Bits of Me

In this bonus episode, I talk to Ruth Brennan, whose periods started to change when she was 36 years old, and who eventually went on to be diagnosed with POI (premature ovarian insufficiency). We talk about her journey to a diagnosis, what it was like to realise that she was infertile, navigating treatments and bone health issues, and the psychological and identity aspects of POI. Since this episode was recovered, I've spoken to Ruth again and written an article about her experience, including the results of her latest DEXA scan, which she was still waiting for when we recorded this podcast. You can read the article here. There are currently no new episodes of Bits of Me in the pipeline, but there's a back catalogue of 44 episodes about everything from pregnancy loss and pelvic organ prolapse to cervical cancer, the mesh implant and period poverty. If you enjoy the podcast, please rate it on iTunes, share an episode with a friend and subscribe on your choice of podcast platform to help others discover it too. Music: Ice and Snow by Icreage, licensed by Soundstripe. #POI #prematureovarianinsufficiency #prematureovarianfailure #prematuremenopause #menopause #earlymenopause #HRT #womanhood #motherhood #periods #osteopenia #osteoporosis #bonehealth #perimenopause #midlife #infertility #queercommunity

Jenny Cooper has experienced more loss and grief than most, and in this episode of Bits of Me she shares her story of having four consecutive miscarriages, followed by a full-term pregnancy that ended in the birth of her daughter, Georgia Penelope, who died in the womb at 38 weeks' gestation. It's about love and fear, about anxiety and loss, and about learning to say goodbye way too soon. Jenny generously shares everything from the hopes and fears throughout the pregnancy with Georgia, to the day she noticed that the movements had stopped, the birth and the days at the hospital following the birth, the time spent at home with Georgia and the funeral, which took place under pandemic restrictions. People say that you should always try to remain reasonably neutral as an interviewer, that you shouldn't allow yourself to get too emotional. My interview style tends to give a lot of space – but I don't switch my feelings off. So perhaps, in this episode, that means I've failed – but so be it. This episode is also the first to go over 1h in length, despite my commitment to keeping all episodes under an hour. It's just what this episode needed – I didn't feel it would be fair to edit more. If you've experienced something similar to Jenny, you might want to follow her on Instagram as she regularly talks about her experience and about Georgia. Bits of Me is on Instagram here and on Twitter here. This is the last episode of season two of Bits of Me. #bitsofmepod #bitsofme #stillbirth #babyloss #pregnancyloss #miscarriage #babylossawareness #bereavedmother #mybabydied #childloss #grief #bereavement #motherhood #childbirth #rainbowbaby #infantloss #womenshealth #womensstories #womensvoices #stillborn #bereavedparents #grieftalk #oneinfour #oneinthirty

In this episode, I talk to Margaret O'Connor, a counsellor and psychotherapist who is childfree by choice. A few years ago, she decided to set up a dedicated service called Are Kids For Me, specifically for those trying to make the decision whether or not to become parents. We talk about the factors that influence the decision, the reasons why it's not always a straight-forward one, and the societal norms and lack of representation that sometimes make being childfree by choice that bit more difficult. You'll find information about Margaret O'Connor's work, services and podcast on her website, as well as on Instagram and on Facebook. Bits of Me is on Instagram here and on Twitter here. Any sharing, tagging, rating and reviewing is much appreciated. #bitsofmepod #bitsofme #womenshealth #motherhood #parenthood #pregnancy #childbirth #childfree #childless #childfreebychoice #childlessness #childfreeness #childfreedom #arekidsforme #fertility #parentingchoices #lifechoices #therapy #counselling #societalnorms #socialnorms #gendernorms #becomingaparent

Is breast always best? Can mastitis always be treated with cold cabbage leaves? And if we talk about the uptake of breastfeeding being too low, what does that even mean? In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to podcaster and mother of one (very soon two) Laetitia Gordon-Furse, who went through hell pumping relentlessly for weeks when her first son ended up spending five weeks in NICU. She explains what it's like to spend days on end in 'the dairy' with industrial-style pumps, how the narratives surrounding breastfeeding impacted on her mentally, how long it took for her to make sense of it all and the post-natal depression that followed, and how she learnt to read her son's cues and bond with him while bottle feeding at home. We also talk about the politics of it all: the lie that breastfeeding is free, the lacking supports post-natally and in society in general, and the damage the shaming of mothers does. You'll find the Nutshell article we talk about here, and the Emily Oster book Laetitia mentions is this one. Also check out Laetitia's own podcast, New Leaf, which aims to support new mothers when they're going back to work, and check out the hashtag #mymotherhoodmychoice. You can also follow Laetitia and her podcast on Instagram. Bits of Me is on Instagram here and on Twitter here. Any sharing, tagging, rating and reviewing is much appreciated. #bitsofmepod #breastfeeding #pumping #lactating #lactation #feeding #motherhood #babyfeeding #bottlefeeding #thedairy #mastitis #shame #NICU #nursing #womenshealth #womensbodies #womensstories #PND #postnataldepression #postnatalanxiety #pregnancy #birth #childbirth #Csection #Csectionrecovery #antenatalcare #postnatalcare #SIDS #feedingmyths #breastfeedingmyths

In this episode, I talk to Anita Elawure, who was diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) at just 19, meaning that she entered premature menopause. We talk about what it was like to be told that she would be infertile and had to go on HRT at such a young age, what it means to enter menopause prematurely, her encounters with healthcare professionals and all the research she has done, and the emotional and psychological journey of it all. You can follow her at @blossomlivingwithPOI on Instagram as well as on YouTube, where she shares her experience and tips, and talks to other women with knowledge and experience of POI. Bits of Me is on Instagram and Twitter, and there's a Patreon page for those of you who may want to support the making of this podcast. If you're listening for free, please take a moment to rate the podcast and giving it five stars on Apple Podcasts, and maybe even leave a short review or share an episode on your socials. It helps others discover the podcast and might make another woman feel less lonely in her experience. #POI #prematureovarianinsufficiency #prematureovarianfailure #prematuremenopause #menopause #earlymenopause #HRT #hotflushes #brainfog #ovulation #periods #osteopenia #osteoporosis #bonehealth #hearthealth #midlife #infertility #adoption

Jen Hall is the social media and website coordinator at The MASIC Foundation, which supports women who have suffered serious injuries during childbirth. Jen suffered a third-degree tear after a forceps delivery in 2013, and shares her story of the birth, the consequences, and her work with MASIC. We talk about the Ockenden report, the culture that contributes to severe birth injuries, the narratives surrounding C-sections and vaginal births, and the implications for informed choice and consent. You can follow MASIC on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and as usual, Bits of Me is on Instagram and Twitter as well. If you know anyone who's recently had a birth injury, send them a link to this episode and point them in the direction of MASIC. If you haven't already, it'd also be much appreciated if you'd give the podcast a quick five-star rating on iTunes, and maybe even a short review, as it helps others discover it. #bitsofmepod #birthinjuries #OASItears #thirddegreetear #fourthdegreetear #3rddegreetear #3ctear #4thdegreetear #analsphincterrupture #prolapse #pelvicorganprolapse #incontinence #urinaryincontinence #fecalincontinence #childbirth #birthing #maternitycare #postnatalcare #forcepsbirths #forceps #instrumentalbirths #instrumentaldelivery #Csection #caesareansection #motherhood #postnatalanxiety #postnataldepression #PND #NHS #Ockendenreview #Ockendenreport #vontouse #donnaockenden #shrewsburyandtelford #informedconsent #informedchoice #maternityrights #bodilyautonomy #abortionrights #whoseneedsarebeingmet #traumaticbirth #birthtrauma #traumainformedcare #masic

