#418: What Zookeepers Know & Obstetricians Have Forgotten: A Conversation with Author Milli Hill

In this edition of The Birthing Instincts podcast, Dr. Stu hosts an enlightening discussion with guest Millie Hill, a renowned writer and feminist advocate. Millie, the author of 'The Positive Birth Book' and 'Birth Like a Feminist,' shares her journey from a drama therapist to a prolific writer on childbirth and women's health. The conversation delves into the significance of positive birth experiences, the impact of fear in childbirth, and the influence of language and cultural norms on maternal care.

About Milli:

Milli Hill is a writer and freelance journalist with a passion for reframing the narrative around women’s bodies. She is the author of the bestselling Positive Birth Book (2017), Give Birth like a Feminist (2019) and My Period (2021, for preteen girls). Her fourth book, Ultra Processed Women, will be published by Harper Collins in July 2025, with a fifth book to follow in 2026. To date, her books have been translated into seven languages.

From 2012 to 2021 she founded and ran the Positive Birth Movement, a global network of antenatal discussion groups aimed at improving birth and giving women better access to support and information.

Milli has spoken nationally and internationally about positive birth, obstetric violence and female autonomy in health. As a journalist since 2013 she has been a columnist for the Telegraph women’s section and written for many publications including Mail, Guardian, Independent, ipaper and Mother&Baby, and has appeared on BBC Breakfast news, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 2, BBC 5 Live, talkradio, LBC and many leading podcasts.

She writes a bestselling substack about women’s health, feminism, and issues around sex and gender including the erasure of women from language.

Milli lives in Somerset, UK with her partner, three children and two dogs.

Instagram: @milli.hill

Website: www.millihill.co.uk

Substack: substack.com/@millihill

Resources

Bridge Midwives

Stu’s 3 minute reel on Overuse of Colorflow Doppler

Milli Hill’s Blog: The Mule

Milli’s books:

Ultra-Processed Women: The new no-holds-barred look into the ultra-processed foods industry’s lasting impact on our health and wellness – and how we can break free

Give Birth Like a Feminist: Your body. Your baby. Your choices.

My Period: Find your flow and feel proud of your period!

The Positive Birth Book: The Guide to Pregnancy, Birth and the Early Weeks

In This Episode

Rising Intervention Rates in Birth

The Ideological Battle: Safety vs. Experience

Feminism and Childbirth: A Complex Relationship

The Power of Language in Maternity Care

Pandemic's Impact on Birth Practices

Empowering Women Through Knowledge

Millie Hill's Books and Future Projects

This show is supported by

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• WeNatal | Go to WeNatal.com/Birthinginstincts for a free magnesium with any subscription order.
• BIRTHFIT | Go to birthfit.com and use the code INSTINCTS for 20% off any fitness program.
• Birth Sling | Go to https://thebirthsling.com/ code INSTINCTS for 10% off your sling.
• Pique Life| Go to https://piquelife.com/birthing to get 10% off for life on Pique's Herbal Teas!

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