We truly wish we didn’t have to say this, but apparently we do: toothpaste should not go on or inside your genitals.

Just a month after men were warned not to put toothpaste on their penis in an attempt to last longer in bed, doctors have had to tell people not to apply toothpaste to their vaginas either.

Why would someone apply toothpaste to their vagina, you may ask?

Well, multiple ‘advice’ articles and tweets across the internet, toothpaste is being used to try to tighten the vagina and thus increase men’s sexual pleasure during penetrative sex.

Many women also believe that toothpaste will clean the vagina, making it smell and taste minty fresh.

As you’d probably expect, this is a bad idea for many reasons.

For one, toothpaste absolutely will not tighten the vagina. Instead it will cause you pain, discomfort, and infection.

Vanessa Mackay, consultant gynaecologist and spokesperson for the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists tells Metro.co.uk: ‘It is a myth that toothpaste will tighten the vagina.

‘Putting toothpaste into the vagina, or on the vulva, would not only be uncomfortable but it could also cause serious damage and disrupt the natural flora of the vagina leading to the potential for infections like bacterial vaginosis and thrush.’

Toothpaste is often abrasive (think of all those scrubby bits you use to whiten your teeth) and can cause microabrasions within the vaginal walls, which again makes you more likely to develop an infection – as well as causing you pain.

If anything, the discomfort might make your vagina feel tighter, because your vagina relaxes when it’s comfortable and you’re turned on.

The technique highlights the lingering insecurities so many women have around their genitals.

Loads of us feel our vaginas need to be tighter and that ‘looseness’ is a terrible, shameful thing, or a sign that we’ve had lots of sexual partners. This simply isn’t true. Having ‘too much’ sex cannot loosen the vagina, and tightness is not a prerequisite to having pleasurable sex. Sex is far more enjoyable when the vagina is relaxed and well-lubricated.

Our difficulty openly chatting about vaginas and our body image means that those who are worried about tightness may resort to dangerous DIY treatments, such as the use of vinegar, toothpaste, or vagina tightening sticks, rather than talking to a doctor.

If you are concerned about the appearance or tightness of your vagina, speak to a professional about your concerns rather than trying any treatments that aren’t backed by science.

You can also try pelvic floor exercises to help build the muscles in the vagina.

Vanessa says: ‘Women who are concerned about the tightness of their vagina should contact their healthcare professional who will be able to assess them and offer guidance in terms of treatment options, one of which could be pelvic floor exercises.

‘There are various different ways in which women can carry out pelvic floor exercises but the easiest is to sit or stand comfortably with knees slightly apart and then engage and draw up the pelvic floor muscles as if trying to avoid passing urine or flatus.

‘To check that the correct muscles are being exercised, women can place a finger or thumb into the vagina and squeeze the pelvic floor muscles at the same time, they should feel a gentle squeeze as the muscles contract.

‘Women can build up the strength of their pelvic floor muscles by doing ten slow contractions and holding them for about 10 seconds each. The length of time can be increased gradually and the slow contractions can then be followed by a set of quick contractions.

‘This process should be carried out three or four times a day.

‘In some women, however, vaginal laxity may be due to pelvic organ prolapse, in which case it may be appropriate to be referred to a gynaecologist for an expert opinion.’

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Remember when you were younger and used to fashion a make-shift wedding dress out of loo roll? Well there’s an actual award for that pastime… for adults.

The 15th Annual Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest just crowed Mimoza Haska, of South Carolina, as its 2019 winner.

The event, which took place in New York last week, featured 12 top designs – from more than 1,500 entries.

All the magnificently crafted dresses varied in design but were made up of toilet tissue, tape, glue, thread and nothing more.

The 12 contestants were entered into three categories: traditional, modern and cultural.

A winner was chosen for each group but the judges also crowned first, second and third place, overall.

The creative garments were critiqued by a panel of celebrity judges including Laura Gawne and Susan Bain, co-creators of the contest and owners of Charm Weddings, Monte Durham from Say Yes to the Dress: Atlanta, and Zanna Roberts Rassi, fashion editor at Marie Claire US.

Mimoza Haska’s crocheted toilet paper gown bagged her first place, along with $10,000.

Donna Vincler placed second with her vintage-inspired gown complete with a floral headpiece. She received $5,000 for her efforts.

Third place overall went to Susan Nicholson for her ‘cultural’ gown, which included a top hat and a full mermaid skirt. She was treated to a cheque for $2,500.

The annual contest came about 15 years ago, based on the popular hen do game.

Since then, it’s skyrocketed in popularity and the number of entries every year has continued to grow.

Long may it continue!

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When was the last time you really listened to your gut?

Symptoms like bloating and constipation, that can cause discomfort and irritation in everyday life, are often the most obvious – and common – signs that our gut is not happy.

As we learn more about our guts, all signs seem to suggest that supporting digestive functioning is a huge factor in our general wellbeing.

Luckily, new wellness range Good Gut from high street hero Boots is offering a simple solution to gut happiness with a helping hand in creating the best environment on the inside that will help us shine on the outside.

Here’s why experts believe wellness begins by supporting good gut health.

What makes the gut happy?

The gut is a complex structure that serves as the gateway between our outsides and insides, absorbing minerals and nutrients from our food.

Scientists think poor gut functioning has got a lot to do with the balance of our gut microbiome, which are the species of bacteria living in our intestines.

