How many people should watch you give birth? The crowdbirthing conundrum

Women in their teens and 20s have an average of eight people in the room during the course of giving birth, a survey suggests – it might work for some, but there are a few key questions to consider

The women reframing the fitness industry

“When we first opened in Shoreditch we didn’t bother running classes on a Sunday, everyone was too trashed”. Pip Black and Joan Murphy, founders of Frame, explain how they’ve revolutionised London’s attitude to exercise

Obama’s strong words for Kenya are welcome. But it’s too little, too late

The US president’s personal connection with Kenya gives him influence other western leaders don’t have, but for most of his time in office he has been largely disengaged from Africa

Judge bans father taking daughters to Nigeria for female genital mutilation

Court issues protection order preventing three sisters, aged six to 12, from being taken out of UK after mother testifies she has ‘never recovered’ from FGM herself

Millions of women risk female genital mutilation. Will Obama defend them?

The US president could use his Africa trip to play a historic role in the fight to eliminate FGM if he chooses to

Talk to your children about body image – it’s not worth dying for

Eloise Parry took illegal diet pills in pursuit of an unachievable body image ideal, and it killed her. Society should tackle the problem at its root

A moment that changed me – ditching the diets and embracing my plus-size body

I was disgusted by my own body, and dieting only made things worse. But then a chance Google search changed everything

Women rarely regret their abortions. Why don’t we believe them?

A US study has revealed that 95% of women who have had abortions believe it was the right decision. Yet, both in the US and UK, reproductive rights are increasingly under threat – it’s time to fight the stigma

Primark denies security guard removed breastfeeding baby from mother

Clothing retailer says CCTV footage shows no evidence to support claim by woman that infant was forcibly removed from her in Leicester branch

Saving Safa: rescuing a little girl from FGM – review

A fluid and honest account of Waris Dirie’s determination to save others from the unnecessary suffering caused by female genital mutilation