Having a new baby is one of the most stressful things that will happen in our life. There are so many things to worry about and you might start to feel as though you aren’t coping as well as you think you should. You may have the “baby blues” for a few days or you may have more severe feelings of depression.

It is said that there are roughly 10-20 percent of mother in Australia that suffer from postnatal depression. It is also estimated that 10 percent of first time fathers suffer from postnatal depression. Although they don't have the hormonal changes normally associated with postnatal depression, you must remember that father's lives are turned upside down when a baby arrives as well.

Postnatal depression is a serious mental illness that a lot of mothers (and fathers) suffer from, many silently, as they don’t want to admit that there is a problem.

After giving birth at your six week checkup, your doctor or early childhood nurse may give you a “test” to see how you’re going, this questionnaire is called the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. It was developed for the British Journal of Psychiatry in 1987 and is still used today as a guide to whether a mother may need some help for postnatal depression.

Below is the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale for you to use on your own. Please remember that scores provide only a rough guide as to whether a woman has postnatal depression. For a full diagnosis, it is important to see your doctor.

To complete the questionnaire, circle the response that answers most accurately how you have been feeling in the past seven days.

1. I have been able to laugh and see the funny side of things.
• 0 As much as I always could
• 1 Not quite so much now
• 2 Definitely not so much now
• 3 Not at all

2. I have looked forward with enjoyment to things.
• 0 As much as I ever did
• 1 Rather less than I used to
• 2 Definitely less than I used to
• 3 Hardly at all

3. I have blamed myself unnecessarily when things went wrong.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, some of the time
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, never

4. I have been anxious or worried for no good reason.
• 0 No, not at all
• 1 Hardly ever
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 3 Yes, very often

5. I have felt scared or panicky for no very good reason.
• 3 Yes, quite a lot
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 No, not much
• 0 No, not at all

6. Things have been getting on top of me.
• 3 Yes, most of the time I haven't been able to cope at all
• 2 Yes, sometimes I haven't been coping as well as usual
• 1 No, most of the time I have coped quite well
• 0 No, I have been coping as well as ever

7. I have been so unhappy that I have had difficulty sleeping.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, sometimes
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

8. I have felt sad or miserable.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Not very often
• 0 No, not at all

9. I have been so unhappy that I have been crying.
• 3 Yes, most of the time
• 2 Yes, quite often
• 1 Only occasionally
• 0 No, never

10. The thought of harming myself has occurred to me.
• 3 Yes, quite often
• 2 Sometimes
• 1 Hardly ever
• 0 Never

Add up the numbers or your circled answers. The higher your score, the more likely it is that you are distressed and may be suffering from postnatal depression. If you score is high, or even if it is low but you feel depressed, please consult your doctor as soon as possible.

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If you are pregnant with your second baby you already know it is tougher second time round when you have a rambunctious toddler to keep up with. Those opportunities to rest when you need to are gone. Being tired all the time isn’t a happy or healthy situation for you and the rest of your family who may end up on the receiving end of your crankiness.

Here are some tips to getting your rest, important for a healthy pregnancy, during your busy days with your toddler.

1. Rest when your toddler is resting

You would have heard a million times the saying “mother sleeps when baby sleeps” and may have struggled to stick to it, thinking you could handle the sleep deprivation. Now, during pregnancy, it is quite important to force yourself to sit down, forget about the mounting chores, and rest while your toddler is resting.

2. Let others do the entertaining

Meet up with your friends who have kids as much as possible so your toddler can play with their kids while you try and sit back and relax.

Invite them around to your place as understanding friends will be more than happy to lend a hand in the entertaining.

Or, meet up in an indoor playground or fenced outdoor playground so your toddler can burn off energy while you sit and watch.

3. Encourage low intensity activities together

Precious time together with just you and your toddler will soon be in short supply. Take advantage of the time by engaging in activities that are restful for you but stimulating for your toddler like colouring in, making play dough together and then mucking around with it, doing puzzles, etc.

4. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself and your toddler to be ‘ready’

Minimising stress is important for a healthy pregnancy. You may have devised a To Do list in your head of where you would like your toddler to be by the time your new baby arrives, such as being potty trained.

However, a new baby in the house is notorious for unsettling a toddler. So, along with a commitment to what you are trying to do, like getting out of nappies, you also need a good dose of commonsense and flexibility. Don’t put pressure on yourself with a rigid approach to meet an impending date, where the new arrival may set all your progress back anyway; it will be doomed to frustration and stress.

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Researchers say angry behaviour even things such as door slamming, shouting loudly and even binge-eating whilst pregnant can affect the development of babies’ hearts.

Infants born to mothers more prone to these impulsive and aggressive acts had less variation in their heart rates after birth, the research found. Variation in heart rate is thought to be healthy because it indicates the body is flexible and adaptable to change. For example, different breathing patterns should affect the heart rate.

But if the heart does not adapt to change it is more at risk of disease and infection. It is already known that adults who have a lower variation in heart rate are more likely to develop heart problems.

Researchers also say the hormonal changes in the body which trigger aggressive behaviour may pass through the placenta to the unborn baby, and could have an influence on the way cells develop. And so staying relaxed and calm whilst pregnant is important – what a better excuse for a spa day!!

The study, led by researchers from the University of Sussex, recruited 49 pregnant women aged between 22 and 39 from childbirth classes. The volunteers were tested to see how likely they were to develop ‘impulsive, uncontrollable bouts of temper’. The women were asked in interviews to describe how they normally dealt with anger and their brain activity was monitored to see how they responded to certain sounds and images designed to prompt a negative reaction. They found 22 women fitted into the ‘angry’ category, nearly half of the volunteer group.

The researchers said this was a higher proportion than would be expected in the general population,  attributing this to the fact that the study had been advertised as investigating the effects of temper on foetal hearts and attracted volunteers concerned about their anger.

After the women gave birth, the electrical activity of the babies’ hearts was measured using an electrocardiogram, or ECG. They found newborns whose mothers were in the angry group had a lower variation in their heart rate.

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A new study shows that they snack on more junk food, spend more time in front of the TV and do less exercise. Those whose mothers work part-time follow a slightly healthier regime, while the children of stay-at-home mums have the most nutritious diets and enjoy more exercise.

However, researchers also insist that the results 'do not imply that mothers should not work'. But they say there is a definite link between paid employment and a lifestyle that leaves children more at risk from obesity and disease.

They suggest that a lack of time is the biggest factor keeping the healthiest lifestyles out of reach of many working families.

The findings come from a study of 12,500 British schoolchildren published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. It shows children whose mothers are employed are more likely to be driven to school, watch TV, snack on fizzy drinks and eat too few portions of fruits and vegetables.

30% of the mothers in the study had not worked since the birth of their child but the rest had jobs. They typically worked 21 hours per week (with a range of 16 to 30 hours) and had been employed for an average of three years and nine months.

Researchers at the Institute of Child Health in London asked them about the hours they worked and their children's diet, exercise and activity levels when the youngsters were five.

Overall, many of the youngsters had developed habits that could lead to them becoming overweight.
But when the researchers took away factors that might skew the results, such as socio-economic background, they found a definite link between a mother working and her child's health.

Those whose mothers worked part-time or full-time were more likely to drink sweet drinks and watch TV or use the computer for two hours or more each day.

They were also more likely to be driven to school rather than walking or cycling. They were less keen to snack on fruit or vegetables.

Lead researcher Professor Catherine Law said lack of time for working mothers was probably the strongest influence.

She said many women in families with both partners working had a 'duel burden', shouldering most of the household responsibilities as well. 'Mothers who work full-time may have greater barriers to providing their children with healthy food options than mothers who work part-time,' she said.

