Show Notes
This week on No Parental Guidance, Louise and Hannah are back with another proper parenting therapy session, joined by Hilary Whitehall for a bonus episode that swings from absolute maternity ward chaos to the kind of advice you actually want to hear at 3 a.m.
It kicks off with a listener story so mad it sounds fake: they’d just given birth when the ceiling collapsed from the room above and they were stuck in the labour room for five hours while it was cleaned up. Hilary talks through how she’d handle it as a doula, and why sometimes all you can do is stay calm, focus on the baby, and use humour because you literally cannot fix the chaos around you.
From there it turns into a very real chat about being in the trenches. Half term dread, kids needing to be “run like dogs”, and how to survive a week off without losing your mind. Hilary shares genuinely useful ideas that don’t require you to be a Pinterest mum, plus a couple of low-effort wins like water painting with a brush and a bucket that keeps them busy without destroying your house.
There’s also a relatable detour into teenage boys and food, the snack hiding places they always find, and the way grown-up kids still walk into your house and go straight to the fridge like they own the place.
But the heart of the episode is Hilary’s advice for exhausted mums who feel like it’s never-ending. Her message is simple, comforting, and honestly a bit emotional: you are doing a great job, make a cup of tea, take a breath, ask for help, and aim to be a “good enough mother” not some impossible perfect version. There’s also a brilliant chat about taking guilt out of breastfeeding and why a flourishing baby matters more than anyone’s opinions.
Warm, funny, and properly reassuring. This is the one you’ll want to send to a mate who’s just had a baby and is spiralling at night. 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! 💇♀️✨