What happens if you have to choose between period pads and crucial food items for your weekly shop? What should period education look like, and why is it still the worst thing in the world for a girl to bleed through at school? Friday the 28th of May was World Menstrual Hygiene Day. This week's episode deals with related issues as I speak to Claire Hunt, CEO of Homeless Period Ireland, about period poverty, sex and menstrual education, period equity, the environmental impact of period product waste, product access, and more. You can and should follow Homeless Period Ireland on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, and send them some good products if you can. Claire and her gang do hugely important work, bringing pads and other products to people who would otherwise need to use tissue, cloth and similar, or risk infection by using each product for much too long. You can also follow Bits of Me on Instagram and Twitter, and if you haven't already, it'd be much appreciated if you'd give the podcast a quick five-star rating on iTunes, and maybe even a short review, as it helps others discover it. If you're feeling flush, you can sign up to become a patron and get early access to episodes plus some exclusive writing and a Bits of Me badge, in addition to that good feeling of supporting a project you believe in. #bitsofmepod #menstrualhealth #worldmenstrualhealthday #menstrualhygieneday #worldmenstrualhygieneday #menstrualhygieneday2021 #periodpoverty #periodequity #periodeducation #menstrualeducation #sexeducation #periodpolitics #periodstigma #periodshame #blood #bleeding #womenshealth #womensbodies #periods #menstrualcycle #periodproducts #periodjustice #periodproductaccess #freeperiodproducts #homelessperiodireland #perioddignity #homelessperioddublin #smashthestigma

Linda Kelly is a Trade Union Official by day and a long-time women's rights campaigner, now also the founder of Women Ascend and member of the Better Maternity Care campaign. She gave birth to her second baby during lockdown. Emma Carroll is an environmental scientist and farmer who had her first baby at the start of the pandemic, and since September last year, she also runs In Our Shoes – Covid Pregnancy, which gives a voice to the people affected by the restrictions. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Linda and Emma about their experiences, the ways in which they believe the restrictions in maternity hospitals have been flawed and damaging, the implications of the restrictions on informed consent and maternity mental health, and the lessons the campaign has taught them. There's also a bit of a rallying cry and a first-in-the-air moment at the end, so you can always fast-forward to that for a bit of an activist boost, should you need it! Follow Linda and Women Ascend here, and read the stories of those impacted by the maternity restrictions on the In Our Shoes – Covid Pregnancy page. You can follow Bits of Me on Instagram and on Twitter, and as always, ratings, reviews, shares and recommendations are much appreciated. You can also become a patron of the podcast to help cover the running costs and keep the conversations going. Just go to patreon.com/bitsofme. #bitsofmepod #maternitycarerestrictions #maternitycare #maternityrestrictions #covidrestrictions #covidbabies #lockdownbabies #lockdownpregnancy #lockdownbirth #birthunderlockdown #maternityhospitals #maternityhospitalrestrictions #birthingpartner #whoseneedsarebeingmet #bettermaternitycare #postnatalcare #antenatalcare #pregnancy #birth #childbirth #pandemicrestrictions #hse #stephendonnelly #womenascend #inourshoes #inhershoes #womenshealth #womensrights #birthrights #informedconsent #activelabour #establishedlabour #consent #motherhood

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to mother-of-two Dee Naughton about her experiences of papillomas, lobectomies and a mastectomy. She was pregnant with her first child when she started having some unusual discharge and eventually started bleeding from her nipple, and she shares her story of a short stint of breastfeeding, of navigating the changes to her body, and coming to terms with losing a breast despite the lack of malignant tumours. Patrons get access to episodes of Bits of Me three days before everyone else, but since a big part of the mission behind the podcast is to raise awareness and give more people access to information that is not otherwise widely discussed, all episodes are eventually available to the public. You can follow Bits of Me on Instagram and on Twitter, and as always, ratings, reviews, shares and recommendations are much appreciated. If you want to support the making of the podcast, you can become a patron from as little as €2/month and get early access to all the episodes, monthly writing, and a Bits of Me badge. #bitsofmepod #papillomas #lobectomy #mastectomy #breastcancer #breastfeeding #nippledischarge #bleedingfromnipple #breastcheck #mammogram #motherhood #childbirth #pregnancy #postnatalcare #maternitycare #breastlump #benigntumour #benignbreasttumour #malignanttumour #breastsurgery #bodyimage #lobectomies #papilloma

How do you know when you're ready? What does that even mean? Will it hurt? Where did your libido go? What about episiotomy and C-section scars and all the physio-related issues? What if you're just feeling touched out and you can't stop thinking about nappies, breastmilk and whether you're running out of bananas? How do you even begin to talk to your partner to all of the above, and why oh why do some midwives insist on referring to it as getting back on the horse? In this episode, I talk to women's health specialist and physiotherapist Elaine Barry and sexual health educator Anna Keogh about sex after childbirth, what to expect, how to find what works, and everything in between. You'll find Elaine here and Anna here, while Bits of Me, as usual, is here on Instagram and here on Twitter, and ratings, reviews, shares and recommendations are much appreciated. If you want to support the making of Bits of Me, you can become a patron to get early access to episodes, exclusive monthly writing, and a Bits of Me badge. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #sexafterchildbirth #postnatalhealthcare #postnatalcare #maternitycare #episiotomy #Csection #episiotomyscar #Csectionscar #physiotherapy #womenshealthphysio #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloorphysiotherapy #sexualhealth #sexualwellness #sexed #sexeducation #sextherapy #intercourse #intercourseafterchildbirth #vaginalbirth #breastfeeding #relationships #bleeding #touchedout

In this episode, I talk to clinical negligence lawyer Hannah Seignior about her experience of having numerous smear tests come back with abnormal test results from the age of 18. She shares her experience of advocating for herself, going through a painful colposcopy, learning from a healthcare professional while a gang of student doctors were standing around, and navigating the Scottish and English systems for cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccination. Hannah also briefly tells the story of Emma Swaine, a young woman who died as a result of cervical cancer after her requests for a smear test were repeatedly denied. You can learn more about Emma's story from an episode of The Case Files, a podcast produced by Slater + Gordon, the firm Hannah works for. For up-to-date, accurate information about Ireland's cervical cancer screening programme and the HPV vaccine, see the HSE pages about screening and vaccination. If you want to support the making of Bits of Me and help keep these conversations going, you can support the behind-the-scenes work by becoming a patron from as little as €2/month. You can also help spread the word about the podcast by sharing episodes with friends or on social media, and by rating and reviewing the podcast on Apple Podcasts. To join the conversation and stay up to date on any news, follow the Bits of Me Twitter and Instagram accounts. #bitsofmepod #HPV #HPVvaccine #cervicalsmear #smeartest #smear #cervicalscreening #cervicalcancer #colposcopy #thecasefiles #emmaswaine #HSE #NHS #Slater+Gordon #SlaterandGordon #SlaterGordon #clinicalnegligence #gynaecologicalcancer #cancer #gynaecancer #abnormalsmear #abnormalcells #cervicalcheckireland #lletz #STI #STD #sexuallytransmittedinfections #sexuallytransmitteddiseases #sexualhealth #sexualwellness #womenshealth #womensbodies #cervix

