Motherhood doesn’t always arrive in the way you imagine. Sometimes it begins with loss, waiting, difficult decisions, and a quiet reckoning with what you thought the future would look like.

We’re so lucky to have the wonderful Becky Kearns (Defining Mum) with us for this conversation. With honesty and calm reflection, she shares what it can feel like when fertility doesn’t follow the expected path, and how identity can shift in the process. This is a conversation rooted in lived experience. The grief, the resilience, and the moments of clarity that come when you begin to redefine what becoming a parent means for you.

If you’ve ever felt isolated by infertility, uncertain about alternative paths to parenthood, or simply curious to understand experiences rarely spoken about openly, this episode offers reassurance and perspective. Join us for a thoughtful, human listen.

Links: ⁠

https://www.instagram.com/definingmum/⁠ ⁠

https://definingmum.com/⁠ ⁠

https://fertilitymattersatwork.com/

Early pregnancy can feel confusing, intense and far longer than anyone warns you about. From that first positive test to the weeks of waiting, Googling and second-guessing everything your body does - it’s a lot.

In this episode, Between 2 Ovaries takes an honest, steady look at those early weeks. We talk about what’s happening behind the scenes before anything can be seen on a scan, why symptoms can feel so overwhelming so early on, and how to tell the difference between what’s common, what’s normal, and what deserves checking out.

This isn’t about perfect pregnancies or rigid rules. It’s about context, reassurance and cutting through the myths that make early pregnancy more stressful than it needs to be. Whether you’re newly pregnant, trying to conceive, or supporting someone who is, this is a calm, evidence-led conversation designed to help you feel a little less alone.

Listen when you’re ready, take a breath, and remember - early pregnancy doesn’t come with one “right” experience.

Links:

⁠⁠https://www.nhs.uk/best-start-in-life/pregnancy/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/week-by-week/⁠

We talk a lot about hormones, periods, pregnancy and menopause, but hardly ever about what they’re doing to our mouths. And yet women experience oral health very differently to men, across every stage of life.

In this episode, we’re joined by dentist and researcher Janine Tazdi-Doughty to unpack why women can brush better, floss more, and still end up with worse oral health outcomes. We explore how hormonal shifts affect gums, teeth and saliva, why pregnancy and menopause can be turning points for oral health, and how pain conditions of the jaw and mouth disproportionately affect women.

We also zoom out to look at the bigger picture: stigma, inequality, access to care, and why certain groups of women face far greater risks, from single mothers and carers to survivors of abuse, sex workers, and LGBTQ+ communities. Along the way, we tackle myths, social media trends, dental tourism, and the things women are told to just “put up with”.

If you’ve ever wondered why no one warned you about bleeding gums, dry mouth, jaw pain, or why oral health is so rarely included in conversations about women’s bodies - this episode is for you.

Further reading & listening:

NHS – Oral health: ⁠https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-teeth-and-gums/⁠

NHS – Pregnancy and dental care: ⁠https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping-well/teeth-and-gums/⁠

NIHR – Oral and dental health research: ⁠https://www.nihr.ac.uk/explore-nihr/specialties/oral-and-dental-health.htm⁠

Find Janine:

Crown Bank Dental – ⁠www.crownbankdental.co.uk⁠

Instagram – ⁠https://www.instagram.com/doughty_janine/⁠