Often, we think of bacteria as a bad thing, that we spend our lives trying to fight, when actually we need a diversity of bacteria in our guts to protect us from infections and support mental as well as physical functioning.

Thanks to Boots Good Gut Live Friendly Bacteria, we can help fill our guts with 25 billion bacteria, proven to reach the gut alive.

The Boots Good Gut Live Friendly Bacteria + Skin & Hair Supplement contains all those billions of biotic cultures, along with zinc and selenium that aim to maintain the appearance of normal skin and hair at the same time.

Why should we trust our guts?

Symptoms of bad gut health go far beyond traditional tummy problems, like gas, diarrhea, heartburn and bloating.

There are an increasing number of studies showing the communication between the brain and the gut, with research indicating that the side-effects of poor functioning can affect our behaviour and mental functions, as well.

Not only that, but there is reason to believe that bloating, seen as a direct indicator of an unhappy gut, can lead to irritability because the liver is dealing with more toxins from the colon potentially leaving us feeling foggy and lethargic.

How can we support better gut function?

Since it’s got such a big role in our digestion, the functioning of the gut can be greatly affected by our diets.

For example, not many people know how important fibre – that we get from fruit, vegetables, pulses, nuts and wholegrains – is for promoting normal gut function.

The healthy bacteria in our gut feed on the fibre we digest, helping them to increase in number and kind.

Boots Good Gut Daily Fibre aims to provide up to 20 per cent of our recommended 30g daily intake in one low-calorie drink, designed to be taken with food. Featuring a hint of tropical flavour, this product is even packed with Aloe Vera, L-glutamine, and calcium to support normal digestion. For bonus points, it’s also vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Experts believe that calcium contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes, so foods like milk, cheese and yogurt can be beneficial for our guts.

However, those living with lactose intolerance have a restricted intake of dairy foods since they don’t naturally produce enough of the digestive enzyme lactase to break down lactose (the sugar found in milk).

So thankfully, the new Boots Good Gut Lactase Enzyme helps to improve lactose digestion in individuals who have difficulty digesting lactose* meaning they can enjoy dairy foods and drinks once more.

*Tolerance to lactose is variable and it’s recommended that you seek advice from your GP as to the role of this substance in your diet.

Attention, Greggs fans: You really should check your Greggs Rewards app. There might be a surprise waiting in there.

Greggs has announced it’s giving out free a Spicy Chicken & Pepperoni Bake or a Cheese & Onion Bake to 200,000 members of the Greggs Rewards app.

Between 8 October and today, Greggs has been quietly adding the reward to selected accounts, so if you haven’t checked your app this week there could be a tasty surprise sitting there and waiting for you to claim it.

Only the most dedicated Greggs fans will receive the tasty treat, though, as Greggs has chosen the lucky people based on their account activity in the weeks leading up to the giveaway. Those who’ve spent the most at Greggs in recent weeks will be the ones receiving the reward.

Those blessed with the freebie will be able to claim their bake – either Spicy Chicken & Pepperoni or Cheese & Onion – from now until 31 October.

All they’ll need to do is order their bake, tell the team member at the Greggs shop that they’re redeeming the pasty through Greggs Rewards, and then have them scan the code the app produces. Easy.

Obviously this is major motivation to download the app, although if you do it now, you’ll be too late to get this particular offer.

But hey, Greggs might do a similar giveaway in the future, and you won’t want to miss out on that.

Don’t panic too much if the gift of free Greggs hasn’t been bestowed on you this time around. You can still pick up a pasty for under £2. You deserve it.

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Step aside Line of Duty, because ‘Wagatha Christie’ is the latest crime drama to capture the nation.

The Coleen Rooney/Rebekah Vardy scandal provided top notch gossip and quality meme content, but I want to draw your attention to the unsung hero of celebrity public statements: the Notes app.

If you’re unaware of the story I’m referring to, let me congratulate you on having a life before I briefly fill you in.

On Wednesday, Coleen Rooney released a public statement, which explained that she suspected that someone from her inner circle was leaking stories about her to the press.

Coleen had posted fake stories to her private account to see if they made their way into the papers. They did, and through process of elimination, she discovered the identity of the culprit.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ZHjyjBhSV/

In the most dramatic overuse of ellipsis I have ever seen, Coleen revealed that the leak came from ‘……….Rebekah Vardy’s account’.

To give an anthropological observation on the Rooney drama, the statement wasn’t given through a legal team or PR agency, but via the very modern method of a screenshot of her Notes app.

Once a tool for writing innocuous grocery lists, it is now synonymous with some of the most infamous public statements.

The 140-character limit on Twitter forced public figures to look elsewhere for lengthy announcements, and the Notes app stepped up to the plate and has become the preferred method of submitting evidence to the court of public opinion.

Gone are the days when notes were written on the back of receipts, the envelope of an unopened bill or – heaven forbid – in a notebook. Instead, our mobile phones hold our deepest darkest secrets and the inner workings of our weird little minds.

My phone notes are a concoction of drunk ideas, contextless musings and messages to ex-boyfriends that they will never read.

Sometimes a journal, sometimes a to-do list, but mostly a collection of late-night jottings I don’t understand. I will never really know the meaning behind my 24 July entry at 3.05am titled ‘Do. Do-do, do-do (whispers)’ – and that’s probably a good thing.

But when it comes to public figures, among the confidential detritus are notes curated for the attention of the world.

The app programmers could only have dreamed that their software would be used to make such important announcements – the joy of a pregnancy, the sadness of a resignation or my personal favourite: the shame of a public apology.