In episode 34, I talk to Melissa Plunkett, a midwifery student and mother of two. She shares her experience of being induced at almost 42 weeks, and the drawn-out, confusing birthing experience that followed, ending up in an emergency Caesarean section and a lack of faith in her own body's capacity to give birth 'naturally'. Melissa went on to have to argue for the chance to have a VBAC but eventually did, which restored her faith in her body. Melissa also explains how she, after a traumatising event that left her needing stitches, was fobbed off by medical professionals who deemed the procedure she required 'cosmetic'. We talk about trauma-informed care, informed consent and the changes Melissa would like to see to the maternity system in Ireland. If you can, sharing episodes with friends or on social media, or rating and reviewing the Bits of Me on Apple Podcasts, helps a lot and is much appreciated. There's also a Patreon if you'd like to go the extra mile and support the making of the podcast by chipping in €2/month or more, and you can join the conversation and stay up to date on any news by following the Bits of Me Twitter and Instagram accounts. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #childbirth #birthing #birth #informedconsent #maternitycare #VBAC #induction #inducedlabour #ruptureofmembranes #oxytocin #caesarean #csection #emergencycsection #Irishmaternitycare #postnatalcare #maternitycare #midwifery #breastfeeding #abuse #stitches #suturing #labour #givingbirth #motherhood #womensstories #womensbodies

This episode of Bits of Me feels quite special, because Helen Ledwick is a mum of two who decided to start a podcast about women's health after learning that she had pelvic organ prolapse – which, if you know anything about the origins of Bits of Me, you'll know is exactly what I did! Anyway – Helen is just lovely, and in this episode she generously shares her experience of noticing a bulge, panicking a little, and going on the journey of figuring out how to deal with and live with prolapse. We talk about self-image and identity, pelvic floor physiotherapy, the lack of proper pelvic floor rehab offered after childbirth, what a better system might look like, and why on earth a collapsed vagina would make you decide to start a podcast. If, like me, you enjoy listening to Helen's accent, or if you've given birth, you're planning to give birth, or you've suffered any sort of pelvic floor trauma or dysfunction, you should check out Helen's podcast, Why Mums Don't Jump (here on Apple Podcasts and here on Spotify). She talks to experts, professionals and women who have stories to share, and there's information on everything from sex to post-natal recovery and returning to running. You can also follow her on Instagram or go check out the blog. If you like Bits of Me and would like to help keep the project going and the conversations going, there's a Patreon you can support from as little as €2/month and in return get early access to all the episodes, monthly writing by host Linnea Dunne, and a Bits of Me badge. If that's not for you, perhaps this would be a good episode to drop a link to in your mammy WhatsApp group? Or if you're brave enough to share it on your socials, please do, and tag Bits of Me's Twitter and Instagram accounts. #bitsofmepod #pelvicorganprolapse #prolapse #cystocele #birthtrauma #childbirth #pregnancy #birthinjuries #birthinjury #pelvicfloordysfunction #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloorphysio #pelvicfloorphysiotherapy #womenshealth #womenshealthphysiotherapy #womenshealthpodcast #incontinence #mesh #returntorunning #postnatalrecovery #postpartumperiod #postpartum #fourthtrimester #4thtrimester #womensstories #antenatalcare #antenatal #antenatalclasses #pelvicfloorrehab #postnatalrehab #mumidentity #mumbody #postnatalbodyimage #bodyimage #vagina #vaginaldelivery #vaginalbirth #birthstories #motherhood #parenthood #parenting

In this episode, I talk to Irish-language children's author, TV production assistant and researcher, and all-round maker and creative, Sadhbh Devlin, about her two ectopic pregnancies. Sadhbh has polycystic ovarian syndrome and had very irregular periods, so conceiving wasn't easy for her in the first place – but then she had both her fallopian tubes removed, and suddenly IVF was her only option. You can find out more about Sadhbh and her work on her website, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as well as on Twitter. If you like the podcast and believe in the mission of keeping these conversations going, there's a Patreon to help cover the running costs. Could you spare a few quid a month and, in return, get early access to episodes, monthly pieces of writing and a Bits of Me badge? If you can't help financially, tagging friends, sharing episodes on your socials, subscribing to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and rating and reviewing it helps a lot too. #bitsofmepod #womensbodies #womenshealth #womensstories #ectopicpregnancy #ectopic #ectopicpregnancies #PCOS #polycysticovariansyndrome #polycysticovarysyndrome #polycysticovaries #hormones #babyloss #pregnancyloss #miscarriage #pregnancy #motherhood #fertility #IVF #fertilitytreatment #fallopiantubes #salpingectomy #reproductivejustice #reproductiverights #maternitycare

Anna Fitzgerald is a mother of three, but her journey to motherhood was far from straight-forward. She suffered two miscarriages along the way, and all her three babies were born prematurely. In this episode of Bits of Me, Anna shares her experience of going into labour early, of her waters breaking at 20 weeks, of spending weeks in the NICU, pumping for ages to give her babies the best chances of a speedy, successful recovery, and looking back on the trauma after returning home. She also makes a very strong case for better supports for women and parents after going through traumatic births and related experiences, as she was signed off the system at her six-week check-up without as much as a question about how she was coping. If you want to support Bits of Me to keep the conversation on women's health going, please sign up to become a patron and get early access to episodes, exclusive written content, and a Bits of Me badge. And if you can't do that, perhaps you'd consider subscribing, rating and reviewing the podcast to help others find it, and maybe even share it on your socials and in all those mammy WhatsApp groups? Every little helps and it's all very much appreciated! You can of course also follow Bits of Me on Instagram as well as on Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest news. #bitsofmepod #motherhood #womenshealth #womensbodies #childbirth #prematurebirths #prematurebabies #prembabies #premies #NICU #pumping #breastfeeding #birthtrauma #parenthood #womensstories #earlymotherhood #mentalhealth #perinatalmentalhealth #maternitycare #maternalmentalhealth #hollesst #NMH #anxiety #pregnancyloss #babyloss #miscarriage

