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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.”

Myleene Klass has said that if the government does not implement changes to the way woman are treated following miscarriages then it no longer “deserves power”. The former Hear’Say singer met with the Minister for Women’s Health, Maria Caulfield, on Monday (10 July) at the Tommy’s National Centre for Miscarriage Research in Birmingham. Klass, who had previously been outspoken about her four miscarriages, organised the visit at the pregnancy charity’s centre – located in Birmingham Women’s Hospital which also contains an early pregnancy unit – alongside Labour MP Olivia Blake. The 45-year-old presenter urged the government to make sure women receive medical intervention after every miscarriage, not just three, 24 hours specialist care and support for pregnancy and for data to be collected to understand the scale of the issue. According to the NHS website, if a woman has had three or more miscarriages in a row then further tests will be given to understand the cause. Klass told the PA news agency that a soon to be published pregnancy loss review, which looks at improving NHS gynaecology and maternity care, could provide a “massive” change if implemented. She said: “If the policy (does) include these changes, the face of women’s health care is going to change unrecognizably and it will be a wonderful time for our children and our children’s children to know that we made a movement happen that actually protected women’s health.” When asked how she would feel if there are no changes, Klass said: “A health secretary and a health department and a government that doesn’t look after the people, that is in a position and empowered to do so, doesn’t deserve to hold (onto) that power.” The mother to daughters Ava and Hero and son Apollo said she has been “very frustrated” after a “real David and Goliath” battle with the government. She said: “I do find that women’s health is so far down on the agenda and it’s so misogynistic as to why it really is, from the tablets we are given to take, all the way through to the treatment that we receive, or rather the lack of treatment that we receive. “I think it’s pretty evident that we were told to just put up and shut up and that is not the world that we live in anymore.” Klass added that care for women going through miscarriages is not addressed as it is “taboo” and “makes people uncomfortable”. She said: “It’s so cruel when you have experienced the process of it, I’ve never done so much paperwork. “A little baby that never existed and yet the paperwork is excessive and you’re asking a woman to sign away… what do they refer to it as? The products of pregnancy, even our paperwork is incorrect.” Klass also said that the difference between women receiving care in an early pregnancy unit are a “lottery” as in certain parts of the country the centres can be closed during certain hours and at the weekend. She added: “So this is something that is actually costing the economy more, because people are being sent to the wrong places and really desperately suffering with their PTSD.” Klass said that one treatment, a steroid hormone called progesterone, should be administered to more women at risk and GPs should receive more training about the drug. Klass said: “If there is still a heartbeat and you’re bleeding (and) you are given progesterone, you’ve got a chance, I know this better than anybody because that’s how I had my son. “Can you imagine if you do suffer a miscarriage you sometimes or very often have to wait for your GP to then sign you off to get the secondary scan? That means… you have to wait to have your baby removed.” Klass said she hopes things have “shifted” after Caulfield’s visit. In a statement, the minister said the work done by Tommy’s is “so important” as pregnancy loss can be “hugely devastating and traumatic” and thanked those at the centre for sharing their stories. Caulfield said: “I’ll keep working to ensure women and their families can access the best possible care following complications in pregnancy. “The independent review into pregnancy loss – the findings of which will be published shortly – will consider how we can improve care so women and families receive the support they need.” Read More It took until my thirties to realise I might not be white Woman exits plane after tirade about passenger who is ‘not real’: ‘I’m not about to be Final Destination-ed’ ‘We call them Picky Bits’: Nigella Lawson responds to viral ‘Girl Dinner’ trend Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

British rock icon Ozzy Osbourne announced on Monday he was pulling out of the Power Trip music festival scheduled for October, citing persistent health problems that have plagued his career in recent years.

