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NRL legend calls for help to get newborn baby home

<p>NRL legend Jesse Ramien and his partner Shell are pleading for help to get their newborn baby home after Shell's traumatic birth experience in Bali. </p> <p>The Cronulla Sharks player and his wife travelled to Bali for a friend's wedding while Shell was 33 weeks pregnant, who was cleared by her doctor before their trip. </p> <p>However, after just three days into their holiday, Shell went into early labour which quickly led to an emergency C-section, with mum under anaesthetic and baby boy Teo needing five minutes of resuscitation.</p> <p>Baby Teo was rushed into a neonatal intensive care unit, with his parents not able to meet him until the day after he was born. </p> <p>The family has been torn apart since with the parents still yet to hold Teo, who remains in an incubator, and older son Tallen returning home after Shell’s mother rushed to Bali to help.</p> <p>It is not known when the family can return to Australia, as Teo's condition is still unstable. </p> <p>“There’s just so much uncertainty here. We’ve been told by doctors it could be four weeks before our baby is okay to travel, but that could quickly change to five, six, or seven weeks, who knows,” Ramien told <em><a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/sharks-star-jesse-ramiens-impassioned-plea-for-help-from-the-australian-government-to-source-flight-to-bring-baby-back-to-australia/news-story/1208830641c06ecb8c2450b95eeabece" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-link-type="article-inline">News Corp</a></em>.</p> <p>“We’re doing everything to contact the Australian embassy to see how we can get home both as quickly as possible, so that our boy can get the medical attention he needs.”</p> <p>A family friend has set up a <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/need-your-help-to-fly-our-boy-teo-home" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page to help the couple get home with their baby on an emergency flight, with $45,000 of their $100,000 goal already raised. </p> <p>“I’ll play for nothing just to get our baby boy home safely,” Ramien said.</p> <p>Shell, who received clearance from her obstetrician and the airline before travelling, ensured her pregnancy was covered by a top travel insurance package, however baby Teo’s medical costs — tallying more than $20,000 so far — are not included, while the total costs to get Baby Teo home could exceed $130,000.</p> <p>Ramien has been sharing updates on Instagram, posting a picture of his new son with the caption, “Home soon my boy,” while Shell added, “Won’t be long my boy, we'll be home soon.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Instagram / GoFundMe</em></p>

Caring

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Melissa George shares first glimpse of newborn son

<p>Melissa George has revealed the name of her third child. </p> <p>The <em>Home and Away</em> actress, who is known to be ultra-private about her personal life, only sharing glimpses of it to her fans, shared the special moment on her Instagram stories. </p> <p>The 47-year-old posted a snap of herself lying down and breastfeeding her young bub with a caption revealing his name. </p> <p>"Precious little Lyor Gatsby Gene… my everything," she wrote.</p> <p>Lyor is variation of the Hebrew name Lior which means "my light". </p> <p>George announced the birth of her third son earlier this year with an adorable post captioned:  "Welcome to the world my little man. Love knows no end. A mother of 3 sons. Cannot believe it. My heart is so full." </p> <p>She has two older sons Raphaël, nine, and Solal, seven, who she shares with her ex-partner Jean-David Blanc, a French entrepreneur.</p> <p>The mother-of-three has not yet revealed who Lyor's father is and whether she is in a new relationship. </p> <p>She currently resides in France with her kids, due to a strict custody agreement where her children can't leave the country without their father's consent. </p> <p>The actress began her career in 1993 playing Angel Parrish in the iconic soap opera <em>Home and Away. </em></p> <p>She then moved to the United States a few years later and her career took off after she starred in the supernatural horror film <em>The Amityville Horror</em> in 2005.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“It’s not personal”: New mum shares divisive list of rules

