83: Her Health and Happiness with Jenni Russell and guest Kat Kova83: Her Health and Happiness with Jenni Russell and guest Kat Kova
UK Health Radio Podcast
Jenni Russell and guest Kat Kova talk openly about postnatal depression, birth trauma and the emotional crash after pregnancy. Their conversation also touches on grief, support networks and how motherhood reshapes identity and health.
48:59•18 May 2026
Postnatal Depression, Lonely Nights and Finding Support with Kat Kova
Episode Overview
- Postnatal depression can last far beyond the first few weeks and should not be dismissed as simple "baby blues".
- Hormonal changes after birth can cause intense emotional and physical shifts that many women feel unprepared for.
- Perinatal mental health services, therapy and, where needed, medication can provide vital support during the postnatal period.
- Comparing your pregnancy, birth or recovery to others only adds pressure; every woman’s body and journey are different.
- Staying gently active with walking and bodyweight movements can help recovery, but support networks are just as crucial as exercise.
“Maternal suicide is the number one cause of death in women in the postnatal period in the first year after birth.”
How do people cope with the challenges of staying sober and mentally well when life throws in huge hormonal shifts, grief and sleep deprivation? This candid chat from UK Health Radio’s *Her Health and Happiness* zooms in on maternal mental health, with host Jenni Russell talking to coach and mentor Kat Kova about pregnancy, birth and postnatal depression.
Jenni opens up about losing her mum to Alzheimer’s, using a powerful analogy of dementia as a burglar that "keeps returning" to steal memories, words and even a person’s voice. It sets the tone for an honest look at how unprocessed stress, emotions and "years of pushing through" can chip away at women’s health.
Kat then walks through her own journey: a planned pregnancy at 40, severe hyperemesis, a long induced labour that ends in an emergency C‑section, missed skin‑to‑skin contact and breastfeeding struggles. One thing after another didn’t match the birth plan she’d carefully prepared, leaving her with deep guilt and a sense she’d "failed" her daughter. She describes coming home, being physically battered, crying constantly and being told it was just "baby blues". Months later the tears and fear hadn’t lifted.
Maternal suicide being "the number one cause of death in women in the postnatal period" hits hard, and Kat credits perinatal mental health services, therapy and finally medication as a temporary "crutch" that helped her through an "extremely lonely" time. The two women swap stories about unrealistic expectations, lack of village support, body changes, intrusive thoughts about safety, and the pressure on women to appear as if they cope effortlessly.
Kat’s line, "you will never feel like yourself again" is reframed as evolution rather than loss – you’re a new version of you, not broken. If you or someone you care about has ever felt ashamed, scared or "weak" for struggling after birth, this raw, warm conversation might be the reassurance you’ve been waiting for – who in your life needs to hear that they’re not the only one?
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