National guidelines are urgently needed to give clarity and consistency to the rules around surrogacy. For many Australians, surrogacy offers a precious pathway to parenthood. In Australia, surrogacy is altruistic only – meaning it’s not paid, beyond covering expenses – and often takes place between close friends or...

In part two, Dr Sam Tormey explains how gestational diabetes is diagnosed, managed, and what it can mean for both mother and baby. How Gestational Diabetes is Detected A routine test often detects these higher-than-usual blood-glucose levels during pregnancy, before they actually cause any symptoms. The growing...

From cooler nurseries to calmer nights, these simple tips help families cut energy bills while keeping little kids comfortable, whatever the weather outside. How to Save Energy with a Newborn Welcoming a baby changes everything – including how you use energy at home. Origin Energy has shared...

Barbara Fraser recalls how desperate she felt after the birth of her son… some 40 years ago. The Crying That Never Stopped From birth, he cried, drawing his little legs up in agony. Medical checks showed nothing wrong, and our GP put it down to colic. Medication...

Many women don’t realise they have choices, write researchers  Kate Levett, Deborah Fox  and Vanessa Scarf So, you’re about to have a baby. You’ve been to the birth classes – you learned how being upright and moving around can help you be as comfortable as possible....

Therese O'Sullivan looks at how a mother's diet affects her baby’s milk and suggests four tips for breastfeeding mums. Many people are familiar with the saying that a woman is “eating for two” during pregnancy. Although this is an exaggeration, nutritional needs do certainly increase during...

New research from Monash University suggests Australian midwives may one day provide contraception during postnatal home visits—a move that could make life easier for new parents. The study, published in Women and Birth, explored midwives’ views on offering services such as the contraceptive implant (Implanon NXT) in...

Kylie Ladd contemplates her son’s gentle nature and wonders how he will cope with the harshness of life. A Boyhood Shaped by Indiana Jones Yesterday I taught my nine-year-old son about the Nazis. It wasn’t planned, and it certainly wasn’t well executed, but I had no warning...