Chryss Cada’s dreams end up being a little more accurate than science. When birth plans meet real life Childbirth instructors suggest you write up a ‘birth plan’ – but they should call it a ‘birth best guess’. About a month before I was due to have my baby,...
In Australia, the donor egg industry is heavily regulated, but in countries like the US, it can feel more like online shopping. Here’s what you need to know, report Anna E. Hartman and Dr Erica Coslor Starting a family is an exciting and scary decision at...
Can dancing or twerking really bring on labour? asks Hannah Dahlen Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, is back in the news in a podcast discussing her viral “baby mama” video. The video was made four years ago when she gave birth to daughter Lilibet, but was only released...
New research shows it doesn’t stop long-term impacts on development, reports researcher Mia McLean Infants born very preterm spend weeks or even months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) while their immature brains are still developing. During this time, they receive up to 16 painful procedures...
Many IVF optional extras – or ‘add-ons’ – are not supported by good-quality evidence that shows they are effective or safe, report Dr Sarah Lensen and Sara Attinger. A new website now helps patients navigate these options For many patients, IVF is a stressful and overwhelming...
Can what you eat during pregnancy and breastfeeding affect whether your child develops food allergies? Researchers Jennifer Koplin, Debbie Palmer and Desalegn Markos Shifti find some answers. Many questions pop up when you’re growing or raising a new baby. Among them, women often wonder if what they eat...
Marian O’Connell finds that her response to her son’s bedtime demands turns from severe frustration to serene reflection. There is an almost imperceptible change in breathing and a certain weightlessness that overcomes a child when they finally fall asleep. This is detectable only to the indulgent...
What Every Hopeful Parent Needs to Know With the rise of egg freezing, more people are preserving their fertility for future parenthood. But what happens when those eggs remain unused? A new study from Monash University and Monash IVF highlights a growing issue: thousands of frozen...
Even low levels of alcohol use during pregnancy are linked to changes in unborn babies report Evelyne Muggli and Professor Alicia Spittle Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes a range of severe neurodevelopmental impairments caused by alcohol exposure before birth. People with FASD can experience a wide...
Why do women get ‘reassurance scans’ ? asks Christopher Rudge. And how can you spot a dodgy provider? Recent media coverage in the Nine newspapers highlights a surge in non-medical ultrasound providers offering “reassurance ultrasounds” to expectant parents. The service has resulted in serious harms, such as...
