Â鶹ԼÅÄ

In just over a week the consultancy process will end on legislation which may spell the end of independent midwifery in the UK. Come October this year – all healthcare professionals will be required to have professional indemnity insurance. The vast majority are already covered by their employer or union, but a group of 170 or so independent midwives are not, simply because no insurance company will cover them. This means, in effect, they will be working illegally. So does this mean the end of independent midwifery? And how will it limit women’s choice for the birth of their children in the future? Jenni discusses the issues with a mother,ÌýJo Marchant,ÌýIndependent Midwife, Erika Thompson andÌýLouise Silverton Royal College of Midwives Director for Midwifery.

Ìý

USÌýalternative singer-songwriter Cat Power - or Chan Marshall – has been her performing her deeply personal music for over 20 years. After releasing her acclaimed album The Greatest in 2006, and struggling with alcohol and depression, she took a break from recording original material. However she’s back now with her ninth album, Sun, which she wrote, played, recorded and produced entirely by herself, and released towards the end of last year. Cat Power joins JenniÌýto perform her newest song, Bully – not on the album – and to talk to her about her life and the inspiration behind her music.

Cat Power’s latest album, Sun, is out on the Matador label. You can catch her play live next month at Glastonbury and at the Roundhouse in London, and at the Latitude Festival in July

Should the government be doing more for stay at home mums? Some stay at home mothers say they are treated less favourably than working mothers because many are seeing their child benefit being reduced or taken away completely and they will not be able to take advantage of the new childcare payments announced in the Budget as they are intended for working parents. Laura Perrins gave up her job as a barrister to care for her two children and recently hit the headlines after she accused the Deputy Prime Minister of doing nothing for stay at home mums on a live radio phone in. Gaby Hinsliff is a political commentator and the author of Half a Wife.Ìý They join Jenni to discuss the issues.

was a mystic, born in Norwich in 1342. When Julian was just over 30 years old she became seriously ill and a priest came to read her the last rites. A few days later, Julian discovered the pain had miraculously gone away.Ìý She then experienced a series of intense visions which she called Revelations or Showings.Ìý Julian dedicated the rest of her life to prayer, thought and counselling. She lived alone in a walled-up room at Norwich’s Church Of St Julian, the saint from whom she took her name.Ìý She documented her revelations in a book, “Revelations of Divine Love, and is believed to be the first female author published in English.Ìý Jenni is joined by Margaret Coles whose first novel, revolves around the story of Julian and Sr Elizabeth Obbard, a solitary at Aylesford Priory in Kent.