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...
Introducing solid food is a key milestone for babies, usually around six months of age, writes WA paediatric dentist Dr Anna Buckeridge Solid Starts The texture of food typically progresses from purees to mashed, then minced and chopped foods by eight months, and finger foods by 12...
In Australia, an estimated one in ten men experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression before and after their child is born (the perinatal period). Tackling mental distress early can help, report researchers Delyse Hutchinson, Genevieve Le Bas, Jacqui Macdonald, Samantha Teague and ...
Families can wait years for a diagnosis of a rare genetic disorder, but a new test can provide answers in days for a better understanding of the condition and potentially earlier treatment, report David Stroud, Dr Daniella Hock and David Thorburn In its standard definition, the word...
For many new parents, the biggest challenge of breastfeeding isn’t the latch—it’s the not knowing. New Aussie Invention Tracks Milk Intake in Real Time A Monash University engineer and mum has created a smart device that removes the guesswork, measuring how much milk a baby drinks in...
When minding the baby, Tom Whelan finds his day turns into chasing his wife’s bus—with no shoes, no keys, and a ticking time bomb in your arms. A Cold Morning, a Locked Door, and a Baby on Board I still feel tense as I picture the scene,...
Navigating the first few months after giving birth can be overwhelming, but The Fourth Trimester by Amelia Lamont, offers new parents a much-needed blend of practical advice and heartfelt reassurance, writes Victoria Baker. Amelia Lamont’s The Fourth Trimester is a realistic, informative and compassionate guide to the first...