With 60 per cent of mothers of a child aged five or younger in work of some kind, researchers said more help was needed for families.

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The study, by researchers from Sydney University found that only 36 per cent of respondents who could take maternity leave took it if it was unpaid.

Respondents whose earnings were higher were more likely to take unpaid maternity leave. Only 28 per cent of employees earning less than $20,000 took it, whereas 57 per cent of employees who earned more than $40,000 took unpaid maternity leave. more

Many women are resigning rather than taking unpaid maternity leave, a new study has found.

The study, by researchers from Sydney University found that only 36 per cent of respondents who could take maternity leave took it if it was unpaid.

Respondents whose earnings were higher were more likely to take unpaid maternity leave. Only 28 per cent of employees earning less than $20,000 took it, whereas 57 per cent of employees who earned more than $40,000 took unpaid maternity leave.

One of the researchers involved in the study, Marian Baird, said many of the women not taking maternity leave resigned instead. “As a result, they lose their career path and superannuation and the organization loses their knowledge, their commitment and training,” Dr Baird said. “That’s why Holden, Sydney Water and Westpac strongly argue in a business-cas fashion that offering paid maternity leave to employees allows them to retain their employees and not lose their skills and loyalty.”

Entitlement to 52 weeks unpaid maternity leave has been available to full-time workers through commonwealth industrial legislation for a decade.

The new study also answers claims that a legislated paid maternity leave scheme would just be “middle-class welfare”. It finds that women who are managers or professionals, who work in a large organization and earn more than $40,000 a year are already the most likely group to receive paid maternity leave.

“The more you earn, the more likely that you have paid maternity leave,” Dr Baird said.

“Clearly, based on these results, it is a women who earns less than $30,000 a year and work in hospitality business services or farming who would benefit from a national paid maternity scheme.”

Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward said the study was in line with her research on paid maternity leave.

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Nothing divides the parental world more than the ongoing issue over childcare. Parental values differ dramatically over the role of childcare in the first five years of a child's life. Considerable research has been documented that explores the issue of childcare and its possible advantages and disadvantages. Evidently, however, the research is often supported by organisations with particular vested interests and inherent values.

There are many factors that may influence a parent or parents' decision over whether to opt for childcare or not. Such factors may include: personal, cultural or religious values; socio-economic status; family, community and government support; availability of childcare facilities; and parental leave policies of either parents employer. Making a decision over childcare can be difficult and you may find yourself being scrutinised unfairly for your choice.

According to groups such as the Australian Family Association the government needs to do more to provide choice for parents, for families so that one parent is in a position to be able to stay at home if they desire.

The US National Institute of Health has recently carried out a large-scale survey that aims to explore the complexity of the childcare debate. The study revealed that the more hours children spend away from their parents the more likely they are to be defiant, aggressive and disobedient by the time they get to kindergarten and the less likely they are to have a close bond with either or both parents. They further claim that children that were in childcare for more than 30 hours per week were generally more demanding and unruly. However, it is interesting to note that almost all the 'aggressive toddlers' were well within the range of what is considered normal behaviour for four-year-olds. Arguably, a child demanding attention could be viewed as healthy when immersed in a room of many other children.

Many experts assert that it is not childcare that we should be concerned about but poor childcare. The research compiled by the US National Institute of Health was based on childcare centres in the US or Western Lithuania where the standards and accreditation and staff to child ratios are significantly below that of Australian centres.

Childcare may not always be ideal, however, for many children neither is the home. There is considerable research that highlights the positive influences of childcare on the developing child. Children who attend childcare are likely to have more highly developed social and co-operation skills, and increased levels of independence and tolerance for others than children who have not.

Obviously there are many complex factors that affect a child's social,

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Fresh from the constancy of the water-cushioned womb environment, the only environment it has ever known, your baby is suddenly confronted by unfamiliar sensations of gravity, cold, light and noise. You are its only familiarity.

