When Ondine Sherman meets another parent at a picnic, she is prompted to wonder about some social vagaries. “We’re going for a picnic,” said my friend Vanessa. “Beautiful spot, heaps of kids, and a riverbank where they can run around.” I agreed. Me, my husband Dror,...
Patricia Lee learns to take nothing for granted as the midwife called for the emergency obstetrician. As I slumped onto the delivery bed, panting and sweating after another contraction, I knew something was wrong. After spending the entire day in labour and pushing for hours, my...
It’s still unclear whether a shorter or longer gap between pregnancies increases the risk of complications. Amanda Henry reports Women often wonder what the “right” length of time is after giving birth before getting pregnant again. A recent Canadian study suggests 12-18 months between pregnancies is...
Tara Lister is determined to enjoy every second of every first before they become lasts. The day my baby came home was a rude awakening. Until then I had been surrounded by midwives, advice and meals on demand, and I felt invincible. Cool, calm and collected;...
Research reveals mums almost never prioritise themselves when sick. The latest research suggests that mums too often leave themselves last on the priorities list, with almost half (44%) of mums saying they rarely or never visit the doctor when they start feeling sick. When they do become...
Flexible workplace policies designed to improve gender gaps in employment and pay might actually make things worse for women, write Leah Ruppanner and Jordy Meekes. Flexible work has been on offer to both men and women in many companies for decades. However, it is usually women...
Already badly off, single parents went dramatically backwards during COVID, report Tom Crowley, Danielle Wood and Esther Suckling. These parents are raising our future adults. Single parents with dependent children — eight out of ten of them women — were far more likely than others to...
Feeding children too much protein when they are babies can increase their chance of being overweight when they reach primary school age, new studies have confirmed. Deakin University researchers said the significant findings could improve feeding guidelines for new parents who may mistakenly believe babies benefit...
A major report just released has revealed that many Australian babies are being placed at unnecessary risk because their birth by caesarean section is scheduled too early, without a medical reason. This is despite clear evidence that waiting until 39 weeks – unless there is...
Is it safe for me and my baby? Nina Jane Chad and Karleen Gribble look at the issues. Australia’s front-line health workers, quarantine staff, border control officers, and workers and residents in aged-care homes have been offered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Some of these workers will be women...
