Marks & Spencer has launched an online maternity bra advice tool that gives pregnant women advice on maternity bras and breast health, tailored to their exact stage of pregnancy.

The theory – according to Julia Mercer, the Lingerie Technical Manager at M&S – is that women should get their breasts measured every six months to ensure that they are wearing the correct size bra. But during pregnancy regular visits to a bra fitter are more essential than ever.

The online tool allows users to select how many weeks’ pregnant they are and generates a maternity bra advice guide specifically for that stage of pregnancy. It aims to help mums-to-be to identify the stages at which they should get fitted.

When I was pregnant, I was never fitted for a maternity bra – my small breasts sort of grew into the bras I already had. I even tried to get away with my ‘same old’ bras when I was breastfeeding my new baby.

I soon learnt that this was not the best idea – not because my breasts didn’t fit but because it was just a mission to give poor babs room to feed.

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Oh happy day! Britain’s first nappy recycling plant is opening in a bid to reduce the huge amounts sent to landfill every year, reports Sky News.

I’ll never forget: a couple of years ago a friend and colleague told me about her birth experience; she said that on the way home from the hospital, she had a literal panic attack as she imagined the mounds and mounds of non-recyclable nappy refuse that her beautiful baby boy would produce. She said that the thought traumatised her in a really real way. Like I said, I have never forgotten.

Environmentalists have called disposable nappies the convenience curse of the 21st century. There are, of course, eco-friendly nappies (of varying degrees of recyclability) and good old ‘towelies’ but disposables dominate the market – they are affordable, quick and convenient.

Sky news says that more than a million tonnes of such waste is generated in the UK every year, much of which goes into landfill or for incineration.

I use an eco-friendly nappy brand but my nappy-producing guilt is nonetheless ever-present. I have resorted to disposables on the occasion, when I can’t find my brand in store or as a result of budget constraints, and I feel bad – really bad.

But not all parents have the luxury of time or money to think too hard about mountainous nappy landfills, which is why the news of Britain’s first nappy recycling plant is fabulous.

The facility at West Bromwich in the West Midlands promises to process a number of personal hygiene products and recover materials which can be used to make plastic components such as roof tiles and commercial tubes.

The firm’s chief executive officer Roy Browne said:

This first site in West Bromwich represents the beginning of a £25m overall investment in the UK. It will produce capacity for handling about a fifth of the absorbent hygiene products waste stream – equating to a saving of 110,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

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Does the pill affect memory? Heads up ladies: new research suggests that using ‘the Pill’ interferes with the way information is remembered.

A study conducted by the University of California, and published in the Neurobiology of Learning and Memory journal, says that women who take oral birth control tend to remember different aspects of an incident from those with natural menstrual cycles.

Not to panic; the contraceptive Pill does not damage memory but rather a change in hormone balance causes women to remember things differently.

The MailOnline reports that, according to the study, by changing a woman’s hormone balance, the Pill alters the way she remembers information. Those taking the drug are less likely to remember details of an event, but instead retain its overall emotional impact.

Here’s why: the Pill works by reducing oestrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy. These ‘left brain’ chemicals have been linked with women’s ability to remember events logically.

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Huge news mums and dads: according to a draft resolution passed by a Council of Europe equal opportunities committee, doctors could be barred from telling expectant parents the sex of their unborn baby.

‘What sex is my unborn baby?’ could soon be a question that cannot be answered.

Nothing has been finalised but, as reported by The Telegraph, the plan is an attempt to prevent parents “selectively aborting” foetuses – usually female – as means of ‘choosing’ the sex of their child.

The newspaper says that the practice has reached worrying proportions in some former Soviet states that are members of the Council.

Although not a problem in the UK, the recommendation covers all 47 member states, meaning all NHS midwives and doctors could be blocked from telling expectant parents whether they will have a boy or a girl.

The draft resolution by the council’s equal opportunities committee will now go before the council’s full Parliamentary Assembly for approval next month – we’ll keep you posted!

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Chicco Special Edition Liteway Glam Review by Roxanne Billett

From the moment the glam came out of its box I was impressed. The most wonderful thing at first sight and touch is the detailed stitch of the autumn leaf coloured leather. It is soft to touch and has a luxury edge.

The buggy was incredibly easy to assemble, just attach the front wheels and unfold.

For such a sturdy and comfortable buggy, the Chicco Special Edition Liteway Glam is indeed very light and it maneuvers excellently.

My daughter is 2.5 years old, so I thought that finding a buggy that is easy to push with minimum effort would be difficult, then I found the Glam! The front wheels swivel with ease and another big plus point is the secureness of the brakes when they are in held position.

The reclining positions are great for sleep time and the attachable buggy cosy muff is definitely a feature to highlight. It is thick, incredibly good quality and perfect for freezing winter months.

The hood is also great for keeping out drafts and helping to shade from the sun.

Overall we love the Liteway Glam and it is a huge step above the Silver Cross Pop that we were previously using.

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