“I thought long and hard about whether to go through with a vaginal birth,” says Dr Charlotte-Eve Short. But towards the end of her pregnancy, she decided to book in for a c-section – a decision many British obstetricians would also make. Here’s why…
Author: Contributing Writer
Family
Are you planning next year’s holiday? Do you dream of going somewhere a bit different in Europe? Here are seven beautiful, interesting destinations that are off the beaten track and so may not have been on your radar…
Family
“Dads are definitely still overlooked when it comes to parenting issues… I think it’s going to take a long time for the myth about dads being second-class parents to die down.” Tom Briggs, on starting Diary of the Dad and being a full time blogger…
Family
If you’re planning a cultural autumn escape, Germany’s cosmopolitan capital will fulfil all your needs. We’ve teamed up with the travel app Seasonal Cities to show you the best of Berlin: from a secret art gallery to a three-hour dining experience…
Sleep
Dr Jessamy Hibberd, a clinical psychologist and mum-of-three, has been examining the early days with a new baby, asking why it’s so hard – even if it’s not your first. Here, she offers an explanation and sound advice for coping…
Wellbeing
A fascinating exploration into the dynamics of antenatal groups by clinical psychologist Dr Virginia Lumsden. From the supportive, shoulder-to-cry-on friends you might make; to the judgments and comparisons that can make you feel anxious and left out…
Family
“My parents weren’t happy when they found out about me trying to contact my birth parents. I think they thought it was a betrayal.” In an honest and moving account, Jody Thompson describes how it feels to be adopted as a baby and rejected by her birth mother…
Family
She’s a mum-of-four (soon to be five) and co-owns the lifestyle website Babyccino but Courtney Adamo had major gap year dreams. So she and her husband sold their north London house and packed (lightly) for a year abroad, en famille…
Family
She’s baked cakes for the likes of Hugh Bonneville and Matt LeBlanc but today, Daisy Brydon shares a five-minute ‘how to’ video she made especially for The Early Hour. Time for a Halloween bake-off…
Mornings
“When you’re trying to get pregnant every small failure becomes a catastrophe. The arrival of your period is like an emotional apocalypse.” Jacki Badger on suffering acute anxiety and depression while trying to conceive her first baby…