<p dir="ltr">An expecting mum has divided opinions with an extensive list of strict rules her family and friends must follow if they want to meet her new baby. </p> <p dir="ltr">KIIS FM hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O read out the list live on air, as they debated the rules and regulations put in place by the pregnant woman. </p> <p dir="ltr">The rules included not touching the baby, being vaccinated and only going to see the child if you've been asked, with the hosts asking listeners if they thought the rules were “too strict” or “reasonable”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We're drawing closer to the birth of our daughter, and we couldn't be more excited, but unfortunately we have to implement some boundaries. We hope you can respect our wishes and no one takes these personally,” the mum's announcement read.</p> <p dir="ltr">First, the mum declared that there will be no information about the baby put online, including photos and information of the child’s name, or even an announcement that she had given birth. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If we want you to know, you'll know,” the mum outlined. </p> <p dir="ltr">Next, she said that only those who have “checked in” with the expecting parents since the announcement of the pregnancy will be notified of the birth. </p> <p dir="ltr">The mum took a brutal swing at anyone else she hasn't heard from and wrote, “Otherwise we have taken your silence as not being interested in our friendship and it is also reciprocated.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple went on to add that for the first two weeks following the birth, they will not be having any visitors. </p> <p dir="ltr">“No exceptions, no texts, no calls,” the mum wrote in capital letters, further explaining that no visitors will be welcome at either the hospital or at home. </p> <p dir="ltr">The couple also expect those who want to meet the baby to be vaccinated. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Don't be offended if we ask for proof. We will not be putting her health at risk,” the point read. </p> <p dir="ltr">The mum also asked visitors to “not smell of cigarettes or wear cologne or perfume that is too strong when meeting the baby”. </p> <p dir="ltr">Lastly, if family or friends visit the couple at home they will need to bring their own snacks and drinks.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Please do not expect to be hosted. Mum will probably be tired,” the list read. </p> <p dir="ltr">After sharing a video on TikTok, some mentioned the number one parenting rule of all: “their baby, their rules”. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Not a single one of those rules is unreasonable,” one person commented online. </p> <p dir="ltr">“The people triggered over this are the type of people these boundaries are intended for,” another added. </p> <p dir="ltr">However, others deemed the list as “passive aggressive”.  </p> <p dir="ltr">“Yeah right, nice knowing ya,” one wrote, while another said, “I hope she knows what she's doing.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Heartwarming moment Gogglebox star introduces newborn to grandma

<p><em>Gogglebox </em>star Isabelle Silbery introduced her newborn daughter to her beloved grandmother, Emmie Silbery, for the first time over the weekend.</p> <p>The TV personality gave birth to Ruby Emily Richards, her first child with husband Alex Richard, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/gogglebox-star-welcomes-baby-girl" target="_blank" rel="noopener">earlier this month</a>, and decided to share the moment little Ruby met her 94-year-old great-grandma for the first time.</p> <p>She also revealed the meaning behind her daughter's name, in the sweet post shared on Instagram. </p> <p>“My heart explodes. Ruby was the name of Emmie’s Aunty who adopted her when she was orphaned at age of 9," she began in the caption. </p> <p>"She saved Emmie from the horrible orphanages back in those days and cared for her like she was her own daughter.</p> <p>“I hope our Ruby inherits generations of maternal resilience and Emmie’s cheeky sense of humour.”</p> <p>In the video, Isabelle was joined by mum, Kerry, and grandma Emmie, who appeared on <em>Gogglebox </em>for six years with them, up until her dementia diagnosis earlier this year.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C08zg19PVow/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C08zg19PVow/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Isabelle Silbery (@isabellesilbery)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Oh, she’s so dainty,” Emmie said, while approaching Ruby's pram. </p> <p>When Isabelle told her the baby's name,  Emmie replied, “Really? Oh, thank you, that’s lovely.”</p> <p>Emmie then goes to get a closer look at Ruby before saying: "Isn't she beautiful". </p> <p>Fans and co-stars were touched by the sweet interaction. </p> <p>"Aww Izzy that’s absolutely beautiful my heart is overwhelmed with love for your family," wrote Gogglebox co-stars Lee and Keith, while co-star Adam Densten added four red heart emojis.</p> <p>"All the goosebumps! What a beautiful bunch of strong women. Love you all immensely x," added former Gogglebox star Angie Kent. </p> <p>"Oh my goodness. That’s filled my heart and my eyes. What a legacy of women sits behind your beautiful girl ❤️" added one fan. </p> <p>"So beautiful. Ruby surely will continue the strong line of strength &amp; love 🙌🏾 ❤️" wrote another. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Aussie couple touched by neighbours kind response to crying baby

<p>A Western Australia mum has shared the incredibly touching response her neighbour gave in response to her baby's crying. </p> <p>Amy Mark took to Facebook to share a photo of the note and a bundle of baby supplies that was left by her neighbour at her front door on Wednesday. </p> <p>"Hey, we are your neighbours from behind you," the note read.</p> <p>"We have heard your little bub crying a few times and thought we would drop off some nappies and wipes as we know how tough the early days are!</p> <p>"We hope this brightens your day," the note concluded. </p> <p>Amy captioned the photo: "Our neighbours left this note at our front door along with some nappies and wipes. Thank you for your kindness and being patient with the noise of a crying newborn." </p> <p>The mum told <em>Daily Mail Australia </em>that their newborn is often restless and night and struggles to fall asleep until 10pm. </p> <p>"We were worried about keeping the neighbours awake but it’s warming to know that some people understand the nighttime struggle," she told the publication. </p> <p>"A lot of parents have it harder than we do so we are grateful for the kind gesture and plan to pay it forward."</p> <p>Thousands of Aussies took to the comments to applaud the kind neighbours and also offered their sympathy for the new parents. </p> <p>"More people should be neighbours like this," one wrote. </p> <p>"What wonderful neighbours to have. That brought tears to my eyes," another commented. </p> <p>"Gifts and understanding, what more can you ask for?" a third added. </p> <p>A few other mum's took to the comments to share their experiences with thoughtful neighbours. </p> <p>One mum wrote: "I had a lovely neighbour who used to come hold and cuddle my twins while we chatted and it helped me get a few things done." </p> <p><em>Image: Facebook</em></p> <p> </p>

