What struck me most was the overwhelming care and compassion between the midwives and the mums. I felt almost envious. My brain was practically screaming, ‘Why did no one look after me like this?’

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That feeling made me want to do a bit of a deep dive into what maternity care used to be like in this country. And what I found really surprised me - it wasn’t always like Call the Midwife.

The accounts from real midwives in the 1950s and 60s almost echo those we hear today: they felt understaffed, stretched and frustrated by a lack of continuity of care.

And this is where it gets really interesting.

As I carried on with my research, I found myself asking a question I hadn’t really considered before:

Has the midwifery system ever actually worked in favour of midwives?

One thing Call the Midwife did get right, and I’m sure every midwife today would agree, is that midwives know women, babies and their profession best.

But what is crazy is that the history of the profession tells a different story. Midwives have repeatedly been expected to work within systems they have had very little power to shape.

And I think that’s exactly why we need midwives to have a seat at the table when we’re considering how to improve maternity care for women in 2026.

Here is my very quick deep dive into the history of midwifery:

1948 - The NHS was created, and maternity care was part of it, meaning it operated within a medically led health system, with doctors holding significant institutional power

1974 - There was a reorganisation of the NHS which moved midwives into new Regional and District Health Authorities, which brought the profession further into NHS management structures

1977 - For the first time in the NHS, supervisors were required to be midwives, which gave midwives more control over their own profession; however, they still had to be accountable to people outside midwifery

1979 - The UK Central Council was created to regulate nurses, midwives and health visitors, and they did have a dedicated Midwifery Committee; however the wider council had a nursing majority

1996 - All Local Supervising Authority Responsible Officer posts were finally held by midwives, giving them greater control over their own profession (finally getting there!)

2000 - Midwives had increasing professional autonomy, but NHS trusts still controlled the budgets, staffing and structures within which they worked, meaning they had responsibility for care without controlling the resources needed to deliver it

2017 - The separate statutory Supervisor of Midwives system was removed, and midwives remained regulated by the council, while employers took on responsibility for day-to-day management and professional support.

And when you look at that history as a whole, something becomes very clear to me.

Midwives have spent decades being responsible for maternity care without necessarily being given the power to shape the system around it.

Perhaps that is part of why the same frustrations keep appearing generation after generation.

The staffing problems may look different.

Technology has certainly changed.

The number of births has changed.

But the fundamental question of who gets to decide what maternity care should look like and who actually has the power to change it doesn’t seem to have gone away.

The answer simply shouldn’t be to ask midwives to work harder within a broken system.

Instead, we need to start asking what maternity care would look like if we actually gave the people who understand it best a meaningful say in how it is designed.

Because if midwives have been telling us for decades what isn’t working, maybe it’s time we stopped asking them to simply cope with the system and started listening to them to rebuild it.

I want to hear from midwives. If you have a story, experience or perspective from your profession that you’d like to share, please email me at contact@louisethompson.co

Source: https://memoriesofnursing.uk/articles/midwifery-in-britain-in-the-twentieth-century

1. Skylight Calendar

2. Name Stamp

3. Wardrobe Organiser

4. Bento Lunch Box

5. Yeti Water Bottle

6. Organic Hand Santizer

7. Organisation Folders

I’m not entirely sure how we got here.

One minute I was dropping a very tiny Leo off in the baby room at nursery during a period of my life where I wasn’t entirely sure how I was going to get through the week, let alone the next four years (Clue: I think they might have saved my life)

And now I have a child who is FOUR, who recently graduated from nursery, wearing a bright blue cap + gown combo whilst chanting A, B, C - u later at the top of his lungs.

He is also TALKING. And in full sentences. He asks me questions I genuinely don’t know the answer to, like ‘How do boats float?’ and ‘Why do we have eyebrows?’, and he is about to start SCHOOL.

Big school.

In September. Actually it’s next week. Eeeeek. It’s come around so quickly.

We’re spending this weekend getting his bits together… things like his uniform, socks, shoes, bags, labels, and our brains. We’re trying to figure out our brains - we’re asking ourselves even more challenging questions than the ones above, like: how can we possibly manage looking after him during the TWENTY weeks he gets off for the school holidays each year whilst working full time? How are we going to split the drop-off and pick-ups when we don’t have time for a grown-up calendar session each week? (We don’t even have time for a low-key chat). Let’s just say there’s going to be a lot to negotiate each day.

😭

The mad thing about all of this is - I think he’s ready.

He is a November baby, so he will sit comfortably at the older end of his classroom (if you’ve read Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers, you’ll think this is very important). I’ve never thought about it before, probably because I’m a March baby and a girl?!?!?! But both Ryan and Sam are August babies, and they turned out ok so don’t panic about the age advantage theory too much. I’d love to know if you have an opinion about it below.

Anyway, he’s getting taller, leaner, and more independent by the day. He’s confident, he’s curious, and he’s desperate to learn, but sometimes he still struggles to walk into a room without needing my hand. I’m expecting tears. We’ll see how we go.

I, on the other hand, am desperately trying to catch up.

So naturally I have dealt with this enormous emotional milestone in the healthiest way I know how: by buying organisational products on Amazon.

Because apparently if I have Monday’s uniform hanging in a Monday compartment and every single one of his belongings stamped with his name, then I might not cry at drop-off?

We’ll see.

Anyway. If you also have a little one starting school in September and are oscillating between feeling incredibly proud and wanting to stop time altogether, here are 7 things making me feel slightly more prepared.

1. The Skylight Calendar

There suddenly seem to be 400 things to remember (Thank goodness for the PTA WhatsApp group), and I refuse to rely on my brain for all of them. School dates, clubs, appointments, family plans, reminders - it’s ALL going on here. You can also sync the Skylight Calendar to your Google Calendar, which is super helpful. It’s quite nice to have a chunky calendar visual every morning that doesn’t rely on the little screen on my phone. Oh and I can access Ryan’s too (very handy for when I want to stalk him)

2. The Name Stamp

I’m going to stamp absolutely everything Leo owns. Uniform. PE kit. Jumpers. It’s all so expensive. Anything that sits still for long enough, will basically get stamped. I can already tell this Name Stamp is going to become weirdly satisfying. I will say it left a little mark on my first victim. I did order some of these as back up. They’re washable sticky labels and they came highly recommended. Sadly I don’t have time for sewing and I don’t have a full time housekeeper to hand that duty over too either.

3. The Wardrobe Organiser

One compartment for every day of the week so I can sort his clothes ahead of time and hopefully avoid rummaging around for a missing sock at 7.42 am. Anything that removes one decision from a school morning is coming home with me. The wardrobe organiser is also under £9.

4. The Bento Lunch Box

This Lunch Box has lots of little compartments, comes with cutlery and there are loads of colours to choose from. I’m hoping the novelty of lots of little sections might also encourage him to actually EAT the contents. Will report back.

5. The Yeti Water Bottle

We already love Yeti in our house and I wanted something that could withstand being dropped, thrown into a school bag and generally treated like it belongs to a four-year-old. This should hopefully do the job. The Water Bottle also comes in lots of different colours!

6. Organic Hand Sanitiser

I have been warned about school germs and quite frankly I’m terrified.

This one is organic, foaming and easy to keep in a bag. I appreciate I cannot sanitise my way out of an entire Reception class worth of bugs but allow me to pretend for now.

7. The Organisation Folders

For artwork, schoolwork, letters, forms and the inevitable mountain of paper that is about to enter our house. I’m attempting to give everything a home BEFORE it starts accumulating on every available kitchen surface. I love that these folders have labels to keep each term/year separate.

And there we have it.

Seven purchases standing between me and total September chaos.

I know none of these things are actually going to prepare me for watching Leo walk through those school gates. I think that bit might just have to hurt a little.

If you have a little one starting school too, please tell me how you’re feeling in the comments. Bonus points if you have an honest story to share.

We can do this together.

xxx

1. Swimsuit, Lace Trim Skirt, Necklace
2. Blue Top, White Trousers, Red Pumps
3.Pink Co-Ord Shirt and Pants & Swimsuit
4.Black Swimsuit and Maxi Skirt
5. Yellow Oversized Shirt and Lace Shorts

Sunday - We arrived at the Peligoni

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We ran off our flight so fast we left a trail of smoke, scooped up our bags and darted straight to The Peligoni Club for an iced bev and a quick dip.

For anyone out there wondering what ‘The Peligoni Club’ is… It’s an exclusive, family-run beach (and members) club located in the northern part of Zakynthos… And for anyone wondering about Zakynthos, it’s an island located off the West coast of Greece, which happens to be the same side as Kefalonia, Corfu and Paxos. Popular islands like Santorini and Mykonos are on the Eastern side, otherwise known as the Cyclades. I feel like that’s an important distinction to make if you’re a fan of a European Summer. But maybe that’s just the Geographer in me.

Anyway, the Peligoni is seasonal and runs from May to October, blending a traditional ‘villa’ style holiday with the social aspect and amenities of a boutique resort. In a nutshell, it means you get the best of both sorts of trip - Total privacy in your private villa so the kids can go nuts in the pool, with social touchpoints as and when you fancy them. Oh and it’s sporty. VERY SPORTY. A lot of the good stuff is based around the sea and their watersport facilities: the sailing, the windsurfing, the foiling, plus some yoga, tennis and cycling. The clientele seemed to heavily reflect this. Everyone who skipped around the place seemed to have washboard abs. Ryan and I were rather gobsmacked because we’d never seen anything like it, and I’ll admit we had to stop to debrief on it at least 4 times across the 7 day trip.

Another fun fact about this place is that I actually stayed here a few times with a friend from school when I was 14 years old. I can even recall having one of my first ever teenage kisses on the beach... Actually, either that happened, or I lied to my friends about it when I returned to my dormitory in the Michaelmas term following a Summer of ‘love’. I can’t remember which was the truth, but I imagined it either way and it was v romantic.

Then I took a hiatus, but we decided to come back last year for the first time in 15+ years following friends' recommendations. It felt familiar and nostalgic, but they’ve definitely expanded their offering. Lots of little upgrades.

As a parent of a 4-year-old boy, travelling with multiple cousins, it’s nice to know exactly what you’re getting when you go away. I want to know what activities there are on offer, and I know a lot of people love the creche there too. Leo refuses to go, but it's nice to know it exists regardless, in case we had a major nightmare day.

We’re always on the quest for finding the perfect ‘rinse and repeat’ holiday, and four years into the mission we’re finally narrowing down our options to a list of a rock hard gems.

