This is another emotional, incredibly heart warming and, as always, funny as f**ck discussion. Both Gemma and Jess talk openly about their individual IVF journeys, the births, surgery, diagnosis and where they and their children are now.

Both Mums talk frankly about the process of moving through the acceptance of their first children’s early days to deciding to have more children. 

They share wonderful stories about their children’s unique characters and how that plays out between siblings in daily life. 

Guest Biographies

Gemma Sherlock lives in North London with her husband Rohan and two boys, Jasper, aged 7 and Spike, 3. Gemma followed her love of sculptural installations into a Degree in Art History and onto a career in Architecture. Her passion is manipulating existing buildings to create exciting interior spaces. These days, when not running around after the boys you can find Gemma in the Ladies Pond on Hampstead Heath or with a glass in hand nattering somewhere with friends. As a family they spend as much time as they can by the sea at their home in Cornwall.

Gemma says ‘I feel so lucky to have found myself amongst an indomitable group of people parenting children with additional needs and disabilities. Together we laugh, cry and muddle-through. We hope our Podcast will let others know they are not alone’.

Jess Honeyball is mum to 5 year old twins Freddie & Dylan, and 2 year old Leo. Jess lives in Crouch End, London with her husband Dan and kittens Margot & Jerry. Jess says ‘at least I have one female on my team, even if feline…’

'I adore storytelling, to my children and for a living. I work as a Producer and Director in non scripted television, and am kind of making it work juggling being a mum and working full time. My way of releasing tension (there’s a lot!) is through bootcamp and barre. My parents were musicians, so playing and seeing my boys respond to music is one of my greatest joys! I look forward to the days that they can play instruments themselves. I feel extremely lucky to be so plugged in to Reach, the charity for children and families with upper limb difference. For Freddie, seeing and playing with other children who look like him, and continue to push and smash the boundaries of what’s expected is magical and vital.'

Content Warnings 

IVF Stories 

Miscarriage 

New-born Brain haemorrhage and surgery 

Drug resistant epilepsy 

Birth stories 

Lots of tears 

Resources

Sinead Burke’s Book – Break the Mould

https://www.sinead-burke.com/break-the-mould

Hydrocephalus

www.shinecharity.org.uk/hydrocephalus/hydrocephalus

Cerebral Palsy

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cerebral-palsy/

Epilepsy

www.youngepilepsy.org.uk

ESES Syndrome

https://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/syndromes/electrical-status-epilepticus-during-slow-wave-sleep-esess

Reach 

https://reach.org.uk/

Poland syndrome 

https://pip-uk.org/

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Episode ID: 1000576365742

GUID: 62f416d6c8c50f001335ea68

Release Date: 17/08/2022, 12:46:43