Episodes
Reading the feed…
Reading the feed…
Ep 37. Heatwaves, newborns and pregnancy Heat, Pregnancy and Preterm Birth: What Does the Evidence Really Tell Us? Pregnancy during a heatwave can be uncomfortable enough but should pregnant people or parents actually be worried about the heat? There is an immune theory regarding this process and given higher temperatures can mimic infection we delve into this area as a call from parents. In this episode, we discuss mostly the impact on newborn health. We also briefly touch on the research including the Nature Medicine systematic review and meta-analysis examining how heat exposure affects pre
Ep 36. A new meningitis vaccine for teenagers? A short recap ... A short recap of episode 30: Why the meningitis vaccine is being introduced and why it wasn't previously offered. What strains it covers and what it does not. In this episode of Cocooned Health, we’re joined by Dr Eliza Gil, Academic Clinical Lecturer in Infection at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Honorary Clinical Microbiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. She breaks down this fascinating topic. Listen to episode 30 for the full episode
Ep 35. The Midwife Series Episode 4: Analysis - How 100 Midwives Generated A Solution To Vaccine Conversations In Pregnancy - “Sometimes It’s The Simplest Thing.” Part of the 4 part series: The Midwife Series Episode 1: Frontline Insights - Midwives On Vaccine Conversations In Pregnancy. "It's Our Role To Guide And Support" The Midwife Series Episode 2: Emergence Of An Idea: What Do Midwives Need And Why? “The Easier It Is To Access, The More Utilised It Will Be” The Midwife Series Episode 3: Honing And Developing - The Checklist That Could Transform Vaccine Conversations. The Midwife Series E
Ep 34. The Midwife Series Episode 3: Honing And Developing – The Checklist That Could Transform Vaccine Conversations. Part of the 4 part series: The Midwife Series Episode 1: Frontline Insights - Midwives On Vaccine Conversations In Pregnancy. "It's Our Role To Guide And Support" The Midwife Series Episode 2: Emergence Of An Idea: What Do Midwives Need And Why? “The Easier It Is To Access, The More Utilised It Will Be” The Midwife Series Episode 3: Honing And Developing - The Checklist That Could Transform Vaccine Conversations. The Midwife Series Episode 4: Analysis - How 100 Midwives Genera
Ep 33. The Midwife Series Episode 2: Emergence Of An Idea: What Do Midwives Need And Why? “The Easier It Is To Access, The More Utilised It Will Be.” Part of the 4 part series: The Midwife Series Episode 1: Frontline Insights - Midwives On Vaccine Conversations In Pregnancy. "It's Our Role To Guide And Support" The Midwife Series Episode 2: Emergence Of An Idea: What Do Midwives Need And Why? “The Easier It Is To Access, The More Utilised It Will Be” The Midwife Series Episode 3: Honing And Developing - The Checklist That Could Transform Vaccine Conversations. The Midwife Series Episode 4: Ana
Ep 32. The Midwife Series Episode 1: Frontline Insights - Midwives On Vaccine Conversations In Pregnancy. "It's Our Role To Guide And Support."Part of the 4 part series: The Midwife Series Episode 1: Frontline Insights - Midwives On Vaccine Conversations In Pregnancy. "It's Our Role To Guide And Support" The Midwife Series Episode 2: Emergence Of An Idea: What Do Midwives Need And Why? “The Easier It Is To Access, The More Utilised It Will Be” The Midwife Series Episode 3: Honing And Developing - The Checklist That Could Transform Vaccine Conversations. The Midwife Series Episode 4: Analysis -
Ep. 31: Measles - outbreaks or exposure in your child's area - what every parent needs to know What would you do if your child was exposed to measles and suddenly told to stay home from nursery for 21 days? In this episode, we tackle a real-life scenario many families are now facing. We break down what measles exposure means, why exclusion periods happen, and whether early vaccination (from 9 months) is ever an option. With measles cases rising again across the UK - especially in London - we explore the latest data and what it means for your child’s risk. In areas like Enfield, only 64.3% of f
Ep 30. Decoding the current meningitis outbreak in the UK. Expert Guest: Dr Eliza Gil Widespread public anxiety around the recent meningitis outbreak in Kent has raised urgent questions about how serious it is, who’s at risk, and whether we should be worried. In this episode of Cocooned Health, we’re joined by Dr Eliza Gil, Academic Clinical Lecturer in Infection at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Honorary Clinical Microbiologist at Great Ormond Street Hospital. She breaks down what we know so far about the March 2026 outbreak, including why this surge occurred despite t
