Here’s what the science says, writes Mary Steen Soon after a baby is born, it’s getting more common these days for the father or non-birthing parent to be encouraged to put the newborn directly on their chest. This skin-to-skin contact is often termed “kangaroo care”, as...
Paid parental leave extended to 26 weeks by 2026, with pressure on dads to share more early caring, reports Michelle Grattan Government-funded paid parental leave will be extended, and more pressure placed on fathers to share caring for babies, under an initiative to be unveiled by...
Here are 3 numbers to help you decide, writes researcher Karin Hammarberg Egg freezing is promoted as an empowering option for women who want to stop the biological clock and improve their chance of having a baby later in life. But they need to know it’s...
Cassie Hamer writes about her baby’s introduction to food, which was a sickening experience. It was a video-camera moment. My five-month-old daughter was about to take her first mouthful of solids, a gloopy mix of rice cereal and breastmilk. I pressed ‘record’ as my husband gently...
by Karin Hammarberg, Robert Norman and Sarah Lensen In the past two decades there has been a significant rise in IVF clinics worldwide offering costly testing of embryos to make sure they have the right number of chromosomes. The theory is this will improve the chance of...
Researchers Anthea Lindquist and Stephen Tong report that vaginal birth after caesarean increases the risk of serious perineal tear by 20%, their large-scale review shows Pregnant women who previously birthed by caesarean section are presented with a choice: whether to try for a vaginal birth, or...
Researchers Dr Alice Yu, Dr Jade Bilardi and Professor Meredith Temple-Smith report that miscarriage affects thousands of Australian women and their partners each year, leaving grief and heartbreak in its wake.Miscarriage occurs in at least 15 per cent of confirmed pregnancies – however the actual...
The cost of raising a child with a rare genetic disorder was significant but the economic burden could be reduced by earlier diagnosis and targeted treatment, a new study has found. The research, led by the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), supports the addition of Fragile...
Men’s feelings about fatherhood found new expression in a study into contemporary Australian parenting, write Marie Ann Nelson, Claire Halle and Kathy Hennessy. “Don’t think you can cope … you can’t. Don’t think you can keep your old life … you won’t. Hope that when he...
Parents with babies who cry inconsolably for prolonged periods have specific and important needs during this phase of the First Three Months. Finding support Parents who have been through this experience say that the most important help they received includes: Having people who believed how difficult...
