The best podcasts for Pregnancy and Birth

Hello my name is Florence Wilcock. I am a uk obstetrician with thirty years experience of working in nhs maternity services. I am a doctor specialising in pregnancy and birth providing women with care during pregnancy, during birth itself and in the immediate days after giving birth. I started a podcast in 2020 TheObsPod as I felt there were plenty of midwifery podcasts but none that gave the obstetric view point. I wanted to provide and honest and open obstetric voice that would be of use to families and maternity professionals alike. I am dedicated to trying to demystify the care woman receive so that they can question health professionals and make well informed decisions about care for them and their baby. I believe birth experience stays with women throughout their lives and that making this experience both as safe and as good as possible is essential to the ongoing well being of both mother and baby. Last year I gave a TEDx talk ‘Birth should be special’ outlining what I think is important. Central to a good pregnancy and birth is trust in those providing care and compassionate clear communication with families using maternity services.

My podcast is all about life as an nhs obstetrician. I try and break down specific topics and problems women may encounter during pregnancy or birth so that women and new parents understand what we are thinking and why we may give the advice we give. I try and use simple language to enable a broad understanding. I also aim to help other health professionals understand how we obstetricians think as collaboration with midwives in particular is very important in providing maternity care. I sign post to established national guidance where available and also from time to time invite guest experts on a particular topic. I end each episode with a zesty bit, the essence I would like the audience to take away from each episode and remember.

My podcast play list is a mixture of podcasts I think new and prospective parents will find useful and interesting as well as existing midwives and midwifery students. Only by all working together and understanding the importance of good quality information exchange between parents using maternity services and professionals working in it can we hope to improve maternity and birth experience and reduce the chance of birth trauma. Podcasts are an ideal way to make information, advice and support accessible to people who want it. I enjoy these podcasts and hope you will too.