Experience: I had a stroke while I was pregnant

‘I tried to sit up, but the nurse told me that I would fall out of bed, because I had no sitting balance. I thought, “Are you on crack? Of course I can sit up!” But she was right: I was paralysed down my left-hand side’

‘As she is born, part of me is dying’ – how becoming a mother changes you

Books speak of pregnancy as a pastel-hued dream. But the idea that suddenly you have so much more to lose can be frightening

Having a baby? Don’t be brave – take the drugs

There’s no point in false machismo when giving birth when pain relief is so close to hand

Half of adult women in Brazil put off pregnancy by Zika virus – survey

Fifty-six per cent of women of reproductive age taking part in research say they are avoiding pregnancy over health concerns

Pregnancy causes long-term changes to brain structure, says study

Decrease in volume of grey matter in certain areas of the brain could help boost a mother’s ability to care for her child, research suggests

Labour of love: the volunteers helping fellow refugees give birth

When Safa came to the UK from Syria, she faced giving birth alone. Now Fatoma, who fled Sudan 10 years ago, will be with her as part of a groundbreaking scheme

Caesarean sections are rising – but don’t blame mothers

Research saying mums with small pelvises perpetuate the need for caesareans simply feeds the media’s insatiable appetite for woman-blaming

Pregnant women in UK told to watch for heart disease symptoms

Condition is leading cause of death in UK in months before and weeks after childbirth, says audit led by medical Royal Colleges

Lesley Regan: ‘I have a responsibility to tell pregnant women the truth’

The new president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is determined to be honest about the dangers of obesity and other health issues

Simone Lia on pregnancy

So much changed in a short space of time…