Pregnancy
Yesterday’s Royal announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant had Fleet Street’s finest scrambling for an angle. On the face of it you might have thought it was hard to do much with “Kate Pregnant”. It’s Kate. She’s pregnant. What more is there to say?
Day One of the yarn is a bit early yet for “Kate’s baby scare”, even for the British newspapers, and there’s nothing to suggest the Duke of Cambridge isn’t responsible for her condition, so no dice there either.
So congratulations to the London Daily Telegraph for being the first to grasp the implications of her hospitalisation with morning sickness, asking “Could it be twins for the Duchess?”
Continue reading "We’re facing a long gestation for this future monarch" »
Prime Ministers are Tweeting, the Queen is delighted, the whole magazine industry is embracing temporary salvation and a young woman is in hospital feeling like death warmed up and no doubt desperately hoping everything is going to be ok.
Talk about a lot of pressure on one lone uterus.
The announcement that the Duchess of Cambridge is pregnant is indeed joyous news, and when you’re carrying the future third-in-line to the British throne, it’s not news you get to celebrate in private. But while I’m not usually one to advocate public institutions outright lying - continuing the cat-and-mouse speculation game for a few more weeks might have been the kindest thing to do for Kate and William.
Continue reading "They should have said Kate copped a dodgy prawn" »
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Sickemrex says:
Ha! Family can’t keep their mouths shut! We told ours at 6 weeks with our first with strict instructions to STFU until 12 weeks. Needless to say it was secret was secret for a millisecond. This time around we waited. Read more »
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HeatherG says:
As a fellow Hashi’s sufferer (fortunately it triggered after I finished having my babies), I wish you all the best, Kika. I hope it all goes very well for you. Read more »
According to official figures there’s currently a record number of self-centred women in Australia. If you are one of the self-appointed experts who believe women who have babies after their fertility “best-before” age of 35 are selfish, that is.
Australian Bureau of Statistics numbers released last week, revealed that 12,805 babies were born to women over 40 in 2011 - the highest number on record and almost double the number of 40-plus mums compared to just ten years earlier.
But, despite the sharp increase in the number of older mothers, women who delay having children until their late 30s and early 40s continue to be demonised by many.
Continue reading "Us lucky older mums have a dash more life experience" »
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Sickemrex says:
So many generalisations. I have friends who had kids in their 20s who think it’s cute to give their 6 and 7 year olds connected iPhones and are oblivious to the perils of the internet. Oh well, I’ll just have muddle through older parenting without and Xbox. I’m feeling like… Read more »
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Nyx says:
*sigh* I’m not going to bother responding to anything Jade has to say. We get it, you thing all young parents are the devil and you’re not going to let a little thing like the truth get in the way of good rant. @ Have ‘em early, and others, I… Read more »
Tony Abbott’s wife Margie has today gone in to fight for her husband, trying to show off his ‘soft, feminine, side’. She’s done this by talking about him as a man who’s happy to pitch in with the chores, a man who would prefer to watch ‘Downton Abbey’ than the footy, and above all, a man who loves his family.
All of this is fine, and it’s probably a good political tactic. It’s clear over the past weeks that his image - especially among women - has been damaged, and painting the man as a great dad who loves his kids can’t hurt.
But what is incredibly insulting is using the pain of a miscarriage to score political points.
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Tory Shepherd says:
Hey guys, we’re closing comments on this article because of the vitriol - most of which appears to be coming from a few people writing under a range of different names. Read more »
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dovif says:
Jim and Michael Elphick So the Julia sanction attack and lies on Abbott’s perceived problem with women is fine, but Abbott or his wife defending it is point scoring The Left of Australia politic need to find a moral compass Read more »
The New York Times ran an article recently with the rather fascinating headline: “Eager for Grandchildren, and Wanting Daughters’ Eggs in Freezer”.
The front-page story was about the growing phenomenon of American parents helping their single daughters to freeze their eggs for later use – at a cost of anywhere between $A 7,500 and $17,000. Why? Well, as 61-year-old Candice Kramer put it: “By the time Allison was 35, I felt the clock was tick-tick-ticking. I viewed it as opening up an opportunity for her.”
Call it a grandchild insurance policy. With women increasingly deferring babies until later in life, America’s would-be grandparents are investing in hope.
