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Sleep matters at the best of times, but when you’re growing new life, getting a good night’s rest is incredibly important. But, pregnancy and sleep do not often go hand in hand. “Many people experience changes in their sleep patterns and quality during pregnancy,” says Dr Chun Tang, medical director and GP at Pall Mall Medical in Manchester. “Hormonal fluctuations, physical discomfort, frequent urination and anxiety can contribute to sleep disturbances. Some people may find it more challenging to fall asleep or stay asleep throughout the night, leading to altered sleep-wake cycles and a disrupted circadian rhythm.” Your circadian rhythm will change “During pregnancy, the circadian rhythm, which is the internal biological clock that regulates various physiological processes, undergoes certain changes,” says Tang. “Things like hormonal changes, sleep disruptions, changes in activity and energy levels and increased sensitivity to light, can affect your circadian rhythm.” Warmer body temperature “During pregnancy, basal body temperature (the body’s resting temperature) tends to be slightly elevated, due to hormonal changes, particularly increased levels of progesterone,” he explains. “This can result in a feeling of warmth or increased body heat. Higher basal body temperature can make it uncomfortable to sleep, especially in combination with external factors, like warm weather or a warm sleeping environment.” Some people may also experience night sweats, particularly during the later stages of pregnancy, Tang notes. “Night sweats are episodes of excessive sweating during sleep, which can lead to discomfort, disrupted sleep, and difficulty falling back asleep. Hormonal fluctuations and increased blood flow during pregnancy can contribute to these. “Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also trigger hot flushes, sudden feelings of intense heat and sweating that typically affect the face, neck, and chest. Hot flushes can occur during the day or at night, affecting sleep. But if you have a persistent fever or feel unwell, you should consult your GP,” he says. Vivid dreams “There have been numerous reports of people having more vivid dreams during pregnancy. Hormones, increased emotional sensitivity, and changes in sleep patterns can contribute to the intensity and frequency of dreams,” says Tang. “Pregnancy often brings about a range of emotional and psychological changes. Heightened emotions, anxiety, excitement, and anticipation can influence the content and intensity of dreams. Dreams may reflect the concerns, hopes, and fears associated with pregnancy and impending motherhood. “If vivid dreams are causing distress or affecting sleep quality, practising good sleep hygiene and relaxation techniques before bed may help promote better sleep. Maintaining a comfortable sleep environment, establishing a regular sleep routine, managing stress levels, and seeking support from healthcare providers can also be beneficial,” he adds. Physical discomfort Getting bigger may not be comfortable, particularly in the later months. As the pregnancy progresses, physical discomfort and increased fatigue may affect activity levels. Some people may experience increased daytime sleepiness, while others may find it harder to engage in physical activities, due to the changes associated with pregnancy. “The third trimester can present more pronounced sleep challenges, due to the changes and preparation for labour. Some common sleep difficulties during this trimester include discomfort and difficulty finding a comfortable position, frequent urination, heartburn or reflux, and restless leg syndrome,” Tang says. What can help? Yoga can be beneficial, suggests Tang: “Prenatal yoga is specifically designed to support the physical and emotional wellbeing of expectant mothers throughout their pregnancy. It involves gentle stretching, deep breathing exercises, mindfulness practices and relaxation techniques tailored to the needs and safety considerations of pregnancy. “These practices can be valuable for managing anxiety, promoting better sleep, and fostering a sense of calm and balance during pregnancy.”

Seafood chowder is one of the few foods that tastes just as good in the summer as it does in the winter.

A bear being transported on an Iraqi Airways flight from Baghdad to Dubai Friday caused delays after it escaped from a crate in the cargo hold.