This accessible scientific episode clarifies what happens in the newborn's immune system when faced with infection or in the absence of it. Ever wondered how newborns and adult immune system's differ? We discuss the newborn strategy "disease tolerance" and why this is important...why they are more resilient and more able to deal with microbes. Dr Eliz Kilich, with co‑host Dr Lydia Yarlott, are joined today by Professor Tobias Kollmann to explore newborn immunity. Prof. Kollmann completed his MD and PhD at the Albert of Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx NY, followed by a residency in pediatri
Chickenpox Vaccine 2026 — What It Means for Your Child From January 2026, the NHS is introducing routine vaccination against chickenpox as part of the childhood immunisation programme. This marks a major shift in how the UK approaches a virus often seen as mild, but one that can cause serious complications, hospital admissions and significant disruption for families. In this episode, we explore what this change really means, especially for parents asking: What if my child has already had chickenpox, or was vaccinated privately before the NHS rollout? We break down the benefits of routine chick
“Can a single vaccine (BCG) on the first day of life protect against many unrelated infections?” Expert Guests: Professor Tobias Kollmann and Assistant Professor Nelly Amenyogbe What about if you could give your baby a vaccine on day 1 of life and it would protect against many infections. This sounds almost like a miracle or fantasy that a single vaccine could protect against many unrelated infections. This episode looks at the BCG vaccine and how it offers young babies more than just protection against tuberculosis. This episode will transform your understanding of how vaccines work, the pote
In today’s episode, we take on a challenging and timely topic: public trust in health communication, especially when high-profile figures make statements that conflict with established scientific evidence. Recent comments from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now serving as U.S. Health Secretary, have generated widespread public confusion, with reactions from British scientists, global health agencies, and clinicians offering sharply contrasting views. Dr Eliz Kilich and, Dr. Lydia Yarlott, unpack four of the most debated claims—carefully, calmly, and from a British medical perspective: “Thimerosal shou
Ep 25. “No Longer Recommended?” The Politics, Science, And Stakes Of COVID19 Vaccination In Pregnancy In 2025. Hosts Dr. Lydia Yarlott & Dr. Eliz Kilich are joined by Professor. Flor M. Muñoz — Associate Professor of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases, and Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital. Her work has focused on the evaluation of vaccine safety and efficacy in special populations including pregnant women, children, and people with compromised immune systems, as well as the epidemiology and treatment of respiratory pathogens including CO
Ep 24. Paracetamol in Pregnancy: Panic or Proof? Expert Guest: Professor Dimitri Siassakos In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott are joined by Professor Dimitrios Siassakos, a leading researcher in maternal-fetal medicine at UCL, to unpack the controversy surrounding paracetamol (acetaminophen) use in pregnancy. A new review published in Environmental Health has reignited debate by examining possible associations between paracetamol use and conditions such as autism and ADHD in children. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed paracetamol “is no good” for pregnant
Ep. 23. Pregnancy & Travel in Latin America: Mosquito Risks, Repellent Safety, and Vaccines with Dr. Laila Woc-Colburn Travel during pregnancy can be both exciting and daunting—especially in Latin America, where mosquito-borne infections and vaccine questions add extra layers of caution. Infectious-diseases specialist Dr. Laila Eugenia Woc-Colburn (Emory University) https://med.emory.edu/directory/profile/?u=LWOCCOL joins Cocooned Health to share the latest science and practical steps for staying safe. From Zika and dengue to repellents, vaccines, and coastal risks, we break down what every pr
Episode 22: Do all fevers in kids need bringing down? Science, exceptions and the myths of fever in children. It’s one of the most common worries for parents — and one of the most misunderstood. We discuss fever myths and more providing clarity and discussion In this episode of Cocooned Health, Dr Eliz Kilich & Dr Lydia Yarlott tackle the biggest fever myths in children:❓ Do all fevers need treating?❓ Will fevers keep rising to dangerous levels if left alone?❓ Does getting lots of colds mean a weak immune system?❓ Should you always give paracetamol after vaccines?❓ When should you given parace
Ep 21. "My child has a fever - What do I do?" From Newborn to Teenager. Expert Guest: Dr Seilesh Kadambari Today our episode is a crucial one for all parents - it is a focus on fever in children with a focus on how fever differs based on the AGE of your child - from newborn to teenager. At Cocooned Health we often focus on the advice around vaccines, food and immune health, how to protect against common and rare, but serious, infections and today we dive into the commonly asked question - my child has a fever - what should I do? As co-hosts Dr Lydia Yarlott and Dr Eliz Kilich we have great pri
