For some neurodivergent women, birth trauma is not just about one terrifying moment in a delivery room.

It can begin during pregnancy, build through months of feeling unseen or unsupported, and follow women into the earliest days of motherhood.

As a midwife, I have supported many of these women through pregnancy, birth and early parenthood, and have seen first-hand how much additional pressure these experiences can place on those whose brains process the world differently.

Autism and ADHD do not disappear when someone becomes pregnant, yet maternity care still often assumes that every woman experiences these life-changing transitions in broadly the same way.

For some neurodivergent women, pregnancy can bring an overwhelming loss of certainty. Their body is changing, routines disappear, decisions come quickly and uncertainty becomes part of daily life.

Many have spent years developing routines and coping strategies that help them navigate the world, only to find pregnancy disrupts them completely. Busy waiting rooms, unfamiliar clinicians, rushed appointments and changing plans can unintentionally add to that sense of overwhelm, particularly for women who are already carrying previous trauma, fertility struggles or baby loss.

I have also cared for women who found group antenatal classes so overwhelming that they simply stopped attending because they felt there was nowhere they truly belonged.

Once the baby arrives, attention quite naturally shifts towards the newborn, but that can leave mothers feeling invisible at exactly the point they most need support.

A neurodivergent woman may be processing a difficult birth while navigating sensory overload, sleep deprivation, feeding challenges, physical recovery and the relentless demands of caring for a newborn.

At the same time, many feel under pressure to appear grateful and happy because everyone around them is focused on the baby.

Trauma does not always look dramatic from the outside, it may be the mother who cannot stop replaying her birth experience, becomes overwhelmed by constant noise or touch, panics when plans change or feels consumed by anxiety about getting everything right.

Sometimes it is the woman who simply needs a few quiet minutes after giving birth before she feels ready to hold her baby because her nervous system is completely overwhelmed, but worries she will be judged for not responding in the way people expect.

Many neurodivergent women have spent years learning to mask distress, meaning they can appear calm while internally feeling exhausted, frightened and unable to process everything that has happened.

Through my previous work in the NHS, and now at Cocoon Healthcare, where we support women through pregnancy and early parenthood, I have learned that understanding the mother in front of me is every bit as important as understanding her pregnancy.

Often the biggest improvements come from remarkably simple changes: allowing more time during appointments, offering clearer communication, reducing unnecessary sensory overload where possible, improving continuity of care and recognising that every woman will experience pregnancy differently.

Birth is never experienced in isolation, it is shaped by previous experiences, mental health, communication preferences, sensory needs and the support women receive before, during and after.

When we talk about birth trauma, we need to think beyond labour itself. We should be asking how safe women felt throughout pregnancy, whether they felt listened to, and whether the support they received reflected who they were as individuals.

Neurodivergent mothers do not need special treatment, but they do deserve maternity care that recognises there is no single, universal way to experience pregnancy, birth or early parenthood.

When women feel understood from the very beginning, they are far more likely to enter motherhood feeling confident and supported, and that benefits babies and families too.

Kate Mortimer is lead midwife at Cocoon Healthcare, a Yorkshire-based pregnancy and women’s wellbeing clinic.

With record-breaking heat sweeping across the country and around the world, people are increasingly seeking ways to stay cool and turning to all kinds of tips, tricks and folk remedies to do it.

But how many of those heat-beating hacks are actually grounded in science?

HuffPost asked experts to weigh in on some of the most common old wives’ tales about surviving the heat, from damp sheets to cabbage leaves to yoghurt on windows.

The verdict? Some have truth to them, others don’t hold up to scrutiny, and a few could actually backfire depending on the conditions.

“The ‘Egyptian method’ involves sleeping under a damp sheet to cool down,” Dr. Swapnil Patel, vice chair of the department of medicine at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, told HuffPost. “A damp towel can be used as an alternative.”

The cooling effect is the result of a simple evaporation process.

“A lightly damp sheet or cloth can cool through evaporation,” said Dr. Anthony T. Lagina, an associate professor in the department of emergency medicine at Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center. “As water evaporates from the fabric, it pulls heat away from the skin. This works best in dry, well-ventilated conditions.”

