Parent stories and expert advice / Jane Fisher

Jane Fisher is the Jean Hailes Professor of Women's Health at Monash University, and head of the Jean Hailes Research Unit (a formal partnership between Monash University and Jean Hailes for Women's Health). Jane Fisher is both an academic and a clinical psychologist, with long-standing interests in the links between women's reproductive health and mental health - in particular related to fertility, conception, pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. She led the development of the original What Were We Thinking program in 2004, with Dr Heather Rowe.

Blogposts by Jane Fisher

Challenging and changing the language of parenting

We use all words, phrases and ideas to describe newborns, parenting and motherhood. Jane Fisher explores whether these are helpful ...

Happy Mother's Day

Mother’s Day reminds us of the inestimable social contribution that women make to the world as they care for their fetuses, newborns, infants and young children. Sometimes, this contribution is forgotten. While Mother’s Day is a great way to celebrate mothers in our society, we should acknowledge the unparalleled addition that mothers make to our world every day.

Honouring what happened when your baby was born

Each of us needs to honour what happened when our baby was born. But what happens when it's difficult to put your experience into words because they were uncommon or you simply don't understand them?

How can I soothe my unsettled baby?

If you - like many - have an unsettled baby, Professor Jane Fisher explains the importance of caregivers establishing predictable routines of daily care.

Keeping your baby in mind at family gatherings

In the midst of holiday season, Jane encourages parents to keep their babies needs in mind at family gatherings.

Making time to be on your own together

The relationship between partners is fundamentally important when you become a parent. However juggling a new baby and adjustments to your relationshop is often easier said than done ...

Motherhood and identity with a new baby

There is never a perfect time in a woman’s life to have a baby. One of the inevitable, but least anticipated experiences of motherhood, is how much is 'lost' when a baby is born ...

Mummy (and Daddy) Shaming

‘Mummy shaming’ is a social phenomenon where the actions and activities of mothers are judged harshly or criticized by others. Most commonly, this shaming comes in the form of comments or non-verbal disapproval from strangers about the way mothers interact with their children or how they spend their time...

New babies, new parents and managing the holiday season

There is generally lots of things to participate in and to do at the end of one year and the beginning of the next one: family gatherings, parties, presents, preparations and late nights. These can be daunting for anyone to face but when you have a new baby, it is more complicated...