Thirty-one years a ago, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Abbie. My pregnancy wasn’t entirely without complications, but I felt safe, secure, and confident that I had the best possible care within the NHS.

Fast forward three decades, and maternity services are at breaking point. Last week the Health Secretary, Wes Streeting, announced a rapid review of maternity safety. He also announced he will be chairing a National Maternity and Neonatal Task Force, bringing together experts, staff and campaigners across maternity and neonatal services in England.

By coincidence, last week I also had the pleasure of meeting Jo Hewson, a birth coach (doulah), who talked to me about the role of a doulah, and how they can help parents through pregnancy and birth.

I had suffered with chronic reflux for a number of years, which was consuming my life 24/7 and had left me feeling desperate. Having undergone tests previously, my GP determined there was no underlying issue and had prescribed me with reflux medication which I disliked taking daily. I also took over the counter indigestion remedies, all of which provided minimal relief from my symptoms…………I have not taken any reflux medication for over 18 months. Having gained such a positive result with my reflux, Jane has also helped me with the effects of post-menopause both physically and emotionally and I see her on a regular basis, as she is my No.1 go to person.

I recently took the plunge into wild swimming with my friend Angie on a chilly November morning in North Yorkshire. Though I had imagined my first wild swim would be a warm, sunny experience, Angie was determined to check it off her birthday wish list, and I joined her. The experience, inspired by Wim Hof's cold-water immersion methods, promised a range of health benefits: boosting immunity, improving circulation, increasing energy, enhancing mental resilience, and reducing stress.

While cold water offers these advantages, Chinese healthcare practices, such as Yangsheng, advise caution, particularly for those with a "cold condition." Wild swimming can exacerbate issues like joint stiffness or digestive troubles for individuals sensitive to the cold. The risks of cold-water shock, swim failure, and after-drop also require careful consideration. However, starting with gradual exposure, such as cooler showers or brief outdoor walks, can help acclimatize the body.

Ultimately, wild swimming is an invigorating way to connect with nature, but it's important to know your limits and approach it safely.

Full Circle Funerals have created an online gallery for people suffering the loss of a loved one. This gallery is a safe place for anyone, from professional artists to adults or children who have never consider themselves to be artists, to share their expression of loss through art. The art shared here might be a drawing or painting, a photograph or poem, collage, fabric creation or a link to a song. Any medium of art is welcome.

he NHS estimates that 1 in every 7 couples have problems conceiving.

The average couple has around a 25% chance of getting pregnant in each cycle. And most couples (84%) will conceive naturally within a year of trying.

The first reason for not falling pregnant could be that you’re just not having sex often enough. Try for at least two or three times a week. Once you’ve ruled that out, have a look at these common reasons for infertility -

Chinese medicine sees emotions manifesting in the organs; the heart feels the emotion of joy, the spleen pensiveness, the liver anger and frustration, the kidneys fear. And the emotions of sadness, grief, and worry affect the lungs. Although we cannot escape grief, there are ways we can help ourselves to cope.

Tinnitus and Stress?

Yes, there’s a relationship. And it can create a vicious circle. Research has shown that how you look at tinnitus affects your levels of stress. Stress can be a factor in the onset of tinnitus. And it can affect your experience of tinnitus in the long term.

Last night we all had the chance to sleep for an extra hour. Are you one of those people who rejoice at having that extra hour to snooze, or did you use it to cram something else into your day?

It may seem strange, but according to Mark Walker, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology at the University of California, and Director of their Sleep and Neuroimaging Laboratory, this annual ‘experiment’ involving 1.5 billion people in the Northern Hemisphere, shows the rate of heart attacks plummet the day after the clocks go back. And the reverse is true, losing an hour in Spring causes a sharp rise in heart failure.

Can acupuncture help?

Anxiety is the scourge of the modern world. Technology meant to help us throws us into a pace of life that we just weren’t designed for; 24/7 access via electronic devices, and constant pressure to look good and be seen to have exciting lives leave us ever vulnerable to criticism, be it real or perceived.

Is Something Disturbing You?

We’re coming towards the end of stress awareness month. But do you know what stress really is, how stress affects your health, and how can you live a less stressful life? Find out here!

February is Raynaud’s Awareness Month. Raynaud’s affects 1 in six people living in the UK.

The NHS advisory service, The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), recommend acupuncture for the treatment of migraines and chronic headaches. Acupuncture has been found to be more effective than basic or no treatment, and at least as effective as some drug treatments, but with little risk of side effects.

Cancer care is an area in which Western Medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine complement each other well. Acupuncture can make changes to biochemistry that help to reduce these symptoms along with the stress and anxiety that cancer naturally brings.