#unexpected-pregnancy
#unexpected-pregnancy

fromwww.businessinsider.com

My Husband's Sister Refuses to Carry Our Baby for a Selfish, Irrational Reason

Surrogacy is a personal choice, and individuals have the right to refuse for any reason, including emotional discomfort.

6 hours ago

Careers

I'm a 6-time surrogate who wasn't fulfilled in my finance career. I quit to start a surrogacy agency and make more money now.

My Husband's Sister Refuses to Carry Our Baby for a Selfish, Irrational Reason

Surrogacy is a personal choice, and individuals have the right to refuse for any reason, including emotional discomfort.

I've been a sex educator for six years. Why did I start doubting my contraception choices?

Milly Evans and Lauren share experiences of misinformation about hormonal contraception affecting their decisions and perceptions.

My Wife Is Struggling With a Very Basic Part of Parenting. I Can't Keep Swooping In to Save Her!

Managing emotional responses in parenting is crucial for effective problem-solving with young children.

My Mom Seems to Think I Owe Her for Raising Me Alone. I Don't Want to Pay Her Price.

Family relationships shouldn't be transactional, and one is not obligated to provide childcare for a parent.

fromDaily Mom magazine

Parenting

How To Research Baby Products Without Losing Your Mind: Smart Strategies & Must-Have Product Recommendations " Read Now!

Researching baby products is essential for making informed choices focused on safety and practicality.

My Mother-in-Law Thinks This Common Childhood Toy Will Cause My Son to Become Sterile

Stand up for your parenting choices and ignore unsolicited advice from family.

6 hours ago

My Wife Is Struggling With a Very Basic Part of Parenting. I Can't Keep Swooping In to Save Her!

Managing emotional responses in parenting is crucial for effective problem-solving with young children.

My Mom Seems to Think I Owe Her for Raising Me Alone. I Don't Want to Pay Her Price.

Family relationships shouldn't be transactional, and one is not obligated to provide childcare for a parent.

fromDaily Mom magazine

How To Research Baby Products Without Losing Your Mind: Smart Strategies & Must-Have Product Recommendations " Read Now!

Researching baby products is essential for making informed choices focused on safety and practicality.

My Mother-in-Law Thinks This Common Childhood Toy Will Cause My Son to Become Sterile

Stand up for your parenting choices and ignore unsolicited advice from family.

more#parenting

11 hours ago

'It will be life-changing': Screening for two devastating genetic disorders in newborns to begin today

The heel prick test will now be accompanied by testing for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a rare muscle-wasting condition that can potentially lead to a child's death by the age of two.

Medicine

Cancer

12 hours ago

I just want to feel like me again': the women still waiting for breast reconstruction years after lockdown

Julie Ford, a breast cancer survivor, is still waiting for breast reconstruction five years after her mastectomy due to pandemic-related delays.

Starting a Family: If Not Now, Then When?

Cultural pressures create a double bind around timing, leading to self-blame and uncertainty in major life decisions like parenthood.

Writing

Has It Become Taboo to Admit to Wanting Children?

Becoming a parent can challenge societal beliefs about motherhood and happiness.

1 day ago

Parenting

Am I a happier person for having a child? It's the wrong question to ask | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Parenthood does not significantly increase emotional wellbeing according to a study involving over 5,000 participants across 10 countries.

Women

Motherhood derails women's academic careers - these data reveal how and why

Becoming a parent negatively impacts women's academic careers more than men's due to greater childcare responsibilities.

Psychology

Starting a Family: If Not Now, Then When?

Cultural pressures create a double bind around timing, leading to self-blame and uncertainty in major life decisions like parenthood.

Writing

Has It Become Taboo to Admit to Wanting Children?

Becoming a parent can challenge societal beliefs about motherhood and happiness.

1 day ago

Am I a happier person for having a child? It's the wrong question to ask | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Parenthood does not significantly increase emotional wellbeing according to a study involving over 5,000 participants across 10 countries.

Women

Motherhood derails women's academic careers - these data reveal how and why

Beyond Fertility: The Messages of Menstruation

Menstruation serves as a vital sign, reflecting overall health and influencing mood, cognition, and social awareness.

When Pregnancy Meets Body Commentary

Pregnant individuals should prioritize their personal experience and set boundaries against unsolicited comments and touch regarding their bodies.

Trying to conceive? Welcome to the worry-filled world of trimester zero'

Pregnancy involves uncertainty, with many couples facing challenges in conception and complications, but preparation during 'trimester zero' can improve outcomes.