Family & Pets

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Why an ABC journalist named her newborn after an illicit drug

<p dir="ltr">An ABC journalist has raised eyebrows after she named her newborn son after an illicit drug.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kirsten Drysdale, host of <em>WTFAQ</em> on the public broadcaster, has recently welcomed her third child with her husband Chris, as the couple revel in their newborn bliss bubble. <br />However, their euphoria has been overtaken by a series of questions over their strange choice of name for the baby boy. </p> <p dir="ltr">The newborn baby’s legal name is Methamphetamine Rules. </p> <p dir="ltr">The reasons behind the unusual name are more than meets the eye, as Drysdale works on the <em>WTFAQ</em> program, answering burning questions from the public. </p> <p dir="ltr">‘What can I legally name my baby?’ has come up consistently on the program, as Drysdale set out to investigate how far you can go when naming a child before the state registry steps in. </p> <p dir="ltr">While researching the story, the mum wondered what name the registry would default to if the parents’ first submission was rejected.</p> <p dir="ltr">She wasn’t getting a clear answer from the government body’s media team, and as she was about to give birth, Drysdale decided it was perfect timing to take matters into her own hands.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We thought, what is the most outrageous name we can think of that will definitely not be accepted?” Drysdale told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/current-affairs/abc-journalist-kirsten-drysdales-wild-name-for-newborn-son/news-story/c4568f521ee9cfb5b68179a84667d92b" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>news.com.au</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Methamphetamine Rules we thought would surely get rejected, and then when it does, we can find out what name the Registrar chooses.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was really just a lighthearted, curious attempt to get an answer to this question.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Drysdale’s attempt at fooling the system quickly turned to horror when her initial online submission listing her son’s fake name was approved “very quickly”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Weeks after giving birth, she received her son’s birth certificate in the mail with ‘Methamphetamine Rules’ listed as her son’s given name.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t know how it slipped through,” Drysdale said. “I’m not sure if someone was overworked, or if it was automated somewhere.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Or possibly, maybe they thought Methamphetamine was a Greek name.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They haven’t really given us a clear answer.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thankfully, the Registrar admitted it was an unusual oversight, and Drysdale’s son’s real, “normal” name should be approved any day now.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Baby Meth’s real name … I’m not publicly disclosing it, because I don’t want it to be attached to this,” she laughed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s a beautiful name and I can tell you it has nothing to do with class A drugs.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“We think it’ll be a very unique 21st birthday present to tell him this story.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Kirsten Drysdale / WTFAQ: ABC</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Crown Princess shares adorable snaps of new baby

<p>Malaysia's Crown Prince Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra and his wife Crown Princess Sofie Louise Johansson have shared a few adorable snaps of their newborn son. </p> <p>The couple welcomed their first child, a healthy baby boy Johan, on July 17  at the University Science Malaysia Hospital. </p> <p>Just two weeks after his birth, Princess Sofie took to Instagram to share a few snaps from her son's recent Aqiqah - an Islamic tradition performed after a child is born, where they sacrifice an animal and share the meat to the poor as a way of celebrating a new life and expressing their gratitude to Allah for blessing them with a child.</p> <p>"Today we had the Aqiqah for baby Johan," she began the post. </p> <p>"Normally the Aqiqah takes place on either the 7th day or the 14th day after birth." </p> <p>The ceremony was held at the royal palace in Kelantan's capital Kota Bharu.</p> <p>In the photos, baby Johan was pictured sleeping peacefully in a white cot, while in another photo he was resting on a padded stool in a bed surrounded by flowers. </p> <p>In another photo, a family member is pictured giving baby Johan a taste of honey as part of the Aqiqah, as it is believed to reflect the sweetness of the Qur'an. </p> <p>The baby's birth was announced just over a week ago in an official statement released by the Kelantan Sultan Office. </p> <p>"Her Highness and the royal baby are both in good health," the statement read. </p> <p>"HRH the Crown Prince and HH the Crown Princess would like to thank all the employees at [the hospital] who were involved and to all the Kelantanese who prayed for their well-being and the safe delivery of their child."</p> <p>The Crown Prince and Princess wedded in a lavish ceremony attended by over 300 people in 2019. </p> <p>They first met each other in England,  when the Crown Prince was studying history at the London School of Economics and Political Science and University College London. </p> <p>The Crown Princess was working as an au pair during that time. </p> <p><em><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> Images: Instagram</span></em></p>

Family & Pets

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Naomi Osaka shares first snaps of newborn daughter

