Opinion
Birth: a woman's right to decide?
JUSTINE CAINES The maternity reforms had the ability to place women as the focus of care, rather than the current practice of meeting the needs of organisations and practitioners first. Justine Caines, founder of What Women Want, shares her views on the proposed maternity reforms.
Fears for mothers as hospitals up the ante for birth classes
NATASHA WALLACE The cost of antenatal classes should be means-tested and made uniform across all hospitals, according to the Australian College of Midwives.
When I'm a Mum I'll never...
'Baby brain' may gestate with power of suggestion
Survey Results: EB members' feedback on our maternity system
The first trimester
Week one to week 12
The first trimester is a period of major development for your foetus and of profound physical and emotional changes for you.
The second trimester
Week 13 to week 27
The second trimester is often considered to be the best period of pregnancy. You should begin to experience a general feeling of contentment and well-being.
The third trimester
Week 28 till birth
In the third trimester you will probably be feeling a combination of excitement as the birth approaches, mixed with an increasing desire to hurry things along.
Due Date Calculator
Congratulations, you're pregnant! So when is the baby due? Calculate your expected due date using Essential Baby's Due Date Calculator.
Stretch marks
ANNIE TAYLOR Strech marks are a sign that the skin is stretching to accommodate and nurture the life growing inside.
Hazards and precautions
Once you find out you are pregnant, there are some basic precautions that you should take to ensure both you and your baby's health.
Pregnancy and work
While it is more common for women to take maternity leave, increasingly men are taking paternity leave allowing their wives to return to the workforce.
Complications in pregnancy
While most pregnancies will progress safely and without any major problems, for some there may be complications.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage is the natural or spontaneous end of a pregnancy at a stage where the prenate is incapable of surviving, generally defined in humans at prior to 20 weeks of gestation. Miscarriage is the most common complication of early pregnancy.
Sex during pregnancy
While pregnancy is the beginning of many physical and emotional changes, you will be pleased to know that, unless you have been advised otherwise for medical reasons, it is safe to have sex while pregnant. In fact, you may find sex is better than ever!
Building a maternity wardrobe
Create yourself a simple stylish and flattering maternity (and post baby) wardrobe with these easy style tips from stylist Kendall Serich.
Feeding the bump: eating during pregnancy
ANNI TAYLOR Diet is one of the most important factors during pregnancy, but more importantly, it is the only factor you can have complete control over. Get some tips on feeding your bump!
Eight month financial plan for baby
WILSON AND ANALAURA LUNA Combining their own experience of raising a family with their financial knowledge, husband and wife financial planning team, Wilson and Analaura Luna, have written an eight month baby financial plan.
The office plan for pregnancy
COLLEEN SIMPSON A drawer crammed with snacks; herbal tea; or scaling back duties. There are ways to cope at work with looming motherhood, says Colleen Simpson.
What they don't tell guys about parenthood
RICHIE YOUNG 3:30pm Every reasonable new dad (if in his right mind) will concede that life’s harder for new mums. But if we’re coming across a dazed and confused, please forgive us. We’re shell-shocked too.
A no-stress guide to baby names
MCT There's no way around it - every baby needs a name. It isn't always an easy decision, but with these tips it can be a fun one.
Your birth choices
The following information is designed to assist you with making choices about the type of care you would like throughout your pregnancy, and how you would like to give birth to your baby.
Helping a friend who has suffered a loss
ESSENTIAL BABY MEMBERS Losing a baby is an experience no parent wants to go through, yet many have to face. A neonatal loss, miscarriage or stillbirth often leaves friends and family not knowing what to say or how to react, and this can make such a grief-filled time even harder.
