Making It To Motherhood

Miscarriages, multiple D and Cs, Ashermans Syndrome and being told you can't carry a baby. Episode sixteen of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Anna Buxton talk about having to turn to international surrogacy and the different experiences she had in India and the United States, as well as Canada. Zinnia also discusses her own UK surrogacy journey and how it differs from surrogacy abroad. Follow @makingittomotherhood Visit makingittomotherhood.com

The world of genetics and genetic screening when it comes to having a baby can be incredibly complicated and daunting. Episode fifteen of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya talk to Genetics Counsellor, Paulina Nassab - a guru in all things genetic screening. They discuss the different types of screening available, current trends and what the future holds around genetics. Maya draws on her own experience of genetic screening after having lost her first son, Leo, to a rare genetic disorder. Follow @makingittomotherhood Visit makingittomotherhood.com

The grief journey after baby loss can be all consuming, and sometimes it can seem like there's no way forward. Episode fourteen of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya chat to Kay King - a birth loss doula and grief recovery specialist. Kay talks about the grief journey, navigating the fourth trimester, managing relationships and trying again after loss. Follow @makingittomotherhood Visit makingittomotherhood.com

You find out you're pregnant and that you're having twins. But then you're told about twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Episode thirteen of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya talk to Lauren who was diagnosed with TTTS - a rollercoaster of a pregnancy journey that tragically ended in the passing of her beautiful boys. Follow @makingittomotherhood Visit makingittomotherhood.com

With an abundance of information out there on fertility treatment and genetics, it can be a minefield trying to navigate which avenue is right for you. Episode twelve of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya speak to Dr Davis, an experienced fertility consultant who also happens to be Maya's IVF doctor. Having worked at one of the world's best IVF clinics, he's also an expert in PGT screening, and willingly shares his knowledge and advice as well as debunks an IVF myth or two.

You've been through hell and back trying to get pregnant, find out you're having twins, and then go into labour at just 28 weeks. Episode eleven of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya talk to Megan who gave birth to twins at 28 weeks and then spent a rollercoaster 67 days in NICU before finally being able to bring her babies home.

Carrying someone else's baby for nine months is a huge responsibility which culminates in the birth and the ‘hand over' - but not everything always goes to plan. Episode ten of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and her surrogate Helen share their experiences around the birth of surro-baby Hugo, and what happens after a surrogate has given birth. Zinnia and Maya also share more insights from their baby loss and unconventional motherhood journeys. Follow @makingittomotherhood Visit makingittomotherhood.com

Being pregnant is one thing. Being pregnant with someone else's baby is another. Welcome to the world of surrogacy. Episode nine of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia's surrogate Helen talk about what led her to become a surrogate, and how her experience compared to her expectations. Zinnia and Maya also continue to chat about the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to their unconventional journeys to motherhood.

You've gone through the trauma of losing your baby and now it's Christmas. It's a time to celebrate with family and be jolly... only you don't have your little bundle of joy to hold in your arms or hang a stocking for. In this one-off Christmas special, Maya and Zinnia chat about how they found their first Christmases without their little ones and share tips that helped them get through the festive period. And as always they have a good old mother's moan whilst also finding some cheer in their regular big up feature.

You've experienced a stillbirth and are then told that the risks of carrying again are too high. Enter surrogacy... Episode eight of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia talk about her decision to use a surrogate to carry her next baby after a ruptured uterus resulted in a previous stillbirth. Zinnia shines a light on the world of surrogacy, discussing finding a surrogate and experiencing the surrogacy journey. Zinnia and Maya also chat about the everyday ups and downs that surround their baby loss experiences and onward pregnancy journeys.

After discovering the cause of your baby's death is a rare genetic disorder, what can you do to avoid history repeating itself? Episode seven of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Maya talk about the world of genetics and the journey her and husband Rich underwent to ensure that their future children would not be born with NKH - the rare genetic and sadly terminal condition that caused their son Leo to die at just 10 days old. Zinnia and Maya also chat about some of the everyday ups and downs that surround baby loss and the challenges of having another.

After baby loss, the decision to try again can bring about a range of emotions. Add to that the need to have IVF, and the road becomes even more bumpy. Episode six of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya share their experiences around IVF in order to have another baby and take the necessary paths to avoid the possibility of losing another. They also chat about some of the everyday ups and downs that surround their baby loss experiences as well as the challenges of trying again.

Your baby dies, and then what? Grief, recovery and anniversaries are just some of the things you have to confront. Episode five of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya talk about their experiences around life after loss. Following on from last week's episode they talk about the ongoing physical recovery, how to cope mentally, and how you get through anniversaries and other significant occasions such as birthdays and Mother's Day. Zinnia and Maya also chat about some of the everyday ups and downs that surround their baby loss experiences.

After the initial shock of your baby dying, you find yourself having to navigate maternity leave without a baby. Episode four of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya talk about their experiences around life after loss. In the first of two episodes on this topic, they discuss navigating the ‘new normal', physical recovery and returning to work. Zinnia and Maya also chat about some of the everyday ups and downs that surround their baby loss experiences.

Having to arrange your child's funeral can seem so daunting, and it's something we wouldn't wish on any parent. Episode three of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia and Maya talk about their experiences around their babies' funerals, what they did to mark the occasion, and above all, how they made it through the day. Zinnia and Maya also chat about some of the everyday ups and downs that surround their baby loss experiences.

Zinnia's daughter Isabelle was still born at 33 weeks, but it wasn't until after the birth that the cause of her death came to light, revealing that it possibly could have been avoided. Episode two of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Zinnia telling Isabelle's story, from pregnancy right through to the moment she was still born and the events that led to her tragic death. Zinnia and Maya also chat about some of the everyday ups and downs that surround their baby loss experiences.

Maya gave birth to her beautiful son Leo, but celebration quickly turned to trepidation when he had to be put on life support and was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease. Episode one of the Making It To Motherhood series hears Maya telling Leo's story, from pregnancy right through to the moment they switched off life support. Zinnia and Maya also chat about some of the everyday moments that surround their baby loss experiences.

The journey to motherhood isn't always straightforward. Zinnia and Maya are two friends who talk frankly and openly about the highs and lows of their unconventional journeys to motherhood as well as the passing of their little angels, all the while giving listeners a dollop of hope and a reason to smile. Topics include baby loss, stillbirth, grief, IVF, fertility, surrogacy and more.