Around 45% of families in the UK are now one-child families, increasingly by choice but also due to factors outside parents' control, such as the cost of living, infertility, relationship breakdown and birth trauma. Whatever their circumstances, parents are often told that their child will struggle with friendships, be lonely, or be spoiled, and ......
Elizabeth Gaskell, Florence Nightingale and the work of mothers
A Grand Quarrel investigates an extraordinary dispute between two of the most brilliant women of the 19th century: novelist Elizabeth Gaskell and nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale. Gaskell had four daughters and believed mothers had a vital role throughout their children's lives. Nightingale was an iconoclast who thought all mothers should ......
"Fills a critical gap in the literature on maternity care... a comprehensive and thoughtful exploration of how we can better understand, support, and care for survivors of sexual abuse" Sheena Byrom in her foreword
Trauma-informed maternity care is essential for women who are survivors of childhood abuse. Pregnancy and birth can bring ......
If you are pregnant and neurodivergent, you may need specific support to ensure you have a positive experience of pregnancy, birth and the journey into parenthood, aligned with key themes including sensory processing, communication, executive functioning and mental health.
These support needs are currently poorly understood in ......
For many years La Leche League has set the standard for supporting families with breastfeeding. This new edition of their classic bestseller brings generations of wisdom to today's parents, with up-to-date information, new illustrations, and stories from mothers, fathers, and grandparents around the world who share their own experiences. What's ......
Hypnobirthing is a popular and proven method of birth preparation that uses a series of simple but effective techniques to help facilitate a calm, confident and positive birth experience. Why Hypnobirthing Matters looks at the origins and rationale for using hypnosis for childbirth, explains what you can expect from hypnobirthing, and dispels ......
Recent research has shown that breastfeeding poses a much lower risk of HIV transmission than previously thought, and in 2009 global guidance that promoted formula to avoid HIV transmission was reversed. Mothers living with HIV can now choose to breastfeed if they wish - but in Western societies with low rates of breastfeeding among all mothers, ......
Childhood illness affects thousands of families every year and can have a profound impact on everyone connected with a child, including their parents, siblings, extended family and community. In Why Childhood Illness Matters paediatric nurse and researcher Lyndsey Hookway explores the experience of having a sick child, explaining the effects on ......
One in six families with children under 18 in the UK is headed by a single parent, yet portrayals of single parents in the public eye are often one-sided, focusing on challenges and negative stories. Many suggest that single parents are all young mothers, living in poverty, stress and regret. Why Single Parents Matter takes a different ......
