The Rest Is Football: Daly Brightness - ‘Do I Need Permission to Have a Baby?’ - The Untold Struggles of Female Athletes

Episode Date: November 7, 2025

What if being a mother was seen as a career risk? What if talking about fertility was still considered taboo in 2025? And what if female footballers had to choose between the game they love and the family they dream of? In this powerful Q&A episode, Rach and Millie dive deep into one of the most important and under-discussed topics in women’s football: motherhood, fertility, and the right to choose without fear. From Hannah Blundell’s inspiring return to Manchester United after giving birth, to the need for clubs to support fertility education, smear tests, and open conversations. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Daily Brightness, the Q&A episode, the one we love. Let's get straight into it. First question is actually from somebody called Rachel. Shout out to you. We've already touched on this, but it is something that we're both really passionate about. So at the weekend, we saw Hannah Blundell make a return to Manchester United after having her daughter. How impressive was that? and what are the challenges of wanting to be a professional female footballer as well as a mother?

Is that spoken about clubs? Right. I think we're both really passionate about this. I think more can be done. 100%. I think it's still taboo. I know 100% because there's players that have had babies at Chelsea. But when we speak on these topics, me and age,

we don't just speak about our situation. We speak about women's football and as a collective. And I still think it's taboo. I still think females still have to ask themselves, Oh, would the club mind if I had a baby? Like, that's not even a question. You're a woman. You don't have to ask for permission to have a baby.

No, if you have a baby, you have a baby. Anne, do you know what I think would be a really good shout? I don't know if anyone's done it, but I, like, clubs could partner with fertility clinic. They could give education on it, though. They could give all sorts, like, as females, you don't know what your options are. No, and I don't think, you know, your rights and what you're allowed. No, and I do think each club is, is different, but I do think it should be

than, actually, I think it should be known. Like, what, what happens when you have a baby as a female in football? Like, what actually happens? Because I know in my environment I'd be taken care of, but that doesn't, that don't like list it for everyone else. I feel like there should be a non-negotiable of what happens if you're having a baby.

No, and it's one of those things as well. It's like, it shouldn't be to be to be. And it shouldn't be, like, if somebody, if I went to training ground tomorrow and somebody came in and said they were pregnant, like it should be celebrated. It shouldn't be seen as a negative. But what about the lead up to being pregnant? This is, we all jump to being pregnant, but what if, what if you need IVF?

What if you, what if you need support? What if you're at the stage of you're thinking about wanting to look into your options? Like, it's the start to finish process of having a baby. Like, it's not just simple. You don't just have a kid. Like, you don't just go, oh, I'm pregnant. It's getting pregnant. It's like, I think it should be known.

I don't think it should be taboo. I personally think, like, our club's, like, medical support is, is really good in that, in that environment in terms of. You know, we have a male doctor, a female doctor. Like, they're both really, really amazing people, amazing doctors. And I think that they're really, really, really, like, supportive. But I think about things like from fertility clinics, right? Like, as you get older, like, you want to know, like, you want to know.

Everyone's situation's different, like you said. Some people might be going through it in a same-sex situation. Even if you're not in a same-sex relationship, like, who's to say that you know that you're able to get pregnant? Like, that's something that I think could be looked at to be provided by clubs. You know, I think like we have like smear tests and we have things like that and there's things that we're champion and things that we want to fight for. But I do think it's a narrative that you go down that like it's nothing to do with male football. It's nothing to do with the men.

Like it's something so different. I know this is slightly different, but like we had a conversation at Villa and I think they're really, really good at support women in in terms of medical situations. And I, like a few of us voiced that like smear tests should be at club. We shouldn't have to go outside of the club to get a smear test or to get female checks where I know that male clubs, they get their prostate checked. Do you get smear tests at your club?

So we do now. So like we didn't. Yeah, we've always had it at Chelsea to be fair. It's one thing I can vouch for. Yeah, we didn't. But it was now, I think there was things with like insurance and this, that and the other. And obviously there's protocols that you've got to follow. But I think they're really good at like being receptive and listening to your feedback

and like what you need. Because I think sometimes, again, because things like that are so taboo, people are actually a bit scared to go and do stuff like that. People are scared to go to a fertility clinic. People are scared to do that. And I think that it should be a norm.