For episode 30, the first episode of Bits of Me with two guests, I spoke to Fiona Dunkin and Aoife Frances, two friends who created a zine about fertility, motherhood and beyond earlier this year. We talk about their own experiences of the above, from early activist ventures including a campaign to make the morning-after pill more accessible, to Fiona's miscarriages and Aoife's surprise pregnancy, traumatic birth and struggles with early motherhood. They explain how this spectrum of experiences inspired the creation of a zine, exactly why it became a zine and not a blog or a website, what they're hoping that the zine might achieve, what they themselves got out of it, and what cacao has to do with it... But we talk about so much more – from the 12-week rule to the implications of thyroid function on fertility, from Earth Mama narratives to sleep deprivation and much, much more. You can pre-order your own copy of the next print-run of Aoife and Fiona's zine, Waters and the Wild, on the zine website, where you can also read the zine in full in a digital version. You can also follow them on Instagram for updates. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as well as on Twitter. If you like the podcast and believe in the mission of keeping these conversations going, there's a Patreon to help cover the running costs. Could you spare a few quid a month and, in return, get early access to episodes, monthly pieces of writing and a Bits of Me badge? If you can't help financially, tagging friends, sharing episodes on your socials, subscribing to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and rating and reviewing it helps a lot too. #bitsofmepod #womensbodies #womenshealth #womensstories #miscarriage #babyloss #pregnancyloss #pregnancy #motherhood #earlymotherhood #postnataldepression #hormones #PND #zine #motherhoodzine #zinemaking #morningafterpill #activism #feminism #abortionrights #abortion #reproductivehealth #reproductivejustice #reproductiverights #Irishfeminism #Irishfeminists #fatherhood #thyroiddysfunction #thyroid #hashimotos #hypothyroidism #12weekrule #fertility #childbirth #birth #birthing #birthtrauma #birthinjury #traumaticbirth #postpartum #parenting #parenthood #sisterhood #cacao #earthmama #hypnobirthing

For this week's episode, I spoke to Ireland's first menopause speaker, Catherine O'Keeffe, about what to expect when the peri-menopause hits and what you can do to help yourself with the journey ahead. How do you know when it's starting? Can and should you stay on the contraceptive pill? Should you consider HRT, do you need to take supplements, and what risks should you keep in mind for the future? What if you have thyroid dysfunction, if you've got PCOS or are suffering from depression? And what on earth is premature ovarian insufficiency (POI)? Catherine helps to answer these questions and more! You can follow Catherine on Instagram or visit her website for all the latest news. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as well as on Twitter. If you like the podcast and believe in the mission of keeping these conversations going, there's a Patreon to help cover the running costs. Could you spare a few quid a month and, in return, get early access to episodes, monthly pieces of writing and a Bits of Me badge? If you can't help financially, tagging friends, sharing episodes on your socials, subscribing to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and rating and reviewing it helps a lot too. #bitsofmepod #womensbodies #womenshealth #womensstories #perimenopause #menopause #earlymenopause #peri-menopause #POI #prematureovarianinsufficiency #prematuremenopause #hormones #vaginalatrophy #vaginaldryness #PCOS #thepill #hormonalcontraceptivepill #contraceptivepill #ageing #midlife #HRT #hormonalreplacementtherapy #oestrogen #estrogen #testosterone #progesterone #depression #thyroiddysfunction #anxiety #hotflushes #mindfog #osteoporosis #heartfailure #heartdisease

Orla Kerbey is a fundraising professional, runner, yoga teacher, dog fanatic, and lover of sea swimming. We recorded this episode in October 2020, when she was heavily pregnant with her daughter, who was born a few weeks later after a long journey with endometriosis, cysts, and IVF. We talk about the pain and procedures Orla went through before getting her diagnosis, the medications she was offered and the questionable way in which that was done, the relentless talk about fertility and questions about when she might want to start a family, the road ahead when she finally decided she did want to be a mother, the IVF treatment and a first, very difficult miscarriage, and the experience of going through the maternity services during lockdown. If you think you might have endometriosis and want information or advice, visit the Endometriosis Association of Ireland website or follow them on Instagram. The book Orla mentions a couple of times in this episode is by Dr. Marilyn Glenville, whom you can read more about here. There are also previous episodes of Bits of Me that deal with endometriosis, such as episode 2 with Kate Brayden, episode 8 with Sarah Rose McCann, episode 14 with Carly Bailey, and episode 23 with Angela Coraccio. You can follow Bits of Me on Instagram and Twitter, and if you'd like to help keep these conversations going, a small contribution via Patreon goes a long way. Please also subscribe to, rate and review the podcast if you like it, and share it with all your friends. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #feminism #motherhood #infertility #fertility #endometriosis #endo #endoawareness #endometriosisawarenessmonth #endoireland #IVF #miscarriage #babyloss #pregnancyloss #lockdownbirth #lockdownbaby #pandemicbirth #pandemicbaby #mentalhealth #depression

Are we putting female beauty above female mental health? Bits of Me is back with season two! In this episode, I talk to Anna Jacob, who's had acne throughout her teens and adult life. When her acne started to negatively impact on her self-esteem, she was prescribed the contraceptive pill, Dianette, which cleared up her skin – but it had disastrous consequences for her mental health. We talk about the narratives that make living with acne difficult, the problematic media representation of skin issues, what it feels like to lose years of your life to depression, and how you can change things – in terms of your own health and confidence, as well as within the healthcare system. Anna mentions two initiatives for reporting and raising awareness of adverse reactions to medications: APRIL and Yellow Card. You can read a case study as well as some more information and comments about the effects of Dianette here, and here is a useful information sheet about it. You'll find Anna on Instagram as @annaflaps, and she's more than happy to chat to anyone who has had similar experiences and wants advice or support. Bits of Me is over at @bitsofme_podcast, as well as on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like Bits of Me and want to help keep these conversations going to end the stigma and culture of silence, you can become a patron for as little as €2/month. Find out more at www.patreon.com/bitsofme. If you can't contribute financially, subscribing to the podcast on your choice of podcast platform helps a lot, as does reviewing, rating and sharing it on your socials. #bitsofmepod #acne #contraceptivepill #thepill #dianette #severeacne #spots #skinhealth #skinpositivity #femalebeauty #beauty #beautynorms #depression #mentalhealth #anxiety #femalementalhealth #feminism #beautystandards #medianarratives #mediarepresentation #womensstories #april #yellowcard #womensvoices

It's the end of the first season of Bits of Me, and we look back at the 25 episodes I've published so far, talking about everything from urinary incontinence and birth injuries to endometriosis, infertility, PMDD and ageing. Thank you to all the women featured in this season and this mini episode: Sarah Sproule, Kate Brayden, Lynn Enright, Elisha Clarke, Rebecca Flynn, Denise McAlister, Catherine Stocker, Sarah Rose McCann, Tracey Bourke, Mary Coogan, Loretta Dignam, Kim Hanly, Gillian Roddie, Carly Bailey, Kath Sansom, Grace Alice O'Shea, Emer O'Neill, Luce Brett, Jac Sinnott, Sandy Connolly, Simone, Michelle Mayefske, Angela Coraccio, Elizabeth Sankey, and Monica Heck. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you have a minute to spare and would consider rating and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and iTunes, that would be of huge help and massively appreciated. You can also subscribe to the podcast to make sure not to miss season two when it kicks off. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #gravesdisease #graves #urinaryincontinence #urgeincontinence #hyperthyroidism #hypothyroidism #thyroiddysfunction #fecalincontinence #childbirth #pregnancy #anxiety #depression #miscarriage #8thamendment #repealedthe8th #pregnancyloss #motherhood #hormones #bodyimage #pmdd #birthinjury #incontinence #birthstories #waterbirth #homebirth #weightstigma #birthadvocacy #ageing #Botox #missedmiscarriage #postnataldepression #postnatalanxiety #pnd #3ctear #sphincterrupture #endometriosis #endo #pcos #periods #femalepain #pelvicpain #womenspain #thepaingap #infertility #secondaryinfertility #mesh #meshinjured #meshsurvivor #meshimplant #meshscandal #vaginalmesh #pop #prolapse #pelvicorganprolapse #breastfeeding #lockdownbabies #pandemicbirth #vaginismus #IVF #cervicalcancer #gynaecancer #cervicalsmear #hpvvaccine #interstitialcystitis #herpes #STI #STIstigma #genitalwarts #fibromyalgia

