A moment that changed me: I was outraged by the risks facing my children – so we moved to the country

Black Caribbean people born in the UK have a higher chance of schizophrenia, and city life is a factor. So when a chance came to live in Somerset, I leapt at it

Dunelm made me feel uncomfortable breastfeeding my child in its cafe

A staff member suggested I move to another room, which turned out to be a baby changing area

The new science of motherhood shows it’s far more transformative than western culture allows

Learning about the ways our bodies transform after giving birth helped me make sense of a stressful, bewildering time

Doom busters: why some things aren’t (quite) as bad as we think

We live in worrying times. From the climate crisis to the culture wars, there is always something to keep us fretting. But sometimes the facts tell a different story – a more hopeful one. Here, we speak to experts in search of some optimism and find 13 reasons to be a little more cheerful

What if we let our kids eat what they want? A radical new take on the weight debate

Modern parenting is preoccupied by the idea of perfection, and that includes weight. Virginia Sole-Smith, author of a brave and radical new book, talks to Rebecca Seal about why our worth shouldn’t be measured by size

My sister is drinking heavily while pregnant. How can I help her stop?

Excessive alcohol consumption puts the baby at risk so she needs urgent professional support – but approach her with compassion

How early is too early to be discharged from hospital after giving birth?

A longer post-birth stay in the wards could help many mothers, even if research remains inconclusive

Soft play is a nightmare – so why are adults leaping into the ball pit?

Our galloping infantilisation continues at a new centre where there will presumably be less screaming than usual, greater participant continence and a bar. Is this what modern life has come to, asks Zoe Williams

Crisis in NHS maternity units revealed as 21 rated ‘substandard’

Care Quality Commission finds many services inadequate, needing improvement or shut over safety concerns

Matrescence by Lucy Jones review – smashing motherhood myths

A thrilling examination of what it means to become a mother challenges assumptions in bravura fashion

OurChemist

Our Chemist – Health