Seven years ago, I was at my local antenatal class preparing for the birth of my firstborn. In my forties and armed with a coloured birthing ball, I looked around and gasped. All the other soon-to-be-mums were at least a decade younger than me. Some were nearly half my age. It briefly panicked me. Would I make any friends? Why did I leave it so late to have kids? Was I doing something wrong? In hindsight, though, I had no reason to worry: your forties is absolutely the best decade in which to have your first child. According to data published last week in The Daily Telegraph, the number of women becoming first-time mothers in their forties has increased in recent years: today, one in 25 UK births is to a woman aged 40-plus. That’s a lot of women just like me, despite the fact that getting pregnant over 35 gets you labelled as someone of “advanced maternal age”. That might sound harsh until you remember that older pregnancies used to be termed “geriatric” – thank God that’s been phased out. I’ve never regretted waiting until my forties, even if I had been trying for children for years by that point. My story is undeniably unique: my partner Alex took his own life while we were doing IVF, but that didn’t stop me from continuing to try to get pregnant. The maternal call was strong, so I decided to carry on with the process using Alex’s frozen sperm. Today I have two beautiful daughters with him: Lola, seven, and Liberty, five. It is an understatement to say I was ready for a baby at 40. I was grounded. Confident. Unlike when I was in my twenties or thirties, I knew exactly who I was and what made me tick. I had life experience. I no longer got FOMO. I didn’t even drink, having been through hell and back to become sober 20 years earlier. My career was fully off the ground, and therapy had helped me identify the family dysfunction I knew to ditch for the sake of my kids. I also wasn’t worried about my body bouncing back after the birth. I just desperately wanted to be a mum. Of course, there are all sorts of advantages to having children in your twenties and thirties. A huge bonus is that you’re simply more fertile. According to research, 31 is the magic age to have a baby – you’re still as fertile as in your twenties, but you also have more money. I’m sure motherhood in your fifties is great, too – although using your own eggs is highly unlikely, unless you froze them at some point before you turned 35. It means that some older mums often turn to donor eggs. Thinking back on my twenties and thirties, I don’t know how I would have managed motherhood. I don’t think I was ready to put my own needs on hold. I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to juggle work and my children, especially with the spiralling costs of childcare. I do accept that there are greater risks inherent in waiting to have kids. Both the quantity and quality of eggs dwindle. The rates of failed fertilisation, miscarriage and birth defects rise with age. There’s also the social pressure that comes with not having children early – you’re forced into endless conversations about the “ticking timebomb” of your fertility, and expected to fend off probing inquiries about your biological clock. The British Fertility Society advises women to start trying for a baby by the age of 32 at the latest, for a 90 per cent guarantee of having a child without resorting to IVF. But this advice simply wouldn’t have worked for me – I was determined to find the right person to have children with, and that didn’t happen until I was 35. When mine and Alex’s attempts to naturally conceive failed, and then Alex died, only at that point did I know I had the maturity to go it alone. I do have some regrets – I wish I’d frozen my eggs at the peak of my fertility in my mid-twenties, for instance (this process costs between £4,000 and £7,000 in the UK). But otherwise, having children in my forties was the right thing to do. Yes, I had my wobbles. I remember sobbing on the bathroom floor after yet another failed pregnancy test. I would berate myself for leaving it so late. I had to force myself to remember that many women experience fertility struggles in their twenties and thirties, too. All of those anxious feelings, though, flew out the window once I had my first child. When I left the hospital to begin parenthood alone, a new bag of nappies in hand, I didn’t have a meltdown. I was just so grateful that I’d had a baby, especially when the odds seemed so stacked against me. Sleepless nights trying to coax my child back to sleep were what I had most desired. It was all so good, in fact, that I went on to have a second child in my forties. I had a spare embryo in a freezer in St Petersburg. Now I call her Liberty. Every day since becoming a mum, I have embraced the mess and chaos, and appreciate every minute. I’m sure my younger self would cringe at the thought of me spending my evenings helping my children with their homework. But I’m proud to say that I’m living my best life. Read More Vanessa Hudgens addresses pregnancy speculation amid Cole Tucker engagement Rachel Bilson reveals she’s suffered multiple miscarriages Pregnant woman has maternity photo shoot in hospital before giving birth Hailey Bieber responds to ‘disheartening’ pregnancy rumours Like Rebecca Adlington, I also lost my baby at 20 weeks Britney Spears reveals she had an abortion while dating Justin Timberlake

There was a period in the 2010s when personality quizzes were inescapable. Like One Direction’s boppy tunes, their presence was widespread. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator’s 16 personalities, Buzzfeed’s endless Disney character quizzes, and the re-emergence of love languages allowed us to neatly label our dispositions with catchy names.

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Amy Dowden has shared “the hardest step” of her cancer journey with fans as she shaved her head. The Welsh dancer, who has competed on Strictly Come Dancing since 2017, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Dowden, 33, has been documenting the journey for her fans, and recently described in a candid video how she “cries every day” as her hair falls out due to treatment. On Thursday (21 September), with Dowden over halfway through her chemotherapy, the dancer made the brave decision to “take control” and shave her head. In a montage shared on Instagram, Dowden was shown dabbing at her eyes while her “loved ones” cut off chunks of her hair down to a short, cropped style. The remaining hair was then shaved off, with the Strictly star growing more emotional and pausing to cover her face with her hands. However, she was in the end shown admiring the end results in the m “This too shall pass,” Dowden wrote, before describing the haircut as “the hardest step so far”. “I tried my best to save it. I know it’s only hair but these past few months I’ve had what feels like so much taken away from me that has made me not feel like Amy. I’m missing every possible aspect of dancing. I just wanted to keep my identity with my hair and I tried telling myself it wouldn’t go. But I would dread the pain of waking up to the shredding everyday.” She continued: “I’ve not been able to take control of this journey so far, but as you can see with some of my loved ones I took the courage and CONTROL. “It’s going to take some time to get use to and learn to love and embrace but, I’m now focusing – not on the hair I’m losing but the hair I’m going to get back and the happy dancing, tea lover who talks way to fast whilst rolling every rrrrr who is still there inside with or without hair!” Dowden said that she could now “see the finish line” after shaving her head, explaining: “This for me was a hurdle I couldn’t even bring myself to think or speak about. I’ve done it and I’ve also crossed the halfway chemo line! I’m feeling empowered and positive!” Dowden’s fellow Strictly pro Dianne Buswell commented: You are still all the things you were before, just with added courage, strength and determination. One thing about you is that you don’t let anything take over! “I cannot wait to have you back on the dancefloor with us chatting away, making endless cups of tea! We all love you so much and I’m such a proud friend.” Due to her treatment, Dowden has not been given a professional partner during this series of Strictly Come Dancing. However, the team paid tribute to Dowden during Saturday (16 September) night’s launch show. Host Tess Daly called Dowden their “Welsh dragon” and explained that she would be missing “the start of the series”. Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday 23 September at 6.15pm on BBC One. Read More Strictly’s Bobby Brazier: ‘I don’t think happiness or fulfilment lies in what TV show I’m gonna do’ Strictly’s Amy Dowden says she ‘cries every day’ as she opens up on losing her hair during cancer treatment Strictly Come Dancing’s biggest stars this year are 50 plus – it’s refreshing to see Stacey Solomon leads tributes to cancer campaigner Nicky Newman who has died aged 35 Yoghurt could be the cure for bad garlic breath, study finds Teenager’s death after drinking too much water was ‘preventable’

So much of fashion right now feels disappointing. After years filled with promising pushes for progress — from body positivity to racial justice and wider representation — the post-lockdown industry has failed to demonstrate any real change. There’s been a notable lack of plus-size representation in recent seasons, while major luxury houses continue to be led by white men.