Well, you're scared to even ask that question because then it's like, oh my God, do the club think I'm having a baby? Am I going to be released? Am I going to get another contract? Am I going to get this? Like, that shouldn't even be in your thought. If you were in another line of work,

you wouldn't think, oh shit, I can't mention that I want to have a baby in next couple years because I'm going to get signed off. I'm going to get released. Like that, no, it's the same. It doesn't matter with you're a professional athlete, you're working in an office, you work at McDonald's or wherever you work. Like, it doesn't matter. It's that's part of life. It's a natural life. It's natural life. And it's as a woman, that's, I see it is that's what, that's the gift that you were given. You were given a gift to produce life. So it's like, it shouldn't be like frowned upon. So I definitely think more could be done. However, I will say like, I do feel like I'm in a very safe environment where if I needed anything, I could go and ask for it and I would be looked at.

after her. But what I would like to change is not having to ask. And it'd been known that I could go and freeze megs if I wanted to. I could start my journey to having a baby. Yeah, like, is there a direct link that we can do that? Is there like routes that you can go down? But yeah, I'm in the same sort of position as you. I think our doctors and medical team that are really, really supportive and things like that. So I'm very grateful for them for that. Shout out to Hannah again. We can we can shout her name from the rooftops because, yeah, good for you. We've got a gorgeous little girl. And I do think there's several footballers that have now made it, it's becoming like, oh, they've had a baby and then gone back

and played at the top level. And I think that should happen more and more. But I think equally, had she not have played, whatever you want to do. Like, you know, giving birth to a new life, changes your life. Do you know what I mean? Like, it has demands. Like, people's pregnancies aren't straightforward. You don't know what people are going through. And I think, yeah, I think things like that are, it's really hard to go back to the top of the game after having a baby. So I think, yeah, massive credit where credit's due. Definitely.

Shout out to Hannah and your beautiful little girl. Good question, though. Right. Moving on, Lil's. Is it too early to start listening to Christmas songs? Absolutely not. You know what? I might tomorrow on my way to work.

I might pop a little bit of Mariah Carey on. I put heart Christmas on yesterday. Yeah, I think I'm going to start. It makes me happy. What's your favorite Christmas song? I would say, oh, last Christmas. Bye, wow. Yes.

Yes, I just haven't been saying that, you don't mind. But the very next day, you give it away. But I'm a bit, like, annoyed by that song because Leeds fans used to sing it. Well, I don't know if they're still, I don't know. They changed the play that they sing it to. So now every time I sing it, my dad did it once, you know, we went out of Christmas one year. And we had a player called Pontus Jansom. So they'd go, we'd give it to Pontus Jansson.

like that was like a channel and so now I can't go the very next day you gave it away this year to save me from I never say

give it to someone special anymore and then after that he went we'll give it to Patrick Bamford so it's like so I can't sing it as a non football chant anymore but that is my favourite

of course we like the favourite Christmas song but it's not too early Halloween's done get your Christmas tunes on I agree Millie this question is for you how did you fall in love with horses

I mean I know but oh God horses is all I've ever known I started riding I had my first pony when I was one I could my little pony My little pony I could ride my little Shetland fidget It was my best friend

I was riding when I was one So it's literally all I've ever known Me and my mom Both my sisters Torrey and Amy We used to do like Yeah we all used to like go riding together And that was like our little things So honestly, since, yeah, since I've been one.

But then it was just like my passion and it was every day. And then the horses for me became therapy. I've been at the field. It's just like ultimate freedom. Like no one bugs me, put my phone down. Freedom. I love going back. Freedom.

I love going back and visiting my mum and dads. And yeah, I went back obviously recently and just been back there. He's like, bliss. I cannot wait to have that every day when I retire. Moving on, what's your go-to karaoke song and a team night out. We'll forget team night out, just do any night out. What's your go to?

Mine's Lady Marmalade. You're so good at that. I feel like everyone's got one song that they can nail on, and that is you. That will forever remind me of the World Cup in New Zealand, me you and Zelle. Marangatangutangs. Marangatangs who used to call ourselves.