Le Boyer, a French obstetrician believed a baby’s entry into the world ideally should occur in a quiet room, away from bright lights, with no unnecessary conversation. Known for his theories on non-violent birthing methods, based on those he had observed in India, he believed that those attending the birth should speak in hushed voices. He advocated that the umbilical cord not be cut until after pulsating ceased. The baby was then immersed in a warm bath and lovingly and gently massaged until it stopped crying. Le Boyer claimed that babies born this way appeared more alert, smiling and content compared to those babies born conventionally. Many of his philosophies have influenced birthing methods today.

Meeting your newborn for the first time is often described as one of those rare and incomparably extraordinary moments in life. “I cried, everyone was crying,” recalls Melissa, following the birth of Hudson.

“My husband cried for 40 minutes before he was able to call his parents,” recalls Sarah, after giving birth to Jasmine. Many new parents are able to recollect that special moment of coming face to face with their newborn with complete precision and clarity, in tales of relief, shock, euphoria and overwhelming awe. Lisa, having given birth to Myla, recounts:

“It’s the meeting that is the most amazing thing. You know you’re having a baby, you’ve been living it for nine months and when they actually come out it is the most bizarre moment. You’ve been dreaming of what they look like and suddenly they are there with you, looking up at you. It’s remarkable, completely remarkable”.

In many cases parents are shocked at how their newborn invariably bears little resemblance to the fantasy they have harboured for so long.

Rebecca remembers her first meeting with Klaus: “From the time of crowning, it was literally two or three breaths, and he slid out. It was so quick. I couldn’t believe he didn’t slide onto the floor. And I looked at him and thought, who are you? He didn’t look like Eric he didn’t look like me”.

Daniel describes his first meeting with his daughter Myla as surreal. “It wasn’t love at first sight. Looking at her I didn’t feel she was my baby…it was shock and realisation of the whole situation.”

What your newborn baby has to cope with during birth and in the first few hours of life remains unparalleled in subsequent years. Birth is often referred to as the most precarious journey a human being ever makes. It’s likely your baby may be bruised, bloody, blue in colour or may seem oddly shaped.

Lisa recalls:

“Myla was all screwed up and bloody. She had a huge lump at the top of her head where the vonteuse had been stuck to her”.

Julie’s daughter Harish was born with a bilateral cleft lip.

“I remember looking down and seeing a black, very small, oblong gooey shape. I thought ‘oh my God, is that my baby? It looks like an alien!’ Skrawny and thin, but as every second went by, she pulsated and became plump and large. It was the maddest thing I’ve ever seen. They cut the cord, then wrapped her in a blanket because she was blue, then took her to the side. When they came back with my baby they told me she had bilateral cleft lip. It really didn’t matter to me. She was great. Even though she had a misshapen mouth, she was just gorgeous.”

In many cases in hospitals today, medical processing and screening overtakes the moments following birth. However, if both you and your baby are deemed to be in good health, advise your health practitioner/s that you and your partner would like to be left alone with your newborn. It is thought that both parents respond best to their baby in the ensuing weeks if they have been able to peacefully bond with their newborn in the first hour following the birth. It is thought that a mother who is not afforded this unique opportunity is more likely to suffer postnatal baby blues and depression. More hospitals are recognising the benefit and relevance of parents being able to nurse their baby.

Often new mothers are exhausted, in pain or fighting after-effects of medication and are unable to cuddle or breastfeed their newborn immediately.
“I was shaking, bleeding, cold, my blood pressure was low and I needed to be stitched together. Looking back now I think I was in shock,” says Linda, after giving birth to Alex.

If for some reason you are unable to cuddle or nurse your newborn immediately, don’t despair, as there will be time later.

Looking down at your baby as it relaxes after the struggles of birth, your gaze may be met with by wide-open eyes staring intently back at you. Your baby is probably just as awe-struck as you are. As you hold your baby, its tiny arms and fingers may be exploring air and space as it struggles to focus on you.

