They are working. And this conversation is a gentle but powerful reminder that we are allowed to ask why they are not yet standard everywhere.
But above all, this is Nina's story. And it is a beautiful one.
In this episode we talk about:
Pregnancy and antenatal care in Sydney, Australia
Continuity of care — and what it looks like when it is done well
Nina's birth experience and delivery in Australia
Pelvic floor physiotherapy before and after birth — and why it should be common knowledge everywhere
Second parent leave and the difference it makes in those early days
The similarities and differences between the Australian and UK experience of pregnancy and early parenthood
The universal emotions of becoming a parent, wherever you are in the world
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy — why it matters
Nina's experience with pelvic floor physiotherapy is something every parent deserves to know about. Whether you have had a vaginal birth or a C-section, pelvic floor health matters. Here are some resources to explore:
Squeezy App — squeezyapp.co.uk — the NHS-recommended app for pelvic floor exercise reminders and guidance
Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy (POGP) — pogp.csp.org.uk — find a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist in the UK
Pelvic Floor First — pelvicfloorfirst.org.au — Australian resource Nina may recognise, with excellent guidance for all parents
The Pelvic Hub — thepelvichub.com — a brilliant online resource for pelvic health information and finding specialist support
Continuity of Care in the UK
If you are pregnant and want to explore your options around continuity of carer midwifery models in the UK:
Tommy's Midwives — tommys.org — information and support throughout pregnancy
Which? Birth Choice — which.co.uk/birth-choice — helps you explore your birth options and maternity services locally
Birthrights — birthrights.org.uk — a charity protecting human rights in childbirth, including the right to informed choice in maternity care
Second Parent Leave in the UK
Want to know more about parental leave rights in the UK?
Gov.uk Paternity Leave and Pay — gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave — everything you need to know about your rights as a second parent
Maternity Action — maternityaction.org.uk — advice and support on all parental leave rights
If this episode made you think, made you ask questions, or made you feel like you deserved more support than you received — share it. With your partner, your antenatal group, your pregnant friend. The more we talk about what is possible, the harder it becomes to settle for less.
And as always, thank you for being part of this village. 💛
💛 Raising with the Village
This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
 New episodes every Thursday!
🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.
If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

When Nobody Believed Me: Monique's Story of Cerebral Palsy, Medical Gaslighting and Trusting Yourself
This episode contains themes of medical mistreatment and dismissal. If you have experienced something similar, please know that your instincts matter, your voice matters, and resources to support you are listed below.
Most of us like to think of ourselves as open minded. Non-judgmental. But what if our judgment isn't something we're aware of — because it lives quietly inside our own experience, our own circumstances? What if we can only see as far as where we have stood?
That is where this conversation begins.
Today I'm sitting down with Monique. A mother who noticed early on that something wasn't quite right with her child. Who raised her concerns — and wasn't believed. Who kept pushing, kept questioning, kept advocating — until she finally got the answers her child needed. Answers that confirmed her daughter had been born with a mild form of cerebral palsy.
But this episode is about so much more than a diagnosis. It is about what happens when the medical system dismisses a mother's instinct. About the mistreatment Monique experienced along the way. About the choices she made — some of which were unconventional, some of which raised eyebrows, and all of which were hers to make. About a woman who questions the world around her, who challenges what doesn't convince her, and who refuses to accept an answer simply because it comes from authority.
And it is about what she says, quietly and with great kindness, at the end of it all: my choice is my choice, and your choice is yours.
This episode may challenge you. It may make you uncomfortable at moments. But I'd invite you to listen with openness — and with kindness. Because Monique isn't here to convince you of anything. She simply wants to share her story, and to remind us all that there is not only one right way.
In this episode we talk about:
Becoming a mother and the early signs that something wasn't quite right
Not being believed by medical professionals — and what that experience felt like
The diagnosis of mild cerebral palsy and the road to getting there
The choices Monique made along the way and the responses she received
Taking matters into her own hands when the system let her down
Questioning authority, doing your own research, and trusting your instincts
What she has learned about herself — as a person and as a mother
Her powerful closing message: my choice is my choice, your choice is yours
If you feel you have been dismissed, mistreated, or not listened to by the NHS, here is how to raise a complaint:
PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) is a free, confidential service available in most hospitals. They can help you resolve issues informally without needing to make a formal complaint. A great first port of call if you are not sure where to start — nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service
NHS England