In terms of accommodation, we stayed in a newly built villa called Kelios, which was modern and very practical, which I guess is exactly what you need from a holiday base. Somewhere comfortable to come back to and kick back in after a long day in the sun, dump everything on the floor, shower off 400 layers of SPF and attempt to get everyone ready for a ‘wishful thinking’ smart dinner before sleeping off the day and waking up to do it all over again the next day.

Shop my favourite necklace from the trip by clicking here and below…

One of the few swimsuits that hides Winnie, my stoma bag… as well as a multitude of other sins… like eating a big lunch.

2. Monday - Dinner at The Old Windmill

I loved the look above I pulled together for dinner inside an old, dilapidated windmill tucked up in Askos. The restaurant had great views over the sea because of its height, and was one of those places that felt very Greek without being overly traditional - the food was a little more conventional (I’m not great with buckets of med veg or tomato-laden concoctions because of my IBD bowel situation), but the whole setting was very charming, particularly as the sun started to go down. We had multiple iterations of lamb.

I find blue skies always give me an excuse to lean heavily into colour when it comes to sartorial decision making. There’s something about being on holiday that makes me far less sensible when getting dressed in the morning. Things I might question at home suddenly feel completely reasonable in Greece. Perhaps it’s the sun. Maybe I just need to be more fun at home. I like to layer, I like to wear see-through things, I like pyjamas, I like bright bags and shoes and the colour red and tassels and feathers and colour blocking and clashing. All the good garish stuff.

Contrary to the above, these white linen trousers I got from Zara for £20 were essential for pairing with the fun bits.

3. Tuesday - Lunch at Mikro Nisi

We kicked off the day with 7am wakeboarding followed by lunch at Mikro Nisi. We didn’t go last year, but I think that might be because it’s new. We got a quick 5 minutes boat transfer around the cove in a sparkly green speedboat from the club, which was much more fun than it was naff.

And I felt like a head-to-toe pink ensemble felt reasonable for lunch because of the strong breeze. (There were lots of waves and wind on our final 3 days out here, which actually made for a welcome break from the extreme heat and it meant I could cover up a bit more which is definitely my safe place).

4. Wednesday - Nobelos and matching purples with Leo

We paddled to Nobelos restaurant, which was one of the best feeds of the week. Something to bare in mind is that it’s a bit more expensive than most, especially if you order the fish. You can book sunloungers if you’re organised enough ahead of time. It has a cute little swim up beach which is nice as lots of this side of the cost is jumping off rocks to get in the water.

I wore one of my trusty Hunza G cozzies - I LOVE their swimwear and come back to it every summer. Comfortable, flattering, stays where it should. Great to cover up Winnie my stoma too.

I threw the pink skirt over the top for lunch. Sadly this exact colour is no longer in stock, but I’ve linked the white version instead, which is probably marginally more sensible anyway. You guys have already bought LOADS of this skirt.

These flip flops were the best investment I made this Summer.

You can shop all of Leo’s favourite shorts from the trip below

5. Thursday – Fishalika, Alykes Beach

HONESTLY THIS SHIRT GUYS, YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED IT AND IT’S ONLY £22.

It’s light and airy and if they had it in more colours i’d buy one in each… because i’m a bit like my dad like that. If I like something, I LOVE IT. And I also like things that are sensorily soft and unintimidating to my nervous system. This does just the trick.

One day when the weather meant choppy seas, we drove to Fishalika on Alykes Beach, which I’d recommend if you’re travelling with children. It’s on the sand and the water stays shallow for what feels like miles. It was one of those rare lunches where I didn’t feel like I needed to have eyes in the back of my head every two seconds. It’s not the prettiest beach but if you’re happy to sit on rows of bean bag loungers and eat some cheap and cheerful food then happy days. We bought lots of beach toys from a little shop opposite and spent hours learning how to body surf.

I know this has been a bit of a muddle between good clothes and good food, but here is a concise bulleted list of things to try out if visiting the island:

• The Blue Caves

• Caves of Marathonisi/ Marathonisi Island (Turtle Island)

• The Zakynthos Shipwreck (known as Navagio Beach or Smugglers Cove)

• Restaurant Fishalika on Alykes Beach

• Lunch at Mikro Nisi

• Lunch at Nobelos * must do *

• The Peligoni Club

• Banana Beach

• Gerakas Beach

• Chapel of Agios Nikolaos

• Rent a boat from your local port and bezz around the island on your own terms.

• Taverna Lithies

Any questions, pop below.

Luvvv yerrrr.

L x

Oh and this is a not so glamerous little bonus, but Leo has struggled a bit with swimming, he’s now got the hang of it we have also tried a gazillion pairs of goggles and finally found the best ones EVER on the market (we all wear them now). Linking below for struggling parents…

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I don’t think there’s any other point in our lives where we spend so many hours researching what we need. From baby carriers to formula brands to hospital bags. I remember agonising over which pram to buy and really questioning the shop assistant over what the suspension would be like, only to learn that I’d be using it to transport my baby from A to B on some relatively chilled terrain, aka London’s pavements.

But do you know what I never researched?

THE ONE THING THAT REALLY MATTERED ON THE DAY…

My rights when giving birth.

Not because I chose not to. But simply because nobody talked to me about them. Not my friends, nor my family members, nor the doctors. No one. Not even my online NHS NCT class spoke about what my birth rights were. My social media was full of packing essentials, nappy reviews and the best bottle teats, but almost nothing out there was about what I was entitled to during labour, or how to advocate for myself if something didn’t feel right.

Looking back, that feels completely mad. And I can’t believe I accepted the total lack of knowledge, especially given I’m a furious type A personality and a bit of a control freak…but for some bizarre reason, leading up to the biggest day of my life, I decided to trust the process and stick to practising my breathing exercises.

I learnt the hard way that NONE of those purchases above actually mattered, especially in scenarios where you’re leaving your birth traumatised - as I, and so many other women across the UK, sadly are.

Not that any of this was funny at the time, but looking back now I can only laugh at the fact that I ended up taking more photos of the à la mode ‘camo green’ bugaboo pram and yin and yang artipoppe before I gave birth than I ever did afterwards, simply because I was too cooked to enjoy the pride of my respective colour choices and to concentrate on anything other than keeping myself and my baby alive. Hopefully, if we’re lucky enough to have another baby at some point in the future, I will be able to enjoy those cute (and rather expensive) purchases if I can pry them out of the hands of greatly appreciating friends whom I loaned bits to.

Given my hellish circumstances and the lack of appreciation of my shopped bits, I’m on a bit of a mission to change the birth trauma narrative for other mothers. I want to see mothers bounding around and enjoying themselves and that ‘joyful’ newborn phase the way that we all deserve to (with minimal mental and physical scars).

So without further ado…

Here are five things I wish someone had told me before I had my baby:

Normally I would put a trigger warning here, but I don’t want you to worry this isn’t harsh or statistics-led like some of my other content; it’s about empowering women with information I wish I'd had. Because there is nothing more powerful than an informed woman. The more we know our rights, the better equipped we are to advocate for ourselves and, hopefully, reduce the chances of being let down by the system. We can also educate our partners on our rights so they can speak up on our behalf if we are too incapacitated or vulnerable.

1: You can choose which hospital you give birth in

I don’t think enough women know this, but you are not automatically tied to your local trust. Maternity is one of the few areas of the NHS where you have a genuine choice over where you receive care.

Even better, you can transfer your care at any point during pregnancy, and nothing is set in stone. The obvious exception is an emergency, when you’ll be taken to your nearest hospital.

This matters because CQC ratings vary hugely between hospitals, even those just a few miles apart. Check the rating of your maternity unit, and if you’re not happy, you can ask to move. Around 1 in 5 women in England give birth at a trust that isn’t their local one, so if you choose to do the same, you’re not alone. https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/refer-yourself-for-nhs-pregnancy-care/ https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-maternity-statistics/2019-20

If you want to do this, you can:

• Speak to your midwife: Tell them you want to switch hospitals at your next antenatal appointment. They can help start the transfer process.

• Contact your GP: Ask your GP surgery to help re-refer you to the new hospital trust.

• Self-refer online: Visit the website of the hospital you want to move to and look for their online maternity self-referral form.

• Inform your current team: Let your current maternity booking office know once your new choice is confirmed so they can transfer your records.

Obviously this is a big decision, so don’t take it lightly. I did give birth in my local hospital, and I’m not sure I would have wanted to travel a greater distance to a hospital with a greater CQC rating.

2: You can change your midwife or consultant if you are unhappy

Staying on the incredibly important subject of choice, if you’re not happy with your midwife at any stage of pregnancy or birth, you can just ask for a different one.

We place so much trust in our midwives - not just with our lives, but with our wellbeing. They care for us at our most vulnerable, so it’s important that you feel listened to, respected and safe with the person looking after you. If that relationship doesn’t feel right, you are absolutely entitled to request someone else. https://birthrights.org.uk/factsheets/your-right-to-choose-midwife-and-doctor/

I had a midwife that shouted at me and made me cry because I didn’t bring in my hospital notes because i’d been involved in a housefire at my mother’s house and I didn’t have access to any of my belongings because the building wasn’t safe to go back into. She knew I was sensitive but was still incredibly unkind to me, if i’d know it was my right to switch I would have, although I think she was filling in for someone else anyway. Perhaps even better I could have filled out a pals complaint form.

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/hospitals/what-is-pals-patient-advice-and-liaison-service/

3: You can request a C-section - even without a medical reason

Here’s the one I wish I'd known.

The NHS states, ‘if after discussing all the risks and hearing about all the support on offer you still feel that a vaginal birth is not an acceptable option, you should be offered a planned caesarean’ and if your doctor is unwilling to do one, ‘they should refer you to a doctor who will’.

Birth is scary, unpredictable, and with so many stories of maternity care failures in the news, it’s understandable that a C-section can feel like the safest and most controlled option for some women.

Don’t be afraid to ask for one. Under NHS guidance, you have the right to request a planned C-section, and if your request is refused, you can ask for a second opinion. Your birth should be a decision made with you, not for you.

https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/caesarean-section/

5: You can decline any intervention at any point

Consent isn’t a one-off decision you make at the start of labour - it’s ongoing.

That means you can change your mind at any point. Whether it’s an induction, a vaginal examination, continuous monitoring or another intervention, you are allowed to withdraw your consent, even if you previously agreed to it.

