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...
What families need to check for a Surrogacy Birth (hospital policies, legal paperwork, etc.) Before the Birth ✅ Legal agreements: Make sure you and your surrogate have a written surrogacy agreement, and both parties have had independent legal advice (a requirement in most states). ✅ Counselling sessions: Confirm...
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...
Nearly 140,000 Australian babies were protected against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) this winter, thanks to the country’s world-first National RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program. Early results show a 30% drop in hospital admissions for infants under six months, including a 33% fall in intensive care admissions,...
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 ...