Public health

What drugs are safe during pregnancy? There's a shocking lack of data

Parenting

Women Are Sharing The Shocking Pregnancy Secrets That No One Talks About, And I Had No Idea

Parenting

"I Was Told It Was Normal": 17 "Ugly," Dark Realities Of Pregnancy That Most People Don't Know

Mindfulness

When Pregnancy Meets Body Commentary

Pregnant individuals should prioritize their personal experience and set boundaries against unsolicited comments and touch regarding their bodies.

Trying to conceive? Welcome to the worry-filled world of trimester zero'

Pregnancy involves uncertainty, with many couples facing challenges in conception and complications, but preparation during 'trimester zero' can improve outcomes.

Public health

What drugs are safe during pregnancy? There's a shocking lack of data

Parenting

Women Are Sharing The Shocking Pregnancy Secrets That No One Talks About, And I Had No Idea

Parenting

"I Was Told It Was Normal": 17 "Ugly," Dark Realities Of Pregnancy That Most People Don't Know

more#pregnancy

Women

You come back different': how rugby players change after motherhood

England's Women's Six Nations team will miss players due to maternity, highlighting the challenges and transformations athletes face after childbirth.

OB-GYN Mary Fariba Afsari discusses her memoir 'Labor' about starting a mobile clinic

I wanted to create a space where practicing specialists in obstetrics and gynecology could literally drive ourselves to a community that needed practitioners, pop open and see folks the way that we see them in our offices.

Women in technology

Healthcare

fromLondon On The Inside

How Medical Misogyny Is Hurting Women

Women face systemic issues in reproductive health, including pain tolerance expectations and inadequate medical attention.

NYC parents

fromJezebel

Republicans Are Mad Teen Pregnancies Are Down

U.S. birth rate is at a record low, primarily due to a significant drop in teen pregnancies.

fromwww.mediaite.com

Fox News Doc Says The Problem Is Teens Ages 15-19 The Fertility Is Down'

Birth rates among U.S. teenagers aged 15 to 19 have significantly declined, reflecting a broader trend of delayed parenthood and lower fertility rates.

California

fromKqed

Planned Parenthood Clinic Turns to Cosmetic Care Amid Loss of Federal Funding | KQED

Increased interest in aesthetic services is noted, alongside legal challenges regarding election ballot seizures in California.

'Scared' six-year-old calls ambulance to save mum

Pearl told the call handler she knew what to do when her mum Carole collapsed 'because I knew the number and I just memorised it because I really love my mum, so I made sure I knew how to call it'.

SF parents

fromHuffPost

fromwww.independent.co.uk

The Way Widows Are Judged For Moving On Needs To Change - People's Reaction To Aubrey Plaza's Pregnancy Is A Reminder

Aubrey Plaza faces social media judgment for expecting a baby soon after her husband's death.

Media industry

Ads accused of exploiting new mothers' insecurities over body image banned

The Independent provides accessible journalism on critical issues without paywalls, relying on donations to support its reporting efforts.

LGBT

fromAdvocate.com

Connecting the dots: Attacks on abortion and gender-affirming care are inextricably linked

Abortion care and gender-affirming care restrictions share similar tactics and challenges, particularly affecting young people with limited resources.

1 day ago

A Classmate Has Died-How Do I Talk About It With My Child?

Supporting a child through grief requires parents to process their own emotions first for effective communication and comfort.

Over-the-counter medication abortion? These researchers say it would be safe

Over-the-counter abortion medication is not a reality currently. Grossman is not aware of any pending applications at the Food and Drug Administration for medication abortion to be sold over-the-counter.

US news

fromNonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

Trapped and Alone: Fear of ICE Is Deepening Postpartum Isolation for Immigrant Mothers | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.

Immigrant mothers face isolation and stress during childbirth due to fears of deportation and separation from family.

Psychology

The Two Thoughts That Quietly Ruin Adult Children's Lives

Struggling adult children often face analysis paralysis due to the fear of uncertainty, hindering their progress and confidence.

fromwww.aljazeera.com

fromwww.businessinsider.com

US fertility rate drops to all-time low, continuing a two-decade decline

The fertility rate for 2025 was reported at 53.1 births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44, marking a one percent drop compared to the previous year.

Public health

Careers

I had an identity crisis after becoming a mom. Hiring a career coach helped.

Hiring a career coach helped navigate the identity crisis after becoming a mother and discover new career possibilities.

Healthcare

Abortion clinics are closing nationwide. Could urgent care help fill the gap?