But listen, I can belt that out. And to anyone listening, you are really good at that. We are going to have a little karaoke session on our little podcast one night. We're going to bring your favourite drink and we're going to get the karaoke out, karaoke machine out.

I've got little microphones actually, but Lady Marmalade. Yeah, you're really good at that. You are really good at that. Like, you hit that note. And I was like, I remember the first time you did it, and I was like, holy shit, Millie can sing.

I don't know, where did that come from? But what's yours? Everyone would say River Deep, wouldn't they? but I wouldn't do it now. It's like overkill. I, do you know what? Listen, I can toot my own horn with this one. Shnade O'Connor, nothing compares to you.

I thought you was going to say, oh, do you know what else we used to love singing before he's she's? What's she called? Oh, Carrie Underwood. And I don't make my key into the side. It's pretty little. Anastasia, left outside alone.

I can bang that out. Left outside. Let's love. Is you like that, the angry women, didn't? yeah I'm an angry woman what can I say King into the side of

its pretty little soup to fall Oh yeah we have Curve my name Into his Letters Anyway We are doing karaoke

That song is a visual representation of You and how live your life Anyone crosses you Like cut the car I'll block you and delete The windows

With a baseball bar Slash you I'm tired. I'm quite angry at times, aren't I? I think I need anger management. I'm really nice, so I am a really nice person. I actually reckon Carrie Underwood is like an accurate representation of how you would act.

Yeah, don't piss me off then. It's quite simple. That song. That song is literally your life theme song. Your soundtrack to live. No, Doug Mackey. And I can literally see you. I have your keys like,

Don't crash me. Yeah, literally I have one rule in life. Don't piss me off. It's very simple. That's it. That's it. It's one rule. What a fantastic song.

Yeah, but I do like Anastasia, Left a Sadoon. That song will remind me, right, I can't tell you the story, but that song literally reminds me so much of Jordan Knobbs and it will only ever remind me of her now and the story that comes with that.

But so funny in it, I have songs do that to you. Yeah, I love it. I have certain songs that I'm like, if I'm in a mood, I'll put it on. Like Lady Marmalade, I'm in a really good mood. I'm blasting it. I'm feeling myself. That's a good one, though.

That's a little bit of more of an upbeat one. But, hey, I'll send you a video of Esty of me singing that shenado kind of one. I nailed it. Yeah, please. I was like, record me, record me. Anyway, good question. Love that. Do you wet your tooth brush before you brush your teeth?

Yeah. If you don't, what you're doing? Just brushing dry tooth bays. It's like saying do you put water in a cement mixer? Yeah. No, I just slap it on and open that. I just slap up dusty bit on and hope it sticks together. That's a weird one that is.

Oh, that might be a bit of an ick, you know, if I know people that don't wet the toothbrush before they put it in the mouth with toothpaste on. Yeah, that's gross. That's like you just need to rubbing sandpaper on your teeth. Also, off topic, but you know when you take a parisite mall? Yeah. How do you do it?

Talk me through the whole process. First of all, I get anxiety that I'm going to chose. second I go and get a cup of water then I put water in my mouth then I'll drop the parisium oil and else same but I don't want that powder that powdery towel I stick to the back of it like

I can't understand how people just get like a pill put it in the mouth and then wash it down I'm like ugh like the taste people that do that you must have a lot of saliva in your mouth that's icky I could not I could not I never understand when people do that water drop it in a knife glass

and then just And do you know what makes it worse if you do that but then you swallow but you don't swallow the pill and it's still there and I'm like yeah but you've got to have enough watering

I have actually tried before to do a paracetamol when I were younger when with no watering and it was just sticking to my thought and I was like horrible Vile

last odd gibping no right quick break we'll be back with some more questions great questions to start with we love that so we'll be back in little jithy

welcome back everybody we are straight back into the second part i think so far rach i don't know about you but these are my favourite set of questions yeah i actually agree enjoyed i feel like i can really like branch out i'm getting really into it like i'm getting excited like now i want to go and sing and i want to do i want to go and like just test if my way of taking parisita more work no i'm literally going to carry my teeth taking parisita while brushing my teeth right let's get back into it. Oh, good one. What time is appropriate to eat a Christmas dinner on Christmas day? Will I have a very strict routine? Do you? What is it then? Talk me for it before I go into mine? I will sway a little bit, but obviously growing up, we had a really rigid thing.