Dear Internet, pic.twitter.com/42OCDBhiWg

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 2, 2018

The past couple of years have given us such classic apologies such as ‘The Ja Rule Fyre Fest Fiasco’, Lena Dunham’s ‘I Promise I’m Still a Feminist’ f*ck-up and Logan Paul’s ‘I Didn’t Think Filming A Dead Man Was Insensitive #subscribe’.

Such pleas have become so commonplace that the Notes app should come with a Microsoft Word-style paperclip assistant to guide the rich and famous: ‘It looks like you’re making a public apology, how can I help?’.

Although Rooney’s statement was far from an apology, it utilises the same medium which, from a PR perspective, makes it sound all the more genuine and heartfelt. It makes it more ‘human’ with that ‘she’s just like us’ appeal.

My guess is that a PR team probably helped draft the message. It cleverly avoids directly accusing Mrs Vardy, stating that is was her account that was responsible for passing on information rather than Rebekah herself and therefore avoiding a potentially messy libel case.

Vardy responded with, you guessed it, another Notes app screenshot.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B3ZL3B0hQTZ/

Written in a font familiar to those who follow celebrity news, she opens her statement with ‘As I have just said to you on the phone…’ which leads me to believe that either Rooney suffers from short-term memory loss or what’s about to follow is all for our benefit.

She goes on to explain that other people have had access to her Instagram account over the years, (widening the suspect pool), she doesn’t need the money (lack of motive) and that she’s currently heavily pregnant (compassionate grounds). She ended it with an emoji: the cornerstone of any relatable public statement.

My hot take on the story is thus: it’s probably quite easy to hack an Instagram account and hackers have done a lot worse for a lot less, so as compelling as the drama may be, an immoral technophile could be to blame.

There is one great irony to this scandal and it involves the newspaper in question. It retracted the false stories it had printed and missed out on the exclusive as Coleen went public on her own.

The only money-making scoop left is the confirmation of the true identity of the leak, which would mean betraying the informant.

Something tells me the journalist in question won’t be revealing their sources anytime soon, but perhaps they’ve already prepared a statement just in case………. somewhere in their notes.

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Percy has had a very busy year – in April, the sweet treat went vegetarian and last month it was also announced that there is a new, healthier version of everyone’s favourite pink pig, which contains 36% less sugar.

With Christmas around the corner, Marks & Spencer has more news to gift us with: the Percy Pigs advent calendar.

This year’s theme is sweet pink and red, with joyful piglets ice skating on the front of calendar, and dressed in their finest holiday outfits (a Santa hat and red ice skates) while papa Percy watches on.

The pigs will receive a festive makeover as the usual spongy consistency gives way for a milk chocolate recipe with 25 doors for you to pry open.

Shoppers who don’t like change and would prefer their Percy Pigs in the original flavour will be delighted to know that there’s a bag of regular Percy’s hiding behind the last door.

Over the Christmas period, M&S will also be selling special Christmas-themed Percy Pigs packets and inside some of them, Rudolph is hiding.

Find him and you’ll win a £50 M&S gift voucher (that is, if you can avoid accidentally scoffing him down while stuffing your face with the delicious sweets).

The calendar will launch in stores in the next few weeks and is up for grabs at an affordable price of £5.

While we’re on the topic of Christmas confectionery, why not also get yourself a tin of Quality Street?

B&M is currently running an offer of Strawberry Delights Quality Street for just £4.99.

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If you’re a drinker, do you make bargains with yourself?

Do you tell yourself that you’re allowed to have one more because you’re at a birthday, engagement, wedding, or leaving party? Do you justify every extra sip on the fact that you’ve been for the gym, or that you’ve had a hard day?

It’s not uncommon for those of us who like a tipple to give ourselves reasons and excuses for borrowing happiness from tomorrow.

Depending on how good you are, this ‘one more drink’ rule can be done successfully in moderation. For others, though, we can get ahead of ourselves and end up asleep on the night bus to god knows where.

Our weekly series Spill It helps give our diarists some accountability over their drinking, with every drop recorded for our readers (and themselves).

This week, we spoke a PR Manager who balances her gym-going with her gin-drinking, and loves a wee prosecco.

Monday

After a heavy Saturday night, it’s a rough start to the week. My two-day hangover (hangovers post 30 are not the one, kids!) is in full force and I decide to swerve alcohol for today.

Units: 0

Tuesday

One booze-free day down, and I think I’m on course for another, but life steps in and my friend pushes our gym sesh back a few hours and my boyfriend decided he wants a pint. So I head to the pub intent on just the one… I have a double G&T and a single chaser. Great gym prep!

Units: 2.4

Wednesday

Today I have work meetings so expect a drink or two. I join in with everyone else and pair two beers with lunch, before heading to meet a media partner and sharing a jug of Pimms.

Once we’re no longer in work-mode, me and my workmate decide to head to a cocktail bar in the evening so I down a couple of rather strong gin-based cocktails before heading to a pub and drinking two more bottles of beer. I dread the morning already…

Units: 13.3

Thursday

I get up with a bit of a fuzzy feeling, but have a busy morning at my desk before heading out to meet some clients for lunch. We get a bottle of wine for the table, but after 20 minutes and realising I’m the only one whose glass has been topped up, I decide to down the table water and decline a cocktail – snaps to me. (I’d predict I had two medium glasses of white).

