In this episode in our new series, my guest (who wishes to remain anonymous) tells us her 'story' about a situation that her family found themselves in in 2017 when her son was just 3 months old.

My guest took her 3-month old son to the GP as he had a mark on his back that she'd not seen before. Medical professionals became concerned as it looked like a bruise, and a Section 47 Enquiry (Child protection assessment) was instigated.

The family underwent an incredibly challenging time, before it was discovered that baby actually had a birthmark. Congenital Dermal Melanocytosis (formerly called a Mongolian Blue Spot) is often mistaken for a bruise, leaving families vulnerable to accusations of harm.

My guest wants to raise awareness of this misdiagnosis, encourage parents to do their own research and ask questions when faced with difficult health or social care situations, and crucially, ask health professionals to always remain curious, non-judgemental and collaborative when working with families.

In this episode I am joined by Emma Benyon, Mum, and self care & motherhood coach and educator.

We open up the conversation about self care and the guilt we often feel around it. Emma offers some fantastic practical tips on how to fit self care in and how it shouldn't be something that feels pressured, but something that 'lights us up' and makes us feel good.

Can't remember what even lights you up? Don't worry- Emma has some advice for that too!

We cover:

• What self care actually is,
• How to make time for yourself (and why it's not selfish to put you first!)
• Examples of ways we can practice self care- Is there a quick fix?
• What Emma would say to anyone listening who doesn't know where to start with self care,
• Emma's advice for anyone still 'sat on the fence' about implementing self care into their routine.

We also talk ice creams (maybe not the kind you're thinking of) and permission!

You can find Emma here:

Motherhood Coach for Busy Mums | Self Care Expert | Emma Benyon (@emmabenyon.coach) • Instagram photos and videos

Welcome — Emma Benyon Coaching

Thank you to Stingrays 315 swim school for sponsoring this episode.

In this episode I am joined by Dr Katy Hill, a clinical psychologist who specialises in parental mental health with a particular interest in parental stress and burn out. She is also a Mum of 3.

Katy reassures us that it's very normal to feel burn out and shares her expansive knowledge with us from a very realistic point of view.

We cover:

• What is burn out?
• How normal is it to feel burn out?
• How do we know if it's burn out or depression?
• Katy's thoughts on how a bubble bath won't help.
• What are things we can do to help ourselves with burn out?
• Things that people say that aren't helpful.

You can find Dr Katy here:

Dr Katy Hill | Clinical Psychologist | Parental Stress & Burnout (@theparentalstresspsychologist) • Instagram photos and videos

Links - Dr Katy Hill - Clinical Psychologist

Thank you to Stingrays 315 swim school for sponsoring this episode.