As writer and editor specialising in health and family issues and a ‘hands-on’ health professional working with new parents, Pinky believes we each know what support will be most appropriate for our own situation and if we can find an entrance to the maze of services available, we will usually be able to help ourselves and our families.

Pregnancy / Birth/ Newborn

Sarah Buckley
http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/
Australian author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, Dr Sarah Buckley is a family physician, an internationally- acclaimed expert on pregnancy, birth, and parenting, and mother of four children, all born gently at home. She brings together her medical training and her mothering wisdom in superbly-researched material that will help you to make gentle, loving choices for your family.

The Association for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Health
http://www.birthpsychology.com/

The Australian Association of Infant Mental Health
www.aaimhi.org/documents/position%20papers/controlled_crying.pdf
Policy Statement on Controlled Crying.

Maternity Coalition
http://www.maternitycoalition.org.au/
The Maternity Coalition Inc. is an Australian umbrella organisation for midwives, mothers and other individuals interested in birth writes..rites and rights.

Lina Clerke
http://www.wonderfulbirth.com/
Lina Clerke is a Melbourne based childbirth educator and midwife. Enjoy reading articles, birth literature and stories.
Purchase Lina's popular and highly effective pre-natal relaxation tapes (available internationally) Find out about Lina's active birth workshops.

Birth Central
http://www.birthcentral.com.au/
Birth central is a Sydney based centre for women and their families, providing pregnancy, birth and early parenting information and support. Their philosophy is that by gaining a better understanding of 'what's normal' and 'what to expect' women and couples can enjoy a positive birth experience and transition into parenthood.
Birth central also offer doula training and operate as an agency for doulas. This service makes it easier for women to obtain a doula that is suitable for them and their birthing choices. Birth Central doulas are fully trained and work under strict guidelines.

Your Birth
http://www.yourbirth.org/
If you are Sydney based - find a doula or childbirth support partner to support you and your partner through childbirth or sign up for the “Beer Plus Bubs” childbirth workshops at the pub where dads learn how to help their partner (including ideas for pain management) through the birth.

Find a doula
http://www.findadoula.com.au/
Use this website to find a doula to support you and your partner through the birth.

BellyBelly
http://www.bellybelly.com.au/
Description: A Melbourne based website, covering everything from Pre-Conception to Parenthood. Incudes expert panel, competitions, forums and information.

Childbirth at Home - a labor of love
http://www.socalbirth.org/
Midwife, Shelly Girard, founder of the Wholistic Midwifery School of Southern California has wonderful articles and useful links for all couples interested in birthing naturally. Shelly's article 'Why have natural childbirth?' is highly recommended.

Sheila Kitzinger
http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/
The ultimate "birth mother" - anthropologist Sheila Kitzinger is the author of many books on pregnancy, birth and early parenting. Her site includes articles and information about her work.

Birth Journey
http://www.birthjourney.com/
This site belongs
to Sunshine Coast Midwife and Certified Lactation Consultant,Lois Wattis. Lois offers gentle, natural pregnancy, birth and postnatal care options.

BirthLove - The Revolutionary Passion of Mothering
http://www.birthlove.com/
BirthLove... bringing activism and mothering into a cohesive, loving domain. 1,300+ pages of women's and children's health articles, the web's best collection of birth stories, c-sec/VBAC information and wisdom, homeschooling and natural parenting articles, online forums, homebirth support, activism and news, Contributing Experts' articles, and so much more.

Friends of the Birth Centre
http://www.fbc.org.au/
Friends of the Birth Centre, Brisbane.

Melbourne Midwifery Specialist Services Pty Ltd
http://www.melbmidwifery.com.au/
Independent midwife/ maternal and child health nurse/ certified lactation consultant, Robyn Thompson, offers a range of services. Even if you aren't looking for midwifery care, this site is worth a look: There are some great articles in Robyn's storybook pages by Doctor Sarah Buckley, a General practitioner.
mailto:robyn@primus.com.au

Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. Jane Palmer
http://www.pregnancy.com.au/
Quality Midwifery and Childbirth Education.

Convenor of Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean Inc.
http://www.birthrites.edsite.com.au/
Choices after a caesarean(s) birth Information and support about Vaginal Birth after a Caesarean or support for a positive Caesarean birth. Australian and international support groups and links. mailto:birthrites@edsite.com.au

Capers Bookstore
http://www.capersbookstore.com.au/
CAPERS Bookstore (established in 1988) has a large range of books and teaching aids for parents and health professionals on pregnancy, childbirth, parenting, breastfeeding, midwifery, grief and loss, mothering, women's health. Visit their website to see their online catalogue, conferences and seminars, and Birth Issues journal.