Next up another meeting, where I share a bottle of wine between three of us, before getting on a late train and stopping by M&S for two G&T cans which I neck on the way home.

Before heading home, I swing by the pub and polish off one large glass of red, before downing the rest of a bottle of red in the cupboard. (approx 250ml).

Units: 15.2

Friday

Back to a normal day, I rock up late (thanks flexitime) and think about my alcohol consumption this week, knowing 4pm is beer o’clock in the office. I drink three litres of water before 4pm hits, but can’t turn down two cans of Rekorderlig before heading home and having an early night.

Units: 4

Saturday

My first weekend at home for weeks and I’m looking forward to a productive weekend. But the sun decides to make an appearance, and being September in the UK, we never know then the next sunny weekend will be.

So Spoons beer garden wins out and I end up drinking 2/3rds of a bottle of Prosecco and a pint of lager with a meal deal. Fuelled by bubbles, I pop at the shop on the way home for more Prosecco, and continue to drink a large bottle of beer from the fridge while the Prosecco chills. By the time I head to bed, the Prosecco bottle is empty.

Units: 20.9

Sunday

A day of rest, thank goodness. I take two coffees to get going, and successfully make it to 7:30pm without touching a drop. However a double g&t before bed goes down rather well.

I’d like to say this week was an anomaly, but I’d be lying. Work meetings did change my routine, but without those, there would definitely be a post-work pub trip somewhere.

I know I need to cut down, and have done for a while, but drinking is a large part of my social and work life. Besides, I’ve almost convinced myself that my exercise and healthy eating habits counteract my alcohol consumption.

Units: 1.4

Total units this week: 57.2

Total units in a week recommended by the NHS: 14 units (for anybody regardless of gender).

Spill It is a weekly series out every Friday. To get involved email jessica.lindsay@metro.co.uk.

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There’s nothing like a wedding to bring out the internet’s nasty side.

Be it vulva-styled bridesmaids dresses, ‘trashy’ wedding invitations or a questionable dinner spread, people of the web certainly love to pick apart someone’s special day.

There’s even an entire Facebook group named That’s It I’m Wedding Shaming, dedicated to airing what people deem to be the most ‘cringe-worthy’ weddings and wedding-related events. It’s got more than 130,000 members, and averages more than 800 posts per month.

In a similar group named That’s It, I’m Ring Shaming, a woman posted an image of her mother’s engagement ring.

The 18-year-old described the ring, which unsurprisingly hails from the 1980s, as ‘The Sweater Destroyer’.

‘This is the ring my dad proposed to my mom with in the late 80s,’ she captioned the photo.

Having just turned 18, she had inherited the family heirloom from her mother,

As you can see, the ring is huge, but also resembles a teeny tiny door knob.

This curious piece of jewellery certainly brought on a wave of comments.

‘What drawer did your dad break that off?’ asked one of the hundreds of users who were quick to have their say.

Some even wondered about what her father was thinking, proposing using this heckin’ chonker.

‘Does your dad hate your mom?’ wrote one user.

Many of the comments noted that the ring was officially the ‘ugliest’ they’d ever seen.

‘Ding ding ding we have a winner. This might be the most horrid ring I have ever seen,’ said one Facebook user.

‘Ugliest ring I’ve ever seen here. U win,’ another chimed in.

Let’s just hope her parents don’t hear about this one.

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Any dog owner knows that you’re not supposed to feed your pooch from the table.

Then Christmas rolls around and you’re sat there in your best festive gear, jolly and probably a little bit tipsy, and it’s so much harder to ignore the puppy dog eyes.

Instead of sneaking them some turkey from your plate or offering a treat from the Quality Street tin (don’t – chocolate is poisonous for dogs), you can now buy your pooch his or her own festive delight, courtesy of Sainsbury’s.

The supermarket has just released a new mince pie product, created especially for man’s best friend.

Made from carob, a tree from the legume family which has edible pods (also used as a chocolate alternative for humans) the dog-friendly dish comes in packs of two and features turkey biscuit stars on the top of each pie.

But what does it taste like?

Well, according to Sainsbury’s, the flavours are just like any traditional British Christmas dinner – ‘complete with carrots and a hint of sage’ and there’s also a three-bird feast alternative with chicken, duck and turkey.

The product was trialled by pooches last year and they must’ve liked it because it’s now being rolled out across Sainsbury’s stores in the UK.

If your dog has been a really good boy or girl this year, you could also get them the biscuit selection tins, biscuit puddings and log bones.

More of a cat person? Don’t worry, there’s something for your feline, too.

It’s not a mince pie, but Sainsbury’s is selling festive chicken, duck and cranberry-flavoured products, as well as deli sticks that taste like turkey, duck and goose.

There are 13 Christmas food lines in total, with prices ranging from 90p to £5.

See, you no longer need to feel guilty as you munch on festive treats (though, let’s face it, you’ll probably still sneak them some turkey now and then).

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A 22-year-old hairdresser has opened Britain’s smallest barber shop – and it’s so tiny that it has to have fold-up waiting chairs.

Bertie Graham opened Bertie’s Barber Shop, which is only 4.2 square meters in size.

It’s so small that only two customers can step in at a time, and its two waiting chairs fold out from the wall to save space.

Bertie only spotted the building a few weeks ago and says the whole process, from enquiring to opening the barber shop has been a ‘whirlwind’.

The shop is located in Clifton Village, Bristol, and was previously a florist shop for nearly 15 years, and then a vegan sandwich shop.

