Dr Punam Krishan: Why mums are last on our own list, the maternal health gap and healing after breast cancer

My guest today is Dr Punam Krishan - GP, author, BBC TV regular and one of the most passionate advocates for maternal health in the UK. Punam's new book, The Motherload, explores the hidden, long-term health costs of pregnancy and birth that the medical system consistently fails to address, and makes the case that mums deserve far better than the care we're currently getting.Punam recorded this episode on her 43rd birthday, just months after finishing treatment for breast cancer. She talks with me about what a diagnosis like that actually does to you and what it means to come out the other side with a completely different relationship with your own body.We also chat about:The maternal health gap - why women's health has been under-researched for decades, and why mothers are the most overlooked group within an already overlooked systemWhy birth trauma doesn't end when you leave the hospital - and how symptoms your body has been carrying for 20 or 30 years can suddenly surface in perimenopauseWhat proper postnatal care should actually look like - and why a six-minute GP appointment that focuses mostly on the baby isn't itThe motherhood health penalty: how we've normalised suffering as just part of the job, and what that costs us long-termWhy your kids need to see you rest, and how to explain it to them in a way that actually landsWhat she said to herself carrying her suitcase up the steps at a train station that will make you stop and thinkFollow Punam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpunamkrishan/?hl=enBuy The Motherload: https://amzn.to/4vugliSIf you enjoyed this episode then please leave a rating or review - and you can follow the podcast to ensure you don't miss future episodes. Thank you!Not Another Mummy Podcast is brought to you by me, journalist and author Alison Perry. I'm a mum of three and I love interviewing people about parenthood and confidence on the podcast. You can check out my other episodes and you can come chat to me on Instagram: @iamalisonperry or on Threads: @iamalisonperry. You can buy my book OMG It's Twins now.Music: Epidemic Sound Artwork: Eleanor BowmerSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/notanothermummy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.