A clear guide to first trimester blood tests UK parents can expect, from booking bloods and screening to results, timing, and what happens next.
How to tell your boss you are pregnant with calm, clear scripts, timing tips and practical next steps for work, leave planning and confidence.
How accurate are pregnancy tests? Learn when results are reliable, what can cause false negatives or positives, and when to test again.
Something’s finally shifting in the autism research world. And no, it’s not another baseless conspiracy or another finger-pointing trend. This time, scientists are pointing somewhere completely different. Somewhere…
If you’re pregnant and suddenly Googling whether sleeping the “wrong way” can hurt your baby—breathe. You’re in the right place. You’re not being dramatic. You’re not overthinking. And…
If you’ve ever caught yourself doing something eerily like your mum—folding a towel just so, making that face when you’re annoyed, or even stressing about the same tiny…
Did you know that breastmilk is the perfect food for your baby? It is all that your baby needs to eat and drink for about the first 6…
Dear Mummy and Daddy, The day you saw that pregnancy test, was a day never to forget. I know you were scared and nervous. So nervous you took…
Around the world, caring for mothers after childbirth has traditionally been a matter of great importance. In many societies the practical knowledge of how to help mothers after…
Charlie can whistle now. He worked it out on his own, more or less. One day, quite by mistake, out came a toot tweet, and he giggled, Hey!…
I’ve been asked to reflect on why I chose to be a midwife. I wonder, if perhaps I never really chose it – but it chose me. An…
The New Zealand Breastfeeding Authority (NZBA) is calling for stronger workplace policies for nursing mothers in a bid to improve national breastfeeding rates once mothers leave hospital.
You might have heard of the ‘heel prick’ test – also known as a ‘Guthrie’, ‘PKU’ or newborn metabolic test – where a small blood sample is taken…
Kiwi Families has a focus on pregnancy and babies at the moment, and we’ve been talking to some great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post we…
Kiwi Families has a focus on pregnancy and babies at the moment, and we’ve been talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post,…
I’d like to share with other solo mothers two of the practices that I developed that served me and my child well. Being on my own while pregnant…
Pregnancy is a major life event, and therefore a great time to reflect on your health and what you eat! Now is the time to consider incorporating the…
Over the next two months, we’re going to looking at pregnancy and babies and talking to some more great kiwi families about their experiences. In this post, we…
I am a planner. I love to plan. I think it started off with my enjoyment of a good daydream. Throw in my need to have control, plus…
New Zealand is known for its clean green philosophies and certainly more and more families are embracing natural products and solutions. But did you know that your fertility…
Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy. What an exciting time lies ahead. There are many wonderful exercise opportunities for you to explore while you are pregnant.
Tough economic times have led to increasing numbers of women returning to work after having children, often sooner than they would like, simply to make ends meet. Staying…
Postnatal Depression (PND) affects between 10 and 20 percent of new mothers in New Zealand and often goes undiagnosed, not least because of the notion that motherhood is…
I love being creative and crafty in all aspects and know how much children crave the stimulation and challenges that especially arts and crafts can create. My two…
Who doesn’t love a decent cup of tea? Tea purists would likely say loose-leaf is the best variety for flavour. I couldn’t claim to be a tea purist…
While we’ve long known about the health properties contained in omega-3s – which can help remedy an exhaustive list of conditions, from improving blood circulation and balancing mood,…
I was 32 when my partner and I found out at the same time we were HIV positive. It was a real test of our relationship as we…
I didn’t have a baby shower with either of my pregnancies. It just wasn’t really something that was done back then. But boy things have really changed in…
For many women, preconception nutrition is not considered unless they have a related health issue or are consciously planning for a healthy pregnancy. Once pregnant, focus is altered to planning for arrival of baby, so post-conception nutrition can be an afterthought, yet remains vitally important throughout pregnancy.
The general rule is that if you are exercising prior to getting pregnant then you can continue on exercising as you were, adapting as required. If you are a…
More people are leaving starting a family to later in life. In fact, the average age for a first pregnancy in New Zealand is 30 – which is…
Pregnancy is a major life event, and therefore a great time to reflect on your health and what you eat! Now is the time to consider incorporating the…
Unbeknown to many Kiwi mums-to-be, globally New Zealand is regarded as having one of the best maternity care systems on the planet, alongside Holland. We are the only…
In the past 7 months I feel as if a new world of choices (and anguish) has opened up for me. The choices that you have to make…
When I was pregnant with my first daughter I was subscribed to a few parenting magazines. I always waited with anticipation when I knew they were due in…
Excitement is in the air, a new baby for you, a new sibling for your child. Here are some helpful ideas on how to prepare your child/ren for…
We always have a choice, but as we all experience at some time or another, often the choice to make isn’t that clear or comes at a difficult…
Once I started looking pregnant, strangers started treating me differently. Â My own policy is never to assume someone with a little roundness in the abdominal region is pregnant…
So, we all know that it’s important to wear good bras when you’re pregnant and feeding… but honestly… there’s only so long a girl can take wearing what…
As a naturopath and herbalist I often get pregnant Mums asking me desperately what homeopathic remedies are safe to take. Especially now that some big-pharma brands have moved into the…
Most people make a decision, or not as the case may be, to become pregnant and begin the process of attempting conception. At this stage people often get…