Bertie said: ‘I walked past the building when I was heading out for lunch in Clifton Village a few weeks back.

‘I spotted a sale sign on the window and enquired and the whole process was really quick from there on in.

‘After calling the landlord I met him just two hours later to discuss taking it on and two weeks later I was up and running.’

Bertie developed his skills at The Barber Shop on Clifton Triangle, where he worked for six years, and praised as ‘a fantastic place to learn’.

With the help of his family, Bertie carried out an extensive refurbishment of the unit and ordered all the equipment needed to run a barbershop.

‘It’s been a whirlwind few weeks but it feels amazing to be a business owner,’ he added.

‘I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved and I know my family are too, I didn’t think I’d be in this position at this age.

‘Working in such a small space definitely brings a few challenges with it.

‘My main worry was whether or not I’d be able to fit waiting chairs in, but we managed to find a foldable option which sorted that problem out.

‘On the plus side it’s quite handy being able to reach everything from the same spot – and it’s definitely a talking point with customers.

‘A customer the other day said it’s the smallest barbers he’s ever been to, and I’d be surprised if there are any smaller. It’s cosy, that’s for sure.’

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With less than three months to go before the decade is over, it’s time to start planning big things for 2020.

Airbnb has just released a list of the top 20 destinations to travel to next year – offering plenty of holiday inspo.

The home rental platform used data from its website – taking into account growth in year-on-year bookings – and predicted the top places to visit in 2020.

It’s fair to say, there are a few surprises on the list – with a number of lesser-known locations making it into the top 20.

Milwaukee, in the US state of Wisconsin, came in at first place – with a 729% year-on-year increase in bookings.

Spain’s Bilbao – the 2018 European City of the Year – ranked second, with bookings up 402%.

Third place went to Buriram, a province in northeast Thailand, with a 383% year-on-year increase.

Whereas, Sunbury in Australia and Romania scooped fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Other locations that made it into the top ten included Xi’an in China, Eugene in Oregon, Luxembourg, Guadalajara in Mexico and Vanuatu.

Interestingly, Aberdeen in Scotland was the only place in the UK to feature on the list – at 13th place – after Cali in Colombia and Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Courtenay in Canada came in at number 14, followed by Ubatuba in Brazil, Les Contamines-Montjoie in France and Tokyo.

India’s Kerala secured position number 18 whereas Malindi in Kenya came in at 19th place.

Maastricht in the Netherlands ranked at position 20.

Reflecting on the list, a spokesperson for Airbnb said: ‘Ranging from post-industrial culture hubs like Milwaukee and Guadalajara to emerging destinations that are benefiting from
an increase in sustainable tourism, this year’s list is 
full of surprises and hidden gems.’

Time to get booking.

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Becoming a new parent is a nerve-wracking time.

Suddenly you have a new little person to take care of and you’re literally responsible for keeping them alive. Terrifying.

But, while a certain level of worry is normal, excessive anxiety can be problematic and can lead to serious stress-related symptoms.

A new study by Probio7 has found that 44% of new parents worry about their baby’s health daily, with almost 20% having concerns on an hourly basis.

The poll of more than 1,000 UK parents also found that more than half seek medical advice, including a visit to the GP, every month.

69% use the internet to search their baby’s health signs and symptoms regularly – either on an hourly, daily or weekly basis.

The worries that parents had were wide-ranging, but there were a few things that came up again and again.

The parents surveyed worried the most about when, why and how much their baby cries.

Of those concerned over tears, 36% were anxious every hour.

Parent’s second favourite worry is over the regularity, consistency and colour of their little one’s poo.  And coming in third, was anxiousness over how much or how little baby slept.

Feeling anxious to this level on an hourly basis isn’t healthy or helpful, and worryingly, the survey also found that many parents were turning to booze for comfort.

18% of women and 23% of men say that they find relief from worry about their baby in a glass of wine. This number skyrockets for divorced couples, with 50% of single, divorced parents using wine for comfort.

Parents often sought relief through internet searches for advice, and 50% booked regular visits to their GP for reassurance.

For 29% of mums, they felt that their baby crying frequently had damaged their relationship. And that figure was even higher for male responses – 38% – suggesting that men may find infant crying more detrimental than women.

17% of parents surveyed claimed to have suffered from depression when their baby was first born. It could be that age and experience offer some advantage because the levels of depression were highest among the youngest respondents (aged 18-24).

‘This survey suggests parents are worrying most about colic, toileting and sleep,’ says Berta Corbera, Probio7 nutritionist.

‘Optimal gut health for babies is not only beneficial directly for the gut in terms of reducing colic, reflux, loose stools or constipation; it is also vital for immune health. A probiotic can help the baby’s mood, sleep, energy and general wellbeing.’

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For most budding brides, showing off their engagement ring is a special moment.

Regardless of whether the ring is nice or not, people know to say something complimentary or at the very least, keep their mouths shut.

However, as we all know, these rules don’t seem apply to the internet and people can be pretty savage – as one bride recently discovered.

The woman posted an image of her ring, which used to belong to her great-grandmother, to the Facebook group That’s It I’m Ring Shaming and it was ripped to shreds in the comments section.

It is, admittedly, quite unique, with a white shape in the form of an ‘s’, fitted into an oval frame in a 14k gold band.

‘I love it so much,’ she wrote on the post, but others did not share this view.