Shawn Brown's urgent care clinic in Marquette now provides medication abortions after the local Planned Parenthood closed, leaving a significant access gap.

My Fiancee Reconnected With Her Useless Mother. Now She Has Some New "Ideas" About What Our Life Should Look Like.

The couple faces significant disagreements about children, finances, and family relationships, raising concerns about their future together.

Relationships

Ask Allison: My husband won't talk about our IVF heartbreak and he drinks - and drives, most nights

Rapid engagement and marriage can lead to misunderstandings in relationships.

My Fiancee Reconnected With Her Useless Mother. Now She Has Some New "Ideas" About What Our Life Should Look Like.

The couple faces significant disagreements about children, finances, and family relationships, raising concerns about their future together.

Ask Allison: My husband won't talk about our IVF heartbreak and he drinks - and drives, most nights

Rapid engagement and marriage can lead to misunderstandings in relationships.

more#relationships

Single-cell spatiotemporal dissection of the human maternal-fetal interface - Nature

The human maternal-fetal interface (MFI) is a transient hemi-allogeneic amalgam in which maternal decidual stromal cells (DSCs) support placental attachment, recruit immune cells and create a tolerogenic milieu for patterning fetal cytotrophoblast invasion.

Medicine

#motherhood

Parenting

Is There an Answer to the Question, 'Do I Start a Family?'

Motherhood Feels Like a PR Job, I Quit

Moms often present idealized versions of motherhood, hiding struggles and challenges faced by their children.

Is There an Answer to the Question, 'Do I Start a Family?'

Women are increasingly questioning the decision to start a family, recognizing its complexity and the emotional weight it carries.

Motherhood Feels Like a PR Job, I Quit

Moms often present idealized versions of motherhood, hiding struggles and challenges faced by their children.

The Luxury Birth Center Breaking Hearts on the Upper East Side

Chanel donates beauty products to new mothers at a luxurious maternity hospital in New York City, enhancing the birthing experience with private rooms and elegant design.

Do you have heavy periods? Here's everything you need to know

Many women have endured difficulties with their menstrual cycles for years, often believing that their experiences were normal and that little could be done to help them.

Women

Is Your Teen Moody or Something More?

Distinguishing normal teen behavior from concerning mental health issues is crucial for caregivers during adolescence.

Why was a Florida woman forced to have a C-section? | Tayo Bero

Medical coercion in childbirth undermines women's autonomy, as seen in cases where women are forced into cesarean sections against their will.

Right-wing politics

fromTruthout

Some States Are Boosting Reproductive Health Access, Maternal Health, Child Care

The U.S. Senate upheld a ban on abortion care for veterans, while states are enacting various reproductive health laws and restrictions.

#ivf

Medicine

Doree Shafrir On The Out Of Control IVF Train

SF LGBT

Anyone who goes through IVF 'should be so proud', says Sara Pascoe

IVF is a significant journey, and those who undergo it should feel proud of their efforts.

Medicine

Doree Shafrir On The Out Of Control IVF Train

SF LGBT

Anyone who goes through IVF 'should be so proud', says Sara Pascoe

IVF is a significant journey, and those who undergo it should feel proud of their efforts.

Hi! You Need Boundaries With Your Mom.

Setting boundaries with a parent can protect emotional well-being and individuality, especially in complex relationships.

Health

fromenglish.elpais.com

A healthy pregnancy doesn't depend solely on the woman: why the father's health is crucial for child development

Father's health and behaviors significantly impact pregnancy outcomes and child development, challenging the traditional focus solely on the mother.

Teen birth rates hit another historical low in 2025, CDC says

The U.S. teenage birth rate fell by 7% in 2025, continuing a long-term decline.

Navigating Parental Mental Illness

Children with mentally ill parents face social-emotional challenges and stigma, but a new book offers them validation and hope.

'Doctors thought my endometriosis was IBS'

Diagnosis delays for endometriosis have increased, with an average wait time of nine years and four months, impacting many women's health journeys.

Medicine

Endometriosis: 'It wasn't until I became a mother that I realised my period pain was the same level as labour pain'

Persistent pain and delayed diagnosis of endometriosis significantly impact mental health and self-esteem.

Medicine

'Doctors thought my endometriosis was IBS'

Diagnosis delays for endometriosis have increased, with an average wait time of nine years and four months, impacting many women's health journeys.

Medicine

Endometriosis: 'It wasn't until I became a mother that I realised my period pain was the same level as labour pain'

Persistent pain and delayed diagnosis of endometriosis significantly impact mental health and self-esteem.