<p dir="ltr">Tennis star Naomi Osaka has shared a few updates for the first time since <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/naomi-osaka-is-a-mum" target="_blank" rel="noopener">giving birth</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 25-year-old could not hide her excitement of being a mum as she took to Instagram to share a snap of her newborn daughter and a few other photos - including a glimpse into her nursery</p> <p dir="ltr">“Well that was a cool little intermission, now back to your regularly scheduled program 🎾✌🏾💕” she captioned the photo.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her newborn baby girl wore a white baby romper embroidered with green and pink tennis rackets and tennis balls.</p> <p dir="ltr">In the second photo she shared another picture of her baby bump with a stunning background view from her Beverly Hills house.</p> <p dir="ltr">She shared a few other snaps including one from her hospital bed, and another of her celebrations at home - complete with pink balloons that spell out “mom” and rose petals adorning the picnic blanket.</p> <p dir="ltr">This is Naomi’s first child with her rapper beau, Cordae, who she’s been in a relationship with since 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">Fans took to the comments to share their well-wishes to the first time mum.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A Girl Mom. Nothing will ever top that official title that you now bestow on ,” wrote one fan.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations Naomi and Cordae! Naomi you’re already the best momma 💗💗🥰 bet she’s gonna be as beautiful as you are,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congrats Mama you did it! Couldn’t be happier for you,” commented a third.</p> <p dir="ltr">Just a few hours after the initial update, she posted a gallery of her nursery which had sky-inspired decor and a gender-neutral colour scheme which was complimented by a few personal touches.</p> <p dir="ltr">Aside from the neutral colours and wood used to decorate the room, she added a few fun touches including cloud shaped pillows and a Totoro plushie.</p> <p dir="ltr">Many fans have praised Naomi for her “beautiful” design choices.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Grant Denyer's wife's surprise family update

<p dir="ltr">Grant and Chezzi Denyer are celebrating their expanding family, after announcing the birth of their new niece Evie Belle.</p> <p dir="ltr">Chezzi couldn’t hide her excitement as she took to Instagram to post a few photos of the newborn.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Introducing little Evie Belle - The latest Denyer addition,” she captioned the post on her Instagram Story.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Congratulations @kendallcupcakee and Lachie... We are smitten!”</p> <p dir="ltr">The photo showed an adorable baby Evie, born to Grant’s sister Kendall, fast asleep and wrapped in a star blanket.</p> <p dir="ltr">In a surprising twist, Chezzi shared that Evie is just one of four babies their extended family have welcomed in the past week, with Evie being the second among the line up of newborns.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Actually 4 magical babies born in our family over the past week,” she announced in a follow up post with a collage of all four of her new nieces and nephews peacefully sleeping.</p> <p dir="ltr">“How glorious. So special. Evie, Grayson, Adelaide and Evie.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Babies are pure joy and sent from heaven and these four are the cutest, most special little ‘bebes’,” she gushed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We are so grateful. Biggest congratulations to their mums and dads,” she added.</p> <p dir="ltr">Grant and Chezzi have four children of their own Sailor, 10, Scout, six, and Sunday, two.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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The Block winners reveal adorable new baby’s name

<p dir="ltr">Elyse Knowles and Josh Barker have welcomed their second child - an adorable baby boy.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple took to Instagram on Sunday to announce the exciting news in a sweet video of their newborn son, and unveiled the sweet meaning behind the tot's name.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Zaii Barker 🤍 To love and protect. 18th May 🐚," the couple captioned the video.</p> <p dir="ltr">The parents are clearly in awe of their baby boy, as they used the song 'Eyes on You' by Ed Patrick in their announcement video.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Csfz4H8g2s2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Csfz4H8g2s2/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Elyse Knowles (@elyse.knowles)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr"><em>The Block</em> 2017 winners’ friends, family and fans shared their love in the comments.</p> <p dir="ltr">"The cutest little squish going around," Elyse's sister Tahlea Knowles wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Congratulations ❤️ Zaii you're perfect! Enjoy this special time! So happy for you all!” commented their friend Lana Wilinson.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Well done mama! And the name is heaven. Xx," commented Lisa Wilkinson with a bunch of red heart emojis.</p> <p dir="ltr">Zaii’s birth comes two years after the couple welcomed their first-born son, Sunny.</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple announced their pregnancy earlier this year, with Elyse revealing that she was halfway through her second pregnancy.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Very, very grateful for baby number 2. Half way until Sunny is a big brother," she captioned the post.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Mum sparks fury for admitting to tanning newborn

