‘It was empowering and joyful’: the UK women hiring private midwives

After a troubling report on NHS care, the number of pregnant women seeking more control over their birth plans is growing

Heatwaves increase risk of early births and poorer health in babies, study finds

Research that looked at 53 million births says Black and Hispanic mothers and those in lower socioeconomic groups most at risk

Cold review – theatrically evocative folk-tale treatment of the pain of miscarriage

A man spins a story in a doctor’s waiting room, sparking a fairy tale of loss and desperation

‘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

Black women in England suffer more serious birth complications, analysis finds

They are six times more like to have pre-eclampsia compared with their white counterparts, as health inequalities persist

‘I had no idea my baby was at risk’: The fight to raise awareness of pre-eclampsia

The condition affects between 1% and 5% of pregnant women, but more can be done to inform people about its dangers

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