Precautions

Pregnancy oversharing

Justine Davies Gone are the days when pregnancy was viewed as something to be disguised, there is now no aspect of pregnancy that is not fully examined.

Anni Taylor The baby shower – it’s an event that can strike fear into the heart of the calmest of women. What are the best baby shower games? How exactly does one make a nappy cake? And where on this side of...

Using acupuncture to prepare for birth

Rebecca Mar Young Acupuncturist Rebecca Mar Young, who focuses on pregnancy, explains how acupuncture can help you prepare for birth.

Designing principles at birth of a new era

Advances in gene technology are creating a host of ethical dilemmas, writes Rachel Browne. Genetic screening of human embryos may eventually eradicate inherited diseases ranging from breast cancer to...

Angry mums against midwife legislation

Kate Dennehy A group of angry mothers and mothers-to-be have gathered in Brisbane to discuss tactics to overturn a Federal Government proposal they say will ban home births with a midwife.

Packing your hospital bag

The days of grabbing your keys, mobile and wallet and heading out the door are soon to be over, and it all starts with the birth!

Embracing motherhood

With the growing perception of the ‘supermum’ and society’s increasing pressure on women to ‘have it all’, Australian mothers often miss out on vital postnatal care and support that is the norm in...

C-section for one in three

Kate Benson First-time mothers are getting older every year, with one in seven babies now born to women over 35, but the nation's caesarean rate is still climbing and thousands of women continue to smoke while...

Packing your hospital bag

Essential Baby members The days of grabbing your keys, mobile and wallet and heading out the door are soon to be over, and it all starts with the birth! Here is a comprehensive checklist devised by Essential Baby members...

What Jack taught us

Anni Taylor Amanda had battled through IVF and an incompetent cervix; giving birth at only 24 weeks pregnancy. Baby son Jack had waged his own battles; winning the fight to meet his parents, even for just a very...

Safer by miles

Imogen Mirmikidis There is nothing greater than having a baby come into your life. They turn your life upside down, permanently, and most of us would not have it any other way.

Stem cell plan for placentas

Julie Robotham Stem cells would be harvested from the placentas and umbilical cords of newborns, under a plan Australian researchers say could yield therapies for conditions ranging from arthritis to burns.

Your pregnancy

Essential Baby The following guide offers helpful advice and suggestions about what you need to do next.

Choosing a hospital

When it comes to your pregnancy, choosing where you will give birth is one of the biggest decisions you will make.

Private hospital care

Choosing where you will give birth is a big decision. One of the attractions of private hospital care is the high standard of comfort and quality of food.