Thus, the effectiveness of sleeping under a damp sheet is limited based on environment. And, the technique can in fact have the opposite effect in the wrong conditions.

“It works poorly in high humidity because water and sweat do not evaporate efficiently,” Lagina explained. “In humid conditions, a damp sheet may feel clammy, disrupt sleep or irritate skin.”

There are other ways to make your sleep environment safe in hot conditions, however.

“To deliver true peace of mind and comfort, I recommend focusing on proven environmental controls such as keeping your bedroom well-ventilated, utilizing lightweight, breathable bedding, taking a cool shower before bed and prioritizing consistent fluid replenishment throughout the day,” said Dr. Scott Braunstein, chief medical officer at Sollis Health.

The idea behind putting yoghurt on windows – a tip that has circulated in the UK – is that the light-coloured yoghurt forms a thin film on the glass that reflects incoming solar radiation, so less heat passes through the window.

“Putting something reflective on your windows will help keep the sun out and cool your home,” said Anna Bershteyn, an associate professor in the department of population health at NYU Langone Health. “I would suggest a reflective window film, metallic foil or shades rather than yoghurt – that would be more effective and less messy.”

Lagina also advised against putting yoghurt on your windows to keep heat out in favour of more practical options. “It is not a reliable cooling strategy and creates sanitation concerns, including odor, bacterial or mold growth, insects and potential surface damage,” he said.

He also weighed in on a similar hack – putting wet towels or cloths on your windows.

“A wet towel or damp cloth over a window can provide only mild cooling if the air passing through it evaporates,” Lagina explained.

“In humid weather, this may simply add moisture indoors, making sweating less effective. Better home-cooling approaches include blocking direct sunlight with curtains or reflective shades, opening windows only when the outside air is cooler and using fans to move air across the skin.”

“Some studies have found that hot drinks and spicy foods increase sweating, which could be helpful in dry heat,” Bershteyn said. “Think deserts – where your sweat evaporates so fast that your skin is dry. If your sweat is dripping off of you – as it does in muggy, humid heat – more sweat won’t cool you any faster.”

When sweat evaporates, heat is removed from your body, but in humid conditions, drinking a hot beverage will instead probably just be uncomfortable and add heat initially.

“During heat stress, cool water or an electrolyte-containing drink is usually more practical,” Lagina said. “Moderate caffeine is generally acceptable for many adults, but excessive caffeine and alcohol should be avoided during extreme heat. Alcohol reduces judgment and can worsen dehydration and heat illness risk.”

Indeed, the type of beverage – hot or cold – that you consume makes a big difference.

“Cold water or targeted electrolyte solutions are consistently the better choice because they are refreshing, encourage people to consume a higher volume of fluids, and provide immediate physical relief from the heat,” Braunstein said.

“Also keep in mind that many hot drinks, such as coffee or tea, are caffeinated, and the caffeine both speeds up your metabolism increasing heat production, and acts as a diuretic contributing to fluid losses and dehydration.”

“Cooling the neck, armpits, groin, wrists and the backs of the knees can help, as major blood vessels are near the skin surface,” Lagina said. “Cool packs or wet towels can remove heat from blood and skin.”

Basically, you can quickly cool the body by cooling the parts where blood flows close to the skin.

“Applying cold can briefly cool circulating blood locally, which produces a perception of relief,” said dermatologist Dr. Brendan Camp. “However, this effect is modest and does not significantly lower overall core body temperature on its own. It is best understood as a sensory or comfort-based strategy rather than a true systemic cooling method. It works best when combined with airflow or general body cooling.”

Lagina similarly noted that this trick is “not magic,” as some situations require cooling across the fuller surface of the body.

“For serious overheating, broader cooling is better – a cool shower or bath; misting with a fan; cold, wet sheets; or cold-water immersion when safe and appropriate,” he said.

Pay attention to potential heatstroke symptoms, which require urgent medical attention.

“If you begin to experience symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, heavy sweating, muscle cramps or unusual fatigue, it is critically important to immediately seek medical care, most often at an urgent care or ER,” Braunstein said. “Heat-related illness is a spectrum that ranges from very mild to life-threatening, so time is truly of the essence.”