Birth International
http://www.acegraphics.com.au/
Teaching aids, books and tapes about pregnancy and birth. Seminars for professionals. An interesting site for parents and professionals. A network of related links.

Breastfeeding

Australian Lactation Consultants Association (ALCA)
http://www.alca.asn.au/
Lactation consultants are allied health professionals who offer support and specialist breastfeeding assistance. Members of ALCA are internationally certified professionals bound by a code of ethics and standard of practice.

Australia's Breastfeeding Association
http://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/
Breastfeeding information for parents and professionals. Answers to common questions about breastfeeding.

La Leche League
http://www.laleche.org/
The foremost international authority on breastfeeding. This web site offers on-line support and meetings/chats, a wealth of breastfeeding information (including an extended breastfeeding page) and contact details for groups worldwide.
Australian contact:
Myra Allen (08) 9417 7080. Fax. (08) 9414 1610
Counselling available by mailto:mat1@iinet.com.au

Breastfeeding.Com
http://www.breastfeeding.com/
A comprehensive breastfeeding website. Information, news and newsletter. Download breastfeeding instruction video clips.

Co-Sleeping

Professor James McKenna
http://www.nd.edu/%7Ejmckenn1/lab/
Professor McKenna is the director of the Mother-Baby Behavioural Sleep Lab at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. Professor McKenna is an acclaimed expert in the areas of infant sleep, breast feeding and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Natural child
http://www.naturalchild.org/home/
This site run by Canadian psychologist Jan Hunt offers a collection of gentle parenting options. Click on ‘articles’ then click on Sleeping for articles on co-sleeping.

Kangaroo Care
http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/
A method of care for all newborns, but in particular for premature babies, with three components: skin-to-skin contact; exclusive breastfeeding; support to the mother infant dyad.

The Continuum Concept
http://www.continuum-concept.org/
A site devoted to the principals of “The continuum Concept” by author Jean Leidloff – including baby-wearing and co-sleeping.

Ask Dr Sears
http://www.askdrsears.com/
Site of Attachment Parenting “guru” , paediatrician William Sears and his sons – also paediatricians. A very informative site offering evidence based information about all aspects of parenting, including co-sleeping.

UNICEF UK Baby Friendly initiative leaflet , ‘Sharing a bed with your baby’
www.babyfriendly.org.uk/page.asp?page=115&category=3
Information on the benefits and risks of bed sharing, designed to help parents make informed decisions about safely sharing a bed with their babies.

Child Health

There are several starting points to find information and support if you have a baby or child who has a serious or uncommon illness, a disability or disorder. Some of these organisations can put you in touch with other families who have children with rare conditions:

Association for the Welfare of Child Health.(AWCH)
http://www.awch.org.au/

Infant Massage Australia
http://www.infantmassage.org.au/
This site lists Australian massage instructors with contact details as well as infant massage information

Keep Kids Healthy
http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/
A Pediatricians guide to your children's health and safety, with free parenting advice, online forums, plus info on kids nutrition, growth, development, common problems and infections.

Centre For Attachment
http://www.centreforattachment.com/
Connecting wisdom with science, bringing attachment to life. The Centre for Attachment (CFA) is a New Zealand-based agency dedicated to providing support, education and training for families, organisations and communities on optimal child development and attachment. See their events page for upcoming conferences and seminars.

According to directors, Lauren Porter and Kate Dent Rennie, “a child with optimal early relationships will gain important developmental advantages: improved relationships and social skills, keen self-management skills and healthy interdependence, a well-functioning nervous system and overall psychological strength and well-being. These advantages are all rooted in the attachment systems present in the first years of life.”

Life’s Little Treasures
http://www.lifeslittletreasures.org.au/
A Victorian based support group for Parents of Premature babies, ‘Life’s Little Treasures’ are mothers who have been through the experience of having a prem baby and are dedicated to helping other parents going through the same journey. They also wish to increase community awareness of the unique issues faced by families of these special babies.

Mental Health

http://www.mentalhealth.com/
This site has a vast wealth of information about a range of mental health disorders and mental illnesses in children and adults including Asbergers Syndrome( a form of autism), Attention Deficit Disorder, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia etc. There are online support groups and useful links to other resources.