This really matters because far too many women don’t feel able to speak up. I read recently that in the CQC’s 2025 national maternity survey nearly 1 in 5 women (18%) said their concerns were not taken seriously during labour and birth! That is terrible - you deserve to be listened to, and your consent should never be assumed. https://news.sky.com/story/one-in-five-women-in-childbirth-and-labour-feel-concerns-are-not-taken-seriously-13481734?utm_source=chatgpt.com

6: Martha’s rule

This is an incredibly important one.

If you’re worried that your condition is worsening and your concerns aren’t being listened to, you can ask for an urgent review from a different senior clinical team through Martha’s Rule. It exists because Martha Mills’ parents repeatedly raised concerns about their daughter’s condition, and they were tragically dismissed.

The message is simple: if you feel unheard, keep speaking up! You always have the right to ask for another opinion. https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/marthas-rule/

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from reading this, it’s that being informed is not the same as being difficult. I really wish I knew these things before I had my baby.

We spend months researching the perfect pram and the safest car seat. Let’s spend a little time learning our rights too.

Lots of love, Louise x

For the next 5 things I wish I knew before giving birth please click subscribe below…

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It’s the postcode lottery in maternity care.

Put simply, it’s:

• The availability,

• The quality

• And the funding

  of the healthcare you receive depending entirely on where you live, rather than the care you actually need.

To put things into perspective, here are some of the stats I read earlier this week: 43% of maternity and neonatal units don’t meet basic safety standards, only 35% of units have a dedicated bereavement room, and Maternal mortality in the 20% most deprived areas is roughly double that in the least deprived. So the care and facilities available to you can literally depend on which maternity unit you happen to attend. https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/maternity-and-neonatal-infrastructure-review-findings/

Some of the UK’s counties don’t even have a mother-and-baby unit for postpartum mothers suffering from severe perinatal mental health disorders. The whole of Wales only has 1, Scotland has 2, and there are precisely 0 in Northern Ireland. ZERO.

One reason this has really struck a chord with me is that it goes against one of the key principles of having a national healthcare system in the first place.

The NHS was founded on the idea that healthcare should be available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. So surely, if you live in the same country, you should have access to the same standard of maternity care?

That’s what really baffled me about this postcode lottery, because we all trust this service with our lives, quite literally. I know I did, and I ended up feeling so let down by the care I received. The ironic thing is I live in a fairly affluent area within SW London, yet the outpouring of messages I’ve received from people receiving poor care in the same hospital as me is rather alarming.

Well, it was alarming until I read this article:

A 2025 Journal of Public Health study scoring every English maternity service against MBRRACE-UK surveillance 2015–2024 found Chelsea and Westminster reported higher-than-average perinatal deaths (amber band) in 4 of 10 years, including 2024.

So I wanted to understand why this inequality in maternity care exists.

And here are a few things I found that provide SOME answers (but also make my desire for further research all the more relevant)

1. Variation in staffing and funding

One of the biggest reasons for the postcode lottery is that maternity services simply don’t have the same resources behind them. Staffing levels, funding, and access to specialist services vary significantly between trusts, meaning some maternity units operate under far greater pressure than others.

For example, 68% of London's maternity units are in poor condition - needing major repair or replacement soon, or at serious risk of imminent breakdown - compared with 41% in the East of England.

England is also still short of around 2,500 full-time midwives, and 87% of midwives say they work in units they believe are not staffed safely. It’s difficult to deliver consistently safe care when the workforce itself is stretched so thin. In Yorkshire and the Humber, that figure rises to 90.4%… more than nine in ten midwives. https://rcm.org.uk/media-releases/2024/06/midwives-give-100000-hours-of-free-labour-to-the-nhs-per-week-to-keep-englands-maternity-services-safe-says-rcm/

2. Leadership and cultural differences

Leadership matters enormously in maternity care. The culture within a trust influences whether staff feel able to speak up, if concerns are taken seriously, and whether mistakes are properly investigated and learned from.

Baroness Amos’ National Maternity Investigation found that bullying, harassment and poor working relationships are recurring features of the most struggling maternity services, showing how culture can directly affect the safety and quality of care women receive. https://www.matneoinv.org.uk/updates/independent-investigation-into-maternity-and-neonatal-services-in-england-interim-report/

3. Repeated unresolved failures at certain trusts

Perhaps most concerning is that some maternity services have experienced the same problems repeatedly, despite concerns being raised time and time again.

When failures are identified, but the underlying issues aren’t properly addressed, they become embedded within a service. Donna Ockenden’s 2026 Nottingham Review found that many of the same safety concerns had been identified for more than a decade, yet improvements were often incomplete, delayed or simply not sustained.

That means women can continue to be exposed to the same risks because the system hasn’t properly learned from what has already happened. https://1corqmlr.com/2026/06/26/the-nottingham-ockenden-report-2026-key-findings-and-implications-for-clinical-negligence-practitioners/

4. Fragmented national policy

Then there’s the national picture, which can feel surprisingly fragmented for a service that is supposed to be part of one national healthcare system.

While national standards and guidance exist, implementation varies between trusts, and responsibility is spread across multiple organisations. Baroness Amos’ National Maternity Investigation concluded that fragmented oversight and a lack of clear accountability had contributed to repeated failures across maternity services, leaving the quality of care to be influenced by where you happen to live. https://www.matneoinv.org.uk/updates/independent-investigation-into-maternity-and-neonatal-services-in-england-interim-report/

And the scale of the paperwork says it all.

NHS England has now compiled 748 recommendations from maternity inquiries over the past decade. Most of these have been identified time and time again, whilst nothing changes.

Meanwhile, all five of the national maternity safety ambitions set for 2025 were missed - maternal mortality is now 12.8 per 100,000, against a target of 5.31 and 20% worse than the baseline it was supposed to improve on. On neonatal brain injury, the target was missed, and then the data collection was simply discontinued.

Baroness Amos' final report found that some trusts had no direct ‘ward to board’ route for concerns at all, and almost no evidence that improvements in one trust were ever shared with another… unlike the national networks that already exist for other illnesses like stroke and cancer care. We know how to run a joined-up national service. WE JUST DON’T DO IT FOR BIRTH

5. Training gaps and staff shortages

Staffing shortages don’t just mean there are fewer people on the maternity ward. They also affect whether staff have the time and opportunity to complete essential training and keep their skills up to date.

When services are constantly stretched, training becomes another item pushed down the priority list, with inevitable consequences for the safety and quality of care women receive.

We’re seeing this in real time in North Devon, where births have suddenly been suspended because the maternity unit could no longer be safely staffed, forcing hundreds of women to be redirected to other hospitals at short notice.

• At NDDH, births were suspended from 11 August 2026, which was six days ago.

• Up to 50% of consultant posts and 40% of middle-grade doctor posts were vacant

• Women are now being redirected to Exeter, which is at least 1.5 to 2 hours away for some

• And in the trust’s own words: “We cannot guarantee that women would consistently have access to the level of senior medical support during labour they may require.”

I have found it genuinely difficult to research the postcode lottery in maternity care.

Because you can do everything right. Attend your appointments, ask the questions, advocate for yourself, and trust the system to keep you and your baby safe, and yet the quality of that system can still depend on the postcode you happen to live in.

That shouldn’t be how maternity care works.

We should be asking why these differences exist, why they’re allowed to persist, and most importantly, what is actually being done to change them. I hope this is one of the first things a Maternity Commissioner prioritises when they are appointed.

My personal belief is that everyone needs to be reading from the same hymn sheet; ergo, there should be a national maternity strategy in place that every trust has to follow so that patients and medics are all giving and receiving the same standard of care regardless of where they are based in the UK.

Ultimately, every woman deserves to feel safe when she walks through the doors of a maternity unit, and it should never depend on which doors she does, or doesn’t (if she doesn’t make it), walk through.

If this struck a chord, here's one small way to help. We're building a maternity questionnaire, and I want it to reflect what women actually want to know. What's the one question you'd want answered? Send it to contact@louisethompson.co … and remember a single line is plenty.

On Monday I trotted over to Barnes for a quick celebratory lunch with my team at one of Rick Stein’s restaurants to mark the end of our maternity commissioner petition. It felt somewhat important to stop and acknowledge what we’ve managed to achieve, given that I’m often guilty of finishing one thing and immediately moving onto the next without ever allowing myself to enjoy the ‘win’.

It was approximately one million degrees in London so sitting by those huge windows overlooking the river was a moment to treasure. We gobbled the anchovies, a fab seafood curry and some sexy drinks. The place has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere that somehow resembles being on holiday somewhere scenic in the Med (rather than plonked just south of the river in SW London).

Outfit wise I went very simple with an oversized striped shirt, white linen shorts and black ballet pumps. The shirt was particularly useful because there was enough room inside it for three courses. Possibly four. I always like to dress for the occasion which means loose clothes when I plan on dining out. It also comes in a gazillion colours so do indulge. I love Stradivarius for petite clothing.

I wore it several times this week. I only really buy things I love enough to wear again and again and again…

Tuesday - At home shooting a coffee campaign and back in an oversized shirt. SURPRISE.

…then recycling the same outfit for a major 2x day photoshoot for my petite edit which launches in September

Tuesday was marginally less glamorous and involved being back at home with an iced coffee… which is much closer to my natural habitat. I’ve actually only just started drinking coffee again, although calling it coffee is generous because I have it SO weak it’s basically coffee-flavoured water. Baby steps. Here is the coffee machine I swear by.

I wore an oversized white shirt with the gingham embroidered trousers from my Nobody’s Child collection (Currently 15% off). I’ve worn these loads because they sit somewhere between pyjamas and actual clothes, which is essentially the sweet spot I’m looking for in life.

I really love the embroidery around the bottom because it makes them feel a bit more special than a normal gingham trouser, without requiring anything particularly clever on top. They’re also available in petite, which I know is important for lots of you because there is NOTHING more irritating than buying a lovely pair of trousers and discovering you also need to lose approximately half a metre from the bottom.

I added black ballet flats and that was basically it. I’m increasingly realising that my summer wardrobe formula is enormous shirt + interesting trouser + flat shoe. Revolutionary.

Here is me wearing the same outfit getting ready for two long days of camping shooting. Being comfortable is golden when spending lots of time being poked and prodded.

Wednesday - a Zara dress I got on sale for £13. Annoyingly sold out. I feel like a Bond girl.

Wednesday I wore this beige cargo mini dress, which is one of those very useful pieces that makes you look like you’ve actually styled an outfit when in reality you have put on precisely one item of clothing.

