Monash University researchers have developed a fast, cheap paper test that can detect bilirubin in jaundiced newborns. The tape-paper sensor is on the verge of extensive clinical trials. The in-home test aims to detect bilirubin levels and could provide results in less than 10...
In a momentous leap forward for women’s health in Australia, a new national standard of care released today will reduce the risk of women experiencing a serious tear of the perineum at childbirth. Until recently, perineal tears were a taboo subject and women often suffered in...
The word ‘colic’ can strike fear into the hearts of any parent, writes Dr Valerie Sung. But now new research could potentially give hope to those struggling with colic in a newborn baby. An international study has found that a specific probiotic group is twice as...
Milk is so intrinsic to us that we forget it’s even there, write Professor Ben Boyd and Dr Andy Clulow. Nine out of 10 fridges contain milk, usually from a cow, although increasingly, because we like “milk” so much, from plants. Human milk, meanwhile, is so...
Most women who give birth in Australia are monitored with CTG. But it might not be the best approach, write Kirsten Small, Jennifer Fenwick, Jenny Gamble and Mary Sidebotham of Griffith University Pregnant women rightly expect that when they’re in labour, medical staff will observe them...
Prospective parents’ mental health suffered during adolescence and young adulthood; COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns, can be linked to premature births research finds Research at a Glance: A Melbourne-led study has uncovered links between parents’ mental health and the risk of preterm birth Men with mental...
Many women find breastfeeding difficult and stop before they planned. Some women are relieved to stop, write Karleen Gribble and Nina Jane Chad. But others regret it. If you regret stopping, you may be able to give it another go, even if you no longer have...
Sharon Smart and Mary Claessen look at the condition called 'tongue-tie' and its impact on development and its treatment. Congratulations on your new bundle of joy! Is it joyful? What if your baby cries, fusses and isn’t feeding well? Perhaps you’ve tried breast and bottle-feeding without...
There is a major issue not addressed before the birth of a child, writes Barry Cail. When my wife and I went to our first prenatal class, the midwife discussed everything from changing nappies, lack of sleep and the partner’s support role, to not having enough...
6 things to think about if you have diabetes and want a baby and 1 if you don't, report Freya MacMillan, David Simmons, and Tinashe Dune The number of people with diabetes is expected to increase from 463 million in 2019 to 700 million by 2045...