<p>A young mother split the internet in half when she shared the shocking news on social media that she was self-tanning her four-month-old son. </p> <p>In a clip posted to her TikTok, the 21-year-old could be seen holding her baby, with the text “when everyone is telling me to stop self-tanning my baby but the loving tan employees have families to feed” across the screen.</p> <p>The video hit viral heights, gaining over 1 million views along with its varied - and passionate - response. </p> <p>Many were quick to voice their outrage at the young mum and her “selfish” move, calling into question the health risks that such a tanning process might pose to Kylen Suttner’s son, Suede. </p> <p>“Gosh, those chemicals can hurt a little one's skin,” one dismayed user wrote. “Their skin is so sensitive when they're babies.”</p> <p>“Disgusting!” another declared. “So horrible.”</p> <p>One was concerned that Suede was going to “grow up thinking he isn’t good enough naturally, especially to the one person who would love him unconditionally”.</p> <p>“Why does a baby need a fake tan... so unnecessary,” someone else said. </p> <p>Meanwhile, another just wanted to know “is this a joke, I can't tell?"</p> <div><iframe title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7206061715535105326&amp;display_name=tiktok&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40kylensuttner%2Fvideo%2F7206061715535105326&amp;image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F87e23b7fac564434b6df488f764e493f%3Fx-expires%3D1684490400%26x-signature%3DdBQQZLY5FaqakQuevOWiYIisLiM%253D&amp;key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&amp;type=text%2Fhtml&amp;schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> <p>Others seemed of the opinion that it was, with some even replying to similar questioning comments to share that the baby reportedly had jaundice, and this was his mother’s way of making light of the situation. </p> <p>And it turns out that that was exactly the case. </p> <p>As criticism continued online, heating up as the story blew up across news outlets, Kylen made the confirmation with The Post that it had all been a joke. </p> <p>“He had jaundice and looked really tan when he was born,” she explained to the outlet. “Everyone commented on his colour, so I decided to make a joke about it. </p> <p>“I would never actually use self tanner on my baby.</p> <p>“I feel like most people understood it was a joke. But the few who didn’t were appalled that I would self tan my baby.”</p> <p>For those who understood the truth of the situation, it was an opportunity to get in on the fun with Kylen, with many making the announcement that this would be “me as a mum” too. </p> <p>“I love this,” one said. “I wish I had his skin colour.”</p> <p>“You gotta keep the tan up,” came one joke, referencing a popular Family Guy meme, “it’s a lifestyle Brian”.</p> <p>“So funny to me that people think you’re being Fr [for real],” another shared.</p> <p><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

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Million dollar baby! Video of newborn covered in money sparks outrage

<p>The bizarre moment a new father covered his newborn child in $100 bills has gone viral, sending social media into a frenzy over the strange act. </p> <p>The video shows a sleeping newborn in a crib in a hospital's nursery, while an adult covers the baby boy in $100 bills. </p> <p>Despite a blanket covering the baby's body, many were quick to point out just how many germs and bacteria live on cash notes, with many worried about the child picking up an infection from the dirty money. </p> <p>According to <a href="https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1914560_1914558_1914544,00.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener">TIME</a>, paper money can reportedly carry more germs than a household toilet - and hundreds of species of microorganisms can live on the cash for days. </p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en">Man covers his new born baby with hundreds 😳 <a href="https://t.co/AFEYajIY6N">pic.twitter.com/AFEYajIY6N</a></p> <p>— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) <a href="https://twitter.com/DailyLoud/status/1650660162930196485?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2023</a></p></blockquote> <p>People took to Twitter to show their outrage at the germs, with one person saying, "Bro just created a bacteria blanket for a newborn."</p> <p>Another shared the same sentiment, writing, "Unless those are brand new bills straight from the bank, he just covered his baby in a blanket of germs."</p> <p>Another person said, "Very very unhygienic I hope baby doesn't get sick..." while a fourth added, "Money is full of pathogens, I wouldn't compromise the baby's health."</p> <p>Others cut the happy parent some slack, saying it was a strange decision to shower the baby with money, but said they could understand the person's excitement over the bundle of joy. </p> <p>One person said, "Probably a proud first-time father and isn't thinking about how ridiculous this is. Down the line he'll show his baby the picture and they'll have a good laugh out of it."</p> <p>Another wrote, "An unusual way to wish prosperity to the newborn but again different stroke for different folks!"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Twitter</em></p>

Family & Pets

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“My whole heart”: Paris Hilton shares new photos of baby boy

<p dir="ltr">Paris Hilton took to Instagram to share a series of intimate mother and son portraits with her newborn, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum.</p> <p dir="ltr">The heiress, 42, simply captioned the photos with: “My whole heart. #MommyMonday”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hilton uploaded four black and white photos showing her cradling her baby boy in both candid and posed shots.</p> <p dir="ltr">"I feel like my life is so complete now," she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Friends and fans took to the comments to share their love.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You were made to be a mom Paris 💗💗💗,” commented celebrity hairstylist, Brittney Conkle.</p> <p dir="ltr">"Paris. Beautiful mummy, two angels love you," wrote one of her friends.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So happy for you!!! He’s absolutely precious!!!” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can already tell that you're an amazing mum!! ❤️ Phoenix is so lucky to have you as a mother,” wrote another.</p> <p dir="ltr">Hilton and her husband Carter Reum welcomed their baby boy via surrogate early this year, after admitting that they hoped to start a family following their wedding in 2021.</p> <p dir="ltr">The star has previously gushed about her son in an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, where she called him a "little angel".</p> <p dir="ltr">"I'm so obsessed with him. My whole heart feels so full," she said, adding that her life feels “complete” now.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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“Music somehow stays”: Great-grandma with dementia recalls lullaby in heartwarming moment with newborn great-grandson

