Babies aren’t born with enough vitamin K, which is essential to clot blood, report Zohra Lassi and Engida Yisma. This is why it’s recommended in Australia that all newborns receive a vitamin K injection at birth. Without it, they’re at risk of vitamin K deficiency bleeding,...
A birth doula is a support person a woman can privately hire during pregnancy. They usually attend the birth and provide non-clinical comfort measures such as massage, assistance getting into different birth positions, and emotional reassurance....
Becoming a mother also brings about an extraordinary shift in priorities. As the late British psychotherapist and author Naomi Stadlen wrote, “motherhood can be relentless. The dependency, the need, the constant pull of being someone’s entire world…”...
While the decision is often framed around autonomy, trust and control, the death of wellness influencer Stacey Warnecke after a home birth has highlighted the serious risks when complications arise and urgent medical care is delayed....
When you're expecting, everyone offers you advice, and it's hard to know what's true. We've debunked 13 of the most common pregnancy myths, from bump shapes to hair dye, so you can stop second-guessing and start enjoying the ride. The best part? Some of the...
Kylie Ladd reflects on the relief, guilt and quiet joy that can come with reclaiming working time after the intense early years of parenting. When my youngest child started school, for the first time in almost nine years, large chunks of each weekday belonged solely to...
Worried about feeding your baby solid foods? Here’s what you should know, report Lillian Krikheli and Samantha Turner When you have a baby, mealtimes can be messy and stressful. If you’re a new parent you may be unsure what, when, and how to feed your little one....
Here’s what you need to know, report Amit Arora, Hannah Dahlen, Jessica Appleton and Lynn Kemp If you’ve ever taken your child to a maternal, child and family health nurse for a growth check, you might have felt a mix of curiosity and anxiety. As health professionals,...
Family dinners with young children can be messy, noisy and exhausting. Rebecca James finds herself reaching for an old family saying — and realising she may be turning into her grandfather after all. The nightly chaos of feeding children “I don’t like this!” Jimmy makes a face...
For many working mums, the hardest critic isn’t a boss, a teacher or another parent — it’s the voice in their own head. Emma Robertson reflects on motherhood, guilt, grandmothers and the impossible standard of being everywhere at once. What makes a “real” mother? Mention childcare and...