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Monica Heck, a mother of two who was diagnosed with Graves' disease after having her first child. She started experiencing symptoms of hyperthyroidism about four months post-partum and has since been on different medication to help with thyroid dysfunction as well as antibodies as a result of her auto-immune condition. Monica talks about what it's like to live with an invisible illness, how it's impacted on her life and her sense of self, and the various ways in which it impacted on her breastfeeding and fertility journeys. She also shares her experience of suffering a miscarriage under the 8th amendment, and explains why she couldn't leave her now-home, Switzerland, for the inferior healthcare system in her beloved Ireland. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you have a minute to spare and would consider rating and reviewing the podcast on Spotify and iTunes, that would be of huge help and massively appreciated. If you like this episode, perhaps you might share it with a friend or on your socials? The photo used in the episode cover for this episode is used with thanks, with permission from the photographer, Johanna King Photography & Films. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #gravesdisease #graves #autoimmunedisease #autoimmunehyperthyroidism #hyperthyroidism #hypothyroidism #thyroiddysfunction #thyroid #childbirth #pregnancy #anxiety #depression #miscarriage #8thamendment #repealedthe8th #pregnancyloss #motherhood #hormones #bodyimage #thyroidectomy #tricuspidvalvedamage #incontinence #urinaryincontinence #ptu #eltroxin #neomercazole

Elizabeth Sankey is a film maker, mother, and one half of the band Summer Camp. After giving birth to her first child back in August, she started suffering from severe anxiety and suicidal thoughts, and was eventually taken in to a Mother and Baby Unit in London. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Elizabeth about what those early weeks were like, how she and her husband tried to get help, and what it was like to finally spend a month in a psychiatric unit. We talk about unrealistic narratives around childbirth, the tough realisation that you are much sicker than anyone wants you to be, baby blues, WhatsApp mum support groups, privilege, recovery and more. You can read a piece Elizabeth wrote about her experience here, and follow her on Instagram or Twitter, where you'll also get updates about her film and music. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you want to help spread the word about Bits of Me, it would make me very happy if you would share an episode on your socials and subscribe, rate and review the podcast on Spotify and iTunes. Perhaps you could also tag a friend on Instagram the next time a relevant episode pops up? It's all massively appreciated! #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #postnatalanxiety #postnataldepression #postnatalpsychosis #postnatalmentalhealth #perinatalmentalhealth #maternalmentalhealth #mentalhealth #maternitycare #childbirth #pregnancy #anxiety #depression #motherandbabyunit #MBU #NHS #hormones #motherhood #babyblues #recovery #breakthestigma #psychosis

Angela Coraccio is a writer and editor who was involved in starting up the Abortion Rights Campaign in Ireland. In this episode of Bits of Me, she shares her experience of infertility: from fighting for an endometriosis diagnosis and coming to terms with the fact that her husband was not sold on the idea of trying for a baby, to measuring and scheduling and tracking everything, trying IUI, and eventually deciding that she was done focusing on this one thing she wasn't able to achieve. We talk about the online forums, the things people say, what grief does to you and why reproductive choices should be destigmatised, regardless of the situation. You'll find Angela's blog, which features everything from home renovation updates to thoughts on infertility and body image, at http://thinkofmeoften.blogspot.com. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you want to help spread the word about Bits of Me, you could share an episode on your socials and subscribe, rate and review the podcast on Spotify and iTunes. Perhaps you could also tag a friend on Instagram the next time a relevant episode pops up? It's all massively appreciated! #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #infertility #IUI #IVF #fertility #fertilitytracking #ovulationtest #ovulationstick #cervicalmucus #abortion #abortionrights #abortionrightscampaign #grief #ARC #TTC #tryingtoconceive #endometriosis #feminism #endoawareness #endo #repealedthe8th #abortionpills #D&C #childlessness #childfree #periods

In this episode, I talk to Michelle Mayefske, a mother of five and birth and post-partum doula with a passion for advocating for pregnant women in bigger bodies. Michelle shares her birth experiences, from a straight-forward but far from empowering hospital birth in America, via a non-consensual membrane sweep and an unassisted birth, to some wonderful home water births. She also explains why she is so passionate about advocating for fat, pregnant women, why BMI should be scrapped completely, why so many people are upset about the HSE cessation of water births on the public system, and why she is putting together a book with tips for pregnant people in bigger bodies and empowering birth stories written by fat women. This episode comes with a trigger warning for mentions of sexual abuse as well as references to obstetric violence. You can follow Michelle on Instagram, where you'll find her as @fat.and.pregnant, and you'll find her website here. Bits of Me is also on Instagram, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you want to help me to spread the word about Bits of Me, please share this episode on your socials and rate and review the podcast on Spotify and iTunes. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #fatpregnancy #plussizepregnancy #childbirth #birthing #waterbirth #homebirth #homewaterbirth #labour #hydrotherapy #fatbirthadvocacy #doula #postpartumdoula #birthdoula #hse #obstetricviolence #freebirth #feminism #hospitalbirth #pregnancy #birthrights #epidural #privatemidwivesireland #maternitycare #birth #fatandpregnant

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Simone, a 21-year-old university student with a stage-three uterine prolapse. Simone found a bulge in her vagina when she was 18 years old, but she was too embarrassed to go to the doctor about it at first. She shares her story of showing her mother a photo of her vulva, going off to Denmark for studies abroad and being forced to ask her new flatmates for help to translate pelvic floor exercises into English, learning to trust her body and find confidence in it again, and finding ways to communicate with friends and partners about her condition. We also talk about some of the myths surrounding this common condition, and Simone gives EVB Sport support wear a shout-out. You'll find Simone on Instagram at @living_with_prolapse, and you can read more about her experience and top tips on her blog. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please review and subscribe, and if you know anyone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #uterineprolapse #prolapseatayoungage #pop #prolapsebeforekids #prolapse #stagethreeprolapse #pelvicorganprolapse #livingwithprolapse #evbsport #evb #pfpt #pelvicfloorphysiotherapy #pelvicpain #pelvicfloor #vagina #vulva #uterus #sexeducation #sexed #womenshealthcare #feminism