“Using cabbage leaves is a real folk remedy, for their cooling properties,” Patel said. “While more commonly studied for reducing pain and swelling in conditions like osteoarthritis, the cooling effect of the leaves, with their water content, is real.”

In the context of heat, cabbage leaves can provide a brief, localised cooling sensation, but experts say don’t get too excited about it.

“My mother has tried to treat quite a few of my childhood illnesses with cabbage leaves,” Bershteyn said. “Sadly, I’m not aware of any special cooling powers of cabbage leaves. But anything cold and wet on your head can feel nice.”

The effect is not long lasting, however. “It warms quickly, does not maintain consistent heat transfer and does not meaningfully affect core temperature,” Camp said. “It is not an effective or reliable cooling strategy from a physiologic standpoint.”

The cabbage leaf trick has historical precedent. Baseball legend Babe Ruth was known to place a cold cabbage leaf under his cap during games to stay cool in the sweltering summer heat.

“A cold cabbage leaf can cool by contact and moisture, just like any cold wet object,” Lagina said. “There is no special heat-related medical property in cabbage. A clean, damp cloth, a cooling towel, a chilled bandana or an ice pack wrapped in cloth is more practical and hygienic. Folk remedies should not delay standard cooling or emergency care.”

Placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan is a popular TikTok hack for cooling down a room, but experts say the effect is more limited than most people expect.

“This can create a small area of cooler air for someone sitting close by, but it is not an effective way to cool an entire room,” Lagina said. “The ice absorbs heat as it melts, and then the effect stops. It may be useful for short-term personal comfort, especially with good airflow, but it should be paired with hydration, reduced activity, shade and access to air conditioning when possible.”

Bershteyn also noted that a bowl of ice in front of a fan probably won’t meaningfully cool a room.

“In fact, if the ice was made in a freezer in the same room, the heat coming from the back of the freezer would offset the cooling from the ice,” she said. “But if you sit directly in front of the ice, you might get a personal, chilled breeze.”

“Many folk cooling methods work only when they improve evaporation, conduction, shade or airflow,” Lagina said. “They are not substitutes for air conditioning, hydration, rest and urgent medical care when heat illness is suspected.”

There are other important facts and precautions to keep in mind as you try to stay safe and cool in extreme heat.

“It takes several weeks for a body to adjust to heat, which is why the U.S. sees more heat-related deaths in the spring than in the summer,” Bershteyn said. “While scientists don’t yet know the exact best way to condition yourself for heat, one thing is clear: Being in good physical shape is a huge benefit.”

She recommended trying to stay physically fit in the springtime and all year-round to make those heatwave days easier to get through. Still, don’t assume that healthy athletes can’t fall victim to heat-related illness.

“Fitness does not eliminate risk,” Lagina said. “Athletes, outdoor workers, children, older adults, pregnant people and people with chronic health conditions are all vulnerable.”

The wrong combination of conditions and exertion can affect even the healthiest people. “We see healthy young adults and children develop heat exhaustion after prolonged sun exposure, strenuous activity or dehydration,” Braunstein said.

He noted that the best prevention is much simpler than those interesting at-home remedies.

“Stay hydrated before you feel thirsty, wear lightweight clothing, seek shade during the hottest part of the day and take breaks in air-conditioned spaces whenever possible,” Braunstein said.

Loose, thin, light-coloured clothing and hats can provide helpful protection, as can periodic cool showers and baths, misting fans, ice packs and damp cloths.

When you reach the peak heat of the day, take advantage of air conditioning and avoid strenuous activity. Drink plenty of water and keep your electrolytes replenished if you’re exercising or otherwise sweating a lot.

“Never leave children, older adults, vulnerable people or pets in parked cars,” Lagina said. “Check on older adults, children, outdoor workers, people living alone and anyone with chronic medical conditions. High humidity, poor airflow, dehydration and prolonged heat exposure all increase risk.”

Knowing how to recognize heat illness and act quickly is also incredibly important. Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle cramps, cool or clammy skin and feeling faint.