NHS England Complaints — you can make a formal complaint directly to NHS England by emailing england.contactus@nhs.net, marking it "For the attention of the complaints team." Full guidance here — england.nhs.uk/contact-us/feedback-and-complaints/complaint
NHS England

Action Against Medical Accidents (AvMA) is an independent charity that can help patients consider their options after suffering a medical accident, including providing contacts for specialist solicitors. Find them at avma.org.uk
House of Commons Library

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) — if you are not satisfied with how your complaint has been handled, you can escalate to the Ombudsman. It is a free, independent service. Visit ombudsman.org.uk or call 0345 015 4033.
NHS England

Healthwatch — an independent statutory body that helps make sure your feedback is heard. Search for your local Healthwatch online to find support and complaints advocacy in your area.
House of Commons Library

Resources for Cerebral Palsy:
Cerebral Palsy UK — cerebralpalsy.org.uk — information, support and guidance for families
Scope — scope.org.uk — disability charity offering support for families of children with cerebral palsy
Contact — contact.org.uk — support for families of children with any disability or medical condition
If this episode resonated with you — whether because you have felt dismissed by the medical system, or because Monique's story challenged the way you think — please share it. There is a parent out there who needs to hear this today.
And as Monique so beautifully puts it: my choice is my choice, your choice is yours. 💛
💛 Raising with the Village
This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
 New episodes every Thursday!
🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.
If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.

Some episodes make you think. Some make you cry. And some make you laugh so hard you forget you're even listening to a podcast.
This is one of those.
Today I'm sitting down with Liz — self-proclaimed mum of four year old twins, and honestly, the funniest guest I have had on this show to date. Fair warning: the giggles are very much part of this episode. I am not sorry.
Liz didn't grow up dreaming of motherhood. For a long time, children simply weren't part of the picture. And then she met her partner. And everything changed. Suddenly she knew — she wanted this. She wanted a family.
What she didn't see coming was two.
In this conversation, Liz takes us right back to the beginning — what she really thought about having children when she was younger, the moment everything shifted when she met the right person, and then the moment she found out she wasn't just expecting a baby. She was expecting twins.
We talk about the pregnancy, the preparation, and the beautiful, exhausting, hilarious reality of bringing two tiny humans into the world at the same time. Liz has this incredible gift of finding the funny in everything — the chaos, the sleepless nights, the moments that are equal parts adorable and completely unhinged — and she shares it all with a warmth and an honesty that will leave you smiling long after the episode ends.
And running underneath all the laughter is something quietly profound. A woman who once couldn't picture herself as a mum, who now cannot imagine how she ever thought she didn't want this life.
If you've just found out you're expecting twins — this one is for you. If you're in the thick of twin life — this one is definitely for you. And if you just need a feel good episode today — well. You're in the right place.
In this episode we talk about:
What Liz really thought about having children before she met her partner
The moment she knew she wanted to become a mum
Finding out she was expecting twins and what that moment was like
The twin pregnancy — the highs, the lows, and everything in between
Bringing two babies home at the same time and surviving to tell the tale
The funniest and most chaotic moments of twin life
How life with twins has completely exceeded every expectation she had
If this episode made you smile, share it with someone who needs a feel good listen today. And if you are a twin parent with a story to tell, I would love to hear from you — get in touch and come join the village. 💛
💛 Raising with the Village
This podcast is about real parents sharing real stories — because no one should feel alone in parenthood.
 New episodes every Thursday!
🌐 Website: https://raisingwith.co.uk/
📸 Instagram: @raisingwiththevillage
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and all major platforms.
If you’d like to share your own story — about birth, parenting, or family life — get in touch via the website or Instagram DMs.