<p>When Connie Lynn uploaded a touching video of her mother singing to her Instagram account, she didn’t expect it to reach so many people or to warm so many hearts. </p> <p>The clip features the moment 89-year-old Elinor Hanson got to hold her one-day-old great-grandson, Grayson. Elinor, who had been diagnosed with dementia years before but whose condition had worsened since 2020, delighted the whole family when she began to sing a beloved lullaby to the newborn. </p> <p>"Okay, it goes like this,” she tells the swaddled baby, before asking, “now, are you listening?" </p> <p>In the moments to follow, Elinor begins her heartfelt rendition, singing as she rocks him in her arms, “I love you, a bushel and a peck. A bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck. A hug around the neck and a barrel and a heap. A barrel and a heap and I'm talking in my sleep about you, about you, 'cause I love you.”</p> <p>A teary-eyed Elinor trails off to look up at the camera, and with an emotional chuckle tells her family, “I’m going to cry.” </p> <p>“Great grandma meeting and holding her newest great grandson and singing a song she sung to all the grandkids,” Connie Lynn captioned the post. </p> <p>“A song my kids know very well. I love you a bushel and a peck,” she continued, “this night made her so happy. It’s amazing how the brain can lose so much but music somehow stays. Music really is amazing for healing and memory.”</p> <p>Connie’s comments section was flooded with grateful messages from those who had watched the video, with many of them opening up about their own experiences with family members who had and have dementia, and the beautiful moments they shared over babies and music as well. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnhhHCnJnxA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CnhhHCnJnxA/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Connie Lynn Hanson (@fsvivace)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“I saw this on the Good News feed. It warmed my heart and broke it at the same time,” one admitted, “my parents became great-grandparents near the end of their lives. The babies brought them such joy. My dad had dementia but when he saw the babies his eyes would light up and he would come back to life again, just for a moment. Thank you for sharing this with us.”</p> <p>“Isn’t it amazing the things that can trigger a bit of normalcy,” another agreed, “a song, a baby, a photo.”</p> <p>“The sweetest video ever. Both my dad and my brother suffered from Dementia,” a fellow grandmother shared, “it is such a cruel disease. I’m so glad this family will have this video to remember this sweet lady for years to come.”</p> <p>Speaking to <em>Today.com</em>, Connie confessed that it was the moment right before her mum began singing that took her back to before she had dementia. </p> <p>“It’s when she says, ‘okay, it goes like this, now you’re listening?,” she said, “that’s my mum that I remember.”</p> <p>Connie opened up about her mother’s involvement in the lives of her children and grandchildren, calling her “the cookie-baking kind of grandma”, and a “musical lady” who liked to spend her time singing with choirs and at weddings. </p> <p>With another great-grandchild on the way, Connie is positive that they’ll soon get another chance to hear Elinor’s sweet songs when the two meet. </p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

Caring

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“So full of love”: Chrissy Teigen reveals newborn daughter’s name

<p>Chrissy Teigen and her husband, singer John Legend, have revealed the name of their newborn daughter in a touching Instagram post. </p> <p>The couple recently welcomed their new baby, with John reportedly announcing the birth at a private concert on Friday the 13th, declaring it “a blessed day”. </p> <p>“She’s here!” Chrissy captioned her post, to an outpouring of love and celebration from fans and friends, “Esti Maxine Stephens - the house is bustling and our family could not be happier.”</p> <p>Of their new addition and the experience of becoming a family of five, she added, “Daddy sheds nightly tears of joy seeing Luna and Miles so full of love, and I am learning you still need diapers with a c section!? We are in bliss. Thank you for all the love and well wishes - we feel it all!”</p> <p>John posted the same photo as Chrissy, honouring his wife and his family with the caption, “on Friday, we welcomed Esti Maxine Stephens to our family, and our house is overflowing with love and joy. I’m in awe of Chrissy’s strength and resilience and I’m so thrilled to see how Luna and Miles embrace their baby sister. I’m so, so grateful, but that doesn’t seem like a big enough word.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnm4W4mPPVy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cnm4W4mPPVy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The image shows the couple’s children Luna, six, and Miles, four, cradling their new little sister. </p> <p>The family’s blessing comes three years after the tragic loss of their third child, and their supporters were eager to share their love amidst the good news, with many fellow famous faces among them. </p> <p>“Congratulations!!!” Wrote actress Rosario Dawson to Chrissy, along with a string of red hearts. </p> <p>Reality TV star Kris Jenner chimed in to share that she “can’t wait to meet her!!!”</p> <p>To John, actress Viola Davis wrote, “Aaaaaahhh!!!! Mazaltov!!!! Blessings to you and yours!!! Beautiful.”</p> <p>Chrissy and John’s comment sections were flooded with hearts, well wishes, and congratulations, with many gushing over their baby’s name: Esti Maxine Stephens. </p> <p>Legend’s legal name is John Roger Stephens, explaining Esti’s new surname. Fans of the couple believe Esti’s middle name, Maxine, is a tribute to John’s late grandmother, Marjorie Maxine Stephens.</p> <p>Announcing her pregnancy last August, the model and cookbook author wrote, “the last few years have been a blur of emotions to say the least, but joy has filled our home and hearts again.”</p> <p>The couple’s latest updates assure their supporters that their home and hearts are full, as they settle in to enjoy life with their newest family member, little Esti. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Why is newborn baby skin-to-skin contact with dads and non-birthing parents important? Here’s what the science says