This is the sort of thing I reach for when I want to look pulled together but absolutely cannot be bothered to coordinate separates. The big sleeves, collar and belt give it enough structure that it does all of the work itself. Hair back, flats on, finished.

Annoyingly, this exact dress is no longer in stock, which always seems to happen approximately five minutes before I decide I want to share something, so I’ve linked a similar version instead.

I wore it with little navy YSL pumps, which Sam and Zara bought me for my birthday four years ago, which I think stop it looking too safari. Although between the beige, pockets and belt I am probably one pair of binoculars away from offering guided tours. I love binoculars btw. I always take them away with me whenever I travel.

Wednesday night out for dinner with my family.

I love the two piece that tally is wearing. I actually own it too. Here’s a side by side.

Thursday - Big Trousers and My Ongoing Commitment to Comfortable Dressing

By Thursday, I had apparently decided that if Monday’s oversized shirt had room for three courses, I should simply continue expanding.

I wore these enormous blush trousers with a white top and a very floaty white layer over the top. There is a LOT of fabric involved here and I’m very happy about it. I love clothes that move around you in summer and don’t require any sucking in, adjusting, pulling down or general bodily admin. I own these trousers in white too!

The little bit of black lace at the waist gives the whole thing some contrast because otherwise I think I was in danger of looking like a very large, slightly crumpled meringue. I added chunky black flip flops, sunglasses and a big bag.

I’ve noticed recently that I’m getting much better at knowing what I actually like, rather than what I think I’m supposed to like. That probably applies to far more than getting dressed. There’s something quite liberating about getting older and realising you don’t need to constantly reinvent yourself or keep up with every new thing. I’m increasingly happy sticking with what makes me feel good and leaving the rest to everyone else.

It’s taken me long enough to get there.

Friday – A Birthday Surprise, Some Sheep and an Impractical Amount of White for stomping around Suffolk

On Friday I had my hair dyed blonder than blonde and shortly after we quickly escaped London because I had planned a surprise trip to Wilderness Reserve in Suffolk for Ryan’s birthday.

I LOVE organising a surprise (hate receiving one) but I’m also absolutely terrible at the period immediately before the surprise because I become convinced that I’m behaving suspiciously. I don’t know why. Suddenly every normal question feels like an interrogation and I’m giving unnecessarily elaborate answers about where we’re going and what we’re doing.

Thankfully we made it there with the surprise intact.

Wilderness is v beautiful and it felt very nice to swap London for fields, sheep and a lot of sky. I wore an all-white outfit which, looking at these photos, was either very aesthetically appropriate or an incredibly impractical decision for wandering around the countryside.

I love this little white top. It has that slightly romantic, old-fashioned feel with the shirring and detailing, but paired with white denim shorts and huge sunglasses it doesn’t feel too twee. Although standing in a field surrounded by sheep probably tipped it back in that direction.

It was such a nice start to Ryan’s birthday trip and also a reminder that sometimes you really don’t need to travel very far to feel like you’ve properly gone away. I’m trying to get better at actually switching off when we do things like this rather than taking my entire mental to-do list with me.

Work in progress.

A final note (I promise) and another work in progress was feeling confident enough to wear a swimsuit that strayed away from my safe place which is a hunza g. I have a stoma bag so this felt braver but ultimately it was a fabulous look and I felt like Ursula Andress with the belt. Chicer than chic. It’s only £25 and you can shop it here or by clicking below.

Here’s your reminder to be daring and wear the swimwear…

Any questions pop below. Luv ya. L x

Please subscribe for more writing updates. My next piece is going to be on ‘my thoughts on Britney Spears’ given that I’ve read her biography on holiday. I have a lot to say about it.

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I’ve become very good at faking it

The reality is I'm a mum with ten thousand things on the go at once, and most of the time, I feel like a circus clown frantically pedalling a unicycle whilst spinning plates and spewing out fireballs.

My to-do list regrows the second I've crossed anything off it, and I have about four minutes of spare capacity most days. So it’s not super glamorous.

The elaborate version of ‘looking after myself’ went out the window the moment lockdown ended and parenthood started, and something scrappier, quicker, and a lot more forgiving had to take its place.

Enter: my cheat codes. Some days, they are the reason the wheels stay on.

1. Curating listening material - My Spotify playlists (podcasts and music) are queued up before I need to lean on them. Decision fatigue early in the morning can be paralysing, and I refuse to fall victim so I forward plan. Auto downloads are my saviour. I know what I like - education (and occasionally rap music haha)- so I don’t stray far from that. It’s one of the brilliant ways I get to absorb what’s going on outside of my own world on a daily basis.

2. Dove Whole Body Deodorant. This has become one of my most-used products. It works beyond the underarms in addition to your regular underarm deodorant, so I’m not doing 5 separate things before I’ve had breakfast. One less decision to make, one less thing on the shelf, yippeee. I like walking past people who smell nice on the street, and now I’m one of them. I use scent sea mist & peony and I tend to alternate between the spray, cream and stick.

3. I keep frozen gyozas in my freezer at all times for emergencies. I no longer panic when staring into an empty fridge at the end of a long day, because I know I can always bung some trusty gyozas into a pan and serve with noodles and greens (or frozen peas if things are really dire). I have an amazing recipe that I cook up almost monthly (linking here), which is a firm favourite with everyone who steps through our front door.

4. The One-Touch Rule. If I pick something up, I PUT IT WHERE IT LIVES, no more behaving like a teenager and moving the same top around my bedroom 100 times because I can’t find an empty cupboard or hanger to stuff it on/into. I’ve got enough going on. Just put it away. If there is no space, sell it immediately or take it to my local charity shop.

5. We live by a strict one-in, one-out (ideally two-out) policy. We can only buy something if we’ve collectively got rid of two things from the house the same week. I’m sick of drowning in clutter.

6. I love a strict morning routine - I eat the same gut-friendly porridge every morning with a banana, followed by my vitamins and probiotics, and a sharp green tea that I keep topping up throughout the day for micro doses of caffeine.

7. I use a notion ‘to-do’ list to brain dump. And I relish ticking things off the list. I also manage my team on notion.

8. I use a Google Sheet for all family health stuff. I learnt this one the hard way - now I no longer need to remember months worth of symptoms when being put on the spot at the GP.

9. I have one drawer in my kitchen that is allowed to be a totally chaotic dumping ground. Everything else stays calm because that drawer takes the hit.

10. I text back with a voice note instead of typing. My thumbs have never recovered from a hugely popular summer of 2019, and I’m not doing that to myself again. I also use something called Willow as a dictaphone on my laptop. Also, v time-saving.

11. I have an emergency box of snacks in the car. Hangry-Ryan and Leo have caused more damage than I’m willing to admit publicly. I’ll stop here. Always spare pants and socks in this box too.

12. I allow myself the grace of saying NO without an essay explaining why. This took me years to learn, but ‘I can’t, but thank you’ is a full sentence.

13. I have a go-to gift drawer with the same thing x 10 on standby for everyone I know and love…, and it is elite. Birthday admin, solved, forever. If you want, I can share the regular gifts I have on rotation for people?! Pop yes please to the gift list in the comments below.

14. I always do the dishes before bed, even the pile I want to leave. Morning-me weeps with gratitude every time, even though I AM typically a morning person.

15. I set a timer for tasks I’m dreading. Sometimes I use the Pomodoro method. Twenty minutes, no negotiating, done before I’ve talked myself out of it.

16. I always rip the bandaid off and do the hardest task first. The concept of doing your hardest or most important task first thing in the day is famously known as Eat the Frog. This productivity method was popularised by business and self-help author Brian Tracey.

17. I get dressed early, even on days I'm not going anywhere. I like to be fully dressed before Leo gets up in the morning so I can allude to the fact i’m a functioning adult. Pyjamas at 11 am set a tone I don't actually want for the day.

18. I operate a separate email address for the rubbish. Promotions, online orders, anything that wants my email before it'll let me past the door.

19. I try to live by an 80% Rule. Done and sent beats perfect and still sitting in drafts. Almost nothing needs the last 20% of polish.

20. The Same Place, Every Time. Keys, phone, wallet. One home each, no exceptions, so you're never searching the house at the worst possible moment. And Ryan and I DON’T SHARE. Like Joey with food from friends.

21. Many supermarkets do ‘wonky veg’ boxes that are cheaper and just as good. Nobody's ever noticed the carrot was a funny shape once it's chopped. I also like to shop some sale items to cook the same day from a few of my local boutique shops.

22. I have recently started freezing leftover herbs in olive oil in an ice cube tray. This gives an instant flavour base for cooking, and nothing wilts in the fridge unused again. I HATE waste.

23. I have a screenshot of my passport and driving licence and keep them in a locked note. Saves a genuine crisis if you ever lose the real thing while travelling. Sometimes I still get ID’d which is LAUGHABLE. I tried to get into a club for a friends hen a few months ago and I had to whip out a photo of my passport on my phone. Highly flattering.

24. I write the return date on any parcel i’m not sure about, straight on the box. This saves the ‘when did this even arrive’ scramble a few weeks later.

25. I have a stash of reusable bags in the boot of the car, not just the cupboard at home. It drives me mad when I forget them.

26. I bulk buy birthday cards a few times a year. Never again caught without one in the morning.

27. I charge everything overnight downstairs in my kitchen, not in my bedroom. It ends the morning hunt for my phone, laptop and headphones. It also keeps my devices out of the bedroom so no doom scrolling in the morning. Bed is for reading and sleeping.

28. I write the wifi password on a sticky note inside a cupboard door. Every guest asks, and nobody ever remembers it, this ends the cycle.

29. I have a whatsapp group with myself. Mainly for recommendations people give me when I’m on the bounce. I just got back from my son’s graduation and received a few for great Summer clubs and some new watching material. I have a brilliant bank.

30. I set a specific day each month to check subscriptions and other pesky unnecessary expenses I’m still paying for. It’s easy to forget what's quietly still coming out of your account.

And there you have it - a few little things that make my life a tad easier. I’d love to pretend it’s super profound, but most of the time I’m just winging it and looking for a quick win… like favouriting all of my favourite food and cosmetics on my fav online supermarket so I can click add to basket 20 times for a seamless weekly shop, knowing I will never run out of the staples, or my Dove deodorant.

You can shop Dove Whole Body Deodorant online at selected retailers

Low effort, high return. That's the whole personality now.

