The Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education was established in March 2018, to inquire and report on the future of stillbirth research and education in Australia. The sorrow and sadness associated with a stillbirth has a profound rippling effect across communities that is long-lasting and is acknowledged to have significant social and emotional...

Motherhood is commonly viewed by contemporary society as a time of great joy, when ‘good mothers’ effortlessly bond with their newborns and adapt to their new role with ease. However, for many women and their partners, pregnancy, birth and early parenting do not meet these expectations.

The widespread use of alcohol during pregnancy is a significant public health concern in Australia. Prenatal exposure to alcohol, caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth and FASD.

This publication presents key statistics and trends on pregnancy and childbirth of mothers, and the characteristics and outcomes of their babies.

The Ministry for Women interviewed 40 mothers in Whāngarei, South Auckland and Gisborne, to hear in their own words, their experiences of being on a benefit and of the social services they accessed both during pregnancy and with young children. These interviews focused on nutrition, stress levels, parenting skills and the physical environment.