Delivering Better dives into the real stories of birth, motherhood, and maternity care in the UK. Co-founders Sarah, Sophie, and Jo share their own experiences, tackle systemic challenges, and bring in experts and birthing people to explore what works, what doesn’t, and how care can truly improve. From frontline voices to women challenging a broken system, we cover it all - how we got here, what’s broken, and where we need to go.
Delivering Better
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6 episodes
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Podcast Overview
Delivering Better dives into the real stories of birth, motherhood, and maternity care in the UK. Co-founders Sarah, Sophie, and Jo share their own experiences, tackle systemic challenges, and bring in experts and birthing people to explore what works, what doesn’t, and how care can truly improve. From frontline voices to women challenging a broken system, we cover it all - how we got here, what’s broken, and where we need to go.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/21/2026
1 verified contact email on file for Delivering Better
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Recent Episodes
May 20, 2026
Shakira Akabusi: “Women of Colour Are Conditioned to Just Take It” & Why Mothers Are Society’s Shock Absorbers?!
<p>*TW* THIS PODCAST DOES CONTAIN STORIES OF BIRTH TRAUMA. What is the experience of birth like for black women in the uk? Founder of Strong Like Mum and postnatal fitness specialist Shakira Akabusi joins Delivering Better to share her experience of anxiety and OCD during pregnancy and postpartum.From feeling like she had to “save herself” to the reality of life after a c-section - and her experience as a Black woman navigating the NHS - Shakira opens up about maternal mental health, recovery, and the gaps in care. She also shares the tools that helped her heal, and how her journey inspired her to support other women through fitness and nutritionJoin the campaign and sign our open letter here: https://deliveringbetter.org/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliveringbetter/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deliveringbetter00:00 - Welcome and introducing Shakira Akabusi00:07 - When Shakira realised she had to save herself00:17 - Why support changes outcomes for mothers00:18 - Body, mind and feeling empowered in birth00:20 - Shakira on caesarean recovery and feeling like an alien00:24 - Why women aren’t prepared for postpartum reality00:28 - What compassionate postnatal care should look like00:30 - The “laughable” 6 to 8 week GP check00:31 - Stitches, infection and being dismissed00:35 - A better idea: postnatal check-ins at 3 and 6 months00:37 - The isolation of 6 to 8 months postpartum00:38 - Sleep deprivation, shame and motherhood00:44 - Strong Like Mum and supporting women’s recovery00:48 - The Beauty Spot: why vulnerability became strength</p>
May 13, 2026
Gemma Cappoci on Matrescence, Mum Rage & Why Lowering Expectations in Motherhood Is Freedom
<p>*TW* THIS EPISODE CONTAINS DISCUSSION OF BIRTH TRAUMA.</p><p>What is matrescence and what does it have to do with birth? In this episode of Delivering Better, hosts Jo, Sarah and Sophie are joined by psychotherapist and mum of three, Gemma Cappoci. Together, they unpack matrescence - the profound physical, emotional, and identity shift that comes with becoming a mother- and why so many women feel unprepared for it. From postpartum struggles, “mum rage”, performing motherhood and the lack of societal support, this conversation shines a light on the realities that so often go unspoken.</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Welcome and introducing Gemma Cappoci<br>00:00 What does a psychotherapist do in the perinatal period?<br>00:01 What is matrescence?<br>00:03 Why no one prepares women for becoming a mother<br>00:07 Therapy, identity shifts and the emotional impact of motherhood<br>00:11 Motherly Love and the power of honest spaces for mums<br>00:14 Why motherhood support groups are life-saving<br>00:15 Why talking honestly about motherhood is political<br>00:17 Why support for mothers is still treated as a “nice to have”<br>00:20 Why society still doesn’t care enough about mums<br>00:22 If the mother isn’t well, nobody is well<br>00:23 Why maternity is treated as a single event<br>00:24 The pressure to perform happiness after birth<br>00:27 The masks mothers wear<br>00:30 Post-birth plans, villages and what support really looks like<br>00:36 Mum rage: what it is and why it happens<br>00:39 Shame, guilt and nervous system overload<br>00:42 What to do after you lose your shit<br>00:45 The signals you’re reaching breaking point<br>00:51 Permission, low standards and survival mode<br>00:58 There is no “right” way to mother<br>01:01 The Beauty Spot: healing through helping other mothers</p>
May 6, 2026
Megan Rossiter on Birth Power, Trusting Women & How Maternity Care Lost Its Way
<p>How did birth become something done to women, instead of centred around them? Birth educator Meghan Rossiter joins us to talk about power, patriarchy, trust and why maternity care still isn’t built around birthing people.</p><p>*TW* THIS PODCAST DOES CONTAIN STORIES OF BIRTH TRAUMA. Join the campaign and sign our open letter here: https://deliveringbetter.org/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliveringbetter/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@deliveringbetter00:00 Welcome and introducing Megan Rossiter00:00 How Birth Ed began00:01 Birth Power and reclaiming autonomy00:03 How did maternity care lose its way?00:04 How birth became medicalised00:05 The history of harm in maternity care00:08 How women are shaped before they enter the system00:11 Twilight sleep and the loss of birth wisdom00:13 What women are missing from birth education00:16 Birth as power, autonomy and understanding00:18 Why support matters wherever you give birth00:21 Why continuity of care saves money and improves outcomes00:24 What antenatal appointments don’t give women00:27 Why maternity care is still designed around the system00:30 Why government still doesn’t treat this as a priority00:37 Talking about birth on social media without feeding fear00:40 Different campaigners, shared goals00:44 Why “everybody is born” should settle the argument00:49 The Beauty Spot: women need to be trusted in birth</p><p><br /></p>
6 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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This podcast updates daily.
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