Lockdown doesn’t change the important health checks we should all have, even when we are healthy, writes Andria Aird. Regular health checks can quickly identify health issues for prompt treatment. This includes getting appropriate vaccinations, checking blood pressure, cholesterol and addressing any lifestyle factors. Some...
Reading has always been an essential skill for every child, especially now that we’re all stuck inside a little more than usual. It’s an even more vital tool for them to keep entertained, relaxed, and inspired. Here are some simple ways to broaden your child’s...
'Nipple Nazi’ is probably a cathartic shout-out on behalf of women who feel ripped off by a message that delivers pressure without assuring them the means of living up to expectations, writes Katie Attwell Intrigued by recent research that shows longer-term breastfeeding may be linked to...
As the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us all too well, good health policy depends on prior planning, decisive action, and a willingness to spend money. But there’s another area where Australia’s willingness to plan and spend has fallen far short: monitoring breastfeeding rates. A newly released...
The amount of conflicting advice and information expecting parents get can be overwhelming – our experts sort the factual from the less factual, writes Erin Munro, University of Melbourne For women, couples and families, pregnancy is one of life’s most important experiences, but it can also...
Non-medical sex selection for IVF babies is banned in Australia, but the legislation is blurry and confusing for parents, doctors and lawyers making decisions in this ethical minefield By Dr Michelle Taylor-Sands and Dr Malcolm Smith In 2011, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) refused a...
The proportion of Australians who are overweight or obese is at an all-time high, writes Karin Hammarberg. We know excess weight is linked to many adverse health consequences, but there's now growing understanding that it also affects fertility. A fine hormonal balance regulates the menstrual cycle....
Almost one in 20 babies in Australia born through IVF...
There is a sense of urgency, says Maggie Dent, for the need to raise our boys to be happy, healthy men. As a former teacher, counsellor and mother of 4 boys, Maggie certainly has become a 'boy champion', much needed in our current culture. In her...
As a community we need proactive, positive strategies to reduce youth self-harm and suicide, writes Sarah Stanford. Suicide and self-harm remain taboo topics in schools, despite the fact youth suicide has reached a ten year high. Recent statistics show around eight children and young people die by...
