‘The darkest period of my life’: I struggled to breastfeed – then a drug sent me spiralling

The anti-sickness medicine domperidone is increasingly being prescribed or bought illegally to aid lactation. Yet, as I discovered too late, side-effects can include anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts

Should we follow Lily Allen – and let our partner control our smartphone?

Allen’s husband decides the apps she is allowed to use and she decides his. It’s one of many approaches people are taking to try to ditch social media and unbreak their brains, writes Arwa Mahdawi

Pillows, playlists and a gentle push… My birth plan was a joke

We all start our journey into motherhood with a Plan A for the birth, but wouldn’t it be helpful if we had a Plan B or C or even D?

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

I was abused as a child, but now my mother needs care

Manage your mum’s care from a distance, says Philippa Perry. Don’t get sucked into her orbit

Experience: my newborn baby was kidnapped from hospital

I flew down the corridor screaming at everyone: ‘Do you have my baby?’

My 13-hour holiday was a glimpse of the world before Covid. I’ll be going back

Remember the good old days when you could get on a train or go to a party without wondering if it was worth the risk? It’s time for a revival, writes Zoe Williams

‘Not being jerks to each other helps’: readers on staying friends with an ex

A breakup doesn’t always mean the end of the road. Readers share their experiences on transitioning from romantic to platonic relationships

‘We have spent about $5,000 – it has been incredible’: readers on going to couples counselling

It isn’t always easy, and desired outcomes are not guaranteed. Readers tell us what happened when they sought professional help as a couple

Talk it out or walk it off: readers’ tips for stopping a relationship squabble

From using non-verbal signals to having a ‘no petulance’ rule, readers share their hot tips for keeping their cool

My year of wellness is not going well – from accidental laxatives to heatstroke in a sauna

The attempt to boost my immune system hasn’t had the desired effects. I have been half-naked in public, and misunderstood Taylor Swift’s advice with catastrophic results. But one change has worked, writes Arwa Mahdawi