Comedian and actress Sara Pascoe recently opened up about her emotional journey through infertility and loss, as well as her struggles after childbirth, during an appearance on Giovanna Fletcher’s Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast. The 43-year-old, who shares two sons, Theodore (2) and Albie (13 months), with her husband, actor Steen Raskopoulos, got candid about her difficult experience with miscarriage and the impact it had on her mental health.
Sara recalled the devastating loss of her first pregnancy, which came after she had naturally conceived while waiting to start IVF treatments. “It felt like magic at first,” Sara shared tearfully. “But when I lost it, I felt so stupid and it made everything afterward not enjoyable.” Her grief over the loss was compounded by the emotional weight of the IVF journey that followed. Despite being pregnant naturally before IVF, Sara described the heartbreak of losing that pregnancy as particularly tough to process.
But her candid discussion didn’t stop there. Sara also revealed that, after the birth of her first son Theodore via C-section, she struggled with what she described as a “horrible hormonal crash.” She shared how, in the early postpartum days, she experienced overwhelming emotional turmoil, which at times led her to feel “suicidal.” “It’s illogical, isn’t it? You’re mourning almost… You know, you’re suicidal,” she explained, revealing just how intense the emotional rollercoaster of motherhood and hormone fluctuations can be.
Sara’s candidness extended to the struggles she faced after becoming a mother, which included dealing with “torrential floods of tears” and the fears surrounding her own mental health, all exacerbated by the hormonal shifts after childbirth. Although Sara admitted that not everyone’s experience was like hers, she underscored the mental toll that a significant emotional and physical transition like childbirth can have.
The IVF Journey and Finding Joy in Parenthood
Sara’s IVF journey has been an emotional one, especially given her earlier struggles with infertility. In October 2023, she shared on social media that, as a 42-year-old woman who had been struggling with infertility, she couldn’t believe her luck in having two children via IVF. “I can’t believe my luck to have had two children (IVF),” she wrote. “I also can’t believe how much washing there is.” Her words resonated with many who’ve faced infertility, showing that even after the long road to parenthood, the reality of motherhood can still be both joyful and challenging.
Shifting Comedy Focus After Motherhood
Beyond the emotional and physical challenges, Sara also spoke about how her personal experience with infertility and motherhood has shaped her comedy. Before giving birth, Sara often leaned into her infertility struggles in her comedy, even integrating it into her work on shows like Out of Her Mind (BBC2, 2020). However, after having her son, Sara found herself shifting her focus to more “mum jokes,” recognizing how much her life had changed. “When I was infertile, I was really defensive, and now I’m a mummy,” she reflected, adding that she was more comfortable with discussing motherhood and all the complexities that come with it.
The shift in her comedic material didn’t go unnoticed, with Sara acknowledging that her audience may have felt conflicted or confused by the change. Yet, she embraced it, saying, “People are really complex.” Her willingness to share her evolving experience of motherhood, from infertility to a new stage of parenthood, exemplifies the power of vulnerability and honesty in comedy.
Sara Pascoe’s openness about her emotional journey, from the loss of a pregnancy to the postpartum struggles that followed, is a reminder of the challenges many face behind closed doors. Her story also highlights the importance of normalizing conversations around fertility, mental health, and the unpredictable emotional experiences of motherhood.
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