Melissa Morns writes that many women say that they ‘feel guilty for feeling like that.’ The benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognised, and many women find it an enjoyable and bonding experience. Women also often face challenges that can make it difficult to breastfeed, such as...
While wishing to be well informed about the progress of her pregnancy, Karen Collum wonders if hers was a case of too much information. I have an application on my iPhone that gives me daily updates on the growth of my baby. I know that my...
Linda Wyrill is proud of the way in which she handled a hairy moment. My three-year-old daughter cut her own hair. She was playing in her bedroom. Minutes earlier, I’d stuck my head in her room to have a peek. She’d had her dolls lined up and...
Strangers are not the only ones looking for likenesses between Nerissa Marcon and her children. It has suddenly dawned on me that I no longer notice the curious glances strangers give my children and me as we meander around the shopping centre. I guess it has...
Karen Casey used to wander the world… now she revels in routine. For aspects of family life that we are repeatedly told require routine, kids sure are well rehearsed at taking orders and launching them out the window. When you want them to sleep, they don’t....
Kylie Ladd considers the impact of parenthood on friendships. It was the seagulls that clinched it. I was holidaying with a relatively new friend, someone I’d met through our children’s creche. We’d been chatting together at the creche Christmas party, discussing our plans for the summer,...
The wait of expectation falls more heavily on some than others, writes Kate Triglone. “I hate waiting!” is the phrase of the week in our house. My son yells these three words through gritted teeth several times a day. Usually, it’s because he has to wait...
What you need to know about a vital part of your womb (and how to look after it) by Louise Hull and Sarah Robertson Human reproduction completely depends on the healthy function of an underestimated but vital organ: the endometrium. This is the spongy tissue that...
Babies crawl, scoot and shuffle when learning to move. Here’s what to watch for if you’re worried, writes Charmaine Bernie Early gross motor (or whole body) movements such as crawling and walking are exciting developments and clear markers for parents watching their child’s development. But what...
Exhausted, disconnected and fed up – what is ‘parental burnout'? asks researcher Alan Ralph. For many parents, the reality of juggling the demands of caring responsibilities on their time, energy and resources leave them with little time to take care of their own well-being. This can...
