When rising Liberal star Kelly O'Dwyer had her first child, Olivia, twelve weeks ago, Labor MP Amanda Rishworth gave her a call.
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The pair had promised to put political differences aside and, true to their word, have been supporting each other as MPs juggling new motherhood with the frenetic pace of Parliament.
Ms Rishworth's son Percy is five months old and is part of a mini baby boom at Parliament House.
Labor's Kate Ellis and Greens MP Adam Bandt have also welcomed babies in recent months.
"Amanda is very kind and after Olivia was born gave me a rundown of what to expect," Ms O'Dwyer said
"We had a good chat about how to set up the electorate office, how to set up the Parliament office," Ms Rishworth added.
The MPs offer a glimpse of a rarely seen side of politics, a side away from the adversarial theatre of the chamber.
Ms O'Dwyer, who was promoted to parliamentary secretary to the Treasurer earlier this year, said the support was welcome in an environment that can regularly throw up unexpected challenges.
"Every day is different in here. Yesterday is a good example of where I expected to be able to do a feed and I couldn't. I had a half hour window," she said, referring to the short break in a mammoth six hour party room meeting on same-sex marriage.
"But a lot of women have to do that for their jobs."
Ms Rishworth said the hours and travel involved in politics were such that she was grateful her husband, Tim Walker, had been able to take eight months parental leave to make it easier for her to continue working in a field where women remain terribly under-represented.
Ms O'Dwyer's husband, Jon Mant, has done the same.
"I love my job and to do both is wonderful," Ms Rishworth said.
"I agree," Ms O'Dwyer said. "The more I talk to people, the more I find their partners have taken parental leave."