“If these occur, move to shade or air conditioning, stop activity, loosen clothing, sip cool fluids if alert, and use cool, wet cloths, misting, fanning or a cool shower,” Lagina said.

Heatstroke is a more serious medical emergency with warning signs that include confusion, altered behavior, fainting, seizure, slurred speech, severe weakness, a very hot body or an inability to cool down.

If you suspect heatstroke, immediately call 999 and begin cooling while waiting for help by moving to a cooler place, removing excess clothing and applying cool water, fan mist, ice packs and/or cold, wet towels to your neck, armpits and groin.

“If symptoms like dizziness, vomiting, confusion, fainting or difficulty breathing develop or don’t quickly improve after cooling down and rehydrating, don’t rely on home remedies,” said Braunstein. “Early treatment can prevent progression to the life-threatening conditions that are on the far end of the clinical spectrum.”

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how great plums can be for our health.

And as it turns out, another tart treat – gooseberries – may also have brain, heart, and hair benefits.

Though they’re not native to the UK, many species of gooseberry have been grown here since at least 1276. By the 19th century, there was such a craze for the fruit that “gooseberry clubs” formed all over Britain.

I’m not saying we should bring those back, but I am advising you to read the impressive health-boosting benefits of the berry.

There are many kinds of gooseberry, including:

• The European gooseberry
• The American gooseberry
• The Indian gooseberry, also called amla
• Cape gooseberries, sometimes called physalis.

It’s important to note that American and European gooseberries belong to a different species of plant (the Ribas, or currant, family) than Indian and Cape gooseberries (Phyllanthaceae and the nightshade family Solanaceae, respectively).

Most of these studies involve Indian gooseberry.

A supplement extracted from the Indian gooseberry, or amla, has been linked to lower cardiovascular risk factors in adults.

And another study suggested that compounds in the fruit, called ellagitannins and ellagic acid, might help to keep the flow of blood running better.

Additionally, gooseberries are high in copper, which seems to benefit our hearts by protecting them from oxidative stress. They also contain lots of heart-healthy flavanols.

Yet another paper found that a powder made from Indian gooseberry improved LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels in both participants with an without type 2 diabetes.

The buildup of iron, to which brain cells are more susceptible (especially as we age), damages our brains and nervous systems. But citric acid, which gooseberries have quite a lot of, can help to block that iron accumulation.

In a rat study, extracts made from Indian gooseberry extract led to better memory and learning and appeared to slow the progression of dementia-related damage to the brain.

A review of studies found that Indian gooseberries may have a range of cancer-curtailing effects: it said multiple papers “have demonstrated [the fruit’s] strong suppressive properties against tumour-promoting mechanisms”.

In other words, it might help to slow or even assist in preventing the growth of tumours.

A mouse study suggested that Indian gooseberry “might influence hair-growth-promoting activity and enhance hair health and can therefore be considered an effective option for treating hair loss”.

Some studies – again, conducted on animals – have found that Indian gooseberry extract, which is high in a compound called quercetin, might help to control blood sugar.

A 2011 paper, this time conducted on humans, found that people both with and without type 2 diabetes saw more controlled blood sugar levels after consuming Indian gooseberry powder.

In a randomised double-blind trial, participants with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) saw fewer cases of heartburn and less severe symptoms after consuming Indian gooseberry-derived tablets.

You may already know that how you sleep can affect how you age – getting fewer than six hours a night has been associated with faster ageing and a higher risk of “all-cause mortality”.

Poor sleep, particularly in midlife, is linked to a greater likelihood of developing dementia.

But what does “bad” sleep really mean?

A new paper published in the journal Alzheimer’s and Dementia has used data from over 23,000 middle-aged and older adults to work out “three sleep behaviors distinctly associated with a marker of brain ageing in healthy people”.

These were found from a list of five sleep behaviours measured in the study.

The researchers used a combination of brain scans and questionnaire responses from participants to work out whether certain sleep behaviours may be linked to brain ageing.

From 2006 to 2010, participants were asked to fill in a baseline questionnaire about the following:

• sleep duration,
• daytime napping,
• sleeplessness,
• unintentional daytime dozing, and
• snoring.