A woman has shared her male colleague’s “infuriating” response when she informed him of her decision to be childfree. Earlier this week, TikTok user @honeyandmud went viral when she recounted the conversation she had with her male coworker, who seemingly couldn’t wrap his head around her choice to not have children. “I was chatting with a guy at work today and he asked me if I have any kids, to which I responded with: ‘Oh no, I’m not gonna have children,’” she began the TikTok, which has since been viewed more than 230,000 times. Her coworker laughed off her response and replied: “You say that now, but never say never,” according to the TikToker. When she further stressed that she knew “for a fact” that she was never going to have children, she said her colleague seemed surprised by her comment, and asked why she didn’t want kids. “I’ve known since I was a child that I don’t want to have kids,” she explained. “I’m 35 years old now and that hasn’t changed and I really don’t see that changing in the future, so yeah, I can confidently say I don’t want kids and I’m never going to have them.” However, her justification didn’t seem to please the male colleague. “Even after that, he still replies with: ‘Well, you never know,’” she said. In the viral video, the woman went on to explain why her frustrating interaction with her coworker was a “common theme” among people who choose to be childfree, or not to have children. @honeyandmud i am so happy you love being a parent, but i promise you that i would not. trust that i can understand that about myself. #childfree #childfreebychoice #childfreemillennial #letusbe #storytime ♬ original sound - honeyandmud “Anytime somebody is choosing to be childfree, there are always people – usually parents – who are like: ‘You’ll regret that one day,’ like they know the person better than the person knows themselves,” she shared. “Do you not think we know ourselves? Do you not think we understand this decision and have thought about this decision and have our reasons why we don’t want to be a parent or bring a child into this world?” “Trust that I know myself, alright?” she added, along with the caption: “I am so happy you love being a parent, but I promise you that I would not. Trust that I can understand that about myself.” The TikToker’s interaction with her male colleague struck a chord for many childfree people in the comments, who took the opportunity to share just some of the many judgemental comments they’ve received because of their decision to not have children. “I chose to be childfree and at 44, STILL get the ‘You never know,’” one person revealed. “I’ll be 40 in a few months and people still want to tell me never say never,” said someone else. “They are still trying to convince me even after I voluntarily paid money to be permanently steralised,” a third user wrote, while another person said: “It’s the most infuriating conversation to have because they act like they know you better than you know you.” “Voluntary childlessness” – also called being childfree – has grown in popularity among US adults in recent years. In November 2021, a survey from the Pew Research Center found that 44 per cent of adults said it is “not too or not at all likely” that they will have children someday, a seven per cent increase from 2018. While there was no single reason why a number of Americans have lost interest in becoming a parent, some survey respondents cited financial burdens or the unsettling “state of the world” as reasons to remain child-free. Earlier this year, childfree TikToker Jackie Dives was praised by viewers for showing “what a life without children can look like”. “I knew in my heart and in my gut that I didn’t want to be a parent,” Dives said in her viral video last March. She added that it was difficult for her to imagine what her life could be without children because there weren’t examples of child-free women “in media or pop culture”. “I had no idea what my life would look like if I didn’t go down the path that everyone expected me to go down,” Dives explained. “It felt really lonely and strange, and I had to go seek out other women who had also made that choice.” Meanwhile, another TikToker sparked a conversation about the sexist double standards that childfree women face after she claimed that her OB-GYN refused to consider her for a tubal ligation to prevent pregnancy. The Independent has contacted @honeyandmud for comment. Read More ‘Child-free’ woman applauded for sharing videos showing ‘what a life without children can look like’ Stop shouting at babies on planes – nobody has the right to a ‘child-free’ existence Woman, 22, sparks debate about medical freedom after doctor refused to sterilise her: ‘I just don’t want kids!’ Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat

Ryan Gosling has revealed that his daughters, who he shares with longtime partner Eva Mendes, were a “huge inspiration” for his role as Ken in the upcoming Barbie movie. The 42-year-old spoke about his children, Esmeralda, eight, and Amada, seven, during an interview with Entertainment Tonight on Sunday, while attending the premiere of Barbie in Los Angeles. During the conversation, he shared his daughters’ candid thoughts about his role in the film, which features Margot Robbie as the titular Barbie. “It was, I think, weird enough for them that I played Ken anyway,” he said. “That I might just hold off on them seeing the full Ken-ergy.” However, according to Gosling, his children have not only seen some of Barbie, but they also “helped” him create his character. “They’ve seen a lot pieces of [the film], and helped me a lot with it,” he said. “They were a huge inspiration for me.” When asked if his daughters thought the new movie was funny, the Notebook star quipped: “Yeah, unless it wasn’t. And then I worked on it…They’re brilliant comedians.” While at the Barbie premiere on Sunday, Gosling also gave a subtle shoutout to Mendes with his outfit. The actor walked the pink carpet in a pink Gucci suit, which he accessorised with a chain necklace that had the letter “E”, which stood for Eva, dangling from it. The typeface on the necklace was used for the film. While Mendes wasn’t at the premiere on Sunday, she has previously revealed that she would rather avoid doing press to spend time with her children. “What people don’t know about me is that I love being home,” she said in an interview with Shape in 2017. “Instead of hitting the red carpet, I’d rather be with our girls.” In April, Mendes also revealed why she would not be joining Gosling on the pink carpet, with the Hitch star explaining that she and her partner “don’t do those things together”. Last month, Gosling, who’s been dating Mendes since 2011, shared some rare comments about fatherhood. During his cover story interview with GQ, he revealed that, prior to his relationship with Mendes, he didn’t think much about becoming a father. However, he confessed that this all changed when Mendes told him she was pregnant. “Eva said she was pregnant,” he recalled. “I would never want to go back, you know? I’m glad I didn’t have control over my destiny in that way, because it was so much better than I ever had dreamed for myself.” Elsewhere in the interview, Gosling clarified previous comments he made about the moment Mendes learned she was pregnant. While he maintained that he “wasn’t thinking about kids” before they met, Gosling said: “After I met Eva, I realised that I just didn’t want to have kids without her.” “I was looking for her, you know?” he added. When asked if he was aware that he was searching all his life for his current partner, Gosling replied: “No. But it all makes sense now.” While they have been more open about their relationship in recent years, Gosling and Mendes have still kept their children and family life largely out of the spotlight. Read More Ryan Gosling fans praise actor’s subtle nod to wife Eva Mendes at Barbie premiere Margot Robbie hits Barbie red carpet in 1960s Mattel-inspired gown Margot Robbie, an Australian, briefly forgets what ‘barbie’ means in Australia Margot Robbie hits Barbie red carpet in 1960s Mattel-inspired gown Ryan Gosling fans praise actor’s subtle nod to wife Eva Mendes at Barbie premiere All of the best looks from the Barbie world premiere