Part 2: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) What is the evidence for screening all pregnant women with a swab? One doctor would get the swab on the private system in the UK and another would not Listen Now. (June's Episode Re-released: Apologies we had a technical issue with this episode where it was unintentionally shortened in some apps - now resolved) Dr Lydia Yarlott and Dr Eliz Kilich discuss the two sides of the coin: To get the screening swab for Group B Streptococcus (GBS) or not. The discussion revolves around why different countries have different policies. GBS is a bacteria carries by aroun
The Swab That Saved Their Baby - Talking about Group B Streptococcus, global screening programs differences and what options there are for pregnant women Welcome to Cocooned Health, the podcast where we discuss infections in pregnancy and newborns and beyond. Not only do we discuss the advice given, but talk about the reasons why such guidance exists. We help to answer questions the public have on these topics. Today, we are thrilled to be joined by Professor Kirsty Le Doare, a distinguished clinician-scientist specializing in paediatric infectious diseases. This episode will focus on the impo
Whats the impact of a western diet in pregnancy on child development? Expert Guests: Professor Morten Arendt Rasmussen and Dr David Horner It is unclear what the impact of a western diet is like on the unborn child. Now, a large observational clinical study from the University of Copenhagen and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood at the Danish Paediatric Asthma Centre, Herlow and Gentofte Hospital, find a relationship between maternal diet during pregnancy and the presence of ADHD and autism in children. The more of a Western diet a woman has in pregnancy - e.g. high in f
Ep 17. Should I get the new RSV vaccine in pregnancy? When, and why? RSV. Talking About Health Optimisation Part 2 - How to protect against a disease that affects 90% of children under the age of 2 years. Around 90% of children are infected with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) by 2 years old. This episode discusses health consciousness and the desire to protect oneself. Discussions revolve around prevention medicine and how that coincides with other healthy lifestyle choices like organic food, exercise and mindfulness. We discuss how to balance the rare side effects with health optimisation.
Episode 16: Pregnancy RSV Vaccine Update. Expert Guest: Professor Paul Heath. Join us for an update on the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine given during pregnancy. Hear what the latest evidence is. This vaccine protects babies against a common cause of bronchiolitis which can be severe in newborns. The UK has made a decision to prevent against RSV with Abrysvo™, the maternal vaccine, manufactured by Pfizer. Previously the UK had been considering the use of Nirsevimab instead. This is an RSV monoclonal antibody for newborns (Beyfortus™, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur). Both the vaccine
Episode 15: Debrief: Cravings and Places: when your pregnancy craving lead you astray Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott. In this follow-up to our insightful discussion with Dr. Matthew Gilmour in "Ep 14: Brie-ing Safe in Pregnancy – Christmas Special!", we delve deeper into the nuances of food safety during pregnancy.We summarise the main points in a shorter recap and highlight some of the areas that need further explanation. For instance here we talk about Listeria's rarity, the outbreaks, the food industry's role in protecting pregnant women, and practicalities. This episode offers practic
Ep 14. Brie-ing Safe In Pregnancy. Christmas Special Episode - Food Safety While Pregnant. Expert Guest: Dr Matthew GilmourWanted a bit more dialogue on trying to understand the food list of what to and what not to eat during pregnancy? In this episode of Cocooned Health, hosts Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott unravel the complexity of avoiding infections in pregnancy with a special focus on food safety. This one is particularly important for little bubba. They take a deep dive into one of the most talked-about topics among expectant parents—cheese! But more surprisingly, beyond cheese! Wha
Ep 13. The DEBRIEF: Microbiome Baby & Me: This is a debrief episode discussing some of the topics brought up in episode 12 with Expert guest Dr Lindsay Hall. This includes probiotics in pregnancy and for newborns. The impact of breastfeeding. And the impact of C Section versus vaginal delivery on the microbiome of baby. Dr Eliz Kilich and Dr Lydia Yarlott give extra thoughts on the subject and what the evidence might mean for mums & bubs.