Roughly nine years later, the scientists conducted MRI scans.

They found that all five of these sleep issues were linked to greater white matter lesion volumes, associated with brain ageing.

But after adjusting for other factors that can also create the issue, like smoking, vascular health issues, inactivity, and high blood pressure, only three seemed to be linked to increased brain ageing.

1. sleeping less than seven or more than nine hours a night,
2. frequent daytime napping, and
3. sleeplessness.

In follow-up research, the scientists found that shorter sleep duration might be more harmful than overly long kip.

The study’s senior author, Professor Gene Alexander, said: “Our findings suggest that having too little sleep may lead to greater white matter lesion volumes in the brain as we age.

“We didn’t see greater white matter impacts in people who reported longer sleep durations, but this needs to be followed up in cohorts with more long sleeper.”

Additionally, he noted that the study didn’t capture nap duration, so it could be missing key information about which naps are better or worse for our brains.

“Sleep is one of those potentially modifiable risk factors. If we can improve the quality of our sleep, it may help reduce the impacts of brain ageing and maybe even lower the risk for dementias like Alzheimer’s disease,” Prof Alexander ended.

When a nanny steps into a new home for the first time, not only are they entering a new place of employment, but they’re also getting their first look at a family’s personal life, with all of its routines, rules, traditions and eccentricities.

And as many professional nannies can attest, there’s a lot you can tell about a family and how the household functions during that first meeting.

The clues are everywhere: from the level of cleanliness throughout the home to what’s hanging on the refrigerator door (not to mention what’s inside the fridge) and what’s playing on the television, each observation helps paint a picture of the family and what lies ahead.

“One of the first things you learn when you work inside someone’s home is that every family has its own rhythm, systems and quirks. As a nanny, you’re entering into someone’s most personal space, so you start to notice the little things that make each household function,” Shannon Parola, a California-based childcare specialist and longtime professional nanny, told HuffPost.

Noticing these things is not about judgment. Rather, these details help nannies acclimate to a family’s habits and navigate the home respectfully. Wondering what additional details nannies might observe during their initial orientation? Read on for the inside scoop.

Nannies seem to universally agree that a family’s kitchen reveals a great deal about a household’s inner workings and day-to-day operations, making this room, in particular, the source of numerous initial thoughts and insights.

“You can usually tell pretty quickly whether a family is an ‘everything has a place’ household or a ‘we are surviving the week’ household,” said Parola. The clues on this front include everything from the organisation of snack drawers and lunch containers to coffee stations, water bottles and kid cups, all of which reveal what Parola called “the true flow of the home.”

“I always notice this because the kitchen is often the command center for children’s routines,” added Parola.

Chloe Savage, a part-time nanny from Tennessee, also notices a family’s kitchen area right away, calling it the household’s “centre of gravity.” Her favourite feature to take notice of is the front of the refrigerator.

“It feels like a little personality board for the family,” said Savage. “Kids’ artwork always stands out to me because it’s just so honest and unfiltered. You can tell when kids are really encouraged to be creative because the fridge turns into this full-on rotating gallery. When there’s nothing on it, it also stands out in a different way, almost like the home is more minimal or fast-paced. Neither is good or bad, it just tells you something about the rhythm of the household.”

For some nannies, it’s what’s inside the fridge (not what’s on the front of it) that’s especially noteworthy upon first glance. This contingent includes Alie Moya, founder of New York-based Brooklyn Manny & Nanny, who spent more than a decade as a professional nanny and certified doula. During that time, she had plenty of first days in strangers’ homes, observing the contents of refrigerators.

“The funniest, in my opinion, is the ‘Ozempic fridge,’” said Moya. “So many parents are taking weight loss drugs now. Love that. Totally not judging. But you can spot it the second you open the fridge. A couple condiments, some sparkling water, maybe one sad yogurt. Meanwhile the nanny is in there starving.”

The parents aren’t neglecting their children, Moya stressed. There’s always plenty of kid-friendly snacks and raw fruits and veggies on hand. But in such situations, the nanny usually has to start packing a lunch or arrange a DoorDash stipend with the family.

