Preparing For Baby

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...

Preparing for labour

You are approaching the end of your pregnancy and it is time to get ready for that important moment when labour begins.

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.

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.

Easing labour pain naturally

Julia Medew Terrified by memories of her sister giving birth, Chantal Stravens learned hypnosis so she could stay calm during her own labour.

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.

Six tips for spending the holidays with your in-laws

Jenna D. Barry The way I see it, there are two groups of people: those who love the holidays because they love spending time with family, and those who dread the holidays because their family-- or spouse's...

Beating the odds - our premature arrival

Nicole Salinas My husband Nathan and I started trying for our first baby in 2001. After 6 months and a lot of questions from me, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

Maternity leave can still lead to sacking

Kirsty Needham Women are being sacked for taking maternity leave and told to quit if they cannot juggle family and the work roster, the Fair Work Ombudsman's office has found.

Birth rights

John van Tiggelen In many countries, home births are commonplace - and generally regarded as safe. So why in Australia, where such births are rare, is the Government discouraging the practice? John van Tiggelen...

Roxon joins mother of birthing battles

Leslie Cannold The Rudd Government's threatened ban on home births is moving closer to reality.

Baby steps as hospitals deliver a helping hand to home-birth push

John Elder Midwives working away from labour wards are to be covered by insurance under a pilot scheme, writes John Elder.

Birthing after July 1, 2010?

Melissa Maimann Essential Baby explains the changes to legislation and the consequences it may have for those birthing after mid-2010.

Same-sex parenting: Our story

Nicole Salinas Everyone’s definition of a “normal” family is different. We believe that children in general are very accepting and it’s the parent’s views that influence how other children will treat our son.

The maternal dilemma

Julia Baird In Manhattan, motherhood is seen as a disruption to a woman's real life - leaving Australian expat Julia Baird wondering if something has been lost.

Giving birth by the stars

Andrew Bock Children with different star signs have different needs and some may be more difficult to raise than others, says astrologer Sherrynne Dalby.

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!

Fresh ideas for working families

Brooke Wells In a time where 41% of working mothers are recommencing employment before their child is 4-months-old, the development of family friendly workplace policies are an important supplement to the paid...

Emma's homebirth after two caesars

Emma I have had two “failure to progress” labours leading to two emergency c-sections. My third time around I was aiming for, and achieved, a HBA2C (home birth after two caesars)!