Show Notes
This week on No Parental Guidance, Louise and Hannah are joined by Hilary Whitehall actress, podcaster, former doula, long-time wife of Michael, mum to Jack, Molly and Barnaby and now a grandmother with another grandchild on the way!
Hilary is absolutely hilarious and delivers one of the most jaw-dropping birth stories we’ve ever heard, involving a very famous godfather, a hospital mix-up and black tie attire. Honestly, you couldn’t write it!
Hilary also opens up about her decade working as a doula and what new mums really need in those first overwhelming weeks, from building confidence to cutting through guilt and panic. Plus, she talks about becoming a grandmother and why looking after someone else’s kids hits differently... especially when scooters are involved.
And just when you think it can’t get any wilder, Hilary shares one of her worst parenting moments: accidentally running over her toddler in France and the horrifying second where she thought she’d killed him.
Before Hilary joins, Hannah and Louise are in full chaos mode. Hannah forgets an inset day and sends her son to a locked school, then her daughter gets hold of her phone and accidentally messages the entire class WhatsApp. Louise shares a post-op Christmas horror story featuring a catheter, a night bag, and a husband who trips, falls, and sets off total mayhem in the middle of the night. There’s also a very honest chat about kids growing up and the moment the awkward questions start coming thick and fast, plus Hilary’s take on raising polite kids, being a “bossy grandmother”, and the slightly genius trick she used to get her kids to bed early. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from No Parental Guidance
🎙️ Baby Loss Awareness Special | Hope, Healing & Unfiltered Truths | Jorgie Porter, Alex Bowen, Danae MercerWelcome back to a very special, and deeply personal, episode of No Parental Guidance.This week, we are stepping away from our usual unhinged antics to hold space for an important conversation dedicated to Baby Loss Awareness. Baby loss and pregnancy trauma is something 1 in 2 of us experience, yet so few feel empowered to speak about openly. Louise and Hannah have both experienced the deep heartbreak of baby loss, and while this episode is close to our hearts, our aim is simple: to shine a gentle light into the dark days and help anyone listening feel a little less alone.If this episode feels like too much for you right now, please take care of yourself—our usual chaotic episodes are just a click away in - can I recommend Sara Pascoe’s recent episode for unhinged parenting hacks that work a treat!And if you’re joining us today, welcome, we are honored to share three incredibly honest, moving, and uplifting conversations with our wonderful guests:💖 Jorgie Porter opens up about her extraordinary journey of naturally conceiving quadruplets, the overwhelming shock of her diagnosis, navigating a silent/missed loss, and how going through extreme grief together brought her and her partner Ollie closer than ever.💙 Alex Bowen brings a vital father’s perspective to the table. He reflects on his journey from Love Island to fatherhood, and candidly shares what it felt like to navigate Vanishing Twin Syndrome with Olivia—reminding us why men’s mental health and emotional openness matter just as much during baby loss.✨ Danae Mercer joins us to discuss the heartbreak of missed miscarriages and chemical pregnancies, the silent obsession with early pregnancy tests, and why we need to strip away the stigma and talk about just how common early loss really is.Thank you for being part of our community. Together, let's break the silence. 🤍📍 Episode Chapters00:00 - Baby Loss Awareness Introduction01:57 - Jorgie Porter Quadruplet Pregnancy Scan07:00 - Jorgie Porter Quadruplet Miscarriage Grief11:55 - Men's Mental Health After Miscarriage13:09 - Alex Bowen Love Island Journey18:48 - Alex Bowen Vanishing Twin Loss28:15 - Danny Mercer Missed Miscarriage Diagnosis30:26 - Chemical Pregnancy and Fertility Testing33:38 - Baby Loss Certificates and Support 💙 Support & ResourcesIf you or someone you know has been affected by baby loss, pregnancy loss, or fertility struggles, please know that support is always available:Tommy's (Pregnancy & Baby Loss Charity): tommys.orgSands (Stillbirth & Neonatal Loss Charity): sands.org.ukMariposa International (Saying Goodbye) (Comprehensive Global bereavement support, remembrance services, and resources supporting miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal, and infant loss) sayinggoodbye.org4Louis (Baby Loss Charity providing support, memory boxes and in hospital care) 4Louis.co.ukThank you to Aldi and their Mamia Range for supporting this special episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Relatable parenting? 💬 Unfiltered birth stories? 💖
This week, we are joined by the absolute goddess herself, Lauren Cowell! 💕
This week, we are joined by the absolutely iconic comedian, author, and mum of two, Sara Pascoe!
🎙️ JORGIE PORTER | "Good Cop/Bad Cop" Parenting, Postpartum Survival Guide & The Ultimate Mum Hair Hack! 💇♀️✨