Listen To Our Podcast!
Listen To Our Podcast!
Listen To Our Podcast!
In this episode, doulas Victoria and Sam introduce themselves and the podcast, and talk about why they feel there is a great need for improved awareness of some of the challenges neurodivergent people can face during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, and how we can work together to improve support and outcomes for neurodivergent people and their families.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
12 MAR 2023
Episode 1: Introduction
In today's episode Victoria interviews Zoe Gardiner of Postpartum Matters, about her late ASC diagnosis and the experiences of her pregnancies, births and the postnatal period following the births of her 2 children, with the benefit of hindsight through a neurodivergent lens. You can find out more about Postpartum Matters at https://postpartummatters.podia.com/ and you can follow Zoe on Instagram @postpartum_matters.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
19 MAR 2023
Episode 2: Interview with Zoe Gardiner
In this episode Sam and Victoria discuss neurodivergence and sensory processing issues in the context of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
26 MAR 2023
Episode 3: Sensory Processing
In Episode 4 Victoria interviews bestselling author of 'You're Child is Not Broken'; Heidi Mavir, about her neurodivergence, late diagnosis, and the experience of her pregnancy, birth and postpartum 18 years ago from a neurodivergent perspective. You can find more about Heidi and her brilliant work at https://www.heidimavir.com/ and follow her on Instagram @heidimavir.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
02 APR 2023
Episode 4: Interview with Heidi Mavir
In this episode Victoria interviews fellow doula Martine Mensink about her experiences of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period from the ADHD perspective. You can support Martine by following her on Instagram @martinethedoula.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
09 APR 2023
Episode 5: Interview with Martine Mensink
In this week's episode, Sam and Victoria discuss neurodivergence and challenges with communication during pregnancy, birth and postnatally.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
16 APR 2023
Episode 6: Communication
This week Victoria interviews Frankie Gulliver; a postnatal doula and mental health and neurodivergence advocate. Frankie shares her perinatal experiences as an ADHDer with dyslexia and dyspraxia. You can follow Frankie and find more about her work on Instagram @meandmindhub.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
23 APR 2023
Episode 7: Interview with Frankie Gulliver
In this episode Sam and Victoria interview Sara King. Sara is a PhD researcher specialising in understanding autistic experiences of maternity services. She also chairs the Maternity Autism Research Group; a collective of health professionals and researchers working together to improve maternity care for autistic women and people. You can find out more about their work at https://www.maternityautismresearchgroup.co.uk/ and via their facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092004974326.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
30 APR 2023
Episode 8: Interview with Sara King
In this episode we interview Georgia Andrews. Georgia is autistic and identifies as neuroqueer. They work as a simulation actor with Sim Actors (https://simactors.co.uk/about), predominantly working with midwifery students, and they bring their neurodivergence to this role to help students learn about some of the challenges neurodivergent people can face perinatally, and how to improve communication.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
07 MAY 2023
Episode 9: Interview with Georgia Andrews
In this week's episode we talk all about perinatal anxiety and neurodivergence, including ways to support ND struggling with anxiety. We finish off the episode with an exercise on self-compassion.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
21 MAY 2023
Episode 10: Anxiety
This week Victoria interviews Nanny Kimbo, co-founder of The Queer Parenting Partnership @parentingqueer. They talk about their autism diagnosis, the perinatal experience from a neurodivergent perspective, and gender diversity and neurodivergence. You can follow Kim on Instagram @nannykimbo.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
27 MAY 2023
Episode 11: Interview with Nanny Kimbo
In this episode Victoria interviews Georgie Watson, a birth and postnatal doula based in Cornwall. Georgie is an AuDHDer, and started to explore her own neurodivergence and that of other members of her family, following her son's autism diagnosis. She shares some fascinating insight into the understanding of neurodivergence within the NHS maternity services, and how small changes and a focus on personalised care, can make a big difference.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
04 JUN 2023
Episode 12: Interview with Georgie Watson
This week Victoria interviews Alexis Quinn; educator, autism advocate and author of 'Unbroken: Learning to Live Beyond Diagnosis' and 'Autistic and Expecting: Practical support for parents-to-be and health and social care practitioners'. You can follow Alexis on Twitter @AQuinnUnbroken and download her maternity passport birth planning resource here: https://www.autisticparentsuk.org/downloadable-resources. Alexis also mentions the organisation Birth Rights which you can find at https://www.birthrights.org.uk/.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
17 JUN 2023
Episode 13: Interview with Alexis Quinn
In this episode Victoria interviews Caro Tasker; writer, ambassador for baby loss charity Tommy's and neurodivergent mother and ally. You can check out Caro's Instagram page @spikey where she shares her amazing insight into the Pathological Demand Avoidance profile of autism, and also listen to the wonderful baby loss support podcast hosted by Caro, Elle @feathering_the_empty_nest and Jen @teddys_wish.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
25 JUN 2023
Episode 14: Interview with Caro Tasker
In this final episode of Season 1, Victoria interviewees Diane Fox - specialist autism midwife, researcher and vice-chair of MARG (Maternity Autism Research Group).
