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The Walton Sextuplets, Self Harm Scars and Ginger Rogers

With Jenni Murray. Janet and Graham Walton on being the parents of sextuplet girls, born in 1983, and from the archives, Ginger Rogers tells how she kept up her love for dancing.

In 1983 Janet Walton gave birth to six girls, making her the first and only mother of sextuplet girls in the world. Janet and her husband Graham look back 30 years to the reality of parenting six children of the same age.

Access to good antenatal care is known to improve maternal and child outcomes. But what rights do pregnant migrant women have to healthcare in the UK and who pays?

On yesterday's programme we heard an account of Mary Hamilton's recovery from self-harming. Today Dr Jack Nathan consultant psychotherapist for The Maudsley Hospital's Self Harm Service; and Helen Sare, former self harmer and now volunteer educator for Selfharm.co.uk give advice for people affected by self harm and respond to listeners emails.

From the Woman's Hour archive, the iconic actress and dancer Ginger Rogers speaks to former presenter Marjorie Anderson about how she kept up her love for dancing.

And the life of Baroness Platt of Writtle, co-founder of Women in to Science and Engineering who has died.

Available now

45 minutes

Chapters

  • The Walton Sextuplets

    Duration: 09:26

  • Self Harm Part Two

    Duration: 08:09

  • Ginger Rogers

    Duration: 05:55

  • Pregnant Migrant Women and Antenatal Care

    Duration: 13:16

  • Baroness Platt Of Writtle

    Duration: 04:33

The Walton Sextuplets

In 1983 Janet Walton gave birth to six girls, making her the first and only mother of sextuplet girls in the world. Janet had been told at the age of 16 that she couldn’t have children, but fertility drugs enabled her to get pregnant. Now the girls are 30 years old and Janet looks back on the reality of parenting six children of the same age: extreme sleep deprivation, multiple feeding sessions, doing the school-run, building six bikes with stabilisers, the cost, teenage tantrums, boy trouble and flying the nest.

Self Harm Part Two

On yesterday’s programme we heard an account of Mary Hamilton’s recovery from self-harming and how, over time, she has learned to accept her scars. Today we hear from Dr Jack Nathan consultant psychotherapist for The Maudsley Hospital’s Self Harm Service; and Helen Sare, former self harmer and now volunteer educator for Selfharm.co.uk. They will be advising how best to help if yourself or someone you know who’s affected by self-harm and responding to listener questions.

South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLAM)
The Maudsley Hospital
Self-Harm Outpatient Service
Outpatient Department
London
SE5 8AZ

Tel: 020 3228 4414

Help for parents:

NHS Psychological Services for adults:

Ginger Rogers

Ginger Rogers was the glamorous American actress, dancer and singer whose career spanned throughout much of the 20th century. She appeared in films, on stage, radio, and television. It’s award season, and Ginger won Best Actress back in 1940. From the Woman’s Hour archive, Ginger speaks to former presenter Marjorie Anderson about her love for dancing, painting and living in England.

Pregnant Migrant Women and Antenatal Care

Access to good antenatal care is known to improve maternal and child outcomes. But what rights do pregnant migrant women have to healthcare? As a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio4 documentary broadcast tomorrow explores the experiences of immigrants navigating their way through the NHS, Jenni Murray looks at new research carried out by an East London clinic that shows that lack of access to maternity care could be failing the health and well-being of pregnant women and new mothers seeking asylum and she asks how will their care be paid for. With Clare Shortall, Doctor and volunteer with Doctors of the World and Anna Musgrave, Women’s Advocacy Manager from the Refugee Council.

The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio4 documentary ‘Entitlement to Care’ is broadcast on Friday 13 February at 11am:

Baroness Platt Of Writtle

A tribute to the Co-Founder and patron of WISE, Women into Science and Engineering, Beryl Platt who died on February 1st with Helen Wollaston the current director of WISE.   

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Jenni Murray
Interviewed Guest Janet Walton
Interviewed Guest Graham Walton
Interviewed Guest Jack Nathan
Interviewed Guest Helen Sare
Interviewed Guest Clare Shortall
Interviewed Guest Anna Musgrave
Interviewed Guest Helen Wollaston
Producer Caroline Donne

Broadcast

  • Thu 12 Feb 2015 10:00

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