L x

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We're pressing pause on the podcast as we focus on the next chapter of our lives. With our surrogacy journey entering a new stage and Leo getting ready to start big school, we want to take the time to be fully present as a family during what feels like a really special time together. 

In this episode, we reflect on the last 25 episodes and everything this podcast has given us. It's changed us not only as individuals, but as a couple too. We've shared the highs, the lows and plenty of conversations that weren't always easy to have, but we've never wanted to shy away from being honest. If there's one thing we've learnt, it's that relationships take work, communication and a willingness to have the conversations that aren't always easy. Looking back, those moments have only made us stronger.

Finally, we want to say the biggest thank you to every single one of you who has listened, supported us and become part of the He Said, She Said community. Whether you've been here from the beginning or found us somewhere along the way, we're so grateful you've shared this journey with us.

Thank you for listening, and we hope you enjoy this season finale 🤍

🩵 Follow us everywhere

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And of course… don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review.

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Ryan also opens up about a parenting moment that left him questioning whether he'd handled things the right way. Reflecting on the experience, he shares what he learned about helping children navigate disappointment, the pressure parents put on themselves, and why listening instead of rushing to fix things is often the most powerful approach.

Plus, Louise and Ryan share how putting the 7-7-7 relationship rule into practice is helping them protect quality time together and strengthen their relationship.

🗓 New episodes every Wednesday

📩 We’ve got a NEW email!

Want to get involved? Email HSSS@srproductions.co.uk or slide straight into our DMs @hesaid.shesaid.podcast.

We want it all. Your dilemmas, questions, voice notes, stories and opinions. If it’s pod-related, we’re listening.

🩵 Follow us everywhere

 Instagram | TikTok | Youtube @hesaid.shesaid.podcast

And of course… don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They also catch up on life outside of it all, including Ryan’s Father’s Day event and Louise’s recent trip to a wedding, which sparks a wider conversation about modern wedding etiquette. From whether it is ever right to bring children to a wedding, to the fairness of destination weddings.

Plus, with the World Cup in full swing, they react to the controversy around a player returning home for the birth of his daughter, and unpack the wider role of men during childbirth. They also dig into the proposed under 16 social media ban, asking whether it will actually help or whether it simply shifts responsibility elsewhere.

🗓 New episodes every Wednesday

📩 We’ve got a NEW email!

Want to get involved? Email HSSS@srproductions.co.uk or slide straight into our DMs @hesaid.shesaid.podcast.

We want it all. Your dilemmas, questions, voice notes, stories and opinions. If it’s pod-related, we’re listening.

🩵 Follow us everywhere

 Instagram | TikTok | Youtube @hesaid.shesaid.podcast

And of course… don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SCROLL DOWN FOR SHOPPABLE LINKS.

Every year I tell myself I’m not going to get sucked in, and every year I spend approximately forty-five minutes spiralling through a vortex of ‘deals’ on things I didn’t know existed and arguably don’t need. Last year I nearly bought a pasta attachment for a KitchenAid I don’t own because of the pretty colourway (pastel turquoise)… But I guess that drives the impetus for this post. I want to save you some time (especially if you’ve been working all day and haven’t had a chance to scoop up some deals before they end at midnight) and also highlight some of the things that are stored in my basket until I get paid this afternoon…I hope you’ll find that they’re some of the biggest discounts on the site because ya gal loves a bargain.

I want to be upfront and share that I’ve recently shifted my approach to buying stuff. If you saw my recent Instagram post in collaboration with Vinted, you’ll know the drill. I’m not totally transformed and sitting here smug, flaunting an Ibiza-esque decluttered home, but I am trying really hard not to accumulate more things that make me feel vaguely guilty every time I open my drawers.

So now when something goes on sale, the question isn’t ‘ooh, that’s fun’… instead it’s ‘would I be annoyed if I ran out of this?’

If yes: buy it.

If no: leave it.

That’s basically my entire Prime Day strategy. Deeply unglamorous but surprisingly effective.

So I’ve done a proper sift through the noise, and I’m only sharing things that pass the test.

A few wellness things that have made a difference (and you know I don’t say that lightly because I’ve been burned by too many game changers that are currently gathering dust). Some family and home bits.

Here’s what caught my eye...

Electronics:

1. Oura Ring

2. Shark Cordless Hoover

3. Ring Doorbell

4. Apple Airpods

5. Echo Show 5

Home & Kitchen:

1. Soda Stream

2. Ninja AirFryer

3. Le Cruset Dish

4. Phillips Coffee Machine

5. Ninja Creami

   ---

Hair & Beauty:

1. Estee Lauder Foundation

2. Ouai Hair and Body Mist

3. Olaplex Hair Set

4. Kerastase Genesis Hair Oil

5. Medicube Pore Pads

   ---

Baby & Kids:

1. Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep Machine

2. Water Wipes

3. Tonie Box

4. Maxi Cosi Push Chair

5. HelloBaby Baby Monitor

   ---

Clothing & Accessories:

1. Havaianas Flip Flops

2. Levi Jeans

3. Multipack Tshirts

4. Adidas Court Trainers

5. Calvin Klein Boxers

For even more of my Prime Day favourites, head to my Amazon Storefront here.

Lots of love,

Louise x

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The conversation then takes a more personal turn as Anna gives us some powerful techniques for reconnecting as a couple, leading to an honest discussion about therapy and relationships. For the first time, we open up about a recent reset in our own relationship, and Anna reminds us that every couple faces challenges and that asking for help is often the first step towards moving forward.

We also discuss why so many relationships struggle after having a baby, the biggest reasons people cheat, and why more people than ever are searching for deeper meaning and connection in their relationships.

🗓 New episodes every Wednesday

📩 We’ve got a NEW email!

Want to get involved? Email HSSS@srproductions.co.uk or slide straight into our DMs @hesaid.shesaid.podcast.

We want it all. Your dilemmas, questions, voice notes, stories and opinions. If it’s pod-related, we’re listening.

🩵 Follow us everywhere

 Instagram | TikTok | Youtube @hesaid.shesaid.podcast

And of course… don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most of you will know that I’ve been sharing my honest thoughts online for years-decades, even- so I’m more than familiar with how this space works. But lately something has shifted. The last few months have felt different, and different felt worth writing about.

I don’t know if anyone else has noticed, but content is no longer being served to our followers. It is not being sent to people who are genuinely interested in us, or those who share a similar moral outlook on life, NOR is it being sent to those who might like a post or simply scroll past if it’s not something that interested them. Instead, it’s being fired into the corners of the internet, where people will be heavily provoked by what was previously just considered someone’s ‘personality’ or ‘sense of humour’. Instagram wants to cause a reaction. They want people to feel a strong emotion and, in a dream scenario, pass it on to other Meta platforms like WhatsApp (insider scoop). It’s a strange thing to witness. Even people who have always played it safe are finding themselves in the crosshairs.

A few facts about cancel culture, to set the scene

According to a 2023 Pew Research study, 58% of Americans say that calling out others on social media is more likely to punish people who don’t deserve it than to hold the right people accountable. A separate study found that online pile-ons typically last 24-72 hours before the algorithm moves on… but the reputational damage can last significantly longer. And perhaps most tellingly, research suggests that the majority of people who participate in cancel pile-ons have never interacted with the person they are targeting. They are not upset fans. They are strangers drawn in by an algorithm serving them outrage.

Cancel culture is not new. Public shaming has existed since humans gathered in groups. What is new is the speed, the scale, and the fact that it is now being actively served to people who weren’t looking for it. There is also a trend shift - lots of people on the internet are actively looking to clip up other people’s material in order to gain a quick win (and maybe a quick buck) because they can’t be bothered to come up with their own stuff… This means people can legally take other people’s work and use it out of context to create narratives that suit their own channel.

And ultimately the algorithm does not care whether you are right or wrong. It cares whether you are interesting enough to keep people on the platform for another thirty seconds. Outrage is extremely good at that. I think there is even a dedicated name for it now - something known as called ‘frictionmaxxing’.

The gospel, then the guillotine

Here are a few examples.

In May 2026, the BBC ran an undercover investigation into the unregulated baby sleep industry. Two consultants at the centre of it - Alison Scott-Wright, known as the Magic Sleep Fairy, and Lisa Clegg, the Blissful Baby Expert - had, between them, decades of experience, celebrity endorsements, bestselling books, and over 136,000 Instagram followers. Parents had paid hundreds of pounds for their advice. And they were, by any measure, gospel. (Let’s not forget that the media gave them this platform)

The investigation found that Scott-Wright had advised an undercover reporter posing as a new mother to place her newborn to sleep on their front - advice directly contradicted by NHS and Lullaby Trust safe sleep guidance. Clegg was filmed recommending placing rolled towels and muslins around a baby in its cot, which experts described as a suffocation and overheating hazard.

The internet, which had previously championed both women, turned overnight. And I mean TURNED. This is worth sitting with…because in this particular case, the backlash was arguably warranted. The advice was dangerous. But I keep thinking about how many cases there are where the situation is considerably less clear-cut, and the pile-on happens anyway at exactly the same velocity.

REMEMBER

“The algorithm does not care whether you are right or wrong. It cares whether you are interesting enough to keep people on the platform for another thirty seconds.”

Cakegate, PR packages, and the crime of having a PA

Earlier this year, my mate Binky, a friend, mother of three and a genuinely warm person, whom I know from our shared Made in Chelsea years, found herself at the centre of what became known as Cakegate. Her PR team had reached out to a luxury London bakery to ask about a gifting collaboration for her son’s third birthday. Standard industry practice, as it turns out. The kind of email that PR teams send to small businesses thousands of times a week across this industry.

The bakery owner went public. The internet caught fire. Binky received death threats. People contacted Marks and Spencer, where she had worked as a brand partner for three years, demanding she be dropped. She described the experience as ‘genuinely frightening’ and said she had seen a very dark side of social media she wouldn’t wish on anyone.

On the FLIP SIDE

Around the same time, Luisa Zissman found herself in similarly choppy waters after complaining on her podcast about unsolicited PR packages turning up at the gates of her home. She had a point… the gifting economy is broken, and consent matters. But the delivery, from a million-pound mansion, did not land well. ‘Rude and entitled’ was the verdict from the internet.

Seems you’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t. Can’t ask for gifting, can’t refuse gifting.

And then there was Jamie, another fellow Made in Chelsea alumni, who posted a lovely family montage celebrating six months of his son Ziggy’s life, which included a clip of his wife Sophie cradling the baby in the back of a taxi without a car seat. The comments were ferocious. He removed the clip. In the UK, it is actually legal for children to travel in a taxi without a car seat if the driver doesn’t provide one.

