Conception

Preparing for Pregnancy more articles

Prevent pelvic pain with pre-pregnancy exercise: study

Jane Kirby Women who want to stave off aches and pains in pregnancy should exercise regularly before they conceive, experts say.

Why I'm choosing to be a single mother right from the start

Kelly Barlow I believe that you get out of families what you put into them, and I will give mine my all.

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Dad-to-be's heartwarming reaction to pregnancy news

When Doug Price's wife found out she was pregnant, she was determined to get her husband's reaction to the exciting news on camera.

Trying to Conceive more articles

Why tweaking your pregnancy test isn't a great idea

JO HARTLEY I have been known to do tests early, and even multiple tests in one day, so I can relate to how tempting it could be.

Why pregnancy tests can show the wrong result

Brooke Tasovac Sometimes even modern pregnancy tests can get it wrong, giving false negative or positive results.

The myths and truths of gender swaying

Brooke Tasovac Here are a few popular methods hopeful parents-to-be use to try to get a baby of their preferred gender – and what an expert says about whether they really work.

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Fertility more articles

The baby whose father is his unborn uncle

LETITIA ROWLANDS A US man has learnt that his unborn twin brother is actually the biological father of his own baby son.

How a cancer survivor became a mum of two in two weeks

Janene Holzberg "We were both joyous, but also a little freaked out. It seemed so incredibly random. We were beyond dumbfounded."

Scientists identify potential birth control 'pill' for men

Karen Kaplan Two drugs that help suppress the immune system in organ transplant patients may have a future as the long-sought birth control "pill" for men, new research suggests.

IVF more articles

'We need sperm!': Couple's unusual Facebook plea

Nicole Lawton Two women have turned to social media to find the perfect DNA for their future baby.

New IVF test to choose best quality embryos

Staff writers and wires A new test promises to improve IVF success rates by helping determine which embryos are most likely to lead to the birth of a baby following implantation.

Couples turn to fundraising for IVF to avoid debt

Cate Broughton Couples struggling to fulfil their baby dreams are turning to public fundraising to avoid falling into a cycle of debt.

Alternative Fertility Treatments more articles

Sperm bank children just as happy, study finds

Sarah Knapton The children of single mothers who used sperm donors to conceive do not suffer from the lack of a father, Cambridge University has claimed.

Parents may be allowed to advertise for surrogates

COSIMA MARRINER Attorney-General Gabrielle Upton determined to improve laws around surrogacy.

Pregnancy sends surrogate mum's MS into remission

Staff writers When Sherri Dickson made the decision to become a surrogate, she thought she would be helping to mend her daughter's broken heart.

Adoption more articles

Australians get green light to adopt from two more countries

JUDITH IRELAND Australians will be able to adopt children from Poland and Latvia under changes to overseas adoption announced by the Turnbull government.

The little girl who needs a home by Christmas

Staff writers It's that time of year when children start contemplating what they would like for Christmas.

Victorian Labor to introduce same-sex adoption laws

Richard Willingham, Benjamin Preiss Thousands of same-sex couples with children will have the right to be jointly recognised as parents by Victorian law.

Tools

Conception App

Download our FREE Ovulation Calendar; EB EggTimer iphone app to track and record your cycle, symptoms, & temperature.

Ovulation Calculator

Increase your chances of getting pregnant by determining when you are most fertile with Essential Baby's Ovulation Calculator.

Ovulation

Understanding Ovulation Signs, Symptoms & Your Cycle

Forums

Discuss conception with EB members!

Are you thinking about trying to conceive (TTTC) or trying to conceive (TTC)? Perhaps you're after information on assisted conception or donors? Ask for tips or help others in the Essential Baby conception forums.

The four singers of Swedish pop group Abba in 1977. They are from left to right: Bjorn Ulvaeus, Agnetha (known as Anna) Faltskog, Annifrid (known as Frida) Lyngstad and Benny Anderson. (AP Photo)

Best bands to get families dancing (and ones to avoid)

I'm not talking music made especially for kids here. I'm talking music from my childhood and it's the kind to really get down to (or not).

The clock's ticking - is it possible to reach your fitness goal by Christmas?

Do fitness challenges really work?

Fitness challenges aren't new. There's Michelle Bridges 12WBT and a bunch of other programs if you really want to lose weight.

What are pregnant women Googling?

Pregnancy is a huge change for any woman, so it's natural we'll have questions - and turn to Google to ask them.

'All I want him to do is to forgive me for giving him life'

As the mother of a baby born in detention, this asylum seeker feels guilt for bringing a new life into an uncertain world of incarceration.

Baby's first painting - while still in the womb

Every parent knows the joy of hanging their child's first painting on the fridge.

The unethical claims helping drive demand for formula in China

Chinese parents are being led to believe formula will enhance their child's brain development, sparking a huge demand and impacting Australian stock.

Take our Christmas survey!

We have a few questions about Christmas and would love to know what happens at your house at this time of year.

Beetroot and Chocolate Loaf with Cashew Frosting

Chocolate and beetroot loaf with cashew icing

Enjoy some guilt-free holiday recipes from Carolyn Hartz's new cookbook, Sugar Free Baking.

How more mums are passing on their maiden names

Giving a baby a mother's maiden name can be a way of balancing out parents' last names.

XT11, an infant chimp with Down syndrome, survived far longer than predicted thanks to her mother's care.

What a chimpanzee mum caring for her baby with Down syndrome can teach us

The extraordinary case of a chimpanzee mother caring for her disabled infant in the wild may help scientists understand how human beings care for children with disabilities.

Bec Gorman with Cruz who has had a major skull reconstruction for a rare condition called craniosynostosis.

Toddler's brain 'happy and healthy' after skull rebuilt

Bec and John Gorman knew the shape of their baby boy's head was abnormal, but doctors kept brushing their concerns aside.

The force is strong with this toddler

Never mind The Wiggles, this toddler takes her musical inspiration from a very different source.

The Carramar home where a toddler was found floating in the pool.

Drowning death of toddler in family daycare preventable, parents say

The toddler reportedly stacked up toys to climb the fence and reach the pool in the backyard of the property.

7 strategies to help you get through the tough days

They won't stop the tough days from happening, but they can help how you look at them, and make them feel a little less challenging.

Anthony Hinton and his baby daughter Abigail.

'I wanted to know what was going on during my daughter's birth'

Preparing for the arrival of their first child should have been an exciting time for Kate and Anthony Hinton but things did not go as planned. Now the couple are preparing to take legal action against Westmead Private Hospital.

There are many brands of infant formula but all those sold in Australia and New Zealand must adhere to the same strict Food Standards guidelines.

Join our campaign: Retailers called on to enforce formula tin limit

It has been described as a crisis and has parents across the country struggling to access the formula needed to feed their babies.

Jessica's daughter in her Pavlik harness; and after her treatment.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip: what new parents need to know

In 80 per cent of cases, DDH spontaneously resolves itself post birth. But for others, like my daughter, a Pavlik harness is needed.

DJ Arch Jnr was excited by his South Africa's Got Talent win.

Toddler DJ wins South Africa's Got Talent

He might be small, but DJ Arch Jnr is already a big, and very cute, star.

Megan Brown with her children, Harley Bishop, 3, and two-month-old Breeze.

Mum saved children's lives in 30 seconds

With 30 seconds to save her two month-old daughter and three-year-old son from their burning car, Megan Brown was ice cool.

Elena Sobina was breastfeeding her 6-month-old daughter when she was attacked.

Mother mugged at knife point while breastfeeding in park

A mother in the US has told how she won't breastfeed outside again after being robbed at knife point while nursing her baby while sitting on a park bench.