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The Baby Tribe

The Baby Tribe

Afif EL-Khuffash & Anne Doherty 143 Episodes Jul 7, 2026

The Baby Tribe podcast provides parents and caregivers with expert advice on maternal health, pregnancy, postpartum care, and infant health. Hosted by neonatologist Afif El-Khuffash and obstetric anesthesiologist Anne Doherty, both working at the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin, the show covers topics like breastfeeding, formula feeding, introducing solids, and maternal recovery. The hosts bring over 40 years of combined experience and feature regular guests and real parent stories.

Episodes

BTS: Is Private Maternity Care Really Safer?
BTS: Is Private Maternity Care Really Safer? Jul 7, 2026 1006 A large Australian study comparing public and private maternity care seemed to show better outcomes for mothers and babies in private obstetric-led care, including lower rates of stillbirth, NICU admission, severe perineal tears, and maternal haemorrhage. But the story is much more complicated than the headline suggests.In this episode of Baby Tribe Shorts, Afif and Anne unpack the study and ask w
BTS: Paracetamol, Pregnancy and Autism: What Parents Need to Know
BTS: Paracetamol, Pregnancy and Autism: What Parents Need to Know Jun 30, 2026 851 In this episode of Baby Tribe Shorts, Afif and Anne tackle the anxiety caused by recent headlines linking paracetamol use in pregnancy with autism, ADHD and intellectual disability. They walk through a major Lancet systematic review and meta-analysis, explaining why the best-quality evidence, especially sibling comparison studies, does not support a causal link between paracetamol use in pregnancy
BTS: Should Everyone Be Induced at 39 Weeks?
BTS: Should Everyone Be Induced at 39 Weeks? Jun 23, 2026 1196 In this episode of Baby Tribe Shorts, Afif and Anne take a closer look at one of the most influential obstetric studies of the last decade: the ARRIVE trial.The trial is often used in conversations about elective induction at 39 weeks, especially for low-risk first-time mothers. But what did it actually show? Did induction improve outcomes for babies? Did it really reduce C-section rates? And what
134: Baby Gadgets, Gimmicks and Red Flags
134: Baby Gadgets, Gimmicks and Red Flags Jun 16, 2026 3175 This week on Baby Tribe, Afif and Anne take a closer look at the baby products being marketed to exhausted parents, from sleep pods, reflux pillows and weighted sleep suits to formula prep machines, nasal aspirators, rectal wind devices, baby monitors, walkers and bouncers. The episode is not about shaming parents for buying products that promise help. It is about asking better questions before c
133: The Freebirth Movement: Choice, Risk and Accountability
133: The Freebirth Movement: Choice, Risk and Accountability Jun 9, 2026 3076 In this episode of The Baby Tribe, Afif speaks with Irish Times journalist Ellen Coyne about her reporting on the rise of freebirth in Ireland: giving birth without a midwife, doctor or trained medical professional present. Ellen discusses what led her to investigate the movement, the concerns raised by senior midwives, the lack of clear data around unassisted births, and how online communities c
132: Bad Science in a Pretty Font - Caesareans, Risk and Birth Misinformation
132: Bad Science in a Pretty Font - Caesareans, Risk and Birth Misinformation Jun 2, 2026 2091 In this episode of The Baby Tribe, Afif and Anne take on one of the most emotionally charged topics in maternity care: caesarean birth. Online birth content often presents two true statements side by side: caesareans carry more risk than vaginal birth, and caesarean rates are rising. The implied conclusion is often that unnecessary caesareans are harming women. But is that a fair interpretation of
131: Alcohol, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: No Shame, No Myths, Just Biology
131: Alcohol, Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: No Shame, No Myths, Just Biology May 26, 2026 2190 Alcohol, pregnancy and breastfeeding are surrounded by myths, slogans and a fair amount of internet nonsense. In this episode, Afif and Anne look at what alcohol actually does before conception, during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. They discuss paternal alcohol exposure, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the “sober enough to feed” slogan, pumping and dumping, beer and milk supply, and the misl
130: Vitamin K at Birth: The Tiny Injection Social Media Got Wrong
130: Vitamin K at Birth: The Tiny Injection Social Media Got Wrong May 19, 2026 1910 In this episode, Afif and Anne take a deep dive into vitamin K at birth and the growing wave of misinformation surrounding it online. They explore why newborn babies are naturally low in vitamin K, how clotting works, and what vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB) actually is. The discussion covers the differences between intramuscular and oral vitamin K, why the injection remains the most reliable
129: When Baby Sleep Advice Becomes Dangerous
129: When Baby Sleep Advice Becomes Dangerous May 12, 2026 2131 In this episode of The Baby Tribe, Afif speaks to BBC journalist Divya Talwar about her investigation into unsafe advice given by some self-described baby sleep experts. Divya explains why the BBC pursued the story, what parents told her, and how exhaustion, social media credibility and gaps in postnatal support can leave families vulnerable to advice that may conflict with safer sleep guidance. A
128: Leaking Isn’t Normal: Pelvic Floor Health, Surgery & the Mesh Debate
128: Leaking Isn’t Normal: Pelvic Floor Health, Surgery & the Mesh Debate May 5, 2026 1956 Pelvic floor problems affect a huge number of women, yet many suffer in silence, unsure what’s normal and what isn’t. In this episode, we’re joined by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and urogynaecology specialist Breffini Anglim O'Regan to break down everything you need to know about pelvic floor health, from prolapse and urinary incontinence to the real impact of pregnancy, childbi
127: When Birth Doesn’t Go to Plan: Understanding Postpartum Care
127: When Birth Doesn’t Go to Plan: Understanding Postpartum Care Apr 28, 2026 2088 In this episode of The Baby Tribe, Afif and Anne tackle an important but often overlooked topic: what happens when things don’t go to plan after a baby is born. While most women recover well after delivery, a small number require closer monitoring or escalation of care. Anne, a consultant obstetric anaesthesiologist, explains how maternity teams identify early warning signs, what triggers a move
126: I Thought I’d Be a Mother… Then Life Took a Different Turn
126: I Thought I’d Be a Mother… Then Life Took a Different Turn Apr 21, 2026 1838 We all grow up with a version of how life is supposed to go. Meet someone, settle down, have kids. But what happens when that version doesn’t unfold the way you expected? In this episode, comedian Aideen McQueen joins us for a funny, honest, and deeply personal conversation about identity, addiction, recovery, and coming to terms with not having children. From always imagining herself as a mother

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