logo
#

Latest news with #babybrain

Laura Woods candidly opens up on anxieties over returning to work and fears of getting ‘baby brain' on live TV
Laura Woods candidly opens up on anxieties over returning to work and fears of getting ‘baby brain' on live TV

The Sun

time6 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • The Sun

Laura Woods candidly opens up on anxieties over returning to work and fears of getting ‘baby brain' on live TV

LAURA WOODS has lifted the lid on her anxieties of returning to work after giving birth. The award-winning presenter gave birth to baby Leo in January and only returned to work in April. 3 3 3 However, the 38-year-old says her return to working life hasn't been easy. Speaking to The Telegraph, Woods had candidly lifted the lid on her fears of stepping back in front of camera. Her worries included concerns about her appearance due to her weight gains during her pregnancy and suffering from "baby brain". She explains how at times she had just been sitting at home and forgetting normal things like the name of a fork. Woods said: "I was very worried that I would be off the mark. I was worried that I would have lost some of my edge or sharpness. "I kept forgetting names, which started during pregnancy. It's a thing that everyone talks about. You don't think you're going to get it. "You get a bit of 'baby brain' and it's hard when you're presenting because a lot of the time stuff is thrown at you and you don't see it before it goes live. "It's live TV, so you have to react. You have to be sharp... I was nervous about getting little kind of brain drop-outs. But I surprised myself. I wasn't awful!" Women who work in television are often judged by how they look, but fortunately Woods says that when she came back she had found a new "level of acceptance of myself" after rearranging her list of priorities. She continued: "I was nervous about how I looked. You put on a lot of weight in pregnancy and you feel a little bit different. Laura Woods gives birth to first child with Adam Collard as couple reveal sweet name in adorable post "Of the things I used to worry about, my appearance probably would have been top of that list. But funnily enough that's sort of taken a bit of a back step... "When I came back I felt quite a level of acceptance of myself I don't think I had before I had a baby. "However you have your baby, however tricky or easy your pregnancy is, your body will change and you just accept it because you think there's something much bigger going on. My body has done an amazing thing." The former TalkSPORT radio presenter was always open about her journey to motherhood, supported by fiance and former Love Island star, Adam Collard, who is Leo's father. Her "wonderful" colleagues at ITV have also been a great source of support for her following the major life milestone. While the sports broadcasting industry can be brutal and unforgiving, becoming a mother opened Woods up to a completely new world of scrutiny, which naturally came with its own fears of judgement. Woods added: "I remember putting a picture of Leo up on social media and thinking, 'What if people pull me up on something? Am I holding the baby wrong? Is he wearing too many clothes? Is he not wearing enough clothes?' "I had my phone in the background and someone messaged me and said, 'Get your phone away from that baby!' I just thought, 'Give me a break'. "I thought it was bad enough when you work in telly and football. I just don't really bother with social media like I used to and that's great. It makes me feel a lot better to be honest.' After initially returning to TNT Sports for their coverage of the Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan, Woods is now leading ITV's coverage of the Women's Euros this summer. The Lionesses are in action against Wales for their final game of Group D, with England being fully fit going into the critical home nations clash.

I blamed my ‘baby brain' on being a tired parent until a seizure in the night led to horror diagnosis
I blamed my ‘baby brain' on being a tired parent until a seizure in the night led to horror diagnosis

The Sun

time01-07-2025

  • Health
  • The Sun

I blamed my ‘baby brain' on being a tired parent until a seizure in the night led to horror diagnosis