Some of the moderately kinder comments said it was a ‘blob ring’ and that it ‘looks like a swan’, but the rest compared it to various white substances.

One person said: ‘It looks like a squirt of mayo.’

‘Looks like a squirt of aioli,’ someone else wrote.

A third person suggested it ‘looks like toothpaste’.

One particularly savage member of the group simply stated ‘it’s semen’. Ouch.

At least the bride can take comfort in that she’s not the only one to have her ring shamed in the group.

Previous delights include a ring that looks like a ‘prolapsed butthole’ and another which apparently resembled a ‘jewel encrusted speculum’.

Just this morning, we also revealed a ‘door knob’ wedding ring, which someone said was ‘the most horrid ring’ they’d ever seen.

The lesson to learn here? Don’t post photos of your ring online.

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It’s International Day of the Girl and this year’s theme revolves around body image.

However, one organisation has decided to raise awareness of a different issue in 2019: child marriage.

Brides do Good has just announced a nationwide campaign dubbed #OnlyAGirl, with the aim to highlight the lack of knowledge around child marriage and the dangers this poses to millions of young girls in the country.

Across the globe, 12 million girls under 18 get married every year – that’s almost one every two seconds. In the UK, children can get married at 16 if they have parental consent, despite the fact the United Nations defines any marital union under the age of 18 as child marriage.

The social enterprise, which runs a service where women can donate, sell or buy wedding dresses and up to two thirds of sales go to girls in need, also ran a survey which revealed that 65% of British people are unaware of this law.

To really hit the point home, the company worked with eight young British girls to create a photo series to further illustrate the issue.

‘When people hear about child marriage in developing countries they are rightly shocked, yet from our recent survey results it is clear that the majority of people have absolutely no idea it is happening in the UK too,’ said founder of Brides do Good, Chantal Khoueiry.

‘This isn’t surprising considering that in the UK there is a severe lack of data on child marriage cases, due to there being no official form of reporting in place. We hope that the data we have gathered will act as a step forward in helping to raise awareness of this unjust and barbaric act.

‘Even in modern Britain, there are lots of different factors that can put a child at risk of being forced into an early marriage, including poverty, family traditions, customary or religious laws that promote the practice, and an inadequate legislative framework.

‘Because of these factors, for many children in the UK marriage is forced upon them – robbing them of their childhood, education, health and freedom.’

Brides do Good has also launched a petition to change current legislation and raise the minimum age to 18 in the UK.

The goal is only set to 100 signatures so far, but a Brides do Good representative told Metro.co.uk that the aim is to run the campaign over four months (so the total is likely to change over time).

Chantal added: ‘As part of the #OnlyAGirl campaign, we wanted to create a series of emotive images which would allow us to highlight the innocence of young girls, whilst capturing the hearts of the nation.

‘We encourage everyone who feels emotionally impacted by these images to sign our petition, which calls for the government to address the current age legislations for marriage in the UK – so that together we can end child marriage.

‘If children under the age of 18 are not mature enough to vote, drink, smoke, or gamble in the UK – then why can they marry?’

It’s a good question.

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A mum whose blog went viral when she wrote about being proud to be a ‘kept woman’ has revealed she was homeless for three months and forced to live in a car.

Gylisa Jayne Evans – who has 43,000 followers on Facebook for her Rock and Roll Mother blog – hit the headlines earlier this year after declaring ‘I’m proud to be a kept woman’.

But she has now admitted life wasn’t always so easy and that she and her partner Ryan once made themselves homeless in a bid to start a new life in Cornwall.

In a new book, Ever the Optimist, the 27-year-old reveals that she and Ryan jumped in their Renault Clio with just some clothes and a duvet and drove to Cornwall for a new life.

They ended up living in the car for three months, surviving on tins of soup and bottled water.

She said: ‘I felt shame that it was our fault we were homeless.

‘We hit rock bottom and I found out what it’s like to feel invisible.’

That was six years ago and the couple have since married and had daughter Lily, aged four.

The family now live in a house in Pensilva, near Liskeard, and Gylisa Jayne has found fame as mummy blogger Rock and Roll Mother.

However, when she first came to Cornwall from Stratford-upon-Avon, Gylisa Jayne said she ‘felt like I wasn’t part of society’ and described her existence as ‘degrading’.

The couple were living in the historic birthplace of William Shakespeare but both felt ‘completely unfulfilled’.

She added: ‘I was living with my dad who was mentally unwell and I was being bullied at work.

‘We were members of a health spa in Stratford-upon-Avon and one day we were in the jacuzzi when Ryan said “why don’t we just go?”

‘People talk about it all the time, don’t they … running away and starting a new life, but no one ever does.’

Without telling anyone – including their parents – Gylisa Jayne and Ryan threw some clothes and a duvet into their battered old Renault Clio and drove from the West Midlands to Cornwall.

‘Pretty soon we ran out of money and were on skid row,’ she added.

Gylisa Jane now admits that they were both naive and didn’t realise how difficult it would be to find work and a home while living in a car in Torpoint.

‘We found out that not many people want to hire people for work when you don’t have an address,’ she added.

The couple started off in the Torpoint area before parking up opposite the Child Support Agency and Tesco store in Plympton, Plymouth.

The couple had to sleep sat up in the Clio’s seats as they didn’t recline and washed twice in two months at Plymouth Life Centre.

She said: ‘We scrubbed and scrubbed until we were red” she said and claimed they would use the Tesco toilets and wet wipes the rest of the time.

