Independent midwives: why we can’t afford to lose them
New legislation could lead to many independent midwives being outlawed. Where does that leave the women who have them to thank for their transformative birth experiences?
Zen and the art of keeping the NHS bill under control
Madeleine Bunting: Jon Kabat-Zinn is widely credited as the man who brought Zen Buddhism to the masses. Now he's bringing it to Downing Street
Health act means the death of the NHS as we know it
The Health and Social Care Act comes into force on 1 April with serious consequences for the poor, writes London GP Youssef El-Gingihy
Experience: I didn’t know I was having twins
Chloë Wilson: 'When I was pregnant with my son, I had felt so stressed whenever I came into contact with the medical profession that I decided not to involve the NHS again'
Dog bites data: how likely are you to get bitten?
One in six of those admitted to hospital for a dog bite is a child aged under 10. See what the data says
I got wildly conflicting breastfeeding advice from 12 midwives
Annalisa Barbieri: Some health professionals really know their stuff and do care – but they are in the minority
Your five worst medical nightmares
From a doctor amputating the wrong leg, to a woman given the wrong baby, it seems hospital treatment does not always go to plan. Luckily, though, mistakes are rare, as Leo Benedictus reports
Sugar is behind global explosion in type 2 diabetes, study finds
Researchers say link between consumption of sugar and diabetes is independent from obesity
NHS recognises that mindfulness meditation is good for depression
Mia Hansson: Scientists have now discovered how mindfulness meditation can give patients control over levels of depression, anxiety and chronic pain
IVF for women over 40 doesn’t address the root of the problem
Katherine Baldwin: Involuntary childlessness is a growing blight on our society. How can we help people to make the most of their early fertility?