Sheila Kitzinger, acclaimed British childbirth educator, says in her book, The New Pregnancy and Childbirth:
“It has been discovered that newborn babies find the human face the most attractive thing to look at, far more so than woolly bunnies or painted ducks - and the moving, speaking human face is best of all.”

More than likely it will be crying a high-pitched wail, its huge mouth wide-open. This is a vital biological mechanism essential to survival, summoning immediate attention from you. Your baby knows nothing of its new world but has an instinctual need to survive. Equipped with certain reflexes and its developing senses, it has mechanisms to achieve this purpose and it looks to you to provide comfort and nourishment.

Tennis ace Andre Agassi confesses that his overpowering love for his wife Steffi Graf at the birth of their son Jaden far outweighed the enormity of meeting his baby for the first time.

"I thought I was going to be overwhelmed by my son. But the most amazing thing was that I felt it was much more a moment between me and Steffi than between me and him.

"When they handed me my son, I was prepared to be blown away, but I was more blown away by my wife and what we shared, and what we had done, what we were taking on."

And his thoughts on parenthood?

"I don’t have any strong theories about parenthood. For me its much more the relationship you have with the child, connecting first and foremost with that little person’s heart and intentions and goals. First I need to know who he is".

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Some women fear they may become frigid after childbirth, as they have no interest in sex. Much of this is due to a combination of exhaustion and the fact that the immediate focus is the baby’s welfare. Talk with other new mothers about this and try not to let it become too much of an issue in the early days. Your doctor or health professional is likely to enquire about your sex life at the six week check up.

Resuming Sex

Feelings of apprehension and unease are likely the first few times, and this is not surprising, especially if the woman has had an unpleasant labour or a traumatic delivery, an episiotomy, tearing or a Caesarean. Go slowly as there is no value in painful sex. An episiotomy scar may still be tender six to eight weeks after the birth. For some women, it is possible for postnatal bleeding to continue for as long as six weeks.

Lochia

Lochia is a vaginal discharge resulting from the womb shedding its pregnancy membranes. Hormone levels are still returning to normal and sometimes the vagina may need more lubrication. Choose a quiet moment when the baby is likely to sleep for a while and guide your partner by showing him where you are likely to be sore. You may wish to use a lubricant. Many couples choose to resume lovemaking with a more exploratory approach the first few times. Both of you can regain your confidence this way without feeling too self-conscious. Be ready for a little comedy too as full and lactating breasts may also require strategic positioning and handling during postnatal sex. If you are breastfeeding, you may find yourself showering your partner with expressed milk during an orgasm. If this bothers you, it is possible for to cut the flow by pressing down firmly on your nipples.

Oxytocin

Lovemaking helps both you and your baby by releasing oxytocin into your blood stream. This is the same hormone that assists the contraction of the uterus and encourages the flow of breast milk. If your uterus is still "involuting" or shrinking to its normal size, you may feel strong contractions after sex. This is a positive sign though may be a little uncomfortable at times. A hot bath, massage or hot water bottle on the lower back and abdomen will help ease pain. Often women find their labia, the skinfolds surrounding the vagina, to be fleshier and the vagina more voluptuous and sensual. For some women sex after childbirth remains acutely painful. This is called dyspareunia and can occur when the stitches have been inserted too tightly and the surrounding tissue has responded by swelling or has become infected. This problem may be solved by a medical procedure as simple as snipping and releasing a couple of stitches. If there is an infection, antibiotics may be prescribed. If you have pain near your cervix, it may be that the transverse ligaments of the cervix have been torn during the birth. This takes time to heal.