<p>Soon after a baby is born, it’s getting more common these days for the father or non-birthing parent to be encouraged to put the newborn directly on their chest. This skin-to-skin contact is often termed “kangaroo care”, as it mimics the way kangaroos provide warmth and security to babies.</p> <p>Mothers have been encouraged to give kangaroo care for decades now and many do so instinctively after giving birth; it has been <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27552521/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shown</a> to help mum and baby <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882596316000531?casa_token=QBk4MOx7VIMAAAAA:3DIH_RF_PdsZDqHkKSYgbM37Tgsau5GpTBPqUowy4kDN3tOwtnnPvpXCGkpBI8lJEQIqSorp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">connect</a> and with <a href="https://connect.springerpub.com/content/sgrnn/27/3/151.abstract" target="_blank" rel="noopener">breastfeeding</a>.</p> <p>So what does the evidence say about kangaroo care for other parents?</p> <p><strong>A growing body of research</strong></p> <p>A growing body of <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361591701_Fathers_providing_kangaroo_care_in_neonatal_intensive_care_units_a_scoping_review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> shows kangaroo care brings benefits for both baby and parent.</p> <p>One <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.14184" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> that measured cortisol (a stress hormone) levels and blood pressure in new fathers found:</p> <blockquote> <p>Fathers who held their baby in skin-to-skin contact for the first time showed a significant reduction in physiological stress responses.</p> </blockquote> <p>Another <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/nrp/2017/8612024/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> in Taiwan involving fathers and neonates (newborn babies) found benefits to bonding and attachment:</p> <blockquote> <p>These study results confirm the positive effects of skin-to-skin contact interventions on the infant care behaviour of fathers in terms of exploring, talking, touching, and caring and on the enhancing of the father-neonate attachment.</p> </blockquote> <p>A <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/361591701_Fathers_providing_kangaroo_care_in_neonatal_intensive_care_units_a_scoping_review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">paper</a> I co-authored with the University of South Australia’s Qiuxia Dong found:</p> <blockquote> <p>Studies reported several positive kangaroo care benefits for fathers such as reduced stress, promotion of paternal role and enhanced father–infant bond.</p> </blockquote> <p>Qiuxia Dong also led a <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocn.16405" target="_blank" rel="noopener">study</a> (on which I was a co-author) exploring the experiences of fathers who had a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.</p> <p>This study found kangaroo care helps fathers connect and bond with their baby in an intensive care environment. This had a positive impact on fathers’ confidence and self-esteem. As one father told us:</p> <blockquote> <p>I think after all the stress, when I have skin-to-skin I can actually calm down a little bit. I sit down and relax, I can cuddle my child and it’s just a little bit of a happy place for me as well as him to calm down, not to do any work all the time, not to be stressed out. There’s other things on my mind all the time but it’s time to relax and turn off a little bit.</p> </blockquote> <p>Another told us:</p> <blockquote> <p>She nuzzled around a bit, kind of got my smell I guess and then literally fell asleep. It was great. It was very comforting for both I guess for her and myself.</p> </blockquote> <p>As one father put it:</p> <blockquote> <p>Of course, they can hear your heartbeat and all that kind of stuff, of course warmth […] it’s being close with your baby, I think that would be the best way of building a relationship early.</p> </blockquote> <p>However, this study also reported that some dads found giving kangaroo care challenging as it can be time-consuming. It is not always easy to juggle with commitments such as caring for other children and work.</p> <p><strong>Involving both parents</strong></p> <p>One study noted <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21820778/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dads</a> can sometimes feel like a bystander on the periphery when a newborn arrives.</p> <p>Encouraging and educating all non-birthing parents, including fathers, to give kangaroo care is a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21820778/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">valuable way</a> to get them involved. And if a caesarean birth makes it difficult for the mother to give kangaroo care while still in theatre, the father or non-birthing parent is the next best person to do it while the mother or birthing parent is not able.</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=401&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=401&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=401&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=504&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=504&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/480777/original/file-20220824-22-j9lpxl.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=504&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><em><span class="caption">A caesarean birth sometimes makes it difficult for the mother to give kangaroo care while still in the theatre.</span> <span class="attribution"><span class="source">Isaac Hermar/Pexels</span>, <a class="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CC BY</a></span></em></figcaption></figure> <p><strong>More research needed</strong></p> <p>There is a need for broader research on these issues, especially around the experiences of fathers from culturally diverse backgrounds and other non-birthing parents.</p> <p>But the research literature on kangaroo care shows there is good reason for dads and non-birthing parents to do some kangaroo care when a baby is born. As we concluded in our <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/jocn.16405">study</a>, in the challenging neonatal intensive care unit environment, kangaroo care can serve:</p> <blockquote> <p>as a silent language of love.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/188927/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> </blockquote> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mary-steen-970055" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mary Steen</a>, Adjunct professor of Maternal and Family Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of South Australia</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-is-newborn-baby-skin-to-skin-contact-with-dads-and-non-birthing-parents-important-heres-what-the-science-says-188927" target="_blank" rel="noopener">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