Parola also took careful notice of the contents of the family fridge when acclimating to a new home, describing the food inside as “surprisingly revealing”

“You learn which kids are in a picky eating phase, which parent meal preps, who buys aspirational vegetables and which condiments have somehow become permanent residents,” Parola said. “I noticed this because feeding children is such a big part of caregiving, and the fridge often tells the real story of what actually gets eaten.”

A home’s dishwasher and the rules surrounding exactly how it’s filled with dishes is the source of many nanny ruminations. Moya refers to this subject as “the ever controversial dishwasher saga”.

“There are people that fully rinse off dishes before they load and people that load dishes covered in ketchup and a rogue noodle,” said Moya, who quickly learned that dishwasher rules in a home are nonnegotiable.

Florida-based Niihalani Teare, who spent a decade as both a nanny and household manager, said her initial observations of a family’s dishwasher rules are akin to “a personality test.”

“Every family has strong opinions about where things go and somehow nobody agrees with each other,” Teare, who now works as a domestic recruitment specialist for Household Staffing, said.

“The same goes for toilet paper. Some families are passionate about over, others swear by under and everyone thinks their way is the only correct way. Those little household quirks always made me smile because every family has these tiny debates and routines that become part of their identity.”

While it’s completely normal for a busy family’s home to get messy, some nannies say there’s a fine line. And homes that appear too messy at first glance send a clear signal about the type of work experience that may ensue.

“Yes, there are days and even weeks when the house is messier, that’s totally understandable, but the overall care families put into their house says a lot,” said Hailey Boylan, a Massachusetts-based nanny.

“I know I feel valued and respected when I do not have to come in after the weekend to a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, the toy room absolutely destroyed, or the dogs hair and muddy paws all over the furniture. I have been in positions where this was not the case, and I burned out quickly.”

Similarly, Lisa Stenach, an Alaska-based nanny, says the state of the house speaks volumes for her. Overly clean homes, said Stenach, may have strict structure or limits surrounding how things function on a daily basis. If a home is extremely messy, however, (think: food and crumbs everywhere or piles of dirty dishes), then Stenach worries that there’s likely no structure at all.

“My experience says that structure and routine don’t ever happen there, and I should expect to have an ever-changing schedule and duties, and I’ll be lucky to be told about birthday parties, swim lessons and appointments five minutes before they start,” said Stenach.

If, on the other hand, a home simply looks lived in, that’s ideal: “That means it’s balanced, the kids and health and happiness are priorities, and the family can go with the flow,” said Stenach.

When Jamie Wolverton takes her first tour around a new home, the Washington state-based nanny notices the toys on hand and the areas where children are allowed to play.

“Depending on the age, especially between 9 months and 1 1/2 years, I look around for age appropriate toys. That tells me if they are invested in helping their child achieve milestones,” explained Wolverton.

“I also notice if the home is kid-friendly or if the play area is sanctioned to one specific area of the house,” Wolverton continued. “That tells me a lot about their flexibility, adjustability and whether they embrace the chaos of having children.”

Last but hardly least, the atmosphere throughout a home is a factor nannies take significant notice of. And to be clear, we’re not talking about whether a home is spotless or has nice decor. What nannies notice on this front is whether a home feels warm, welcoming and lived-in.

“Are there books on the couch? Favourite stuffed animals or toys scattered around? Is there the smell of coffee brewing or dinner cooking?” said Teare. “These everyday details often reveal far more about a family than a perfectly organised space ever could.”

Speaking of organisation and atmosphere, families often have their own vision for how they operate and the overall vibe they try to convey to nannies on the first day. But whether the family’s vision aligns with reality is another matter entirely.

“When a family tells me they are ‘super relaxed,’ I smile and I get ready,” said Moya. “After more than a decade of placements, I can tell you this is almost never a description. It’s a wish. It’s how they hope they come across.”

“Meanwhile, the relaxed family has a laminated schedule on the fridge and very real feelings about where the snacks go. I love them for it,” she continued. ”‘Relaxed’ is the vibe board. The house is the reality.”