Therapy ‘has long-term benefits for mothers with depression’

CBT has positive effects on mental health, financial empowerment and parenting skills, long-term study shows

Cognitive behavioural therapy has significant positive effects on a mother’s mental health, income, employment and parenting skills even seven years after the birth of the child, according to the first study of its kind.

The international research project into the impact of depression on pregnant mothers and their babies, led by Professor Sonia Bhalotra from the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex, could have major implications for public policy.

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Experience: I had a free birth

We never extricated ourselves from the system; we just didn’t go for check-ups or scans

A free birth is one without medical assistance. For us, that meant no scans, no doctors and 58 hours of labour in our lounge: just me, my husband, Flynn, and our friend Claire.

I’m 32 and a yoga teacher, so yoga and mindfulness have allowed me to understand and trust my body. I’m also practical. I looked at all the things that could go wrong, then all the things that could go right – and chose positivity. I fell pregnant with our little girl, Fox, in May 2016.

Related: Experience: I saved a stranger’s life

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Serena Williams accuses Ilie Nastase of racially abusing her and unborn child

US tennis great responds to controversial Romanian’s ‘chocolate with milk’ comment at Fed Cup tennis meeting in Romania

American tennis player Serena Williams has accused Ilie Nastase of racially abusing her and her unborn baby as she made her first response to comments the Romanian former world No 1 made about her.

Nastase was overheard on Friday at a press conference for the Fed Cup tie between Romania and Britain saying about the current world No 1’s unborn baby: “Let’s see what colour it has. Chocolate with milk?”

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‘It’s my wife’s pregnancy, not mine, but it is our baby’

When my wife and I decided to have a child that she would carry, I thought being a woman, in a same-sex couple, would help me empathise. I was wrong

Watching one’s beloved go through pregnancy can be a bizarre and bewildering experience. It is also one that I assumed might be easy for me because we are the same sex.

From the day we met, almost nine years ago, Bella was adamant that she wanted a child – and that she wanted to carry it. She loved the idea of pregnancy with the same vehemence with which I hated it. I wasn’t convinced about having children. Finally, though, after seven years together, when I was 33, I felt ready. We began searching for a sperm donor.

Related: It's not marriage equality until same-sex parents both appear on birth certificates | Camilla Taylor & Kyle Palazzolo

Related: 'As lesbians, we needed a guidebook on parenting'

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'I tackled the Channel’: the challenges you took on while pregnant | Guardian readers

Serena Williams won a grand slam in her first trimester – so we asked you for your amazing feats while expecting. Here is a selection of responses

This week, it was confirmed that Serena Williams is 20 weeks pregnant, and it emerged she had won her 23rd grand slam singles title at this year’s Australian Open during her first trimester.

Related: Serena Williams’s pregnant victory reminds us how amazing women’s bodies are | Natasha Henry

Related: I have won my dream job and discovered I'm pregnant again – what should I do?

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Serena Williams’s pregnant victory reminds us how amazing women’s bodies are | Natasha Henry

The tennis star triumphed at the Australian Open without dropping a set while in her first trimester. Are women the weaker sex? I don’t think so

The news that Serena Williams won the Australian Open final while eight weeks pregnant has sent the world into a frenzy. Some evidently still think that women are the fairer sex, the weaker and the less capable of the two genders.

Believe me when I say we are far from fragile.

Serena's snap suggests that she won the Australian Open without dropping a set while pregnant. http://pic.twitter.com/ltPndJRJBq

Related: What unexpected feat did you pull off while pregnant?

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What unexpected feat did you pull off while pregnant?

Serena Williams won the Australian Open in the first trimester of pregnancy. We want to hear from readers about achievements you never expected when expecting

Serena Williams is 20 weeks pregnant with her first child, which means she won this year’s Australian Open during her first trimester.

Williams hinted at news of her pregnancy yesterday, when she posted a photo of herself on Snapchat wearing a swimsuit, revealing what appeared to be a baby bump with the caption “20 weeks”. The snap was deleted less than a half hour later.

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Postpartum psychosis: research reveals full recovery possible within weeks

For new mothers who experience this rare and little-understood mental health condition, the consequences can be fatal. But early identification and treatment can have rapid benefits

Sarah West says in the days after the birth of her son in 2012, she felt the emotions many new mothers describe – a mixture of joy combined with anxiety about breastfeeding and whether she was doing everything right.

But around one week after the birth, West’s new-mum anxiety went into overdrive. Despite the exhaustion that comes with being a new parent, she was unable to sleep when her baby slept. Her thoughts raced.

Related: I had postpartum psychosis. More must be done to help mothers like me | Vonny Moyes

Related: Pregnancy and mental health: the hidden pain of giving birth

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Nothing prepared me for pregnancy – apart from the never-ending hangover of my 20s

I am queasy, irritable and dehydrated. My heavy-drinking days have trained me well for having a baby

I am pregnant. I think I’m supposed to say we’re pregnant but it feels more like I’m the pregnant one. He is just reading about being pregnant. Aloud. From a tediously saccharine baby manual, while I mutter things such as, “What? No brie? That’s bullshit,” under my breath.

I was going to announce it on Instagram by posing in my bra and wearing a veil in front of a wall of roses, but then I remembered I’m not Beyoncé, so I just texted all my mates: “Guess what?” and a baby emoji. Many replied saying they had guessed. Apparently, the fact that I wasn’t drinking on any given evening was so out of character that they knew I was pregnant before I could even utter the words “lubricated vaginal ultrasound wand”.

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Baby on board: woman gives birth on Turkish Airlines flight

Nafi Diaby, 28 weeks pregnant, gave birth to girl with help of passengers and cabin crew shortly after takeoff from Guinea

A unexpected passenger joined a Turkish Airlines flight when a woman went into labour and gave birth mid-flight.

Shortly after takeoff from Guinea’s capital, Conakry, crew onboard a Turkish Airlines flight came to the aid of Nafi Diaby, who was 28 weeks pregnant and had begun to have contractions.

Welcome on board Princess! Applause goes to our cabin crew! http://pic.twitter.com/FFPI16Jqgt

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Simone Lia on being ready to have a baby

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