When Australian actress Mary Coustas (better known as Effie) recently become a mother at 49 it was certainly a case of ‘better late than never baby’.  Mary had endured years of fertility disappointment, punctuated by miscarriage and stillbirth. It’s well known that ...

Here’s the final instalment in my three-part series on the Only Child. The single-child family is the fastest growing family unit in the developed world so you’re far from alone if you have just one child. For many of us who became mothers later in life, it ...

Part Two in my Only Child series  – How to help your ‘Only’ not be lonely. Undoubtedly the most noticeable drawback for the young ‘only’ child is the absence of a sibling playmate.  This often leads to heightened demands for parents to be the child’s ...

Every mother wants the best for their child and to be the best mother they can. I asked Parent Educator, Larissa Jepsen, some important questions about new motherhood. Here is her wise and wonderful advice. What is your number one piece of advice for first time mums? If you ...

Part One of a Three Part Series on being the older mother of an only child. Whether as a result of increased fatigue or decreased fertility, the reality is that many later in life mums have only one child. “Spoilt Brat”, “Little Emperor” or simply “The Boss”, ...

Your Birth, Your Choice. When I first heard Serena Kirby present about her book Better Late Than Never Baby, I was struck with her description of her baby as being “too precious to push”. She was guided by her carers to have an elective caesarean to bring her boy ...

I’m mad! I’m so mad I just might explode. I’m sick of the media constantly bombarding older women with negative information and negative sentiments about later life motherhood. They say we’re selfish: selfish for putting career before children, for leaving motherhood ...

While politicians argue about the pros and cons of Paid Parental Schemes the health and welfare services for women in the early years after the birth go unexamined. The birth of an infant ushers in high levels of anxiety and depression, high levels of marital ...

There are plenty of news articles on the risks associated with later life pregnancy and we all know that good news usually takes a back seat. I talk at length about the myths and misconceptions in regards to medical complications in Better Late Than Never Baby but there is ...

When you think of mothering, you might think of loving, picturesque scenes of mother and child(ren). You might imagine all-things good, safe and nurturing. Add graying hair, eyeglasses, drying skin and a host of maladies including hot flashes, insomnia, reduced height size ...

“Help me if you can I’m feeling down”… … they’re great song lyrics and something I was unable to say (let alone sing) when I was a new mum at 43. Women who become mothers later in life are notoriously bad at asking for help. Studies on older mothers prove it. ...

Motherhood… the hardest job you’ll ever do. It’s the job with not nearly enough social standing and recognition and yet it’s the job that creates future citizens. If we don’t do our job properly and aren’t supported while we do it, what price will we, and ...