Child

Introducing Child

In this new look at the beginnings of life we tell the story of a child from fertilisation to first birthday through the lens of society, history, and science.

1. The Dance Begins

After that very first moment, when sperm meets egg - the life of a human begins to unfold. But how does that one cell begin to divide and differentiate into the billions of complex parts of a human being. How much do those very first cells know? India Rakusen heads to a lab in Cambridge to look at a human embryo and speaks to leading cell biologist Magdelana Zernika-Goetz. And a baby isn’t a baby without the people and the world around it. We speak to Child psychologist Graham Music and historian Elinor Cleghorn about how intertwined we are with our world, and the instant effects on the mother.Presented by India Rakusen. Producer: Ellie Sans. Series Producer: Ellie Sans. Executive Producer: Suzy Grant. Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts. Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon. Mix and Mastering by Olga Reed. A Listen production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

2. Source of Life

All around the world, the placenta is revered in rituals - but in many places it’s mainly seen as medical waste. What is this incredible organ, who does it belong to and how does it feed, grow and protect a baby? India Rakusen speaks to placenta expert Margherita Turco, before diving into the world of what the foetus is really protected from. When you become pregnant there’s a long list of things you apparently should and shouldn’t consume, but how much information are we given and what’s being left out? Philosopher Quill Kukla explains.Presented by India Rakusen. Producer: Ellie Sans. Executive Producer: Suzy Grant. Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts. Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon. Mix and Mastering by Olga Reed. A Listen production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

3. The Secret Within

Pregnancy tests are so easy to take at home, but that wasn’t always the case. In this episode, India examines the moment of finding out you’re pregnant and what to do with that knowledge. Should we tell, or wait 12 weeks? And why wait 12 weeks when the first trimester can be so hard? We meet our first pregnancy hormone HCG, and hear from Hetal Bopodra who experienced extreme sickness during three pregnancies. India also speaks to Joeli Brearley from Pregnant Then Screwed about the “motherhood penalty” and the sometimes thorny issue of telling work you’re pregnant.Presented by India Rakusen. Producer: Georgia Arundell. Series producer: Ellie Sans. Executive producer: Suzy Grant. Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts. Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon. Mix and Mastering by Charlie Brandon-King. A Listen production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds

4. Every Heartbeat

Ultrasound scans are an amazing window into a previously utterly mysterious world. Having one can bring a whirlwind of emotions, but they also provide a lot of important information for midwives, doctors and parents. After going for her own 12 week scan, India speaks to Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Foetal Medicine and Vice President at The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, as well as historian and medical writer Randi Hutter Epstein, about the role ultrasounds play in care. But is there a side to them we are perhaps not exploring? Research midwife Dr Nancy Stone shares her findings on how multiple scans can impact the connection between a mother and the foetus. Presented by India Rakusen. Producer: Georgia Arundell. Series producer: Ellie Sans. Executive producer: Suzy Grant. Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts. Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon. Mix and Mastering by Charlie Brandon-King.A Listen production for BBC Radio 4 and BBC Sounds