We had to go to the horses, get the horses done. First thing, come back. We'd do all the presents. Then we'd have, mum had this ritual of like, we all had breakfast together, but then like my nan and grandad had come down. Sometimes aunties and uncles would come. Like, That was our routine. And then we'd do everyone else's presence, like run around all the other families. Then me and my dad and my sisters would go to the pub. Mum would go to my nans. They'd cook the dinner and we'd come back and we used to eat about three.

Now obviously we're a bit older. We're all living in different places. The schedule's changed. But we still eat, like even if I have dinner at mine, dinner still is at like three. It's still afternoon. Yeah, see, okay. So over the years, mine's changed a lot. So obviously, when I was younger,

we would always do Christmas Eve and my mum, wake up on Christmas Day with my mum, do presents with my mom, everything, have Christmas day with her, and her dinner would be about 1 o'clock. I would have lunch, Christmas lunch with my mum and my family, my mum Saturday at 1. Then I'd go to my dad's and then theirs would be like 4, 4 or 5 o'clock. Yeah.

And then I'd have another one. It's fine. Yeah. So that was kind of like my Christmas days growing up. But now, I've got a big thing on this. Christmas dinner, overrated or not? Depends what you put on it. It's a glorified Sunday dinner, right?

And it makes, it makes everybody so stressed. Who does the cooking in your house? Your mum or your dad? Used to be mum when I was little, but now it's dad. But then it would be me a lot. Right. How stressed do people get? It is stressful.

Cooking for a lot of people. It is stressful. It ruins their Christmas day. Yeah. Like you've got the kids playing. You know, you're missing out on them doing that. You've got the turkey and you need to get the roosters at the right time. Everything's a stress.

Not to mention. the washing up. And by the time that the food's actually on the table, the person who cooks never wants to eat. Yeah. So for me, it's like, right, take the stress away. Don't have one. So now this is, this is a big thing. And I know people will be like, what do you mean? You don't have a Christmas dinner. We had one two years ago. Guess what we said? We turned around and said, what should we do this Christmas? We didn't go anywhere. We didn't go to any families. We did all the family stuff like on the lead up to Christmas. Yeah. And I went, we went, I want a kids tea. So we've made, this was one year Christmas dinner, turkey dinosaurs, smiley faces,

peas, I can't remember what else, a couple of other bits, in a giant Yorkshire pudding gravy, right? Honestly, it was amazing. It was in and out, done, put away, onto a family members. I rate that and I do think everyone stresses about it, but I can never not have a Christmas dinner. I want the cranberry sauce, I want pigs in blanket, I want cheese wrapped in bacon, Oh, God. I can't. I want big fat chunk of stuffing. See, I'm not a massive fan.

I really am not. And I think it's because I have Sunday dinners quite frequently. Yeah, see, I don't have some of dinner. I think turkey is shy. So dry. Unpopular opinion. Don't like turkey. I think it's crap.

Gammons nice. Gammons nice. Yeah, really nice. Last year went to the pub. Game changer. Absolute game changer. Did you eat at the pub? No.

I won't eat out on Christmas. I don't like that. I did that one year. It's the worst decision that we ever made. I don't think I don't want to do that because I just don't feel like it's like Christmas Day then. Like you've got to do something at home or a family's heard, whatever. Obviously, it's a little bit different this year

because my wedding is at that time of year. But yeah, last year was sick. Went to the pub, had a few beers, came home, stumbled home. I had the turkey in the oven from like 9 o'clock in the morning, got home, took the turkey out of the oven, put the rest of it at about 4 or 5 o'clock. But then, do you know what?

Oh, go on for days. Go on for days. What I hate about Christmas Day, TV, shite. Crap TV. I don't like watching TV. The only thing I like, to be honest. The NFL, right? But after you eat a Christmas dinner, everyone crashes.