The post I took down

Last night I posted something I was genuinely proud of. A post about getting back into my fitness journey… me celebrating returning to movement, slowly, on my own terms, after years of my body being through things that made exercise feel impossible.

I also made an observation. I noted that we are living in a new landscape-one where a significant proportion of the population is now using GLP-1 injections to suppress appetite. Having worked in the fitness space for almost ten years now, this shift felt markedly different. I said, clearly and without judgement, that it wasn’t the path I wanted for myself right now… that I wanted to rebuild my relationship with my body through movement and the genuine pleasure of eating a sticky toffee pudding from M&S, and why the endorphins and the ritual of that matter to me. I also said, honestly, that if someone had told me GLP-1s could treat inflammatory bowel disease, I’d probably have looked into them immediately. Zero judgement. Just honesty. My dad is on one for flip sake. Apparently it’s good for preventing diabetes and maybe dementia?!?! I wasn’t shrowing shade, I was recognising an ENORMOUS societal shift. (Funny, it’s probably big pharma who have some control over the narrative… whenever there is a seismic shift in mood, the people with money 9/10 are the ones controlling it).

Once upon a time, a post like that would have reached my existing audience. People who know me, follow me by choice, and share enough context to read what I write in the spirit it was intended. They would have engaged with it, or not, and moved on. The truth is, most would have agreed.

But that is not how the algorithm works anymore. A post that mentions GLP-1s is served to EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE currently on a GLP-1. A significant number of those people don’t know me at all. Some of them are not looking for nuance. Some of them are looking for something to be angry about, because anger is the most efficient way to spend thirty seconds on the internet and still feel like you’ve done something. That’s not me being a smart alec, that’s just human psychology.

I watched the comments start to shift. They were lovely for the first hour. Then BAM.. I thought about the last time something of mine went viral for the wrong reasons. And I took it down. Once you’ve experienced that, you develop a particular sensitivity to the early signs of a wave building. You get good at knowing when to move and when to hold your ground.

Last night, I moved. I’m not sure I made the right call. But I made the human one.

Things worth knowing

• The majority of people who participate in online pile-ons have never interacted with the target before. This is not accountability. It is a sport.

• The algorithm serves content to people based on interest, not relationship. A post about a topic reaches everyone interested in that topic… including people who are specifically looking to be offended by it.

• Context is almost always the first casualty. A three-second clip will always travel further than the three minutes that surround it. PEOPLE NEVER READ THE FLIPPING CAPTION.

• There is a meaningful difference between genuine accountability, which is necessary and important, and a pile-on, which is indiscriminate and often disproportionate. The internet rarely makes this distinction.

• PR is not spin. In 2025, thinking carefully about how your words land out of context is basic self-protection, not dishonesty.

• Archiving a post is not the same as admitting you were wrong. Sometimes it is just choosing not to hand strangers a weapon.

I won’t repost it, but I will continue to share about my pretty pathetic fitness journey becuase it will keep me accountable at trying to override my fears. Maybe with more armour around it next time. Maybe not. But I wanted to write this first… because I think a lot of people are quietly making the same calculation I made last night, and not talking about it. And the silence is part of the problem too.

With love, and a slightly higher awareness than I had yesterday…

Louise x

The good news, and there is good news, is that I’ve recently discovered something that makes one small part of existing in a female body marginally less of an ordeal…and I hate gatekeeping, so instead i’m sat at my kitchen table typing away with the feverish energy of a Victorian scientist on the brink of a breakthrough because I can’t wait to share it with you all…Sooooo…. without further ado…

I’d like to introduce you to my new Deodorant.

Before you scrunch up your nose, you need to know that this isn’t just any old deodorant… It’s the NEW Dove Whole Body Deodorant.

And it landed on my chest (thought that might surprise you) at just the right time.

If you caught my recent podcast episode, you’ll already know that Ryan has been very vocal about the fact that I smell right now. ‘Ripe’, as he puts it. It turns out that fertility treatment does something crazy to your body that is difficult to fully gather unless you’ve been through it yourself… (I should really know better, given I’m 3 rounds in), but the injections, the medication, and the swinging hormonal surges arrive without warning and disappear just as sharply as they came on, making your body hard to predict. It’s confusing, and it can make you feel a little alien, as your body stops feeling like yours for a month or so, and instead becomes a sort of ‘project’ with a schedule and a series of incredibly inconvenient appointments.

One of the things I found the most challenging was trying to maintain a ‘normal’ working and social life whilst juggling my new laborious (unpaid) side hustle. Sometimes I’d push through, sometimes I’d cancel, but for the most part I’d just get on with it.

Case in point: a recent industry event.

I was sweating through a dress that cost more than my first car (no exaggeration), and we’re talking cartoonishly sweaty, so much so that it should be funny, but it really wasn’t… when a makeup artist quietly leaned over and handed me something.

‘Put this on your chest... and your legs too,’ she said.

I paused. Chest? Legs? That hadn’t really occurred to me - mostly because, in my mind, deodorant had always been fairly underarm-specific.

Until now.

It was a Dove Whole Body Deodorant, which can be used alongside your regular underarm deodorant. It helps protect against odour wherever you sweat. I’d never seen one before. It wasn’t the glamorous pre-event moment I’d expected, but exactly the confidence shield I needed to get through the night.

It smelled delicious, and I stashed it in my bag with the quiet reverence of someone who has just been handed exactly what they needed at exactly the right moment, and made a mental note never to be without one again. I have to say these are the sort of encounters that restore my faith in humanity and make me realise I’m doing a good job talking about taboo subjects in the public arena. People feel like they can say this sort of stuff to me. GOOD.

We should be open.

We should be comrades.

Sweating is natural.

In fact SO is everything else our bodies do without asking. None of it deserves the embarrassment we've been trained to feel. Our bodies are clever and they're just trying to tell us things, so let’s listen instead of apologising. That's it. That's the whole note.

And ultimately, there is quite a lot we have to manage as women without adding fear and shame.

The reality is that there is a dump truck load of admin that comes with this label. Invisible to most, but constant to us… Period prep, SPF, waxing, lasering, the morning skin routine, the evening formula, the deeply unfair hormonal breakout that revisits at 36 years of age as if to check you haven’t forgotten your roots.

And then there’s the tactical layer… less glamour, more necessity. The mental calculations over what might show, cling, crease or betray you. The running mental inventory of your bag at all times, the way you instinctively clock the nearest bathroom the moment you walk into any room (anyone else??), the knowledge of exactly where you are in your cycle, always running quietly in the background. Not because you checked. Just because you know. WE HAVE TO KNOW. Well, I definitely need to know, given all my ongoing issues.

And it’s nuts that from the moment we hit puberty, there is an expectation. We must look, sound, and smell a certain way, while keeping it together as everything is in flux. This can feel more exhausting than the cliché 5 am wake-up call or the unfathomable brain fog that hits in your mid-30s. Yet we rarely talk about it.

Men’s hormone levels level out around 21. Women’s lives are a relay race that never really stop: puberty → periods → postpartum → menopause, with expectation at every baton pass.

And for those of us going through fertility treatment, the admin doesn’t just double. It multiplies. The biology is genuinely extraordinary, but it’s also completely at odds with the demands of being a functioning person in the 21st century.

And inevitably, this admin can slip down the priority list in the push and pull of parenting.

There we are, religiously moisturising and slathering our kids in sunscreen (not always a joy), while simultaneously hurtling out of the house for the school run without mascara, in the wrong bra, and halfway to the car in our slippers before realising we do, in fact, need proper shoes.

Which is why, when you’re sat on the bathroom floor with a needle you’ve had to become entirely blasé about, you start thinking about what to use, what to ditch, and you start reading labels you’d previously ignored, questioning things you’d reached for on autopilot for years. I find that when my body is already under pressure, I become much more protective about what else I add to the load. Not just because of time pressures, but because of what is good for me. My products star to play survival-of-the-fittest.

Plus…something about becoming a mother makes you look at your child in a funny kind of way. I feel this overwhelming need to wrap Leo in the gentlest version of everything. I’ve become more mindful of what I put on his skin and am suddenly thinking twice about products I used to reach for.

Take lavender, for example. It’s been used in baby products for generations for a reason. It’s calming, natural, and familiar. I’ve strangely found myself returning to ingredients like that… things that feel as though they’ve come from a garden rather than a laboratory. Scents our grandmothers would recognise. Funnily enough, I just planted a whole heap in our garden, so I can cut it, dry it, and put it in our laundry and funny things like our pant drawers.

Which is exactly why I love what Dove has been doing. Most deodorants from the 80s and 90s were loaded with aluminium, parabens, and synthetic chemicals we now know can disrupt hormones, and nobody blinked. The advertising showed women gliding through perfect lives as though the product’s only purpose was to make them acceptable to everyone around them. Nobody asked what was in the can. We just accepted it, the way we accepted so much else. The good news is that women are quietly staging a revolt… the aluminium-free deodorant market is predicted to double in size by 2035, which tells you everything you need to know about how many of us have decided we deserve better.

And Dove Whole Body Deodorant is part of that shift.

Aluminium-free, with Vitamin B3 to nourish the skin, and available in cream and stick formats, both dermatologically and gynaecologically tested, it’s one of those products that seem to genuinely understand what women’s bodies actually need.

My friend Hum travels everywhere with the cream version in her handbag like an impeccably prepared womanhood scout, and whilst I always thought that was slightly excessive and a bit weird, I now get it entirely.

It comes in 3 scents.

It also comes in 3 forms: spray, stick, and cream.

She always carries the Sea Mist and Peony scent.

The Lavender and Chamomile is, predictably, my favourite and it means one less thing to think about at a time when my brain already feels extremely full (which is right now).

As women, we deserve products built around the reality of our bodies and our busy lives: The woman injecting herself with hormones. The woman who smells different and is doing her best anyway. The woman who just wants something that feels like her grandmother’s bathroom and asks nothing more of her than that.

My body is doing something enormous, strange, and hopeful right now. The least I can do is meet it with a little care. I don’t think it’s asking for the moon to turn up smelling like lavender and chamomile instead of hours-old sweat.

With love and honesty always,

Louise x

Shop Dove Whole Body online at selected retailers

Also, as Ryan becomes an uncle for the fifth time, he opens up about the complex reality of holding multiple emotions at once. While celebrating a joyful family milestone, he reflects on how moments like these can also stir memories and feelings from the past of their own difficulties with fertility. This leads to a thoughtful conversation about comparison, gratitude, and how two seemingly conflicting emotions can exist side by side.