Continue reading "Ladies, don’t put all your eggs in a frozen basket" »
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C says:
@M No, it isn’t. But you have to remember that when it comes to men, the golden rule is: Money, Looks, Personality; pick two. Australian women seem to be focused solely on finding men with all three, and then some. Those kind of blokes are one in a thousand, and… Read more »
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Inky says:
How dare those evil men refuse to father children, despite their own wishes! How dare they! Hey, Julia? Bite me. No, seirously. I have no wish to be a father and doubt this’ll change with time. I don’t think I’d make a particularly good one and really don’t want to… Read more »
Earlier this week journalist Maria Moscaritolo took aim at the Winemakers’ Federation of Australia because, in a submission to a Government inquiry, they repeated concerns that women might abort their babies if made to feel guilty about drinking while pregnant. Here, the WFA says that was just one point in a 21-page report. Punch. Counterpunch. You decide.
Maria Moscaritolo appears to be guilty of the same journalistic shortcut as one of her colleagues at The Advertiser the previous day.
They both based an article – or in Maria’s case a scathing condemnation – around one quote lifted from a long document (the old “taken out of context” argument I know, but in this case true) and in Maria’s words, a “daft and self-serving claim” when the claim is not ours.
Continue reading "Counterpunch: Warning logos don’t change behaviour" »
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NO Brainer says:
I like the ‘cake and eat it too’ approach of the anti-warning brigade. For example Drinkwise fundamental platform for ‘making a change in consumption habits’ is ‘EDUCATION’ because and I’m now quoting one of their past executives… ‘Legislation doesn’t work’. But now, we’re hearing, albeit subtlety, education doesn’t work! Staggering… Read more »
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lisadp says:
Yet if it was your mentally ill child or sibling abusing cigarettes, alcohol or other drugs then suddenly you are grateful for the nanny who thinks for that person at least. Not everyone is capable of making appropriate choices. Let’s be honest about this. So yes there’s a balance to… Read more »
While pregnant, I remember gazing at the slim, lissome models in the posh maternity wear catalogues and wondering if they were going to give birth to a basketball instead of a baby.
Those graceful elongated elks seemed to inhabit an enchanted forest a world away from mine. They wore clothes I couldn’t afford to buy. They were tall, slim and had beautiful round compact baby bellies. I was short, squat, perspiring, and afflicted with varicose veins in unmentionable places.
But it never occurred to me that these catalogue women posing in the chocolate Toorak wrap dress ($269.99), the Point Piper aqua tee ($69.99) or the Double Bay print pant ($99.99) were not actually pregnant.
Continue reading "A knockout blow to knocked up confidence" »
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Robert Smissen of country SA says:
That’s nice for you, but other than these “virtual women” do you know any real women? Read more »
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HD says:
Wow, that’s a pretty touchy response to an article that is in no way being sold as hard hitting journalism (sorry Susie, I’m assuming you weren’t going for a big expose here…) Yes, we have a choice and we continue to go back and get pregnant over and over again. … Read more »
When I was pregnant with my second child, the 19 week ultrasound brought potentially devastating news. Our child had a growth on the lung which could kill them. At that stage, doctors were unsure what would happen.
The growth could get bigger, squashing internal organs and killing the baby. If that happened, they could induce the baby at about 26 weeks so doctors could try to operate. Or it may not grow any bigger and the baby could have it removed after birth.
News that a couple had the wrong twin aborted at 32 weeks when one was diagnosed with a serious heart defect brought these memories flooding back. This poor couple ended up losing both children, which is horrific for all involved.
Continue reading "Sometimes, you’ve just got to go with your gut instinct" »
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Mikko says:
kyzz, you mean all their mums had German measles? What an amazing coincidence. You forgot Hitler? Read more »
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Tanya says:
@ Watching, I am late writing this but felt the need to do so. I don’t agree, nor do I think the ‘pro-choice’ lobby is relevant in any way to this discussion. Doctors issue advice based on medical precedents in this case, the number of babies born with this condition… Read more »
Birth is unpredictable - unless of course you have booked in for a caesarean and know exactly the when, where, why and how. Nowadays this is an acceptable form of giving birth, however at the other end of the spectrum there are women birthing at home with no medical intervention.
And then there is the majority that falls in between. Every day, all over the country women are birthing in hospitals with healthy babies. Some without any intervention while others have a full gamut of procedures. Some are elated by their experience and some are shattered.
When pregnant, hospitals encourage us to write a birth plan. It is a document that details what procedures you will and won’t accept and whom you want there. A lot of time and energy is spent creating them. It is our formal statement about how we want our bodies and babies to be treated by the hospital.