Sandy Connolly is a mother and independent post-partum doula supporting people on their reproductive journeys and post-partum experiences. She was told at a reasonably young age that she would never be able to have children, but then she went on to get pregnant and have a daughter, Juno. Following that, she suffered a number of losses and years of grief, depression and challenges. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Sandy about her fertility journey - from the relationship with her body following that initial comment from a doctor, through pregnancy, breastfeeding, miscarriage and bodily grief and to a decision between her and her partner that may surprise many. Needless to say, if you've suffered pregnancy loss, this episode may be triggering for you. But in addition to sharing some raw, difficult moments, Sandy talks with a great deal with wisdom and perspective about healing rituals, the power of language, the difficulty of jealousy and loss, and the many events of the corridors of the National Maternity Hospital... And yes, there's swearing. Just a sufficient amount of it. You can follow Sandy on Instagram @sandydoula, and join her private Facebook community group, Sandy Connolly Doula - Your Virtual Village. Bits of Me is also on Instagram, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you want to help me to spread the word about Bits of Me, please share this episode on your socials and rate and review the podcast on Spotify and iTunes. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #miscarriage #pregnancyloss #babyloss #infertility #secondaryinfertility #hormones #childbirth #breastfeeding #singletonchild #onlychild #motherhood #grief #loss #depression #postnataldepression #pnd #feminism #perinatalmentalhealth #pregnancy #repealedthe8th #abortionpills #nationalmaternityhospital #nhm #maternitycare #birth #birthing #bleeding

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to activist, creative and mother-of-two Jac Sinnott, who started experiencing feelings of uncontrollable rage and low moods after weaning her youngest child. She shares her story of being misdiagnosed with post-natal depression, googling in search for answers, trying to find the right pills to help her, and getting through lockdown as a sometimes suicidal mother to young children. You can follow Jac on Instagram, where she talks very openly about her experience of living with PMDD, alongside plenty of pictures of family life as well as her feminist pots and crockery designs. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please rate, subscribe and review, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #PMDD #severePMS #PMS #premenstrualdysphoricdisorder #hormones #periods #femalepain #depression #mentalhealth #pregnancy #mentalhealthstigma #feminism #postnataldepression #motherhood #bipolar #perinatalmentalhealth #maternitycare #periodtalk #pills #contraceptivepill #ssri #anxiety #suicideideation #rage #femalerage

Around the world, there are more people suffering from incontinence than hayfever, yet both urinary and fecal incontinence are still shrouded in stigma and shame. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Luce Brett, author of PMSL: or How I Literally Pissed Myself Laughing and Survived the Last Taboo to Tell the Tale. We talk about antenatal classes, the haze of the first few weeks and months after becoming a mother, how intimate and embarrassing certain appointments with healthcare practitioners can be, and how the silence culture and lack of knowledge are hurting women every day. She shares her experience of wetting herself at the staff Christmas party; of that first, scary pelvic floor physiotherapy appointment; of utter despair when she started to also leak poo; and of all the kindness she's encountered throughout. We also talk about feminism, how birth can be radicalising, and why Luce is more pro-choice after everything she's been through than ever. Pick up a copy of Luce's heart-warming, funny, beautiful, rage-inducing book, follow her on Instagram and Twitter, and share this episode with all your pregnant and mammy friends. Bits of Me is also on Instagram, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like this podcast, please rate, review and subscribe, and share your favourite episode on your socials. Countless hours go into creating and managing this space every week, and in addition to time, it costs money to maintain it. A review can make a huge difference in helping others to discover Bits of Me. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #incontinence #urgeincontinence #fecalincontinence #urinaryincontinence #maternitycare #mesh #meshimplant #vaginalmeshimplant #childbirth #birth #motherhood #bladdertrauma #pelvichealth #pelvicfloorphysiotherapy #womenshealthphysiotherapy #feminism #pmsl

Emer O'Neill, a teacher, model and now mother of two, was heavily pregnant when the first lockdown hit. In this episode of Bits of Me, she shares her story of going into labour and giving birth at a time when partners were only welcome on the labour ward for very limited periods of time; of getting support and advice when figuring out breastfeeding for a second time; of life with a newborn without breastfeeding groups and mother-and-baby yoga sessions; and of her dreams for a more open-minded and representative, less racist Ireland. You can follow Emer on Instagram, where you'll find her as @emeroneill14. Bits of Me is also on Instagram, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like this podcast, please review and subscribe, and make sure to send this episode to any friends of yours who are pregnant and facing giving birth and starting their motherhood journey during this crisis. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #motherhood #birth #childbirth #breastfeeding #breastfeedingsupport #misogynoir #maternitycare #racism #blackirish #blackandirish #representation #pandemicbirth #birthstories #lockdownbabies #feminism #parenting #mothering #labourwardrestrictions #maternitycarerestrictions #covidcare #coronababies

Around one in ten women will at some point suffer from vaginismus, a condition that can make sexual intercourse and tampon use very painful or even impossible. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Grace Alice O'Shea, a Galway-based relationship and sexual health educator who grew up in Kerry and suffered from vaginismus for eight years. She shares her experience of not knowing what was wrong when she couldn't use a tampon, of being seen by sometimes rough and often dismissive medical professionals, and of travelling to the US for treatment. We also talk about how things have changed since then, how social media is both a force for good and a source of pressure, and how society's expectations on women are often unfair and unrealistic. Follow Grace on Instagram at @grace_alice_sex_educator and keep an eye out for her brand-new website, which will launch soon. Bits of Me is also on Instagram, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like this podcast, please review and subscribe, and share your favourite episode on your socials. Countless hours go into creating and managing this space every week, and in addition to time, it costs money to maintain it. A review can make a huge difference in helping others to discover Bits of Me. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #vaginismus #painfulsex #vaginismusawareness #pelvicpain #tampaxad #tampaxadvert #tampaxcommercial #tamponuse #vulvodynia #dilation #sexualhealth #sextherapy #painfulintercourse #sexeducator #gracealicesexeducator #feminism

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Kath Sansom, whose life was changed overnight when she had a TVT mesh implant to help with minor incontinence issues. Kath explains how the controversial mesh implants have ruined lives by causing auto-immune issues and chronic pain and cutting through organs like the bladder, bowel and vagina, and shares her own experience of going from super fit to chronically in pain and deciding to set up a campaign to do something about it. Follow Kath's project Sling the Mesh on Instagram at @slingthemesh and on Twitter at @MeshCampaign, where you'll also find Kath herself as @kathsansom, and search for the same on Facebook to find the support group. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please review and subscribe, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #mesh #meshsurgery #meshimplant #vaginalmeshimplant #vaginalmesh #tvt #tvtmesh #incontinence #hernia #herniamesh #meshscandal #prolapse #pop #pelvicorganprolapse #SUI #surgicalmesh #slingthemesh #kathsansom #womenshealthcare #feminism

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Carly Bailey, a mother of two smallies and activist on social, economic and feminist issues including housing, education and repeal. She is now a Social Democrats councillor on the South Dublin County Council. Carly has PCOS and endometriosis and struggled to conceive. In this episode, she shares her experience of trying different medications, going through IVF, suffering miscarriages and eventually having her babies. She also talks about the birth injury she ended up with, the post-natal depression that followed, and the reasons why, despite everything she's been through, she can relate to the decision of having an abortion. You can follow Carly on @CarlyEBailey_ on Twitter, on Instagram at @carly_bailey_ or on Facebook, where there's a page for Cllr Carly Bailey. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please review and subscribe, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #PCOS #polycysticovarysyndrome #polycysticovaries #endometriosis #pregnancy #birth #childbirth #miscarriage #babyloss #pregnancyloss #thirddegreetear #birthinjury #birthtrauma #IVF #infertility #TTC #postnataldepression #abortion #repealedthe8th #repealthe8th #womenshealthcare #feminism

