Some think of new mothers as sweet and wholesome: smelling of baby powder, fresh cotton and piecrusts.

In reality, you've never met a more disgruntled group in your life.

Some are literally vitriolic. They hate their husbands (useless). They hate their mothers (shut up!) and, most of all, they hate each other, because, clearly, no one but them is raising their kids right. You think soccer hooligans are nasty? Try visiting a chatroom for new mothers discussing the stay-at-home or go-back-to-work debate. Please, ladies, the language.

Which is why we are so excited about the launch of Gurgle.com, the new social networking site for new parents from Mothercare. With features including a baby-name search engine, online ovulation calendar and question and answer facility so new parents can communicate with others in their area, we're signing up for a ringside seat. Let the brawling and bullying begin!