Neuroscience shows that Mom’s brain changes as she expects, births and nurtures her baby. How about Dad’s brain, or that of a foster mom or caretaker? Cozette Laubser explains how certain areas in the brain shrink or grow, how close contact with a baby “rewards” parents with feel-good hormones, and how being nurtured helps children develop a regulated nervous system. She reassures parents that parenting means growing a skill set and offers advice on exhaustion and moms returning to work.

Too many balls in the air? Clinical psychologist Dr Colinda Linde shares how being diagnosed with cancer shortly after the birth of her twins inspired her to come up with a plan for the many demands moms face. She introduces her guide for managing work-life balance, relationships - and guilt.

A new baby often takes centre stage, while its mother’s needs are put aside. Business & confidence coach Gosia Scarrott sheds light on new moms’ conflicting emotions, loss of identity and self-worth, loneliness, and unhelpful beliefs. Speaking from her own experience, she offers practical advice that can help moms rebuild their confidence, embrace their new identity and connect with their heart and soul.

While we love our children deeply, parenting is definitely not for the faint-hearted. Three moms share their views of the challenges and joys of motherhood and offer practical insights, coping ideas and strategies.

Occupational therapist Tanya Muir sheds light on sleep problems encountered by parents, babies and young kids. Combining evidence-based solutions with her experience as a mom, Tanya explains how sleep deprivation can affect caregivers’ physical and mental health, weight loss after pregnancy, and love relationships. She offers practical interventions for getting better sleep all round.

There’s a reason why babies are called bundles of joy, but while motherhood is a great privilege it can also feel like an enormous responsibility, especially for moms set on “getting it right”. Three warm-hearted women - a psychologist, social worker and clinical social worker - with children and grandchildren of their own offer aha moments, sensible approaches and practical tips that have helped them negotiate parenthood.

Although the safety and well-being of both Mom and Baby remain the foremost concern during childbirth, parents now have more choices: where their child should be born, who to include in their birth team, and what type of birth they prefer. Counselling psychologist and hypnotherapist Karin Steyn discusses the advantages of HypnoBirthing®, an approach to natural birth involving deep relaxation, releasing fear, tapping Nature’s own anaesthesia during labour, and “breathing down” you baby instead of “pushing”.