And we also get into a little domestic debate as Louise enters her DIY era, sparking whether building work is a blue or pink job.

🗓 New episodes every Wednesday

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Before we get into it, a small note. I know this day isn’t straightforward for everyone. Some of you are missing your dads. Some of you have complicated ones. Some of you are longing to see your partner become one, or to become a parent yourself, and a calendar full of #girldad content can feel like a lot. If that’s you, I see you. Skip this one entirely if you need to. It’ll still be here.

For everyone else, I’ve done the legwork. I’ve raided my own house, Ryan’s wishlist, and my dad’s vague mutterings to bring you a guide organised by dad type, because in my experience men don’t shop by category, they shop by personality. Prices range from pocket money to “we need to talk”.

The dad who thinks he’s a pitmaster

This is Ryan. The man owns a Japanese knife collection he treats with more reverence than most family heirlooms. Come Summer, he develops opinions about charcoal.

The Big Green Egg is the holy grail here. Yes, it’s an INVESTMENT. Capital letters necessary. But consider this: he cooks, you eat. It’s basically a gift for you. Ahaha. For something less terrifying, the Le Creuset outdoor cast iron skillet does the heavy lifting without the heavy price tag, and the Yeti cool box is one of those things I can personally vouch for. Ours has been dragged to more places than our luggage and it still looks new.

Finishing touches: the brass salt and pepper mill set from Hudson Home. We have these. They live on the kitchen counter and they make me happy every single day, which is more than I can say for most kitchen objects. And the Fieldbar drinks box cooler is for the dad who wants his beers cold and his accessories chic. Niche, but they exist.

The dad who has entered his wellness era

Also Ryan. Obviously Ryan. The ice bath obsession is real and it is loud.

The Lumi recovery pod is the gateway drug. Portable, insulated, and significantly cheaper than the cold plunge tubs he’s been showing you reels of. Pair with the Loop Switch 2 if he’s the type who likes to track his recovery (read: announce his recovery), and the Nike dumbbell for home sessions.The Theragun Relief massage gun is the one he'll claim he doesn't need and then never put down The Smeg insulated bottle keeps water cold for hours and looks good doing it, and the Yeti Trailhead chair is for when the wellness dad needs to sit down, which, despite everything, he does.

Ryan recently told me on the podcast that there are thermostat people and thermometer people. Ones who set the temperature and ones who just report it. I’d argue the ice bath dad is both. Constantly.

The dad who wants to smell expensive

My personal favourite category because I get to share the things I actually buy.

Creed Aventus is the one. I can vouch. It’s the smell of a man who has his life together, even if he doesn’t. Tom Ford Oud Wood is the moodier alternative, and Le Labo Another 13 is for the dad who pretends he doesn’t care about fragrance but absolutely does.

For the bathroom: the Loewe Tomato Leaves liquid soap. I am evangelical about this one. It smells like a greenhouse in August and it has converted every guest who’s washed their hands in our house. The cannabis candle from Space NK sounds alarming and smells incredible, promise. And the John Lewis teardrop electric diffuser is the low effort route to a house that smells considered.

Bonus points: the Truefitt & Hill razor and brush stand from Fortnum’s, for the dad who treats shaving like a ceremony.

The dad who potters

Every family has one. Mine included. The dad who disappears into the garden for four hours and returns with three tomatoes and enormous satisfaction.

The Sowvital secateurs and the little yellow watering can are genuinely beautiful objects, which feels like a strange thing to say about gardening tools but here we are. The Victorinox pocket knife is a classic for a reason, and a respectful nod to the knife enthusiasts among us. And the Architectural Digest book is for the pottering dad who potters indoors, mostly around the coffee table.

The dad who insists he wants nothing

He’s lying, but fine. We work with what we have.

The Tekla striped robe is the upgrade he’d never buy himself, which is the entire point of gifting. The Adidas Samba 62 suede trainers are the easiest style win there is. Even the most fashion-resistant dad can't argue with a Samba.Arket’s woven boxers are the elevated version of the thing he actually needs. The TM Lewin rugby shirt is dad fashion at its most reliable. The Primark mule slippers are proof this guide really does cover every budget. And the cricket bat photo frame from Not On The High Street is the sentimental one. Stick a photo of the kids in it and watch the man who wants nothing go quiet.

And the one that’s really for everyone…

The De’Longhi La Specialista Arte Evo. Our coffee machine. Used every single morning in this house, fought over occasionally. It’s the gift that keeps on giving because, like the Big Green Egg, it mysteriously benefits the whole household. Funny how my favourite presents for Ryan always seem to work that way.

Happy Father’s Day to the dads, the granddads, the stepdads, the dads in waiting and the father figures. You’re celebrated today and, in this house at least, every day.

Love, L x

What I feel I can say (because the evidence is substantiated) is that by the time a woman reaches her mid-30s (ME), her monthly chance of conceiving naturally has already dropped to around 15-20%. By 40, it falls to roughly 5% per cycle. The risk of chromosomally abnormal eggs increases significantly after 35 - which is exactly why egg quality, not just quantity, becomes the conversation worth having.

I went into my first IVF round feeling cautiously optimistic. I had a strong ovarian reserve. With a relatively high AMH for my age range, I assumed that would translate into good results. But I got zero euploid embryos. ZERO. That experience sent me deep into research… podcasts, studies, forums, books and conversations with specialists to try to understand what I could actually do to improve my chances in the next round. Honestly, I wish a fertility specialist had told me some of the data in the research papers before I started my first cycle or my second OR my third, but eventually I figured it out for myself, and this is some of what I landed on. It’s by no means exhaustive, and there are copious research studies being announced every day if you care to turn on Google Alerts for fertility; Anyway, I guess I’m sharing this so you can investigate things for yourself before forking out 10’s of thousands of pounds for your first cycle.

1. CoQ10 Ubiquinone (100mg) Shop Life Extension →

This is the one with the most research behind it. CoQ10 supports mitochondrial energy production inside the egg - and eggs need enormous amounts of energy to mature and fertilise properly. Studies have shown that women who supplemented with CoQ10 before IVF had more eggs retrieved, higher fertilisation rates, and a greater number of high-quality embryos. It appears to be most beneficial for women over 35 or those with diminished ovarian reserve. The recommendation is to start at least 60-90 days before a cycle, since eggs take around 90 days to mature. I take the ubiquinone form from Life Extension.

2. NAC (N-Acetyl Cysteine, 600mg) Shop Solgar →

NAC is a precursor to glutathione - one of the body’s most powerful antioxidants… and it works by reducing oxidative stress on the eggs. In one study, women who took NAC before IVF had a significantly higher pregnancy rate (74% versus 50% in the placebo group). It has also been linked to improved embryo quality and better ovarian response. I take 600mg from Solgar, which is the dose most commonly used in research. It’s one of the more understated supplements on this list and one I’d recommend looking into if you haven’t already.

3. Alpha-Lipoic Acid (650mg) Shop ALA →

A powerful antioxidant that works in both water and fat-soluble environments in the body - which makes it unusually versatile. A 2020 pilot trial found that ALA combined with folate improved egg and embryo quality compared to folate alone, with pregnancies and live births occurring only in the group taking ALA. It has also been shown to protect eggs from oxidative DNA damage. I take 650mg from Solgar.

4. Quercetin (500mg) Shop New Leaf →

A flavonoid found naturally in fruits and vegetables, quercetin has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It helps protect reproductive cells from oxidative damage. It also supports hormone balance and has been shown to modulate oestrogen activity, which felt particularly relevant for me given everything I’ve learned about my own hormone levels. I take 500mg from New Leaf 180 vegan capsules, made in the UK.

5. L-Carnitine Complex Shop Nutravita →

L-carnitine plays a role in energy production in the mitochondria and helps reduce oxidative stress in reproductive cells. Studies have linked it to improved embryo quality and better outcomes in IVF cycles. I was taking the Nutravita Sport complex before my last cycle, which also contains Vitamin D3, B vitamins and biotin, so it’s doing a few jobs at once, although I don’t think my body responds particularly well to high doses of B6 because I can get a bit twitchy so i’m going to switch to pure L-carnitine now.

6. Folate / Metafolin (400mcg) Shop Solgar →

This one is non-negotiable for anyone trying to conceive. Folate (specifically Metafolin, which is the methylated, active form) supports healthy cell division, reduces the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, and is essential in early pregnancy. I specifically take methylfolate rather than folic acid because it bypasses a conversion step in the body - particularly important if you have an MTHFR gene variant (which affects how efficiently the body processes folate). Solgar’s Metafolin is 400mcg, which is the standard recommended dose.

7. Vitamin D3 with K2 Shop Better You →

Studies have found that women with sufficient Vitamin D levels have higher pregnancy rates in IVF. D3 is the active form, and pairing it with K2 helps direct calcium to the bones rather than soft tissue… so the two work better together than either does alone. Most of us in the UK are deficient, especially over winter, so this feels like a baseline rather than a bonus.

8. Butyrate Shop Amp Biotic →

This is the one people ask me about most, because it’s less well known. Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid that feeds the cells lining the gut wall, strengthening the gut barrier and reducing toxins circulating in the bloodstream. Elevated toxins in the blood are directly linked to reduced egg quality and impaired embryo development. A healthy gut genuinely matters for fertility…and butyrate is one of the most direct ways to support it. This one feels quite personal to me with my Inflammatory bowel disease so make sure to do your own research.

9. Melatonin (3mg)

Worth noting upfront: melatonin is not available over the counter in the UK and requires a prescription. I’d recommend speaking to your doctor or fertility specialist about this one specifically. The latest research is promising though… melatonin reduces oxidative stress in the ovaries and has been shown to increase the number of eggs collected, the number of mature eggs, and the number of high-quality embryos in IVF. Many clinics prescribe a short course of 3mg at bedtime in the weeks before egg retrieval. I did it this time round, and I managed to get 5 euploid embryos, although I’m sure much like anything it was a combination of factors.

10. AG1 Greens Powder Shop AG1 →

I take AG1 as my daily greens powder… it contains a comprehensive blend of probiotics, prebiotics, vitamins, minerals and adaptogens. Given everything I’ve learned about the gut-fertility connection, having a reliable, consistent source of gut support feels important. It’s not cheap, but it replaces many individual supplements, and I notice the difference when I skip it. It does contain many of the properties included above, such as Coenzyme Q10 in its formula.