Diane has created content for the Autistic Girls Network about the Perinatal period. Please see links below:
Letter to your midwife explaining about Autism and your autistic needs and how these can be met - to be used as a Communication Tool, can take this letter to the first appointment to advocate for your autistic needs:
https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/pregnancy-information-for-health-professionals/
Awesome, Autistic and Pregnant!: What to expect at each appointment step by step, how to access extra support, sign posting to who can advocate for you:
https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/what-to-expect-in-pregnancy/
Emotional and Physical Changes for you and your partner perinatally, trimester by trimester with an autistic viewpoint:
https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/what-to-expect-during-your-pregnancy/
You can find out all about the amazing work Diane does at www.dianefox.uk, and the work of the Maternity Autism Research Group at https://www.maternityautismresearchgroup.co.uk/
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth
02 JUL 2023
Episode 15: Interview with Diane Fox
Welcome to Season 2! It's great to be back. The theme of this season is to ask the question 'why does supporting neurodivergent birth matter'?
We kick things off by exploring this with Hayley Morgan who is an autistic mother, researcher and author. Hayley began writing about the autistic birth experience in 2015. Pregnant with her second child, her formal diagnosis of autism meant she learned about herself and her child on what would be a beautiful journey. Inspired to learn more about her neurotype, Hayley joined MSc Autism and Related Conditions at Swansea University Medical School. While completing this degree, she wrote for online magazines, blogs and more before submitting her MSc dissertation survey on the autistic birth experience.
At the start of 2021 Hayley secured a book deal to co-author a book on the topic with JKP publishers and started her PhD on the autistic birth experience. This work is currently focused on specific issues raised from her MSc data i.e. autonomy, consent, capacity and specific barriers.
Hayley is part of the team at the 'Maternity Autism Research Group'. You can find out more about the work they do, and links to a wide range of resources on this topic, at maternityautismresearchgroup.co.uk.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
08 OCT 2023
S2 Ep1: Empowerment as an autistic mother with Hayley Morgan
Karen is a midwife, researcher and lecturer in midwifery at the University of Suffolk. She has 5 children and was diagnosed as autistic alongside her fourth and fifth children in 2009. In 2019 Karen was nominated for a Florence Nightingale scholarship and was supported to create a series of communication support plans for autistic people. Karen completed a Master of Arts in autism in 2022 and is passionate about enhancing autistic peoples maternity experiences through co-producing training packages for maternity staff.
The support plans can be found here: https://www.all4maternity.com/providing-accessible-healthcare-for-autistic-women/
Henry, K. (2023) Providing accessible healthcare for Autistic Women. The Practising Midwife, 26 (2). pp. 37-41. ISSN 1461-3123
Henry, K. (2022) Human rights in childbearing: supporting Autistic Midwives in the workplace. The Practising Midwife, 25 (11). pp. 14-17. ISSN 1461-3123
Henry, K. (2017). ‘Empowering women with autism’. Midwifery Matters. December 2017, 155, pp.10-11.
Karen is happy to be contacted on Twitter: @karenhenry1012
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
15 OCT 2023
S2 Ep2: An autistic midwife's perspective with Karen Henry
In today's episode I interview You Tube vlogger Purple Ella. Ella is an autistic parent, neurodivergent content creator, and a fan of all things purple. She shares with us her perspective of navigating pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period as someone who is both autistic and has ADHD, and reflects on the overlap and interplay between the two neurotypes.
