Home Birth: What mums-to-be need to know

Justine Davies As a mum I have always been quite definite about the type of birth experience that I wanted to have and I was privileged to be able to avail myself of that choice. Here is what you need to know about choosing a home birth.

Alarm over jump in induced births

Julie Robotham Obstetricians in NSW public hospitals will receive strict guidelines this week about when they should induce labour, after a state-wide surge in the practice that may be responsible for a continuing rise in caesarean births.

Caesarean link to infant respiratory infections

Lucy Rickard Babies born by elective caesareans are more likely to suffer a serious respiratory infection in their first year of life, according to Perth researchers.

Birth Plan – Preparing a Birth Plan

There are so many forms to fill out during your pregnancy. From Medicare forms to Family Assistance Office forms, health insurance forms and hospital pre-admission forms - life can seem like a constant procession of paperwork. There is one document though which is more interesting than most - your birth plan!

Tales of the unexpected

Mia Freedman If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. If you want to make a midwife laugh, tell her your birth plan. I'd always mocked birth plans, even before having a baby myself and most certainly afterwards.

Are birth plans a waste of time?

Amity Dry As the final weeks of my pregnancy creep by it's time to pack my bags and contemplate going through labour again. But this time one part of my preparations will be missing. I won't waste my time writing a birth plan. Because I know now the idea that I have any control over how my labour goes is an absolute crock.

Push to get new babies home in four hours

Rachel Browne Hospital to home in four hours? It would have been unheard of a generation ago but in NSW maternity wards of the future, it is not unusual.

Assisted delivery

Brooke Tasovac About 11% of births in Australia are assisted deliveries (also referred to as instrumental or operative vaginal deliveries) which require an obstetrician or midwife to use instruments and methods that help a baby to be born.

Best positions for labour

Brooke Tasovac Once labour is underway, the positions the mother decides to take will certainly have an effect on comfort level!

Could a caesarean birth make your baby sick?

Amy Corderoy Babies born by caesarean are much more likely to be admitted to hospital with gastrointestinal disease or chest infections in their first year of life than those born naturally, a study of NSW births has found.

A question of delivery

Caesarean births a better option for mothers?

Julia Medew A controversial new study suggests caesarean births may be a better path for mothers and their babies.

Having a Caesarean section

Brooke Wells Everything you need to know about giving birth by C-section.

What to really expect

Bern Morley I remember being given a copy of ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’ when I was first pregnant. Well, I can save you forty bucks. Just expect your life to change. Massively.

Announcing the birth of your baby

Brooke Tasovac With so many people waiting to find out when your little one enters the world, some new parents will want to get the word out as soon as possible from the delivery room while others may want to take some time to themselves before they begin the often lengthy and tiring task of letting people know.

Baby belly busters

Post-baby body watching is like a spectator sport as gossip mags chart the ability of celebrity bellies to ease back into their jeans almost overnight. But in the real post-partum world of patchy sleep and milk-stained nighties, how easy is it to reclaim your former abs?

The nightmare clouds behind the birth of my little ray of Sunshine

Rachel Buchanan A birth in the emergency department of a busy public holiday inspires feelings of panic and rage even years later.

The best and worst of days

Prue Corlette What should have been one of the most joyous moments of my life ultimately turned out to be one of the most traumatic – the birth of my sons.

New arrival

Australia's oldest 'natural' first-time mum

Georgia Waters A Gold Coast woman has become what is believed to be Australia's oldest natural first-time mother, giving birth at 50.