The 1975 will perform their debut album in full at Reading and Leeds.

Scientists want to understand exactly how pathogens can jump species and what the next threat may be.

Leqembi could slow the progression of Alzheimer's, but the side effects can be severe.

The Biden administration wants to crack down on short-term health insurance plans, which it says can leave patients saddled with hefty medical bills.

By Daniel Wiessner California's top state court has ruled that employers cannot be held liable when workers contract

A mother who was diagnosed with skin cancer while pregnant during the first summer of the Covid-19 pandemic has urged Scots to “enjoy the warm weather safely”. Andrea Lambrou, of Newlands, Glasgow, was 36 weeks pregnant in July 2020 when doctors informed her she had malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer. Her diagnosis transformed what was previously one of the happiest and exciting times in her and husband Nicos’s lives into a nightmare. The remaining days of her pregnancy were spent in and out of hospital for appointments and treatment. After a 24-hour induction, 17 hours in the labour room and an emergency C-section, her son Leo was born prematurely on July 24. Lambrou, 39, first became alarmed when she noticed a dark freckle on her leg which appeared to have grown in size, and she was referred to the dermatology department at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow. The mole was removed the same day, but a week later she was told she had cancer. She said: “I’ll never forget hearing those words – not ‘I’m sorry, you have cancer’, but what came next: ‘We have to get that baby out now.’ “I had no choice. It was just as well I didn’t have a birth plan as there was no time to get my head around anything.” Around four people in Scotland are diagnosed with malignant melanoma every day, which is about 1,400 people a year. UK-wide, the figure has reached a record high of 17,500 cases a year and the numbers are projected to increase by 50% over the next 20 years, according to cancer research. Lambrou’s cancer is now in remission and, alongside Cancer Research and Nivea Skin, she is encouraging people to take precautions to minimise the risk of getting skin cancer. She said: “I hope by sharing my story I can raise awareness about sun safety and about early detection. “After three major surgeries in the first six months of motherhood and a year-and-a-half of immunotherapy treatment, I showed clear scans and I continue to do so. “The positivity just shines from our little Leo. I couldn’t have asked for a happier, funnier, more beautiful smiley wee boy. “But there was trauma and tears when I was first given the news that I had skin cancer. I couldn’t believe this was happening to me. “I hope I can encourage people to think about their sun habits and take precautions. “It’s so important, because almost nine in 10 melanoma cases each year in the UK could be prevented by being safe in the sun and using a combination of shade, clothing and sunscreen to avoid burning.” She recommends seeking shade between 11am and 3pm in the UK, when the sun’s UV rays are at their most harmful. She also suggests wearing clothes that cover the skin properly, such as long-sleeved tops, sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats. Sunscreen over SPF 15 is also recommended. The month after Leo’s birth, a large area of skin across Lambrou’s leg and knee was removed and she had a lymph node biopsy, which confirmed her cancer had spread. After starting immunotherapy, she noticed a marble-sized lump near her groin around Christmas 2020. In January 2021 she went through another operation to remove the lymph nodes in her groin area. She was also kept in hospital after developing cellulitis, a series skin infection. The mother said: “It hit me like a ton of bricks. I genuinely thought I was going to die.” But by Easter 2021, she was told she was cancer free. She said: “If you spot something on your skin that’s not right for you, get it checked out.” Beth Vincent, health information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “Melanoma skin cancer is the UK’s fifth most common cancer, so we’re grateful to Andrea for lending her voice to our campaign with Nivea Sun. “It’s important to remember the sun isn’t only strong abroad. Even on a cloudy day, it can be strong enough in Scotland – and across the UK – to burn between mid-March and mid-October.” Read More Woman exits plane after tirade about passenger who is ‘not real’: ‘Final Destination vibes’ Kevin Costner’s estranged wife slams ‘inappropriate’ $52k child support payment Florence Pugh makes return to Paris Fashion Week in transparent dress following last year’s uproar Warning as skin cancer cases reach record high Best sunscreen for your face 2023: Daily SPF protection, from sensitive to non-greasy formulas

WASHINGTON President Joe Biden on Friday will announce new steps to crack down on short-term health insurance plans