I want to be clear that none of this is a magic fix, and I say that as someone who has had rounds that didn’t work despite doing all of this. But the research is there, the logic makes sense, and after my first round I felt strongly that I wanted to give my eggs every possible advantage going into the next one. If you’re in a similar position, I hope this gives you somewhere to start.

As always - talk to your doctor before starting anything new. But also ask questions, do your own research, and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Nobody is going to do that part for you.

With love, and a very organised pill box…

Louise Thompson x

Oh and if you click on the link below it will take you to part of my amazon storefront and you can shop all the products in one go there.

article includes affiliate links

I’ve still got so many that have never seen the light of day. They’re saved in captions, disappearing Insta stories, half-written blog posts, screenshots buried somewhere in my camera roll, and voice notes sent to friends saying, ‘What was that thing you cooked again?’ usually at 6.17 pm when everyone is standing in front of an open fridge, hoping inspiration might arrive between the sriracha and the slightly judgemental-looking courgette (adios to those high protein turkey mince courgette boats, waaaaa).

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Although my content looks a little different now, some things never change… I still love cooking with ease !!!! I like reliability, but I refuse to make anything boring. I lean into comfort food but always add colour because I can’t bear an all-beige tablescape. I like textures and crunch. I eat well, but I also eat a lot of variety, and I try to incorporate as much as possible into my diet (not always easy with my naughty autoimmune disease: Ulcerative Colitis). I’m sure many of you agree with me on some of those sentiments above, so I thought I’d share some of the recipes I return to THE MOST, in case you might enjoy them at home on your table too.

And the good news for you - nearly everything I make has become a one-pan meal. Probably because I’m always looking for a quick midweek dinner, comfort food following a slightly chaotic or ‘overachieving’ day, or i’m uncomfortable and overstimulated, in which case I like making something that I’m so familiar with I can move on autopilot - those ones have stopped feeling like recipes altogether.

So see this substack series as a quiet corner of one-pan recipes, saved so they’re always easy to find. Many of them are cooked in the same HexClad Deep Saute Pan I reach for whenver I want to make a big mess because it’s genuinely that good. I love something I can fry in and then concoct a naughty sauce in too.

I also use the HexClad knives, Zwilling knives from our knife block or my friends’ knives at Katto for pretty much everything; Knives are definitely an investment, but they cut through everything with ease and make prep feel quick and effortless. It adds to the joy of cooking imho.

1. Red Thai Noodle Soup (Vegetarian Friendly)

This is one of those bowls of food that makes you feel instantly better.
Warm, spicy, creamy, slurpable and somehow still light enough that you don’t feel weighed down afterwards.

I make this a lot in Dec/Jan/Feb, but it transcends nicely into Spring and Summer too… especially when I want something comforting but plant-based (you can use meat or veg gyozas). It’s one of those recipes that feels far more impressive than the effort involved, which I’m always here for.

Perfect for cold evenings, quiet lunches, or when you just want to sit on the sofa with a really good bowl of food. Tip: Always keep frozen itsu gyozas in the house in case of emergency house guests.

You will need:

• Gyozas of your choice

• Coconut milk

• Soy sauce

• Pepper

• Vermicelli noodles

• Bok choy

• Onion

• Garlic

• Sesame oil

• Fresh chilli

• Red Thai curry paste

• Olive oil

• Salt

• Vegetable stock cubes

• Spring onions
  

Here’s how it comes together:

1. Start off with your gyozas and pop them in your pan with some hot oil. Add some water, pop your lid on, and cook for 10 minutes.

2. Next, chop up your veggies. You need some fresh chilli, spring onions, 1 white onion and some fresh garlic.

3. Check on your gyozas, make sure they’re piping hot and crispy and pop them onto a side plate. Whilst they are resting, prepare your pak choi, pop them into some hot oil in the pan, add some salt and turn them over until they are soft and golden.

4. Then add some oil to the pan and add your garlic and onions, cooking until golden brown. Add in your red Thai curry paste, along with the coconut milk, stirring as you go. Add in a vegetable stock cube, a pinch of salt and some ground black pepper, sesame oil and some soy sauce and let that sit

5. Add your vermicelli noodles and 1 cup of water to the soup, then pop the lid on and let it simmer for 10 minutes.   

6. Then serve up. I like to add the noodles first, then the gyozas and pak choi. Add your spring onion, chilli, shichimi, and coriander for garnish, and enjoy!!  

2. Mexican Beef Skillet

This is ANOTHER one of my recipes I make when I want maximum comfort for minimum effort, a ratio I’m increasingly committed to in all areas of life. My motto for this year is WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER.

It’s hearty, satisfying, and happens to make excellent leftovers, which means tomorrow’s lunch is already sorted before you’ve even finished dinner. Ps. I love this bowl from the Bordallo Pinheiro Green Cabbage collection. We have lots of their bits in our kitchen and was surprised to see them on amazon. The chip-and-dip one is SO EXTRA.

You’ll need

• Minced beef

• Long-grain white rice

• White onion

• Garlic

• Peppers

• Sweetcorn

• Black beans

• Taco seasoning

• Olive oil

• Salt and pepper

• Lactose-free cheese

• Avocados

• Limes

Here’s how it comes together:

1. Chop peppers, onions and garlic.

2. Fry the onions and peppers in oil.

3. Add taco seasoning.

4. Add beef.

5. Add beef stock.

6. Add rice.

7. Add black beans.

8. Add sweet corn.

9. Leave for 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked.

10. Grate cheese on top and leave to melt.

11. Garnish with avocado, coriander, lime, salt and pepper.

12. Serve with spicy tortilla crisps and homemade guacamole.

EASY PEASY PUDDING AND PIE. THANK ME LATER.

3. Pull Apart Chicken Tacos

These were genuinely some of the most delicious tacos I’ve ever made, and it’s one of those recipes I still think about on a weekly basis… bare in mind I make a lot of tacos. I’m big into chicken, fish, steak tacos, enchiladas, and fajitas. I hate sandwiches but I love a boujee, greasy wrap. Easy, comforting and full of flavour. I promise this is the kind of meal you’ll make once and immediately know you’ll come back to.

Right so I know there are two pans in the video (but that was purely for filming). In real life, this is very much a one-pan situation. Just transfer your cooked chicken to a bowl, then fry your tortillas in the leftover sauce (full recipe below). It’s actually tastier that way because all the chicken juices and marinade soak straight into the tortillas.

You’ll need

• Chicken thighs or breasts

• Tortillas (flour or corn — whatever you prefer)

• Olive oil

• Garlic

• Lime

• Paprika

• Cumin

• Cajun seasoning (or chilli powder)

• Salt and pepper

• Avocado

• Fresh coriander

• Red onion or spring onions

• Yoghurt or sour cream (dairy-free if needed)

Here’s how it comes together:

1. Marinate your chicken with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cumin, paprika, mixed herbs and cinnamon (yep, bit of a wildcard), and a load of other goodies to really pack in that flavour. Oh, and don’t forget a cheeky splash of oil to bring it all together and give it a good marinating cause no one likes unseasoned chicken!

2. Set that aside and chop your peppers and onions, then throw them into your marinated chicken and give it a good old mix.

3. Fry your chicken with a splash of oil in the pan. Add some oil to the pan, to brown off the chicken I added a teeny bit of sugar to my chicken and let them simmer for 10 mins.

4. In the meantime, grate some cheese of your choice; I used Arla's lactose-free cheddar cheese. ⁣

5. Check back in on your chicken and pop it to the side. I swapped pans to my Hexclad Deep Saute Pan, popped your chicken and veggies into the pan with some chopped tomatoes, chicken stock, added in some tomato paste, mixed chicken seasoning and let that simmer for 30 minutes. ⁣

6. Whilst that is cooking, it’s SALSA time. Chop up some avo, lime, tomatoes, red onion, and cucumber, then pop it into a bowl with some salt and pepper. This is a perfect side to pair with the pulled chicken tacos. ⁣

7. Once your chicken is cooked, start to pull your succulent chicken apart, add some BBQ and buffalo sauce for some vavavoom.⁣

8. Add your mini tortilla to the mix, then add it to your pan over medium heat, along with your pulled chicken and some cheese, and give it a flip. Guys trust me these are UNREAL.⁣

9. Now for the final step… add some chopped coriander and lime. And serve these bad boys up. I paired mine with some guac, homemade salsa and sour cream and chives for that extra bit of yumminess. ⁣

I cook most days, usually with Leo under my feet and Ryan hovering nearby, and these are the meals that naturally come out of that. Simple, comforting food that doesn’t ask too much and still feels good to make.

I hope that you try them out and love them as much as I do.

Ciao. Please do share your re-creations because it really tickles me.
L x

They also discuss a recent BBC Panorama documentary on failures in maternity care that left a lasting impression on them both. The conversation prompts a deeply personal reflection on the trauma they've experienced individually, and the lasting impact those experiences continue to have on their lives and perspectives today.

Plus, they unpack the rise of the "tradwife" movement and question whether influencers such as Nara Smith are simply showcasing a lifestyle choice or promoting a narrative that risks undermining decades of progress for women. As the trend continues to gain popularity online, Louise and Ryan explore the messages the younger generation may be absorbing from the content they consume every day.

To learn more about surrogacy you can listen to Louise's spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3qgrqRti3zcQUGAplzZ8Hn?si=hes16EoRSZWrw6pmmKjzIQ

🗓 New episodes every Wednesday

📩 We’ve got a NEW email!

Want to get involved? Email HSSS@srproductions.co.uk or slide straight into our DMs @hesaid.shesaid.podcast.

We want it all. Your dilemmas, questions, voice notes, stories and opinions. If it’s pod-related, we’re listening.

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Ryan discusses why sport matters far beyond the game itself, particularly for men, and how major events like the World Cup can create powerful opportunities for connection, belonging and conversation.

Plus, a listener question about the best advice they've ever been given leads to one of their most honest discussions yet, as Louise shares the complex emotions she's experiencing while facing the possibility that her family may be complete.

🗓 New episodes every Wednesday

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Want to get involved? Email HSSS@srproductions.co.uk or slide straight into our DMs @hesaid.shesaid.podcast.

We want it all. Your dilemmas, questions, voice notes, stories and opinions. If it’s pod-related, we’re listening.

🩵 Follow us everywhere

 Instagram | TikTok | Youtube @hesaid.shesaid.podcast

And of course… don’t forget to subscribe, follow, rate and review.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.