‘We couldn’t tax and insure the car because we had run out of money and were homeless. We were s****ing ourselves as the car was all we had.

‘We came down with the best intentions and started looking for jobs and homes immediately, but didn’t realise how difficult it would be – without the safety net of a home it’s almost impossible to get benefits and get yourself out of the situation.

‘We realised we were on our own.’

It was during this time that Gylisa Jayne started writing a diary, which provides the basis for Ever the Optimist.

‘We were living on two tins of soup a day and a two-litre bottle of water – it wasn’t pleasant,’ she recalled. ‘We became so ashamed of how we were living and started to think we had made a huge mistake.’

Despite some passersby being rude, judgmental and even reporting them to the police, they also saw the good side of humanity.

Gylisa Jayne said: ‘In the book I talk about quite a few moments where strangers performed random acts of kindness.

‘There was a woman who worked at the Child Support Agency, near where we were parked, who kept saying if we needed anything to let her know. One day she gave us a huge parcel of food, filled with all sorts of things. Even chocolate and juice were like luxuries to us by then. It was amazing.’

Eventually, things started to improve after Ryan got a job as a delivery driver. After living in the car and surviving on just £15 worth of petrol for two months, the couple ended up getting keys to a new flat.

And now, Ryan works as a self-employed builder and the couple married earlier this year.

Gylisa added: ‘We are completely settled.

‘Writing my diary got me through being homeless – it would while away the hours and allowed me to think things could only get better.

‘The response to the book has already been incredible. It was a very difficult time but our lives are now wonderful.’

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There’s no denying Rachel Green was the undisputed fashion icon of the Friends clan, but her beauty was also (and is still) a talking point.

Of course, we’re all familiar The Rachel – the haircut of the 90s – defined by its choppy layers from the crown to the ends.

But let’s not forget her other signature look.

Jennifer Aniston’s timeless red-meets-brown lip featured across a number of episodes and was Rachel Green’s go-to makeup.

The product the actress wore was a MAC lippy – which is still available to buy to this day.

In a recent interview with PopSugar, the actress said she used to put on the MAC lipstick every single day on set.

She also revealed the exact shade: ‘MAC Paramount, particularly that colour of lipstick… because after all it was the ’90s.’

Being a reddish-brown shade, the product is universally flattering on all skin tones. Great news for beauty lovers and Friends fans alike.

The cult product comes in at £17.50 – a price worth paying to honour the style icon.

MAC describes its own product as having a ‘creamy lipstick formula with a soft cushiony feel’ and offering ‘medium-to-full buildable coverage’ as well as ‘a satin finish’.

It certainly ticks all the beauty boxes.

MAC’s satin lipstick has 23 different shades to choose from, from nudes to baby pinks. So why not stock up on some other nostalgic shades too? Like the grungy dark-meets-purple Cyber shade, or the deep brown Film Noir.

So, if you’re jumping on the bandwagon with the 90s fashion trends that are having a resurgence – aka slip dresses and extra chunky black boots – don’t forget to include a Friends-inspired lip, too.

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Not everyone is born with a flair for interior design. Some are able to transform a room using a throwaway scrap of Hessian and a pot of Pantone-approved paint, while others can only cheat their way with Pinterest tutorials and a few cheeky trips to IKEA. Sometimes you’ve either got it, or you don’t.

Michael Reeves falls into camp don’t.

The 21-year-old, whose robot-related YouTube videos clock up to 6 million views, put an interesting offer to his followers on Tuesday.

In a one-minute video, the software developer implores the Twitter community to redecorate his somewhat sad-looking new bedroom.

Use Twitter to decorate my room pic.twitter.com/ZHpeV9HtFh

— Michael Reeves (@michaelreeves08) October 10, 2019

‘The reason it’s so empty and boring and looks like the purgatory realm between life and death is because I don’t know how to decorate anything,’ Michael revealed.

‘So instead I wrote a Twitter bot that let’s you decide what goes into my room, just by tweeting.’

The video has since amassed nearly 4 million views.

To help revamp the space, users simply had to tweet the link to the Amazon item they would like to see in his bedroom. Every 15 minutes, the bot purchased the product with most likes. There was also a $25 limit (£20), which he later increased to $90 (£71).

In the 24-hour period after the original tweet, a melting pot of items, tastes, cultures and passions was birthed.

The bot ordered shower curtains with sassy text, a 7 x 5 ft Jurassic Park party decoration, a 72-piece pack of fuzzy worm toys, a copy of The Communist Manifesto, an inflatable hotdog pool toy, a copy of the Bible (that’s a King James Version, folks), and a 5-film DVD set of Twilight.

A ‘Boyfriend Pillow Microbead Companion Pillow’ even made the purchase list, which will certainly come in handy for those lonely nights when Michael has scared off all potential partners with his newly-decorated room of terrors.

His constant updates on the purchases the bot has made has been the gift that keeps on giving, with plenty of Twitter users along for the ride.

‘I swear half this thread is trying to convert him to jesus the other half is building a sex dungeon with adam sandler and twilight movies,’ remarked one user.

It’s startling how many users are also trying to convert Michael into the K-pop faith.

A group of Kpop fans – referring to themselves as an army – managed to get enough likes so that his bot purchased a boy band figurine, a popstar wall hanging and a 28-piece banner of popular male South Korean singers. Unfortunately folks that last item does NOT ship to United Kingdom.