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Gillian Roddie, an Innovation Program Manager, Learning Specialist and mother of two. She is also the brain behind @evidentiallyyou on Instagram, previously Science Snaps on Snapchat, a platform where she discusses everything from biology and immunology to feminism, mental health and contraception. I asked Gillian to join me for a chat after she ran a few polls on Instagram Stories, discussing body hair and beauty treatments, including Botox. I recalled a conversation we'd had about a year previously about body image and motherhood, and how a combination of the signs of ageing and a body marked by pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding can be a tricky cocktail to navigate. The result is a chat about unrealistic beauty ideals, the challenges of growing up governed by them, the shock of realising what pregnancy and birth do to your body, and the lengths we go to to feel OK in our own bodies. We also ponder whether you can use Botox and call yourself a feminist, whether there's a limit to the amount of time and money one can spend trying live up to the unobtainable ideals of the patriarchy, and how we can support each other through this struggle. For endless important, impressive and fun information from Gillian, go follow @evidentiallyyou on Instagram. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like this episode, please share it on your socials as well as with friends who don't use social media and might miss out. Reviewing the podcast on iTunes and subscribing on Spotify also really helps. It only takes a minute but is really, really appreciated! #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #ageing #diastasisrecti #pregnancy #mumpooch #mompooch #postbirthbody #motherhood #bodyhair #shaving #botox #beautytreatments #disorderedeating #bulimia #eatingdisorder #bodyimage #feminism #equality #equalpay #glassceiling #womensrights #parenting #beautyideals #beautynorms

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Kim Hanly, a computing student and mother of two. A cervical cancer survivor and the founder of Cervical Cancer Awareness Ireland, she shares her story of getting bad news from a smear, the scans and treatments that followed, and the journey to recovery and beyond. Kim explains what all the various different tests entail and recalls what it was like to spend time in hospital following surgery, chatting to other women, especially older ladies. She also shares the difficult moments, from getting 'the call' and telling her father to welcoming her kid to hospital for the first time and waking up in absolute agony after surgery. Cervical Cancer Awareness Ireland is on Facebook and Twitter, where you'll find plenty of helpful information as well as the contact details if you need help or advice. If you've had an abnormal smear, are going through treatment for cervical cancer, or have symptoms you worry might be bad news, you can request to join CCAI's private Facebook group, where you can be sure to get plenty of support. Kim also has her own, personal Twitter account. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please review it on iTunes and subscribe on Spotify, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #cervicalcancer #cervicalcancerawareness #gynaecancer #fuckcancer #incontinence #periods #femalepain #bleeding #abnormalbleeding #infertility #smeartest #smear #hpvvaccine #bladdertrauma #cystitis #hysterectomy #radicalhysterectomy #menopause #earlymenopause #prematuremenopause

From hot flushes and vaginal dryness to anxiety and a distinct lack of joie de vivre, the menopause can bring about all sorts of struggles for women from as early as their late 30s. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to divorced mother of two, Loretta Dignam, who is the Founder and CEO of The Menopause Hub in Dublin, Ireland's first and only clinic dedicated to helping women who are going through the menopause. Loretta shares her experience of 'the change', explains why she decided to set up a clinic to help other women, discusses the myths and attitudes surrounding this key stage in women's lives, and explains the various symptoms and treatments. You can follow The Menopause Hub on Instagram at @menopausehub or visit their website, www.themenopausehub.ie, where you'll find loads of useful information as well as symptom checkers, fact sheets and more. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please rate and review it on iTunes and subscribe on your choice of podcast platform. Know anyone who would enjoy this particular episode? Please share it with them! #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #motherhood #feminism #themenopause #menopause #thechange #midlife #vaginalatrophy #vaginaldryness #anxiety #depression #moodswings #HRT #hormonereplacementtherapy #oestrogen #estrogen #hotflushes #osteoporosis

What's it like to be a single woman at 40, and to think you want kids but know that you don't want to go it alone? What are the obstacles to motherhood for a single woman in Ireland, the expectations that make being single and childless tricky, and the other aspects of life as single at 40 that might make you "aggressively identify as single"? In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Mary Coogan, a feminist activist and single woman in Dublin, who is passionate about challenging the stigma that surrounds being a single woman at 40. We talk about the lack of representation of happily single and childless women on screen; what it's like when all your friends, one by one, meet someone, settle down and have kids, and you're left behind; the difficulties of trying to get yourself set up as a single person in Dublin in such a way that you might be able to even consider trying to have a child on your own; the housing market and all the other instances where being single makes life harder; broodiness and how the yearning to be pregnant and give birth can get into your bones; how Ireland has changed as a result of the Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the 8th amendment, and lots more. You can follow Mary on Twitter at @cosasiulacha or on Instagram on the same handle. On her blog, marymcoogan.wordpress.com, you can read her thoughts on feminism, politics and life as a single woman at 40. You'll find Bits of Me on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please rate and review it on iTunes and subscribe on your choice of podcast platform. Know anyone who would enjoy this particular episode? Please do share it with them! #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #motherhood #feminism #singleat40 #lifeassingleat40 #singlewomanat40 #childlessness #involuntarychildlessness #singleandchildless #repealedthe8th #repealthe8th #wombtalk #housinginireland #sharedliving #coliving #motherandbabyhomes #magdalenelaundries

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to pastry chef and mother of two Tracey Bourke, who has suffered from urge incontinence for most of her life but also ended up with pelvic organ prolapse after having a hysterectomy. We talk about what it's like to constantly manage the fear of wetting oneself, how difficult it is to get the help you need to manage life with prolapse, explaining to your boss why long days on your feet are suddenly quite the challenge, and much more. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please rate and review it on iTunes and subscribe on your choice of podcast platform, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #pelvicorganprolapse #pop #cystocele #hysterectomy #menopause #bladderpain #urgeincontinence #incontinence #urinaryincontinence #pelvicpain #pelvicfloordysfunction #childbirth #birthinjury #birthtrauma

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Sarah Rose McCann, a freelance writer from Belfast who has been struggling with bladder pain for almost as long as she can remember. We talk about her coping mechanisms as a child, including developing anorexia to distract herself from the pain; the ongoing struggle to be taken seriously by healthcare practitioners; the Instagram community that helped her get a diagnosis; taking the wedding savings to cover the cost of surgery in England; playing pain detective during sleepless nights, and much more. You'll find Sarah on Instagram @mypelvicpain, where she shares information and feelings on her own journey as part of a large and very supportive endometriosis community. Sarah encourages anyone suffering from symptoms that may be linked to endometriosis to message her for advice or contact the Endometriosis Association of Ireland on www.endometriosis.ie or @endoireland on Instagram. Bits of Me is on Instagram too, as @bitsofme_podcast, and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please rate, subscribe and review, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #endometriosis #endo #endoawareness #endometriosisawareness #hormones #bladderpain #uti #cystitis #interstitialcystitis #pelvicpain #pelvicfloordysfunction #stressincontinence #bowelpain #fibromyalgia #anorexia #eatingdisorder #painfulsex