Continue reading "Birth trauma in hospital is driving women to homebirth" »
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Annon says:
20%? Where did you pull this magical figure from? I would love to read that peer reviewed study. Read more »
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Tessa says:
Was devastated to hear the news this morning of a wrongly aborted twin at 30 weeks gestation - it is sickening. I wonder if this mother will endure the same public and media scrutiny about her birth choices? For her sake, I hope not. http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/medical-bungle-at-royal-womens-hospital-kills-healthy-fetus/story-fn6bqvxz-1226204206824 Read more »
Pregnancy is a lovely thing. Lovely, obviously, because it usually produces a baby, but also because it keeps you warm, excuses cake consumption and ensures you score a seat on the bus.
It also makes everyone smile and ask pleasant questions, which is doubly nice when you’ve had your head down the loo half the morning.
But, for some, the sight of an expectant mum is torture. They may enthuse with the rest of us, but behind the plastered smile, they’re splintering into a million unspilt tears. Because there’s no keener reminder of what you don’t have than someone else’s swollen belly.
Continue reading "Spare a thought for those who can’t have kids" »
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Anne Stocks says:
A Neighbour who I care very much for, has not been coping for some time and even though I tried to help her but with my disability I was limited, there was only so much I could do and because she was not meeting all her Children’s needs the Authorities… Read more »
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Julie says:
There is a man in my church who has worked in the Children’s ministry for as long as I can remember. His wife is also involved in sunday school, but Gary is in every aspect of children’s ministry available. I just came to the realization a few years ago, that… Read more »
Most people agree that we, as a society, want to decrease the number of abortions.
Like any grand statement, the means to getting to this end will be the judge of our seriousness and principles.
Tory Shepherd is right to point out our goals cannot be achieved through “guilt, hate and fear mongering”.
Continue reading "The abortion debate has gone beyond slogans" »
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Anne Stocks says:
I did not conceive Miraculously it was through having sex strange that don’t you think? and I was not Married even stranger don’t you agree ? As for standing against Abortion for unborn Babies, it’s very True what Tim Cannon shared which was .... There’s nothing medieval about it. It’s… Read more »
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kris says:
I cannot speak to anyone else’s experiences but my own. I had a wonderfully fulfilling and satisfying period of my life when I only had ‘casual’ sex. I never had a pregnancy or disease. I have since been married, happily and faithfully, for 15 years and have had two children.… Read more »
Call me a bit of an idealistic Charlotte from Sex & The City, but if I have experienced something amazing, I want the world to experience it too.
So now I am a mum, I’d love the whole world to experience the joy of motherhood, particularly the women who are having difficulty falling pregnant. That’s why I am so supportive of IVF. Strangers (even friends who have dared not ask for fear it’s too private) assume I had my twins via IVF. I did not. And I would be willing to shout it from the rooftops if I had.
I have seen people close to me finally get their wish to be a parent thanks to this miraculous medical procedure. A few of the beautiful mums in my twin prenatal class had their multiples thanks to IVF and I know just how eternally grateful they are that the procedure exists.
Continue reading "Choosing a baby’s sex: the next great leap for parents" »
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Clare says:
i totally agree with Jazz. If you don’t believe in the gender selection, thats your opinion, but it doesn’t mean that you should restrict others of the right to choose the much wanted sex of their child. its inevitable that some parents want a certain gender when they are having… Read more »
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jazz says:
Funny how the people who try and say this is an unethical procedure try to bring up sex-ratios. If you were to use evidence from ‘extreme cases’ such as china, maybe you should consider the fact that the chinese sex ratio has been out of balance for a while now.… Read more »
During the last six months I’ve had to stop drinking. Pregnancy and alcohol are a “no-no,” and I haven’t felt like it anyway.
Enforced “dryness” has been interesting. It’s made me think twice about who I want to socialise with and also made me reflect on the drinking habits I’ve established over the last few years.
When you’re not drinking and hanging out with people who are, and “getting on it,” the scene quickly becomes intensely boring.
Continue reading "I’m pregnant, sober, and seeing booze in a new light" »
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David says:
I’m off the drink for a year at age 35. I drank 1 or 2 drinks every day before this, which horrified my doctor, but I didn’t think it was a problem. I guess in theory it isn’t, I mean, many cultures healthier than ours drink every day. But I… Read more »
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Shane says:
Yeah I agree, I am so over journalists showering us with their “knowledge of parenting” when they’ve got a 6 month old baby. I find it offensive to say the least. When you’ve got more kids than me, had more problems than me with those kids, (illness, stealing, failing at… Read more »
It would have seemed like an innocent enough question.
