Writer Robert Douglas-Fairhurst: ‘The less the body works, the more you appreciate any bit that still does’

The writer and professor of English literature on being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and the more unexpected ways his life has been transformed

NHS fines mothers for claiming free prescriptions while pregnant

Pregnant women are entitled to free medication, but without a maternity exemption certificate they face bills of hundreds of pounds

‘Don’t tell us the bad news all at once’: how to talk to kids about grown-up things

Abortion, toxic masculinity, human extinction ... What’s the best way to talk to children about the big issues of the day? We ask the experts

Have dinner for breakfast: 33 easy, expert fitness tips you will actually stick to

Big lifestyle overhauls are often doomed to fail - especially in the depths of winter. Take advice from those in the know and follow the relaxed route to healthier habits

Self-care is important – but we shouldn’t mistake it for feminist action

As long as there is a big gap between the women who have the most freedoms, and those with the least, our work as feminists is not over

‘I jumped off the hangover hamster wheel’: midlife drinkers who gave up booze – and got happy

In the UK, those aged 55 to 75 are the heaviest drinkers, with the generation below not far behind. But many are turning their backs on alcohol and discovering surprising benefits

A message to the NHS: disabled people like having sex, too

A sexual health checkup became an ordeal – and underlined the accessibility issues people such as me face, says Cathy Reay, a writer on disability and relationships

Black babies stillborn at almost twice rate of white babies, ONS figures show

Campaigners call for greater research into why there are such stark variations in England and Wales

My 72-hour labour was a nightmare. But at least I had access to clean water

It is a shocking fact that more than 16 million women give birth every year without this basic necessity. This cannot go on, says chef, author and presenter Nadiya Hussain

Meditation could have positive impact on gut and overall health

Practice may help regulate gut microbiome and lower risk of ill health, study of Buddhist monks finds