Real mums

The worrying state of Britain's maternity services is revealed in a damning Healthcare Commission report…

Where does one start? Never having ?blogged? or, indeed every actually read a blog ? something I realised when I sat down to write this ? it?s difficult to know where to begin. A brief biog perhaps, or just straight into ?that was the week that?? and people can pick up the details as we go along. I?ve chosen the latter.

Nurseries will get improved outdoor play areas, computers and expanded indoor areas thanks to a ?642 million cash boost.

The money will also help improve the quality and capacity of childcare in the Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) sector and help deliver the extension of the 15 hours free entitlement for three and four year olds; and equip settings with facilities for children with disabilities so there are no barriers for any child accessing childcare.

After more than 16 years bringing up her children, an unemployed grandmother from Penkridge, Staffordshire, says getting a job has given her family a better quality of life.

A lone parent, 52-year-old Christine Dawson has brought up her three daughters and one son, including a long period of caring for Louise who had leukaemia. Christine’s fundraising for leukaemia research has included marathon sponsored bike rides.

Christine was keen to find work but felt that lack of confidence was holding her back. Through Stafford jobcentre, she joined New Deal for Lone Parents, which offers one-to-one support and advice.

It's Monday. 11.30. My mobile rings. "Hello, it's nursery, Little Sister has been sick." My…

As solutions go, it was drastic. But the Spurdell family were desperate. While Neil, a…

It's the end of the holidays but before school starts on Tuesday there's an inset…

Part of being a working mum is feeling guilty about leaving your children in someone else’s care. For me the worst time by far is in the school summer holidays. This stems partly from a dim but happy recollection of my own childhood and the endless lazy days of summer spent cycling, exploring, going to friends? houses and watching summer kids TV. Now, after the three weeks holiday that my employer has generously allowed me, my two children need to go back into the capable hands of others.

Women? showing the early signs of heart disease face a greater risk of suffering a…

Hmmm - interesting. having your cake and eating it?! A MYTH I must say. Been…

The number of maternity deaths in Britain has risen in the past three years, figures…

Women who are 'too posh to push' could be four times more likely to die…

If you dress your baby in designer clothes and push him or her around in…

Scotland's first clinic for overweight mothers-to-be is being set up in a bid to cut…

Did you know that not everyone who works for someone is considered to be an…

Poor Little Sister has had a tough week as her best friend at nursery, Meg,…

I never thought juggling work and childcare would be easy but the last 12 months have been a challenge.

A year ago I was living in London. The local infant school offered 8am-6pm wrap-around care and had an on-site day nursery. This meant Big Girl (BG) and Little sister (LS) were dropped off and picked up together. Then, for a whole host of reasons, we decided to move out of the city to live in a town 40 miles away.

Bono?s daughter Jordan was the target of a ?4million kidnap plot, a new book claims.…

One in 10 schoolchildren has seen a fellow pupil being attacked with a weapon in…