‘I felt myself split into before and after’: how giving birth triggered a life-changing illness

Having a baby led to an unexpected disease and then surgery that altered Lauren Bensted’s body for ever. She talks about the pain she felt in being separated from her newborn, and her journey to learn to accept her new life

‘Why has my uterus fallen into my vagina?’: Emily Oster’s new book demystifies common pregnancy complications

The Unexpected, the latest book by the economics professor, examines the uncomfortable and embarrassing parts of pregnancy that no one talks about

Becoming a mother was impossibly hard during Covid. Has anything changed since?

Rates are improving in the US as healthcare organizations take steps to confront the continuing crisis. Still, new mothers often feel alone: ‘People don’t know what to do’

Longing for a baby in 1971

Three couples told the stories of their struggles to become parents

I was abused as a child, but now my mother needs care

Manage your mum’s care from a distance, says Philippa Perry. Don’t get sucked into her orbit

My year of wellness is not going well – from accidental laxatives to heatstroke in a sauna

The attempt to boost my immune system hasn’t had the desired effects. I have been half-naked in public, and misunderstood Taylor Swift’s advice with catastrophic results. But one change has worked, writes Arwa Mahdawi

I’m finding it hard to accept that I may never have a daughter

Try not to dwell on what you feel is missing, but instead focus on the positive relationships and values you can nurture with your sons• Every week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a family-related problem sent in by a reader

I know I want at least one baby. But the more I learn about motherhood, the more terrifying it seems

Even supposedly ‘positive’ birth stories make my heart sink. Am I just going to have to make a leap of faith, asks Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff

Our Body review – a brave, unblinking, hospital’s-eye view of women’s health

Documentarist Claire Simon films women, including herself, receiving care in a women’s health, obstetrics and gynaecology ward at a Parisian hospital

How we met: ‘She was in the next hospital bed – and I loved her accent’

Sarah, 36, and Josie, 41, met in hospital in 2021, when they were both having babies and visiting hours were restricted due to Covid