A BBC Radio 4 podcast is a new look at the beginnings of life, telling the story of a child from fertilisation to first birthday through the lens of society, history and science.
Child is hosted by presenter and producer India Rakusen, who has met doctors, nurses, cell biologists, psychologists, psychotherapists, gynaecologists, midwives, and obstetricians, examining unanswered questions about the origins of life.
Topics range from the placenta, maternal brain, and ultrasounds to pivotal moments like discovering pregnancy, understanding the responsibilities of motherhood, and the influences on an unborn baby.
India Rakusen says: “Making Child has been a brilliant, scary, wonderful rollercoaster. It’s a real honour for all of us to be able to open the door on this topic, one that affects so many people and can dramatically change lives.
“There are so many different perspectives and experiences in the podcast, from leading scientists to all the diarists, an old lady who injected frogs with urine and some great eyewitness stories from midwives.
“Hopefully it will be an important reminder of how individual the experience of pregnancy, birth and parenthood really is. Already the reaction has been great, with people moved to tears and messaging us to say thank you. Let’s hope it’s a series that will be there for people for many years to come.”
The first 10 of the 27 episodes of Child are available to listen now, with the remaining 17 released on BBC Sounds from 18 March.