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Man slammed for wanting to get "proper night's sleep" away from newborn baby

<p>A mother has sparked outrage online for considering letting her adult son move home in order to "get a proper night's sleep" away from his newborn baby. </p> <p>An anonymous woman based in the UK shared a post to the parenting forum Mumsnet to garner opinions on her dilemma, which was met with overwhelming criticism. </p> <p>She admitted she is not "enamoured with this idea", but explained he wants to "concentrate on going to work".</p> <p>Explaining the situation, the woman wrote, "[My son, 27] and his girlfriend recently had a baby. As you'd expect they are being woken up during the night."</p> <p>"[My son] has asked if he can move back in Monday - Friday so he can get a proper night's sleep so he can concentrate on going to work and do his job effectively."</p> <p>"[My husband] thinks the idea is outrageous and he should just 'get on with it', I feel a bit confused as to why he is even asking."</p> <p>"Surely other new parents don't do this? I get sleep deprivation is hard, but I am not overly enamoured with this idea. But I don't want to be unsupportive either - how would you respond?"</p> <p>The post welcomed a flood of criticism, with many saying her son should be responsible and she should "tell him to grow up".</p> <p>One wrote, "Your husband is right. How would you have felt if he'd left you 5 days a week when your son was a baby?! Have a word with your son and tell him to grow up."</p> <p>Another said, "You say no for the sake of his girlfriend's wellbeing. You could also sit him down and explain this is what everyone else with kids goes through."</p> <p>Someone else explained, "I'd respond that if he abandons his partner with a newborn, it's likely to end his relationship. So, no."</p> <p>Another person agreed, "Wow. How about he thinks of his wife's need to get some sleep too and takes the time to do his share of the night-time care?"</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Gladys spends big on Kyle’s newborn gifts

<p>Radio host and new dad Kyle Sandliands has been inundated with well wishes and gifts since he and his fiancée Tegan Kynaston <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/first-look-at-kyle-s-baby-boy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">welcomed their son Otto</a> into the world last week. </p> <p>One gift, however, came from a very unlikely source: Former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.</p> <p>Kyle brought in the "nicely wrapped" gift to the KIIS FM studio to open it live on air with his co-host Jackie O, who guessed its contents saying, "To me it seems like it's going to be an outfit from Seed."</p> <p>They unwrapped the gift and gushed over how "cute" the bib, onesie and "little trousers" were.</p> <p>Jackie went on to say, "She would have gone out and picked that herself you know."</p> <p>Kyle added, "That's so lovely and unnecessary, but that shows what a truly lovely person Gladys Berejiklian is."</p> <p>It didn't take long before Jackie decided to investigate about the cost of the gifts, after discovering the former NSW premier had put liquid paper on the tags to conceal the price.</p> <p>The obstacle didn't stop Kyle, who asked for a five cent piece, and suggested Jackie could "scratch" off the dried substance. </p> <p>She did so, saying, "The bib was $20 - this is so mean. This is actually the tackiest thing I've ever done."</p> <p>Kyle joked, "She's gone to the effort of liquid papering it out and here's Jackie doing a scratch and sniff."</p> <p>Jackie then revealed the onesie cost $30 before Kyle decided "this is very inappropriate", to which she laughed and said she agreed "but I'm doing it anyway".</p> <p>With the pants sitting at $24.95, the whole gift rounded out to just over $75, including the card which read, "Dearest Kyle and Tegan, I am over the moon for you with the arrival of baby Otto. You will be amazing parents, love Gladys Berejiklian and Arthur."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images / Instagram</em></p>

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