One cheeky user didn’t want it to end.

‘Y’all we should suggest things on Amazon that are only available for PRE-ORDER so that he continues to receive items MONTHS after this ends.’

Fortunately for Michael, and for the Amazon warehouse team who are probably working furiously to source these niche, cursed products buried under mountains of stock, after 24 hours Michael shut down the bot and thanked his fellow netizens for ‘playing’.

His new bedroom is going to look wild but we sure do stan this nifty way to get some new followers.

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What do you get when you use a sanitary pad that’s been soaked in a whole lot of scented disinfectant? Well, you could either get one hell of a UTI, or you could get quite a fragranced home.

A woman recently shared her own DIY air freshener hack in Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It, a Facebook group with more than 100,000 members who share cleaning tips and tricks.

Her process was simple. First, she took an empty air freshener case, then she spritzed a sanitary towel in Zoflora and finally, she popped it inside the disused container, hiding the towel inside.

For those who aren’t regular users of the product, or perhaps prefer the scent of rich mahogany and leather-bound books, Zoflora is an odour-neutralising disinfectant.

She says her DIY invention makes her house smell ‘amazing’.

Her unusual tip was labeled as ‘brilliant’, with others coming forward to reveal that similar tricks work for them.

‘I stick them on the back of my radiators. Works a treat when the heating is on,’ one woman said.

This is one of many innovative house hacks that have been shared on social media in recent months, with DIY tricks including using chopped mint and anti-bacterial spray to prevent spiders and a homemade laundry detergent created with conkers.

In the Mrs Hinch Made Me Do It Facebook group, Manchester woman Jade Louie recently shared this £25 colour-in wallpaper that means kids can draw all over the walls.

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Star of Netflix series The Good Place Jameela Jamil has revealed that she had to use EMDR therapy to treat her ‘severe PTSD’ in post on social media to support World Mental Health Day.

The actress, who is 33, took to social media to share that six years ago she tried to take her own life and only after surviving did she seek help and undergo EMDR therapy.

She tweeted: ‘Today is #WorldMentalHealthDay. This month, 6 years ago, I tried to take my own life. I’m so lucky that I survived, and went on to use EMDR to treat my severe PTSD.

‘I urge you to hang on just a bit longer and ask for help if you need it. Because things can turn around. I promise.’

She added: ‘There is so much work to do in Improving awareness and mental health care, and we need to further de-stigmatize the conversation around asking for help. While you’re gathering the strength, I recommend the work of @matthaig1 @Ayishat_Akanbi and @scarcurtis ALL my love to you.’

So what is EMDR therapy and how does it work?

What is EMDR therapy

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and is a type of therapy used to treat the symptoms of trauma.

EMDR is one of three main psychological therapies used to treat people with PTSD along with Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and group therapy.

A relatively new treatment, EMDR works by trying to reduce the distress reaction to memories of traumatic events with the help of rapid eye movements.

The NHS explains: ‘It involves making side-to-side eye movements, usually by following the movement of your therapist’s finger, while recalling the traumatic incident.

‘Other methods may include the therapist tapping their finger or playing a tone.

‘It’s not clear exactly how EMDR works, but it may help you change the negative way you think about a traumatic experience.’

Jameela Jamil is not the first person in the public eye to reveal that they suffer from PTSD and have undergone EMDR therapy.

Earlier this year Terra Newell, the brave survivor whose ordeal inspired TV show Dirty John, spoke out on social media about having EMDR therapy to help her deal with the PTSD she suffers as a result of the abuse she endured at her stepfather John Meehan’s hands.

Back in August, Spice Girls band member Mel B explained to The Sun on Sunday newspaper that she too had started EMDR.

‘I have recently been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and on August 9, after trying many different therapies I started a course of therapy called EMDR, which in a nutshell works on the memory to deal with some of the very painful and traumatic situations I have been through,’ Mel said.

‘I don’t want to jinx it, but so far it’s really helping me.’

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Tyra Banks’ wind-making sashay. Naomi Campbell’s fearsome strut. Karlie Kloss’ panther-like stride. All are walks which have brought a bit of sizzle to the catwalk over the years.

It’s rare that an iconic runway walk has belonged to a male model. Until now.

A young German model by the name of Leon Dame owned the runway at the Maison Margiela show at Paris Fashion Week last Wednesday.

Equipped with ferociously high leather boots and a pout to make Derek Zoolander weep, trouser-less Leon stomped jaggedly down the runway.

Leon Dame is the model we’ve all been waiting for since the Trinity. pic.twitter.com/NFOUNDiEkB

— Coffee & Cocktails (@CoffeeCocktail) September 25, 2019

While he had the honour of closing the show – at none other than John Galliano’s request – it was clear that the honour was entirely the audience’s and the internet’s. He even made Anna Wintour smile.

Leon has gifted you with your new go-to strut to work in any situation – propelling you from your weaker self to your most powerful.

Quitting your job? Heading over to drop your basic boyfriend? Popping next door to borrow some sugar? Saunter with all the steam of Leon, and consider the job done.

The fashion model, who is only 20-years-old, hails from Berlin.

It will come as no surprise that the talented and oh-so-extra model is currently studying Theatre Theory and Politics at Freie Universität.

While the walk was mostly of his own creation, he did have a little help from the show’s movement director Pat Boguslawski.

The 6ft 2” beauty has modelled for Maison Margiela six times, having previously walked for major fashion names including Boss and Bottega Veneta.

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