Everyone. And that's a part that annoys me. What are you all falling asleep? That's exactly what I hate. Turkey. It's turkey. It's triptophan. It's turkey.

It makes you tired. So for me, don't have turkey. You all fall asleep. Exactly I'm the same as you like why is everyone asleep now let's play games

yeah I'm not a big fan of people falling asleep it really pisses me off to be quite honest like I know

you're tired I think I I am one of the people that don't fall asleep so I can't complain but it's because like you've had your dinner everyone's excited

you've had your presents whatever you have your dinner everyone's played a game whatever and then it's like oh now what now on telly

some are really pissed some are not pissed some are stressed about washing up some are worried about the walk that they've got to do on Boxing Day. Like, it's always like, there's always a drama on Christmas Day.

I get it. But also, you can do whatever you want at Christmas. That's what I think. I'm here to start a new tradition. I'm here for a new tradition, Bestie. Well, fuck it. I might start it with you then. Well, you'll be with me over Christmas anyway this year.

Yeah, exactly. Call. Anyway, next question, because we're waffling. We have really waffled, aren't we? I think I've been probably a big carrier of that. But would you rather never use gravy again? Or never eat chocolate again. No.

Never eat chocolate again. Same. 100%. Who's having dry potatoes? Not me. I'll take my paracetam all with gravy if you want. Yeah, exactly. I could drink gravy.

I could drink it out of a cup. I'm not bothered. And also, I could just sacrifice chocolate for pick a mix. Do you like a bovril? No. Basically, literally like gravy best. It's so nice. I don't.

And you know why? Do you know why I've got fear of bovril because you used to get it when we used to go to academy, when we were little, people would have it in those shitty little plastic cups. Yeah, it's the best. Oh, I can't. And when you went to swimming lessons

and people used to get those little crappy cups. Yeah, it's the best. I bought a pack of like 60. So I'd never eat chocolate again. I'd rather have gravy. Right. Last two questions. So we've got one more each.

What would you rather do for a day? Fly or be invisible? Fly. I wouldn't want to be invisible. I feel like that sometimes anyway. I'm basically feeling visible now so that's brilliant, isn't it? I actually basically am visible 90% of my days

I'd rather fly I'd want to jet up to Sheffield to my mum and my dad's in like 0.10 seconds. Yeah, but you have to just drop off where I am. Obviously, best thing. I just get back up and go but yeah, I think flying to be sick which is like flying.

Yeah, 100% flying. Yeah, flying. Right, also, next question, last question, right? This is a big question for me. Now the Halloween's over when are you putting up your Christmas decorations? straight away or wait till December? No, first of December.

Would you ever go earlier? Yeah. Actually, why not while we're at it? Start something new, middle of November. I think we could do a podcast episode of us decorating our trees. Yes! Oh no, because you'll judge me for not having a real one. I'm not having a real one.

No, you can have a fake one, but I prefer a real one because I like it. I like the way they sit, the busher and the nicer, and that's a lovely question because we are actually going to put our Christmas decorations up early and we're going to do an episode, showing you all our decorations. Do you know why I love having it up, right?

Not only because it's Christmasy part. I just love it. It's always like a nice little soft light. You don't need a lamp on in your living room, do you? Yeah, you just turn your lights on. And, all right, what lights do you have on? I hope it's not them multi-coloured ones. Oh, no.

I hate them. Oh, horrible. Right. Warm, warm lights. Warm, dimmed, subtle, nice. And I'll let you in on another little trick. By the 1st of December, all my presents will be sorted. I can't believe you just thought that I would have them colourful light.

No, I'm just checking Bessie because I would have judged Jen, I would have told you to take him back. I thought you were going to say do you wrap tinsel around you behind you banished? How horrible is tinsel? It's horrible. I don't like tinsel.

I'm not ever tinsel. If anyone ever tried to put tinsel anywhere near my house, I'm getting punched in the face, mate. Just kidding. Anyway, guys, that is it for today's episode. Q and A. I think this has definitely been their favorite episode so far. So thank you so much for your questions. We love them lots. Keep sending them in and we

will see you very soon. Peace out. Bye guys. Bye.