What Nobody Tells You About Money, Marriage and Motherhood with Elizabeth Idowu

She has spent years on the front line of one of the most transformative moments in a person's life, and what she has seen challenges so much of what we assume we know. Mamadinya (Elizabeth Idowu) is an NHS midwife, educator, author of I'm Pregnant Now What? and founder of Mama's Classes. In this episode of the Money & Us podcast, Anna sits down with Mamadinya to explore one of the most important and undertalked intersections of all. Money and having a baby. Birth rates are declining. More and more people are choosing not to have children, or delaying the decision, and there is no disputing that finances play a significant role in that. For those who do take the leap, 97% of pregnant women worry about money, and so many of the anxieties women face during pregnancy are ones that financial support could actually ease. Mamadinya talks openly about what having a baby truly reveals about a relationship, why the village that used to support new mothers has gradually been disappearing, and why so many mums end up being the ones doing all the giving with nothing left for themselves. She also gets into the financial realities most people never discuss, and why looking after mum has to be part of the plan, not an afterthought. Whether you're pregnant, thinking about having a baby, weighing up whether you can afford to, or simply someone who loves or supports someone going through that season of life, there is something in this episode for you. Key Moments: • 97% of pregnant women worry about money, and why that statistic matters more than most people realise • The biggest misconception people carry into parenthood, and why it catches so many off guard • What having a baby really reveals about a relationship, and whether someone wants to be a partner as much as they want to be a parent • Why so many of the anxieties women face in pregnancy are ones that money can actually fix • Why so many new mums end up being the only ones pouring into others with nothing left for themselves • Why the village that used to support new mothers has largely disappeared, and what to do instead • The one piece of financial advice Mamadinya wishes more women would hear before they give birth • What wealth means to Mamadinya, and why her answer is all about community Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 01:49 Fact or Fiction: 97% of Pregnant Women Worry About Money 03:28 The Biggest Misconceptions About Pregnancy 06:08 Why Mamadinya Started Educating Women Online 08:23 The Pregnancy Fears Women Worry About Most 11:20 What Expectant Parents Are Really Afraid Of 13:57 Do You Want To Be A Parent… Or A Partner? 16:54 Green Flags To Look For Before Having Children 19:18 Why Relationships Change After Having A Baby 22:04 The Card Game Every Couple Should Play Before Pregnancy 26:18 How Much Money Should You Save Before Having Children? 31:29 Why Mums Need Looking After Too 33:54 Money Anxiety During Pregnancy 36:33 The Baby Products You Don't Actually Need 41:02 Why Every Mum Deserves Better Postnatal Care 44:20 Pregnancy, Social Media & The Pressure To Bounce Back 46:04 Pregnancy Depression Nobody Talks About 47:26 Should Partners Carry More Of The Financial Load? 52:18 The Funniest Labour Ward Stories 56:28 The Identity Shift That Comes With Motherhood 59:22 Why So Many Mothers Grieve Their Old Life 01:03:11 Life Doesn't End After Motherhood 01:05:06 What Pregnancy Teaches You About Resilience 01:08:25 Why Every Mum Needs A Support Network 01:11:37 What Wealth Really Means 01:13:20 Final Thoughts Follow Mamadinya: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mamadinya/?... LinkedIn:   / elizabeth-idowu-b771aa290   Website: https://www.mamasclasses.com Buy Talks By The Bump: https://talksbeforethebump.com Buy I’m Pregnant … Now What?: https://amzn.eu/d/01WpjWta Follow Anna Brading: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentoramone... LinkedIn:   / annajoybrading   Website: https://www.mentoramoney.com Follow Money & Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mentoramone... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@moneyanduspod... YouTube:    / @moneyanduspod   Buy Money Mentor: https://amzn.eu/d/03ISOm6z Sponsor: XTB - https://geolink.xtb.com/FKPRM Capital at Risk. Investment Values May Rise and Fall