Bonnie Babes Foundation
http://www.bbf.org.au/
Voluntary organisation (Australian and US groups),offering 24 hour grief counselling to families who experience pregnancy loss through miscarriage, stillbirth or prematurity. The group raises funds for research into causes of pregnancy loss.

SIDS and Kids
http://www.sidsandkids.org/
Information about reducing the risks of sudden infant death syndrome and support for grieving parents.

Everybody
http://www.everybody.co.nz/
A terrific New Zealand resource. Links to a myriad of health and community support and information - from midwives and parent groups to general health information. Includes a pregnancy forum.

Yoga Babes
http://www.yogababes.com.au/
Yoga Babes is run by Yoga teacher and infant massage therapist, Katie Brown. Katie has produced a 70-minute DVD - Yoga for Pregnancy and Birth which includes two Yoga routines, a baby bonding relaxation and a section on how to use breathing, Yoga positions and labour massage in childbirth. It is $29.95. She has also released two relaxation CDs for mums-to-be and new mums. Each CD features original music by Ian Cameron Smith and runs for 65 minutes with three beautiful guided relaxations. The CDs cost $25 each or you can buy all three for $70.

Food Intolerance Network of Australia (FINA)
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/
This site belongs to Sue Dengate, author of ‘Fed Up’ and the ‘Failsafe Cookbook’ and includes information about the
effects of food on behaviour, health and learning in both children and adults.

Parenting support

Attachment Parenting International
http://www.attachmentparenting.org/
Educational materials, research information, consultative, referral and speaker services to promote parenting practices that create strong, healthy emotional bonds between children and their parents. These practices nurture and fulfill a child's need for trust, empathy, and affection, providing a lifelong foundation for healthy, enduring relationships.

Australian Multiple Birth Association
http://www.vicnet.net.au/%7Eamba

Immaculate Reception
http://www.immaculatereception.com.au/
Immaculate Reception is a unique service specialising in fully preparing your home for Mum and baby’s arrival, giving you the time to relax, recover and bond with your new baby. Services include: New Arrivals and Revival packages-creating a pristine and ‘baby ready’ home, organising and setting up baby equipment, delicious home-style meals delivered to your door and referral to our professional team of post-natal specialists. Their fabulous gift packages make the perfect surprise for every new mum.

Immaculate Reception also offers regular ‘Inspirational Parenting’ forums. Forums are free of charge and offer presentations by experts in many fields relating to pregnancy and parenting.

Booty Camp
http://www.bootycamp.net.au/
Sydney based booty camp™ courses and new pram pusher classes give mums the opportunity to lose post baby fat and enjoying meeting other mums while getting fit! Free child minding is available at some course locations.

Honey Body Salon
http://www.honeybodysalon.com.au/
Sydney beauty salon business Honey Body offer a Monday for Mothers Day where they provide free child minding while mums can be pampered while bubba is cared for.

Busy mothers
http://www.busymothers.com.au/
.... making family time count
The home of The Busy Mothers Companion the one stop resource tool to organise and manage a busy family and MUMcoach, a life coaching service especially for mums. The website has a wealth of information for busy parents including useful web links, places of interest and great books. It also has forums you can join and talk to other busy parents about what life with a busy family is really like.

Mothering Magazine
http://www.mothering.com/
Some great articles here supporting natural parenting. Articles to combat advice to control the crying and schedule the baby. Also lovely articles on couple relationships too.

The Natural Child Project
http://www.naturalchild.org/
All children behave as well as they are treated, is the motto of this non-profit organisation directed by Canadian Psychologist, Jan Hunt. Articles by a range of professionals and a children's art gallery (encourage your child to send a picture).

Compleat Mother Magazine
http://www.compleatmother.com/
A magazine about pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

http://www.naturalparenting.com.au/
Natural Parenting Magazine is an Australian publication featuring topics such as attachment parenting, breastfeeding, natural therapies, positive discipline, wholesome family living and natural active birth. Site includes a forum.

Spiritual Parenting
http://www.spiritualparenting.com/
This is the site of Mimi Doe, author of Ten Principals of Spiritual Parenting: Nurturing your child's soul. Non denominational. Sign up for an uplifting monthly newsletter.

FamilyOnwards
http://www.familyonwards.com/
A U.K. site full of information and advice for parents and grandparents hosted by Jill Curtis a psychotherapist and author of books and articles on different family issues including single parenting.

Aware Parenting
http://www.awareparenting.com/
Psychologist, Aletha Solter has studied infant crying and sleep issues for more than twenty five years. Interesting articles on sleep, behaviour, discipline.

