These photos present an intimate and romantic look at the pregnant female form - in most cases the women are tenderly cradling their bumps.

Photographer Adam Opris captured these stunning images of pregnant women underwater for his latest project.

Most university students want to be a parent one day, but they're over-estimating how easy it will be to have babies later in life.

Gisele Bundchen advises mothers to put themselves before their children, comparing it to the command on airplanes to "ensure your own oxygen mask is fitted before helping others."

regnant women are understandably confused. So, how do you strike the balance between nutrition and safety, when so many things are off the menu?

Drinkers reported better sexual function than teetotallers, while meat-eaters had a higher sperm density than vegetarians.

Babies born in summer are more likely to suffer mood swings when they grow up, while those born in winter are less likely to become irritable adults, scientists claim.

The odds stacked against Blake Mouat meant he had the first of many operations before he was even born.

A simple genetic test would tell Emma East if she carries the devastating disease that killed her mother. She's one of a growing number who face this dilemma, reports Kate Hilpern.

Devastated family demands answers after heavily pregnant mother of three died two days after she was sent home from hospital still complaining of chest pains.

The woman accused of abducting a 5-day-old baby from Middlemore Hospital can now be named after she appeared in court today - her birthday.

A post-mortem examination has been completed on a foetus found in a Christchurch wastewater treatment plant last week, and police say there are no indications of foul play.

Wouldn’t it be great if, as mums, we could support rather than judge each other, asks Rhonwyn Newson.

A mother fed up with cruel comments about her son - who suffers from a rare disorder- penned this touching tribute to him. She shares it with us.

US actress Blake Lively and her actor husband Ryan Reynolds are expecting their first child together.

The Duchess of Cambridge is preparing to return to work after recovering from three weeks of acute morning sickness.

A mother whose newborn baby was kidnapped from Middlemore Hospital while she showered just metres away has spoken about her terrifying ordeal .

A Tauranga 13-year-old who had a baby this year is the youngest person to have given birth in the Bay of Plenty in the past seven years.

Taking paracetamol while pregnant increases the risk of behavioural problems in school-age children, according to new NZ research.

A new antenatal screening test has not had the high uptake expected, a study published in the New Zealand Medical Journal reveals.

Unfortunately, it seems Prince Charles is not familiar with the unwritten codes of behaviour when awaiting a new arrival in the family, writes Shelley Bridegman.

The All Blacks' midfield crisis could deepen during their end-of-year tour to the US and Britain if Sonny Bill Williams is forced to cut his trip short due to the birth of his first child.

Pregnant women suffer more from flu than other members of the population because their immune systems are hyperactive rather than weakened, a study shows.

Research has linked a woman's hormone levels in pregnancy with her child's maths skills at age five.

Sera Lilly says being told she was going to have a baby at 16 was one of the scariest moments of her life.

Babies born in winter start crawling earlier than those born in the summer, a study has found.

We all use a "Qwerty" keyboard to send email and text messages - but now it seems the keys are also influencing the choice of baby names.