Have you ever found yourself trying to stay hopeful while quietly navigating the exhaustion, uncertainty, and grief that can come with trying to conceive? 🫶

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes honest discussions around fertility struggles, IVF, pregnancy loss, and secondary infertility. Please take care while listening.

“Just relax... it'll happen." It's the advice so many people hear when trying to conceive, but what happens when starting or growing a family is rarely that simple?

In Episode 4, Series 2 of The Village, hosts Jess and Grace are joined by mum, Laura, who shares her experience of same-sex conception and multiple rounds of fertility treatment, alongside registered midwife and Emma’s Diary Medical Advisory Board member Sophie, who opens up about years of trying to conceive, IVF and pregnancy loss.

After everything they’ve both navigated to build their families, both Laura and Sophie share the wonderful news that they are both currently pregnant! Their journeys are a powerful reminder that even after years of waiting, uncertainty and loss, there is always hope. 🤍

Whether you're in the thick of treatment, looking for expertpreconception tips, or simply need to feel less alone… you’re in the right place. 🌟

✨ Sponsored by Pregnacare*: This episode is sponsored by Pregnacare, the UK’s No.1 pregnancy supplement brand**. Their leading vitamin range supports women from pre-conception through every stage of pregnancy.

*Pregnacare is the sponsor of this episode and has had no editorial involvement in its content. This episode is produced by Emma's Diary. The views, opinions and statements expressed by the hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Pregnacare or Emma's Diary. Pregnacare accepts no responsibility for any views, opinions or statements made during this episode.

**UK’s No. 1 Pregnancy Supplement Brand. Source: Circana (UK) Ltd, All Outlets Incl Chemists & HB, Vitamins, Minerals, & Supplements, Sector: Pregnancy & Conception, Value & Unit Sales, 52 WE 23 May 2026. To verify email No1support@vitabiotics.com.

🌟 What We Talk About in This Episode:

• The reality of TTC & fertility care: Unpacking the emotional weight of same-sex conception, multiple rounds of treatment, navigating GP referrals and managing the gap between expectation and reality.
• Practical steps and preconception health: Expert midwife-led advice on preparing your body and mind, nutrition, and finding trusted medical guidance to support your conception journey.
• Navigating the emotional hardships: Handling 3am anxiety, protecting your relationship, dealing with unhelpful comments, and coping when pregnancy announcements feel like they are everywhere.
• Advocating for yourself: Finding your voice, managing the uncertainty of IVF, and learning to trust your own instincts.
• Hope & redefining the journey: Finding strength in community, celebrating small milestones, and holding onto hope for your future.

💙 Need Support? You Are Not Alone

If today’s conversation brought up difficult feelings or you’re currently navigating a fertility journey, please know that support is available:

• Fertility Network UK: Free, impartial advice and support for anyone facing fertility challenges.
• Tommy’s: Midwife-led information and support on trying to conceive, fertility and baby loss.
• The Miscarriage Association: Support for anyone affected by pregnancy loss.
• PANDAS Foundation: Perinatal mental health support for parents and hopeful parents.
• Samaritans: Available 24/7 for emotional support.

☕ Join Our Village: Pull up a seat, grab a cuppa, and let's chat.

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Have you ever found yourself spiralling after Googling one tiny symptom at 3am, or felt like anxiety completely took over your pregnancy? 🫶

⚠️ Content Warning: Please note that this episode includes honest discussions around pregnancy anxiety, health trauma, birth trauma, postpartum mental health, intrusive thoughts, and medical complications. Please take care while listening.

“Pregnancy and becoming a parent should be the happiest time of your life…” but what happens when constant worry takes over instead?

In Episode 3, Series 2 of The Village, hosts Jess and Grace are joined by clinical psychologist and trauma specialist Dr Frankie Harrison, who is also a member of the Emma's Diary Medical Advisory Board, alongside first-time mum Courtney. Together, they are opening up about living with health anxiety, navigating unexpected birth trauma, and coping with intrusive thoughts in early parenthood.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for feeling anxious instead of instantly glowing, struggled with delayed bonding, or stayed up checking your baby’s breathing over and over again – you’re in the right place. 🌟

✨ This episode is sponsored by Momcozy, dedicated to supporting mums at every stage of motherhood with thoughtfully designed products.

🌟 What We Talk About in This Episode:

• Pregnancy & heath anxiety: Exploring how medical trauma, high-risk scans and constant uncertainty turn pregnancy from an exciting time into a period of hyper vigilance.
• When worry follows you home: Unpacking birth trauma, delayed bonding, sleep deprivation, and 3am intrusive thoughts.
• Breaking avoidance & loss of confidence: Understanding why anxiety makes us want to isolate, and how comparison on social media feeds self-doubt.
• Asking for help isn’t giving up: Practical strategies for rebuilding confidence, managing health anxiety, and learning to trust yourself again.

💙 Need Support? You Are Not Alone If today’s conversation resonated with you or brought up difficult feelings, please know that help is available. You don't have to carry this alone:

• PANDAS Foundation: Free, confidential support for parents experiencing perinatal mental health challenges.
• Birth Trauma Association: Support for parents affected by birth trauma and PTSD.
• Mind: Perinatal mental health information and support.
• Samaritans: Available 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk.
• Your Local Healthcare Team: Reach out to your GP, midwife, or health visitor - they are there to support you.

☕ Join Our Village: Pull up a seat, grab a cuppa, and let's chat.

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⭐ Leave us a rating if this episode made you feel seen today!

Have you ever looked around at baby groups, milestone charts, or social media and wondered why everyone else seems to have parenting figured out while you’re just making it up as you go? 🫶

The "perfect mum" doesn't exist, so why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to have it all together?

In Episode 2 of Series 2, hosts Jess and Grace are joined by mums Ellie and Talisa for an honest and deeply reassuring chat about the invisible standards of motherhood, and the exhausting pressure to appear completely capable.

If you’ve ever avoided a baby group, stayed up at 3 a.m. feeling like you're failing, or caught yourself comparing your messy reality to someone else’s polished online highlight reel... you are in the right place.

✨ This episode is sponsored by VTech Baby, award-winning children’s toys brand supporting little ones through every stage of development.

🌟 What We Talk About in This Episode:

• The Comparison Trap: Unpacking onlinehighlight reels, pregnancy plans, and why child development is not a race or a reflection of your worth.
• The "Perfect Mum" Myth: Dismantling impossible expectations, navigating postnatal mental health, and the pressure to appear constantly in control.
• The Professional Identity Shift: Navigating the shift from feeling competent in your old life to feeling uncertain in motherhood.
• Solidarity & Connection: Reclaiming your confidence, learning to ask for help, and trusting yourself as the perfect parent for your child.

☕ Join Our Village: Pull up a seat, grab a cuppa, and let's chat.

🔔 Follow us on Spotify and hit the bell notification so you never miss an episode.

⭐ Leave us a rating if this episode made you feel seen today!