A NEW mum dismissed her fatigue and headaches as "baby brain" - but woke up from a seizure with her terrified family staring at her in horror. Amy Dyer, 37, believed her extreme tiredness and low concentration were simply part of life as a parent. 11 11 11 She put off going to the doctor's about her symptoms, thinking there was "nothing unusual" going on. But after being struck by a seizure in her sleep, Amy received a devastating diagnosis. Amy, a computer science teacher, from Cullompton, Devon, said: "I'd had our little boy and was juggling life as a mum and teaching. "I thought I had what everyone calls 'baby brain' tiredness, low concentration, feeling foggy. "It all just felt like part of motherhood, especially after having a baby. "I didn't go to the doctors because I genuinely thought it was just postnatal exhaustion, maybe low iron or fatigue. Nothing unusual." But in December 2022, after experiencing "terrible" headaches, low concentration and eventually a seizure in her sleep, Amy was rushed to the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital. "I started having headaches, terrible ones that would wake me up in the middle of the night," she said. "Looking back, I realise my concentration levels were much lower than they should have been. "I was startled to wake up to my sister, Chloe and husband, Will, staring at me in horror, I thought they were joking, how could I have had a seizure if I was asleep?" Simple hand test that could reveal if you have a hidden brain tumour At the hospital she suffered a second seizure and a CT scan revealed a space-occupying lesion in her brain. She was prescribed anti-seizure medication and given an MRI scan. "One minute I was in bed, the next, I was in hospital, facing brain scans and big decisions," Amy recalled. "It was dreadful." 11 11 After further tests, Amy was referred to University Hospital Plymouth for a biopsy and, in May 2023, was diagnosed with a low-grade astrocytoma, a type of brain tumour. Faced with the option to wait and monitor the tumour or have surgery, Amy chose to undergo an awake craniotomy in June 2023. Amy said: "I heard the words tumour, and my world changed. "I didn't want to wait to see if the tumour would develop, so I chose surgery. "The risks scared me: seizures, complications, even death. But I knew I couldn't leave it and risk it becoming inoperable." Symptoms of astrocytoma Astrocytoma is a common type of primary brain tumour, which means it starts in the brain instead of spreading there. Astrocytomas start in stem cells, which eventually develop in to one of the different types of brain cells, such as astroctyes. Astrocytes are brain cells that connect and support nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. As astrocytes are found throughout the brain, astrocytomas can occur in many different areas of the brain. These tumours grow from cells that are vital in processing information in the brain, so they can disrupt the function of whichever area of the brain they are growing in. Some of these tumours grow in the cerebellum, which controls balance. They can also occur in the optic pathways, which are involved in sight. So, symptoms can be very different between people affected by these tumours. That being said, common astrocytoma symptoms could include: Headaches Difficulty speaking Change in vision, like double vision or blurriness Cognitive difficulties, like trouble thinking or remembering Seizures (epilepsy) Source: The Brain Tumour Charity On 8 June 2023, Amy underwent the procedure at University Hospital Plymouth. Surgeons initially kept her awake to monitor brain function, asking her to move her left hand, before placing her under general anaesthetic to complete the operation. The surgery was considered a success, and Amy spent five days in hospital. "Thankfully, I didn't lose mobility on my left side," she said. "They weren't able to tell me the percentage of the tumour they removed, but I'm happy they felt the operation was a success." 11 11 11 Further testing revealed the tumour was a more aggressive grade 3 astrocytoma. "They sent it away to be tested and found out that it was in fact a grade 3 astrocytoma," she said. "Doctors asked to keep some of the tumour to aid research which I agreed." Since then, she has undergone physiotherapy, occupational therapy, 33 sessions of radiotherapy, and oral chemotherapy. She now has routine scans every four months. In June 2025, she received a clear scan, three years after her first symptoms. Amy described this as "great news". She said: "I've learned to take life slower. "Before, I was on a hamster wheel. Now I value people, time and memories more than possessions. "I haven't had a seizure since the first two in 2022, and I received a clear scan for June 2025 which is great news." Amy is now fundraising for Brain Tumour Research by participating in the 88 Squats a Day in July Challenge to raise money for a cure. Katrina Jones, Head of Community Fundraising at Brain Tumour Research said: "Amy's strength and determination in sharing her story is truly inspiring, by opening up about her experience, she's not only raising vital awareness of the signs and symptoms of brain tumours but also helping to highlight the urgent need for more funding into research. "We're incredibly grateful for her support and proud to have her as part of our fundraising community." 11

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store