Development

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.

Natural births better for babies

Danielle Teutsch and Kate Benson Babies born by caesarean section are more vulnerable to asthma, allergies and infection as they miss out on receiving their mothers' good bacteria during birth, a scientist says.

Care for children begins before birth

Julie Robotham Regular assessments to ensure the health of children would begin before birth and continue until age eight, under a proposal to create the first national program for early childhood health.

Be my baby: On the road to fatherhood

Neil Humphreys With a theatrical sigh, I took the still warm plastic contraption, held it at arm's length in such a way that it suggested it was radioactive and rested it on top of the toilet.

Building resilience in your children

Maggie Dent We hear a lot of talk about resilience in education, particularly when it comes to bullying. But building resilience in children starts much earlier than school age so it is crucial for parents to...

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.

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...

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...

Trial into the long or short of umbilical cord benefits

Matthew Benns Sydney researchers are set to launch a five-year trial into the benefits of briefly delaying cord clamping to improve the long-term health and development of premature babies.

Your pregnancy

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

Part-time work inhibits breastfeeding

Carol Nader Returning to work on a part-time or casual basis presents almost as much a barrier to breastfeeding for new mothers as working full-time, further fuelling the push for a national paid maternity leave...