The Alliance for Transforming the Lives of Children
http://www.atlc.org/
A growing community of concerned individuals and organisations that gathers and disseminates wisdom from many different cultures, recommends standards, and inspires research. ATLC also promotes innovative and progressive educational programs, services, products, and public policies that transform the lives of children.

The Continuum Concept
http://www.continuum-concept.org/
The book, The Continuum Concept, by Jean leidloff, an American writer who spent two and a half years deep in the South American Jungle with Stone Age Indians, was first published in 1977. It was never meant to be a childrearing book but is still acclaimed for its perspective on human nature and how we have lost much of our natural well-being. Practical suggestions are offered as to how we can regain this for ourselves and our children. This site has interesting articles on babies, children and the child within. An article on discipline, The Consequences of "Consequences", by Teresa Pitman is highly recommended.

MotherInc
http://www.motherinc.com.au/ is the online glossy magazine for modern mums. This FREE monthly magazine maintains an extensive library of articles and an internal search engine to find information on topics for a woman as both a mother and a women. From babies to tweens, to beauty, work, life balance (not), relationships and the latest in products and services for 21st Century Mums.

Earth mama’s web
http://www.earthmamasweb.com/
An Australian natural parenting site with articles about alternative health and child care and links to child and environmentally friendly sites.

Smart mums
http://www.smart-mums.com.au/
Smart-Mums is an online resource guide for busy Australian Mums providing parenting & lifestyle articles, quick links to informative & relevant websites, healthy recipes, weekly horoscopes, fantastic competitions and secure online shopping.

AlternativeBaby
http://www.alternativebaby.net/
An Australian alternative and attachment parenting discussion forum.

Baby products

Baby Carrier and Baby Slings
http://www.instinctiveparenting.com/
InstinctiveParenting.com is devoted to promoting and supporting secure healthy attachment between parents and children.This is not a how-to parent site. It is about empowering parents to rise above the cultural expectations and demands placed on us, and getting in touch with our genetic and primal instincts.

Hug-a-Bub
http://www.hug-a-bub.com.au/
Lots of 'babywearing' information as well as 'Hug-a-bub' baby carriers for sale.

AromaBaby
http://www.aromababy.com/
Aromatherapy based Natural Skincare products formulated for Mother, Baby and the whole Family.

Nappy Bag Books
http://www.nappybag.com.au/
This is the website of the Nappy Bag Books - very handy directories for each Australian state of goods and services for pregnancy, babies and tots: from antenatal classes and new baby support services to childfriendly places to go and things to do.

Natural Baby Products
http://www.natureschild.com.au/
Natural Baby Products - Enviro Friendly Baby Shop.

Cloth Nappy.com
http://www.clothnappy.com/
Choosing the soft option! Information about cloth nappies, so parents can make a properly informed decision as to what is best for their baby.

Here’s Looking at You Babe
http://www.hereslookingatyoubabe.com.au/
HLAYB offers a fantastic range of beautifully designed and unique personalised baby photo announcement cards. A very simple-to-use web site where placing an order is very easy and the photo style announcement card is a high quality lab-printed photo mounted on to a premium quality folded card which comes with a matching envelope. All orders are delivered via Registered Post to ensure safe and timely delivery.

Child Restraints Fitted Melbourne
http://www.childrestraints.com.au/
An automotive passenger safety specialist company operating in Melbourne, Australia that caters for families and professional child carers with Service, Sales and Hiring services. Child Restraints Fitted stock a wide range of Baby Capsules, Child Restraint and Car Seat Booster products and also supply and install Seat Belts, Cargo Barriers and Additional Seating systems.

Easipants cloth nappies
http://www.easipants.com.au/
Easipants are really easy cloth nappies - no folding, no clips, no leaks. Designed by an Aussie mum of three, they use innovative, thirsty materials to soak it all up, while still keeping baby's bottom dry. No extra bits needed, and they wash and dry quickly. Check out their tummi tubes for pregnant bellies too.

Motherly
http://www.motherly.com.au/
Site of Australia's unique 100% natural frozen baby food. Feeding tips and information.

Crawlies Unique Baby Clothing
www.crawlies.ca
Crawlies - Clothing for Babies on the Move encourages a child to crawl with confidence, while ensuring the child stays safe, has fun, and develops to their fullest potential! Includes very informative articles about the physiological and neurological benefits of crawling.

Hire for Babe (International)
http://www.hireforbabe.com.au/
Baby equipment hire - all states.