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Social Democrats councillor and soon-to-be mother of three, Catherine Stocker. Catherine struggled with depressive and psychotic episodes through her teens and was misdiagnosed as bipolar. We talk about the medical trouble-shooting in those early years, the 'aha' moment when Catherine realised what was really going on, the logistics and cost of travelling to England for care, the issues with trying to get diagnosed and cared for at home, and the stigma surrounding PMDD, also known as severe PMS. You'll find Catherine as @CatzStocker on Twitter, where she mostly tweets about politics. Bits of Me is on Instagram as @bitsofme_podcast and on Twitter as @bitsofme_pod. If you like the podcast, please rate, subscribe and review, and if you know someone who could do with listening to this particular episode, please share it with them. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #PMDD #severePMS #PMS #premenstrualdysphoricdisorder #hormones #periods #femalepain #depression #mentalhealth #pregnancy #mentalhealthstigma #feminism #postnataldepression #motherhood

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to teacher and sexual health advocate Denise McAlister, who is using her own experience of living with a long-term STI to open up the conversation about sexually transmitted infections, the stigma that surrounds them, and the reality of living with one. She shares her experience of finding out that she had genital warts, explains why she decided to start disclosing her status to partners, talks us through the myths about herpes and other STIs she wishes people knew weren't true, and much more. You'll find Denise on Instagram as @LetstalkSTIs and on the Facebook page Let's Talk STIs, where she educates and is exceptionally generous with herself and her time, including to those who are diagnosed with an STI and want advice or an ear to bend. If you like Bits of Me, please rate, subscribe, and give it a quick review, and do spread the word among friends if you can! You can follow the podcast on @bitsofme_podcast on Instagram or @bitsofme_pod on Twitter. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #STIs #herpes #genitalwarts #letstalkstis #shareyourstistory #hsv1 #hsv2 #breakthestigma #STD #sexualhealth #sexeducation #hsvsupport #feminism

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to mammy and feminist Rebecca Flynn about her experience of losing a baby to a missed miscarriage a few years ago. She shares her experience of the maternity care system, the frustration of realising that a miscarriage does not always present the way she had thought it would, the jealousy when people around her started announcing their pregnancies, and the anxiety of a subsequent pregnancy. If you like Bits of Me, please subscribe on your choice of podcast platform and give it a quick review. You can follow the podcast on @bitsofme_podcast on Instagram or @bitsofme_pod on Twitter. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #miscarriage #pregnancyloss #babyloss #missedmiscarriage #maternitycare #motherhood #birth #childbirth #womenspain #femalepain #feminism

In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Elisha Clarke, a professional photographer and new mother, whose birth didn't go quite as she had expected. When we talk, Elisha's son Will is just over six months old, and Elisha is still dealing with the implications of an episiotomy and forceps birth and subsequent 3C tear, sphincter rupture and post-natal depression. On Elisha's Instagram page, you'll find not just photographs of cute babies and gorgeous couples, but also some really honest and informative stories in her highlights, detailing her own experience of pregnancy, birth and recovery. If you know anyone who's struggling after giving birth, do tell them about this episode, and about Elisha's account. You can help to spread the word about Bits of Me by rating, reviewing and subscribing on your choice of podcast platform, and of course by sharing it and telling other people about it. Follow the podcast on @bitsofme_podcast on Instagram or @bitsofme_pod on Twitter. #bitsofmepod #womenshealth #womensbodies #womenspain #femalepain #birth #childbirth #birthtrauma #3ctear #sphincterrupture #postnataldepression #episiotomy #forceps #motherhood #feminism

In her book, Vagina: A Re-Education, Irish-born author and journalist Lynn Enright busts a range of myths surrounding the vagina and vulva in an aim to educate and empower readers and shed light on the sometimes shocking, enraging reality of living with a womb and navigating the healthcare system while doing so. In this episode of Bits of Me, I talk to Lynn about facing periods as a young woman raised in Ireland, where she was told in school not to use tampons; about having her experience of pain minimised by healthcare practitioners when she went in for a hysteroscopy in London; about awkward hymens and the myths surrounding this piece of tissue, and much more. The book Lynn mentions in this episode is Alyson J. McGregor's Sex Matters: How Male-Centric Medicine Endangers Women's Health — and What We Can Do About It. You can follow Lynn on @lynnenright on Instagram or the same on Twitter, and read more about her work on www.lynnenright.com. You can help to spread the word about Bits of Me by rating, reviewing and subscribing on your choice of podcast platform, and of course by sharing it and telling other people about it. Follow the podcast on @bitsofme_podcast on Instagram or @bitsofme_pod on Twitter. #bitsofmepod #periodpain #pelvicpain #hymens #hymen #vaginaareeducation #lynnenright #womenshealth #womensbodies #womenspain #femalepain #vulva #vagina #feminism

This episode of Bits of Me comes with a trigger warning for sexual coercion and abuse, as Kate Brayden shares her journey of living with pelvic pain, struggling to find health care practitioners who would take her seriously, and saving up huge amounts of money for trips to London, Washington and Zürich to see specialists in the hope that they might be able to help her. In addition to the reality of living with polycystic ovary syndrome, fibromyalgia, endometriosis and congenital neuroproliferative vestibulodynia, Kate shares her experiences of painful sex and an abusive, traumatising relationship. The book Kate mentions in this episode is Andrew Goldstein's When Sex Hurts: A Woman's Guide to Banishing Sexual Pain. You can follow Kate on @katebrayden on Instagram, and there are plenty of articles on women's health written by her for publications such as Hotpress, Shemazing and GCN available online. You can help spread the word about Bits of Me by rating, reviewing and subscribing on your choice of podcast platform. Follow the podcast on @bitsofme_podcast on Instagram or @bitsofme_pod on Twitter. #bitsofmepod #endometriosis #endometriosisawareness #congenitalneuroproliferativevestibulodynia #vulvodynia #pcos #polycysticovarysyndrome #womenshealth #womensbodies #periodpain #pelvicpain

In this episode of Bits of Me, I'm talking to sex educator and mother of three, Sarah Sproule. Sarah experienced urinary incontinence and recurring UTIs after her second birth, a VBAC (vaginal birth after Caesarean section) with epidural and subsequent catheter. We talk about what it's like to feel alone in your experience, the shame many of us feel around the choices we make during labour, and the effects of living with urinary incontinence on intimacy, sex, and body image. If you want to read about Sarah's work of helping parents to have difficult conversations with their children, you can find her website here. She's also on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. You can help spread the word about Bits of Me by rating, reviewing and subscribing on your choice of podcast platform. Follow the podcast on @bitsofme_podcast on Instagram or @bitsofme_pod on Twitter. #bitsofmepod #incontinence #childbirth #urinaryincontinence #postbirthsex #sexafterchildbirth #womenshealth #womensbodies

Trailer for Bits of Me - the podcast about women's bodies, all the things we should know about them, and all the stories behind them. Host: Linnea Dunne. First episode coming soon.