710,000 fewer babies were born last year in U.S. compared with two decades ago

U.S. fertility rates have declined by 23% since 2007, resulting in 710,000 fewer births last year compared to the peak year.

Digital Detox: When Fertility Forums Become Compulsion

Online fertility forums can provide support but may also increase anxiety and distress if used excessively.

Medicine

I didn't give up, I let go. How I came to terms with not having children

Digital Detox: When Fertility Forums Become Compulsion

Online fertility forums can provide support but may also increase anxiety and distress if used excessively.

Medicine

I didn't give up, I let go. How I came to terms with not having children

What To Say When Someone Comments On Your Parenting, According To Experts

Responding to unsolicited parenting advice requires understanding the intent behind the comment.

#infertility

Conversations about infertility are hard, but essential | Letters

Infertility conversations lack a shared vocabulary, making support difficult; genuine communication involves acknowledging discomfort and expressing a desire to understand.

Infertility: at a time when we need the right words, others are unable to find them | Nuala McGovern

Infertility is a challenging topic that many struggle to discuss, leading to discomfort and inappropriate language.

fromFlowingData

Infertility path from the perspective of mother and child

Infertility and IVF present complex challenges in the journey to parenthood, often contrasting the perception of a straightforward process.

Conversations about infertility are hard, but essential | Letters

Infertility conversations lack a shared vocabulary, making support difficult; genuine communication involves acknowledging discomfort and expressing a desire to understand.

Infertility: at a time when we need the right words, others are unable to find them | Nuala McGovern

Infertility is a challenging topic that many struggle to discuss, leading to discomfort and inappropriate language.

fromFlowingData

Infertility path from the perspective of mother and child

Infertility and IVF present complex challenges in the journey to parenthood, often contrasting the perception of a straightforward process.

Motherhood unfiltered: 'There was fear the entire time. It's probably the reason I don't think I'll have another child'

Mother's Day presents emotional complexity for many women, particularly those experiencing infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, or unfulfilled motherhood desires.

fromFast Company

Fathers want to help with childcare-their jobs won't let them

Fathers face significant barriers in taking parental leave, limiting their ability to share childcare responsibilities equally with partners.

Managing the 'Waiting Game' of Fertility Treatment

Fertility treatment induces stress and anxiety, making the waiting period particularly challenging for individuals.

Mental health

Fertility Challenges Also Challenge Relationships

Managing the 'Waiting Game' of Fertility Treatment

Fertility treatment induces stress and anxiety, making the waiting period particularly challenging for individuals.

Mental health

Fertility Challenges Also Challenge Relationships

more#fertility-treatment

My parents help lots with childcare, but they let the kids play on screens too much. Can I raise this without sounding ungrateful?

Grandparents should align with parents on childcare rules, especially regarding screen time.

fromSilicon Canals

There's a particular grief that hits when your parent asks you for help with something they used to do effortlessly, and neither of you acknowledges what just shifted. You both pretend it's a preference. It's not a preference. It's the first visible transfer of authority that neither of you consented to. - Silicon Canals

Aging parents often disguise their need for help as preference, masking the underlying shift in the parent-child power dynamic.

I spent five months in a mother and baby mental health unit - here's what I want mums to know

Sofii Lewis described her experience, stating, "I knew I wasn't safe. But I didn't think I was out of control." This highlights the confusion many face with postpartum psychosis.

Mental health

What, Exactly, Expectant Dads Fear in the Delivery Room

Expectant fathers often experience fear of childbirth, feeling helpless in the delivery room despite their desire to support their partners.

Women feel coerced during maternity care in England, charity says

Women report experiencing coercion and pressure from healthcare professionals during maternity care, including forced procedures without adequate explanation or informed consent.

4 weeks ago

When to Announce Your Pregnancy: What the Research Says

Pregnancy announcement timing involves balancing medical risk, emotional support needs, workplace discrimination concerns, and personal authenticity without a universally correct approach.

fromLondon On The Inside

Why Is Maternity Care Failing Women?

UK maternity care faces critical safety failures, with Louise Thompson campaigning for improvements after nearly dying during childbirth and developing PTSD from complications.

Wellness

fromWIRED

Why Are Some Women Training for Pregnancy Like It's a Marathon?

A woman undertook extensive lifestyle and household changes, followed fertility influencers, and pursued extra testing to optimize fertility and reduce exposure to reproductive toxins.

