One Torn Every Minute

National treasure Jane Garvey describes the unique euphoria of delivery, followed by an unwelcome bout of Christmas Day constipation that saw her father driving round London looking for laxatives. What a lovely box to look out for under the tree… See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian, writer, podcaster and all-round marvel Catie Wilkins tells us about her genetic tendency towards a quick birth. But don’t go hatey on her, because speedy deliveries are no fun. Particularly when you’re in a cleaning cupboard, have missed your epidural window and it’s a full moon… See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The marvellous author and journalist Marianne Levy pops in to describe the world’s longest labour, how putting ‘no forceps’ in her birth plan didn’t necessarily work out, and why her husband was traumatised by a plate of chicken. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Comedian and goddess Athena Kugblenu joins us to talk about the dangers of inviting your mum to be your birthing partner, how measuring dilation can be an inexact science, and why giving birth well after your due date results in cuter baby pictures. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We’re joined by the fabulous comedian Sara Barron, who has a few things to say about morning sickness with a vomiting phobia, being in labour at a hotel during a party, and the things a health visitor shouldn’t say when examining one’s infected vagina… See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The super-impressive Sophie Ellis-Bextor, mistress of multiple caesareans, tells us about learning a martial art during pregnancy, knocking up a quick pie pre-surgery, and getting back in the popstar saddle just weeks after giving birth. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress and comedian Isy Suttie discusses her urge to talk about discharge, turning her placenta into nourishing tablets, and the benefits of doing your tax return in the early stages of labour. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer and broadcaster Julia Raeside discusses the glory of the heroin hit, the splendour of the spinal block, flirting with silver fox anaesthetists and giving birth during a bird flu scare. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Writer/performer Isabel Fay tells us why waiting for a caesarean is not like getting a ticket at a cheese counter, how pub quizzes can effectively distract you from major abdominal surgery, and why being sick upside down isn’t advisable. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress-turned-teacher Lydia Maguire discusses pre-labour pub sessions, her husband boldly stopping traffic to get to the hospital, and an aggressively speedy baby arrival. Also features an extended discussion on perineum massage. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Actress Margaret Cabourn-Smith tells us about pretending not to be in labour in the cab, doing antenatal classes with Dawn French, diamorphine hallucinations, the glory of epidurals and the most romantic bowel-evacuation ever. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Radio presenter Emma B tells us about her incompetent cervix, her redundant birth playlist, and her dream of giving birth on a platform in Ibiza, watched by friends and family. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Lucy Porter discusses her low pain threshold and her drama queen tendencies in this episode, where she re-imagines her birth as a Hollywood movie starring George Clooney as a hero anaesthetist, alongside a huge cast of medical students and a giant pair of forceps. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In our first episode, writer and performer Abi Burdess describes juggling labour pains with her husband’s filming schedule, an eye-poppingly inappropriate phone call, and a near punch-up in an operating theatre. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this pant-wetting podcast, author Beth Morrey interviews women who’ve given birth and want to talk about it in gory and glorious detail. Each guest tells us the eye-opening, cervix-opening story of their own labour, from start to finish. With punch-ups, quarantine lockdowns and Entonox hallucinations, every episode is guaranteed to put pressure on your pelvic floor. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.