You can access Ella's content and follow her here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzske-KMAJYQn84rz6oD_yA
https://www.instagram.com/purpleellaandcoco
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
21 OCT 2023
S2 Ep 3: Autism, ADHD and perinatal experiences with Purple Ella
Welcome to episode 4! In this episode we talk to the amazing Laura Spence, known all over the internet as The ADHD Midwife. Laura has been a great friend to ND Birth since the beginning, and she is doing amazing work to better understand the ADHD perspective of perinatal experiences, and to educate her fellow health professionals on the topic. Give her a follow @the_adhd_midwife to find out more.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
27 OCT 2023
S2 Ep4: ADHD, dopamine and the oestrogen train with The ADHD Midwife Laura Spence
Welcome to episode 5 of season 2! In this episode I talk to Emily Snape, doula and neurodivergent & human rights advocate. You can find Emily on Instagram at @theneurodivergentmomsclub. We talk about her experiences as an AuDHDer and mum of 3, and discuss intersectionality and neurodiversity.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
06 NOV 2023
S2 Ep5: Intersectionality and neurodiversity with doula Emily Snape
Hello and welcome to episode 6. Today I interview Jaely Turner. Jaely is a late diagnosed autistic ADHDer, doula and founder of Our Village Circle birth services and podcast. She shares her perinatal experiences with us, her late diagnosis story, and how hyper focus led her to pursue birth work. You can find out more about Jaely and the services she offers at www.ourvillagecircle.com.
If you are a birth worker like Jaely and would like to find out more about how you can develop your understanding of neurodivergent support perinatally, why not join us on one of our November workshops on either the 21st and 22nd or the 28th and 29th November. Head to ndbirth.com to secure your spot!
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
12 NOV 2023
S2 Ep6: Late diagnosis, hyperfocus and birthwork with doula Jaely Turner
Welcome to episode 7 of season 2! Today I talk to Sarah Fitzsimmons, an independent midwife and ADHDer. Sarah has worked both within the NHS and independently as a midwife since 2008. She shares her own experience of discovering her neurodivergence whilst working as a midwife, and her experience of supporting neurodivergent people perinatally. You can find out more at https://www.myindependentmidwife.co.uk/.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
20 NOV 2023
S2 Ep7: An independent midwife's perspective with Sarah Fitzsimmons
Kristy Forbes is an Australian based autism & neurodiversity support specialist.
She supports neurodivergent people and their families; and professionals who wish to support them.
Her work is informed by her extensive professional experience as an educator, but her most valuable insights come from lived experience.
Kristy is formally identified autistic, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) as well as being a parent to four neurodivergent children.
Today she shares with us her perspective of perinatal experiences as a pdaer and how to support PDA birthing people.
You can find out more about Kristy's work at https://www.kristyforbes.com.au.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
27 NOV 2023
S2 Ep8: Pathological Demand Avoidance and perinatal experiences with Kristy Forbes
Welcome to this episode with Nicola Crawley. Nicola is a master NLP practitioner, hypnotherapist and reflexologist. She talks about ND fertility experiences, the benefits of hypnobirthing visualisations as a ND person (even if you find visual imagery challenging), the gifts of reflexology and much more.
You can find out more about Nicola and her work at www.sunflowerfab.com.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
05 DEC 2023
S2 Ep9: Supporting Neurodivergent Birth through reflexology, hypnosis and NLP with Nicola Crawley
Dr Lucy Thompson is a Senior Research Fellow in the Centre for Rural Health within the Institute of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Aberdeen. She has PhD in Psychology and a Master of Public Health which provided the ideal foundation for her research in early child development and parental wellbeing. Lucy is also the mum of a son with ADHD and has been exploring her own neurodivergence. She has recently embarked on a career as an ADHD coach. She talks about ADHD coaching today, along with the importance of understanding ADHD as a neurological difference, and supporting neurodivergent families holistically.
You can contact Lucy by email lucythompsoncc (at) gmail.com, and check out her link tree https://linktr.ee/drlucyt. She is presenting 2 upcoming in-person SEED talks about ADHD and women , one on the 16th Jan in Glasgow https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adhd-and-women-misunderstood-misdiagnosed-moving-forward-for-change-tickets-760496584757 and the other on the 17th Jan in Newcastle: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/adhd-and-women-misunderstood-misdiagnosed-moving-forward-for-change-tickets-760551809937
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
11 DEC 2023
S2 Ep10: Understanding ADHD as a neurological difference and ADHD coaching with Dr Lucy Thompson
Welcome to Episode 11 of Season 2! Today I talk with Jacob Kelly who you can find on instagram @adhdfatheruk. Jacob is a mental health and neurodiversity advocate and shares his experiences of being an ADHD parent and of his postnatal depression to educate and support neurodivergent people.
In this episode we talk about postnatal depression in dads and partners, his work supporting people on a mother and baby unit, and the positives of parenting with ADHD along with much more.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
19 DEC 2023
S2 Ep11: Perinatal mental health and neurodiversity with @adhdfatheruk Jacob Kelly
Jessica McCabe is the creator, writer, and star of the award-winning, YouTube channel How to ADHD https://www.youtube.com/c/howtoadhd.