Real estate

My favourite room: 'Trying to get pregnant can be scary but it doesn't need to be' - inside the family home of fertility nutritionist Amy Swan

Amy Swan overcame fertility fears, now has two children, launched a new career, and created a family home featuring Battersea Power Station artwork.

My Husband Is Treating My Pregnancy Like a Science Experiment. He Needs to Stop.

A husband's excessive focus on pregnancy perfection can be addressed through evidence-based resources and setting boundaries on information sharing.

Women

"What A World To Bring A Child Into": 23 Women Who Realized They Never Want To Become Pregnant

Some people feel visceral disgust toward pregnancy and childbirth, finding the idea of something moving inside their body profoundly repulsive and nausea-inducing.

fromSocial Media Explorer

Beyond the Clinic: Practical Support for New and Expecting Moms - Social Media Explorer

Prenatal care must address mental health and emotional resilience alongside medical monitoring, with peer support and practical community resources essential for maternal wellness.

For The Overwhelmed Moms Trying To Do It All, You Can Blame "Institutional Lag"

Afternoon chaos for working mothers stems from institutional lag—outdated systems designed for single-income households with stay-at-home parents that fail to accommodate modern dual-income families.

#postpartum-depression

What Postpartum Depression Looked Like When I Wasn't Falling Apart

Postpartum depression manifests beyond acute episodes, persisting as persistent cognitive fog and emotional overwhelm that makes routine tasks feel insurmountable.

The Guilt No One Warns You About With Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression involves complex guilt layers beyond sadness, including conflicting emotions about motherhood that result from altered brain chemistry, not personal failure.

What Postpartum Depression Looked Like When I Wasn't Falling Apart

Postpartum depression manifests beyond acute episodes, persisting as persistent cognitive fog and emotional overwhelm that makes routine tasks feel insurmountable.

more#postpartum-depression

The Guilt No One Warns You About With Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression involves complex guilt layers beyond sadness, including conflicting emotions about motherhood that result from altered brain chemistry, not personal failure.

fromBusiness Insider

4 weeks ago

I want another child, but my husband doesn't. I've considered leaving, but instead, I'm looking for other ways to feel fulfilled.

A couple faces conflict over having a second child, with the husband satisfied with one daughter while the wife desires another, requiring honest communication and therapy to navigate their differing desires.

'Like a trap you can't escape': The women who regret being mothers

Some mothers experience deep regret about motherhood despite loving their children, citing exhaustion, lost identity, and sacrifice as primary causes rather than lack of love for their children.

Helping All Moms Survive Labor and Delivery

Black women experience three to four times higher pregnancy-related death or complications risk, driven by racial trauma, discrimination, and distrust in health systems.

'It was just so sad, going in to give birth to a baby that is no longer alive. Everything was just so painful'

Parents who lost baby Odhrán at 22 weeks could not register his death because it was classified as a miscarriage.

The 'fantastic' baby bundles not every mum will get

Targeted baby bundles with essential supplies will be delivered to expectant families in deprived Welsh areas, but many struggling families outside eligibility risk missing out.

#perinatal-mental-health

Mental health

Support new mothers with mental ill health | Letter

Mental health

Honesty about the realities of motherhood, and proper NHS support, would go a long way | Letters

Mental health

After My Baby Died, I Saw 4 Words On A Standard Form At The Doctor's Office That Stopped Me Cold

Mental health

Support new mothers with mental ill health | Letter

Mental health

Honesty about the realities of motherhood, and proper NHS support, would go a long way | Letters

more#perinatal-mental-health

Mental health

After My Baby Died, I Saw 4 Words On A Standard Form At The Doctor's Office That Stopped Me Cold

Who Gets to Be a Mother?

We'd been working together for years to make my medication regimen-treatment for schizoaffective disorder-safe for potential pregnancy. Under her care, I was tapering off an antidepressant known to cause respiratory distress and hypertension in a newborn. I'd been experiencing wild mood swings, even suicidal thoughts. My beloved doctor's eyes were sad. "I'm saying no to a pregnancy, Meg." Even in the moment, I understood her priority as a physician was to keep me safe. Still, part of me hated her.

Mental health

Anna longed for a second child. Coming to terms with secondary infertility meant letting go of her fixed notion of family | Bianca Denny

Secondary infertility caused Anna profound emotional distress, social isolation, relationship strain, and self-blame while intensifying preoccupation with conceiving a second child.

Help! I Made a Deal With My Husband Before Our Baby Was Born. Five Months In, I Desperately Want Out.

A mother's physical and emotional well-being should take priority; switching to formula is a valid, non-harmful option when breastfeeding causes severe distress.