Thanks. It was fun to do and Dónal was a great guest.

Great episode!!!

Many thanks. Looking forward to recording them!

Loved listening to the first episode. Look forward to hearing the future ones 🤩

I totally agree with you and as universal statements Emily’s views can’t be true always. However, the number of families like hers experiencing less than ideal situations doesn’t invalidate her views.

It’s an assumption for Emily to state there was no appreciation of trauma with the professionals involved in investigating a disclosure. Professionals really are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Not all disclosures are unsubstantiated and that needs to be what is centered.

Aw thanks. The credit goes to Angela and the other mums. All we have to do is listen and press record.

Thank you guys for another amazing birth mum podcast. Should have come with a tissue warning, thank you to Angela for sharing her story and that of her children. I’m sorry that she went through. I love the quote “we are not a department, we are a family”.

Hi Diana, thank you for commenting. I’ll be honest I can’t recall the exact details of the conversation but certainly what you say is a true reflection of many mum’s experiences.

I have had to post in stages, so please read from bottom up!

Sorry... Probably illegal. Many weren’t old enough to give legal consent, yet somehow we could be coerced into signing a document with no parent or guardian present. How was any of that acceptable??

/2... We were prevented from picking up our babies. Given drugs to stop us best feeding. What this woman says is an insult to all mothers who lost children to adoption. This happened in NHS hospitals. It was brutal, cruel and outbacks illegal

I can’t let this slide. Many UK mother’s had their children physically taken from them, I know as it happened to me. Many had nowhere near six weeks with their children, some had just a few days...

Lots of good questions. I guess that they’re adopted no check would be required.

Interesting episode. Would have loved to have heard more about the ethical considerations that were weighed up in sharing information with children but not professionals, it came across as motivated to change the children’s ”toxic views”. Also wonder if shared boyfriend has had any criminal records check but not sure how that would happen if a professional agency doesn’t know about him....

Brilliant

Brilliant Robin

Thank you for commenting

Excellent interview and really important story to hear

I totally agree, like you it was a difficult time and clearly for this couple pushed them to their actions. No excuses though. Thanks for commenting. Al

Hello Shaz78, thank you for taking the time to comment. Al here and I’ll not pretend to speak for Pam or Scott. Your experience sound truly traumatic and given what you’ve experienced an apology from the state would seem wholly appropriate. I can’t revise what was said but it’s a conversation that needs to be continued with voices like yours heard. If you ever felt you wanted to have your say on the podcast you’d be welcome. DM if that would be of interest.

This reminded me just how difficult I found things in the early days. And how hard I found to admit that I was struggling. I never got to the point of violence to my children or calling them horrible names but it was sometimes in my head. Looking back we have come on amazingly well.

Please read my comments from the bottom up. Regretfully there is a comment word limit which made it necessary for me to respond in multiple comments instead of one. Thank you for reading.

/continued from previous comment: The nurse had been shocked by practices she observed in nhs maternity wards as a trainee nurse in the 1970’s. For mothers of loss to adoption in the UK, in the 60s, 70s and 80s a government apology is the least they deserve.

/continued from previous comment: Apparently all a government funded court required to approve the adoption of my son was my signature and a justice of the peace as a witness. Duncan Kennedy from BBC recently interviewed a nurse who was shocked at whatobserved

/continued from previous comment: I was advised by a government funded GP and a social worker that my baby would have a better life with a married couple who were on a (government funded) adoption waiting list because they could not have children of their own. On being found sobbing and visibly distressed soon after my sons birth in a government funded nhs hospital I was quickly discharged but not before my signature was obtained on paperwork which I had not had an opportunity to read.

Regarding the discussion around mothers who are seeking a government apology. I’m disappointed but not surprised at the dismissive and Ill informed opinion that a UK government apology is not required. My baby was born in a hospital in Scotland in 1978. He was taken from me straight after birth not by parents or ‘society’ but by members of staff in a government funded nhs hospital. As a pregnant teenager in 1978 I was not offered any support to apply for housing and benefits.

Regarding the discussion around mothers who are seeking a government apology. I’m disappointed but not surprised at the dismissive and Ill informed opinion that a government apology is not required. My baby was born in a hospital in Scotland in 1978. He was taken from me straight after birth not by my parents or ‘society

Thank you!

Well done Al

Thank you for commenting and we’re really happy that you found it helpful. Waiting can be so hard. Good luck.

Oops meant to add my comment to this podcast 🤭 The conversation with James!

Thank you, that was a very enjoyable conversation to listen too. I got a lot out of it. We are awaiting a match but have some similarities in our experience of the process. Loved the photo wall idea and how you were able to get the matching panel date reinstated. Really appreciate your share x

Thank you for taking the time to comment and it’s so encouraging that you’re finding them helpful. We will certainly keep them coming, with the banter!

Thank you so much for your podcasts. I recently came across them and have been binge listening ever since. I am finding them all very useful and full of great insights. I love the banter and stories you share too. I was laughing out loud on the “they are crafty” comment in your matching topic. Looking forward to to listening hear to lots more,

Hiya, firstly thank you for taking the time and commenting. Much appreciated. Yes, we can waffle at times but that’s how we roll, certainly that’s not for everyone but please use the speed up function or forward skip without any guilt.

We like your podcast but wish you would just get on and discuss the topic.

Great share thank you x

Thanks for the clarification.

When I worked in a RAA the surgeries were a way of offering service relatively quickly as waiting lists for pas were huge and demand outstripped capacity. An assessment of need was done to determine what support the family needed this may or may not have resulted in an application being made to the asf