Contraception

Breastfeeding is not a reliable means of contraception. Studies show that 80 per cent of women breastfeeding will not become fertile again until after the first menstrual period and sometimes this may not occur within the first 20 weeks. It has been known, however, for women to conceive within three weeks. The question of contraception must be carefully considered when you return to your doctor for your six week check up. The standard contraceptive pill is known to disrupt breast milk flow and can have hormonal effects on your baby if breastfeeding. An alternative is the mini pill that contains progesterone only. Other options include condom, diaphragm, cervical cap, female condom, natural contraception such as the Billings Method, IUD, hormonal implants or spermicidal creams or sponge.

Conflicting Emotions

For some couples switching from parent role to the role of lovers can be difficult. They feel that sexual urges may not be appropriate and do not equate with the role of responsible parent. As parents it is equally as important to have a fulfilling sex life. Sex and intimacy is not a mere act of self-indulgence, it is a significant and meaningful component in any successful relationship. With another little person in the home, be prepared for a few more unexpected interruptions, but be sure not to neglect your own needs of intimacy. This is what a family is all about.

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Subsequent pregnancies are rarely the same as the first. Although you may be less anxious, having already experienced pregnancy, childbirth and parenthood, the second, third and fourth time around holds its own challenges.It’s likely that you look and feel more pregnant than you did in the first pregnancy and you may experience unfamiliar aches and other symptoms. It is also likely that you will be lifting bigger children during your pregnancy. Encourage your older children to stand on a step or chair before you lift them to reduce the risk of damaging your back.

In sharing your news, you may find the reactions of those around you, including your partner, are less enthusiastic than they were following the announcement of your first pregnancy. You may even be criticised that you are having another baby so soon, even if it's years later.

Talk about your experiences with your partner so you can appreciate how you both feel. It is likely your life is busy co-ordinating family duties and that you are unable to spend the time you had hoped focussing on the new pregnancy. You may feel tired and guilty that your developing baby isn’t getting the attention you were able to lavish upon your first baby. If this is a problem for you, try to allocate some time for relaxation. Join a pregnancy yoga class or an antenatal aqua class that will benefit both you and your baby inside you.

You may be anxious about how you will inform the older sibling that a new baby is expected. The older your child is, the more information you will be able to share with it. As much as possible, try to avoid your older child feeling supplanted. Birth provides an opportunity for older children to learn and share in what is a special time for the entire family. Use the earlier months of pregnancy to ease your child into realising that many families have more than one child in them and that there are many positive aspects to being a larger family.

Childbirth educators suggest that younger children can often be introduced to the prospect of another baby by creating a book with a series of photos of themselves in their mother’s tummy, as a newborn, and baby. Seeing photos of themselves being fed and bathed may help them understand that they once were little and had to be nursed. A last page may be left blank for a future baby. Borrow a baby for a few hours, or invite a mother and her baby to visit so the older child is able to see the reality of how a young baby is cared for. Try to establish the older child’s independence before the baby comes create a routine that symbolises this. Perhaps establish a regular outing with the father that becomes the older child’s special time.

If your older child is still in a cot, move them to a bed well before the due date so its not seen as a consequence of the new baby’s arrival. Likewise, if you are still breastfeeding, try to curtail the feeds well before the new baby arrives. Be sure that you and your partner tell your child before anybody else does. If it is possible to wait until the fifth or sixth month, it will make the planning easier. But if there is a risk of someone else letting the cat out of the bag, consider telling your child earlier.

Once they are aware, involve them in the pregnancy and the enjoyment of feeling a life inside the womb. Physical evidence of the reality will help your child understand the existence of a new sibling. In discussing the birth, be sure not to make any promises you may not be able to keep.
Think carefully about your child’s involvement in the birth. What may be suitable for one child may be distressing for another. If you are having a hospital birth, be sure to say goodbye to your older child before you leave, even if it requires waking them in their sleep. This is better than waking to find you gone.

Siblings at the birth

If you decide to have your child at the birth, involve them in the antenatal planning. You will need to prepare your child for the experience of birth by explaining simply and vividly how the baby is born, including what happens during labour and how you may behave. For some children seeing copious amounts of blood and their mother crying in pain can be disturbing. Only you will know what will be right for your child.

