Latest from Pregnancy and Childbirth

Sleeping on animal skin is good for bub

The finding comes from a study of 2,441 healthy German babies whose progress was monitored until the age of 10.

Many miss out on parental leave

A rise in casual and contract work is stifling the number of people applying for paid parental leave because they don't fit the criteria.

Scarlett Johansson gives birth to baby girl

Scarlett Johansson has given birth to a baby girl.

Expert's top pregnancy tips

Registered nurse and fertility expert Karin Hammarberg explains the odds of pregnancy and how to find your 'fertility window'.

The kids' speech: App charts progress

For parents wondering how their child's speech is progressing compared with their peers, there will soon be a NZ-designed app to help them out.

Seven ways to stop a tantrum

While toddler tantrums are to be expected, they can still be distressing for the child and the parent. Here are some ideas to curb the meltdown.

Kerre McIvor: Harsh view out of line

The evolutionary biologist and philosopher Richard Dawkins created a Twitterstorm this week when he posted about a young woman in Ireland who was forced to give birth to a baby conceived through rape.

Laws asked to take paternity test

Michael Laws has been asked to take a paternity test to determine whether the son of his ex-girlfriend is his child.

Strength of baby amazes doctors

Glugging milk from a bottle, Amara Chiedozie looks like any other contented 3-week-old.

Caesarean birth rates keep rising

Tania Eastlake is disappointed that her son Charlie was born by caesarean surgery, but knows that for his safety it was the only option.

Ainsley Newson: We need to talk about disability

The details of a surrogacy case involving an Australian couple commissioning a pregnancy in Thailand have created outrage in all sorts of quarters.

Sleep tips for young kids

Families do best when everyone is getting plenty of sleep. Even if just one member of a family is not sleeping well, the whole household can be affected.

SBW Jr may be born a Kiwi

Sonny Bill Williams' baby may be born a Kiwi as he and pregnant wife Alana plan to be based in NZ before the birth.

New baby hope for would-be parents

Breakthrough time-lapse image technology is offering fresh hope to couples struggling to have children.

Kiwis go offshore for their baby dream

A clampdown on paid surrogacy in Thailand following the abandoning of Down syndrome baby "Gammy" by his Australian parents, will shut the door on desperate Kiwi couples.

Labour plans free care in pregnancy

Pregnant women would get free dental care, doctors' visits and prescriptions under a Labour Government in a plan to be unveiled at the party's campaign launch.

What mums-to-be must know

You can read all the books, go to ante-natal classes and download the latest apps to monitor your pregnancy, but there will still be surprises when your little bundle of joy arrives.

Mothers pass on pregnancy stress - study

Girls born to stressed mothers are themselves more likely to give birth prematurely, scientists have found.