Since its founding in 2015, How to ADHD has grown to over one and a half million subscribers.
Jessica releases her first book on the 2nd January 2024 titled:
How to ADHD: An Insider's Guide to Working with Your Brain (Not Against It).
In How to ADHD, Jessica reveals the insights and tools that have changed her life, and offers expert-backed guidance for adapting your environment, routines and systems to work with the ADHD brain.
Jessica is currently pregnant with her first child, and in today's episode we talk all about her pregnancy, her birth preparation, and the importance of putting support strategies in place for her postnatal time.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
02 JAN 2024
S2 Ep12: ADHD and pregnancy with Jessica McCabe, creator of 'How to ADHD'
In today's episode I talk to Dr Sam Porter. Sam is a neurodivergent NHS consultant perinatal psychiatrist and a psychiatry lead with Autistic Doctors International.
Sam talks about his work supporting neurodivergent people perinatally, why he feels diagnosing autism and ADHD needs to be part of mainstream psychiatry, and how diagnosis can make the difference in whether or not some families are able to stay together. This is important work, and this episode highlights that more than ever.
You can follow Sam on X @PerinatalBirder.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
16 JAN 2024
S2 Ep13: Perinatal psychiatry and diagnosing neurodivergence with Dr Sam Porter
Welcome to this week's episode! Today I interview Maisie Hill. Maisie is an expert in menstrual health and is the celebrated author of Period Power, and Perimenopause Power. She shares with us her experience of the perinatal time as late-diagnosed autistic person, her insights on the fascinating interplay between hormones and neurodivergent experiences, and how menstrual cycle tracking can benefit everyone in better understanding ourselves and improving mental health. You can find out more about her work at maisiehill.com.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
24 JAN 2024
S2 Ep14: Neurodivergence, birth and Menstrual Cycle Awareness with Maisie Hill
Today I talk with Mark Williams. Mark is a keynote speaker, author and international mental health campaigner, who in 2004 himself experienced depression after the birth of his son.
He founded International Fathers Mental Health Day and the #howareyoudad campaign, and was awarded Inspirational Father of the year and local hero at the Pride of Britain Awards in 2012. He was also awarded the Point Of light Award by the Prime Minister in 2019 and 2023 Mark was awarded the British Citizens Award for Health Care.
In 2020 Mark published the report "Fathers Reaching Out - Why Dads Matter" to explain the importance of paternal mental health to families.
Mark has ADHD and in this episode he shares his own experiences, reflects on his work with neurodivergent fathers and also the positives of parenting with ADHD.
You can find more out about Mark at www.howareyoudad.co.uk, and view his TEDx talk here.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
30 JAN 2024
S2 Ep15: Fathers, ADHD and perinatal mental health with Mark Williams
Hello and welcome to Episode 16 of Season 2! Today I talk with Kate Moryoussef.
Kate is the host of the amazing ADHD Women’s Wellbeing podcast and associated workshops, and is as an accredited EFT and NLP practitioner and wellbeing coach.
Today we talk about her own experiences, and the importance of self-compassion when looking after our own wellbeing as we navigate the perinatal time and parenthood. You can find out more about Kate and the amazing work she does at https://www.adhdwomenswellbeing.co.uk/
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
08 FEB 2024
S2 Ep16: ADHD, wellbeing and self-compassion with Kate Moryoussef
Today's episode is with Lucy Ruddle IBCLC. Lucy is a lactation consultant, breastfeeding counsellor and holistic sleep coach. Lucy has ADHD and is a mum to two ND children. We talk about her own experiences, discuss neurodivergent infant feeding challenges and positives, and reflect on the amazing tool that lactation is for co-regulating the nervous systems of both parents and children, particularly in neurodivergent families when this can be even more powerful. You can find out more about Lucy's work at lucyruddle.co.uk.
This is our final episode of Season 2, but do stayed tuned for Season 3 launching in May which is recording now. If you’d like to participate, contact us via ndbirth.com.
Thank you for listening!
Join the conversation on Instagram @neurodivergentbirth and at ndbirth.com.
17 FEB 2024
S2 Ep17: Neurodivergence and lactation with Lucy Ruddle IBCLC
The Podcast
A podcast exploring neurodivergent experiences of pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, with the aim of improving support and outcomes for neurodivergent people and their families. Hosted by doula Victoria White.