Standing at the supermarket checkout, struggling slightly with a bulging belly as I hoisted heavy bags into the trolley, with no children in tow: ‘Will this be your first baby?’
The answer should be simple. If a one word response will suffice, I’ll have no problem. No, this is not my first baby, my first pregnancy. It is my seventh.
Continue reading "Invisible loss: What I learned about tragic pregnancy" »
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Nike Jerseys Nfl says:
I wonder if they can make itWhat ever I said?he’d disagree.Winter is a cold season.I’m thinking of hanging the lamp from the ceiling.Brevity is the soul of wit.Will you please try to find out for me what time the train arrives? Will you please try to find out for me… Read more »
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Monique says:
Interesting. As a woman, I felt unable to talk about the loss of our boy twin, at 16 weeks, with my husband. I always felt that even though my husband grieved, he just wanted to put it all behind us and focus on our surviving girl twin as well as… Read more »
I recently let the world know that I am expecting twins.
I had read the chapter on pregnancy and other people in my new bible, ‘What to expect when expecting,’ by Sharon Mazel and Heidi Murkoff so had braced myself for some inappropriate tummy touching and some well-meaning pregnancy advice.
I thought I was prepared. How wrong can you be?
Continue reading "10 things not to say to a pregnant woman" »
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Annabella says:
Having been pregnant with twins some 20 years ago, I still remember how uncomfortable it was. But I did get a couple of laughs the first hundred time people asked was I going to call them Pete and Repeat or Kate and Duplicate!! Being preg with multipals isn’t fun, but… Read more »
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Louise says:
You dopey buggers, the advertisments on TV going on about ‘no safe level of alcohol’ was put up by the Salvo’s who are reknown teetotallers. Bit stupid to think their message is the absolute truth! Moreover alcohol causes a particular syndrome, of which to date no baby who got it… Read more »
One of the rudest things you can do is tell a parent how to raise their kid. But that’s not the case when it comes to how to bring it into the world in the first place.
Everyone has tips on birth, sometimes insisting their way is the only way to do it. Have candles and incense. Have stirrups and steel. Do it with hot towels. Do it to music. Breathe like this. Think like that. Take drugs. Refuse drugs. Have a Caesarean. Be induced. Make a video.
Then there’s the row over where it’s best to give birth. In a private suite. In a public labour ward. In a birth centre. And, to much ongoing controversy, in the home.
Continue reading "Homebirth wars: this ‘right’ should come with a warning" »
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Sharon says:
You made a fantastice point…. you have witnessed A birth and your assumption is that babie’s don’t notice the environment into which they are born? You may want to look into the huge amounts of research that state otherwise, and that infact having witnessed over a 1000 births both at… Read more »
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Of the sixty-eight squillion pieces of advice doled out to pregnant women, perhaps the most useless is the message to stop playing competitive sports. While the advice is well intended, it’s completely unrealistic given that pregnancy itself has become a competitive sport.
The sport of pregnancy is complex and not for the faint-hearted. There are a number of fast-changing rules that change depending on the context. First, there are the weight trials. This can take one of two forms. The first form is the competition to see who can put on the least amount of weight during their pregnancy.
My wife Kasey first became aware of this one when she caught up with a former school friend for coffee who breezily confided ‘I only put on 10 kilos when I was pregnant’.
Continue reading "Pregnancy has become a competitive sport" »
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Splendid Post.thanks for share..additional wait .. <a >Youth NFL Jerseys</a> Read more »
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Yamum says:
I reckon people should just stop sharing all the details of their pregnancy, birth and then parenting experiences, that way, criticism can’t even be given. The real problem is people share too much and expect people to always agree with them.. We are all different. You can’t expect to spout… Read more »
The two greatest experiences of my life occurred in a birthing suite.
The birth of a new baby is an exhilarating experience that produces emotions from deep within your soul.
Yet somehow I think the emotions that child birth produces in woman are even more significant. Obviously pregnancy causes massive physical change but less obvious is the enormous emotional change having a baby ushers in.
Continue reading "Defending the right of Mums to have a safe home birth" »
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Home birth is preferable just when everything is normal.But better is that hospital is best because during any emergency doctors can handle every problem.here i want to share about tubal reversal a surgical procedure to conceive pregnancy after tubal ligation. Read more »
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