A child at the birth should have an adult companion solely responsible for them. This person must be able to explain everything that will be seen and heard at the birth. A good idea is to arrange a small present for the older child from the newborn with a greeting note or card. This can be a defining token of their special relationship.

At home

Once you are home, be as tactful as you can. Try to spend special time with the older child once you have returned home with the newborn. Accept offers of help from them and explain as much as you can about what is going on. If your older child begins acting baby-like, remember that suddenly your child feels too big and grown up and unable to compete with the new baby for your attention. Simply telling a child to grow up will confuse them. In their eyes, the younger child is getting more attention because it is so little. Let them try on baby clothes, taste baby milk and play in the baby bath so they can realise for themselves that it isn’t really what they want. This will enable them to “feel” grown up.

Try to facilitate a bond between the children. A useful tactic is to encourage the older child to believe that the new baby likes them. Something as simple as observing the baby smiling at the older child can be presented in a way that is conducive to furthering their bond. Perhaps a comment such as: “Oh, I think your little brother/sister likes you, look at that smile!” may be the icebreaker that’s needed.

You

“First babies have the unenviable task of turning people into parents,” writes Penelope Leach in her book Baby and Child. Subsequent children will test your ability to balance the needs of a larger family. Coping with these changes involves flexibility, organisation and resourcefulness on the part of both parents. If you are able to plan ahead during the pregnancy, it will make life easier once you return home with your newborn. Stack your freezer with meals, organise a hands-free phone, if possible arrange to get essentials delivered, and bulk buy washing detergents, toilet paper, and non-perishable food items. Maintaining routine and rhythm becomes even more vital this time around and the level of help you have at home will make a difference. Encourage visitors to bring fresh, home made food rather than another baby outfit. When you are at your most tired, try not to neglect yourself. Building a family has many joyful moments. As Linda recalls, “the most wonderful opportunity of having a subsequent child is that you don’t get tied up with all the timing. I used to get so anxious during the night feeds with my first baby, sitting there peering through the darkness at the clock, meticulously timing fifteen minutes this side and fifteen minutes that side. It makes me laugh now.”

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Parental Leave

To be eligible for parental leave, employees must have completed 12 months continuous service with their employer prior to taking the leave.
Only one parent may take leave at the one time, except under the paternity leave provisions which allows the partner to spend one week with the mother at the time of the birth. An employee’s period of available parental leave is shortened by any periods of parental leave taken by their partner.

Maternity Leave

Female employees may take between six and 52 weeks of maternity leave in one unbroken period. There is a compulsory period of six weeks maternity leave following the birth of the baby.

Most employers require notification and a medical certificate at least ten weeks before the expected birth date. This certificate must state that she is pregnant and include the expected due date. Most employers require notification of the proposed commencement date of maternity leave for weeks in advance.

Paid maternity leave is available; however the period of time varies considerably depending on your employer and/or award.
There are a number of other benefits and entitlements available to parents during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood and it is worth researching these as they can again vary.

In some circumstances, you may use available sick leave to attend antenatal appointments.
If you work in a hazardous environment your employer is required to temporarily adjust your working conditions or hours of work to decrease the risk during pregnancy.

Paternity Leave

Entitlement

Male employees are entitled to two periods of paternity leave. If the birth occurs at a different time than expected the employee remains entitled to paternity leave.

Short Paternity Leave

A period of unbroken leave of up to one week can be taken at the time of the birth. This is the only paternity leave that can be taken concurrently with the mother’s maternity leave.

Extended Paternity Leave

This is a further unbroken period of up to 51 weeks paternity leave available to fathers who are the primary care-giver of the child.

Most employers require written notice and a medical certificate at least 10 weeks before the proposed period of leave, stating his partner is pregnant, the expected due date and the dates he proposes to start and finish the period(s) of leave.

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