Birth
Breastfeeding
Australian breastfeeding association – Excellent general advice on breastfeeding
Find a lactation consultant – Find a lactation consultant who can visit you at home
Cord blood banking
RANZCOG statement on cord blood banking – Excellent overview on the current state of play in this area
Cryosite – company providing private cord blood banking
CellCare – company providing private cord blood banking
Exercise and weight in pregnancy
Exercise during and after pregnancy – up to date information on the current science and advice about exercising
Fitwise physiotherapy – Experienced physiotherapists in the field of women’s health based in East Melbourne & Armadale
Inform Physiotherapy – Experienced physiotherapists in women’s health based in Fairfield
Food and nutrition
General advice about healthy eating in pregnancy
Fish– information regarding Mercury in fish
Folate – Learn why folate is so important before and during pregnancy
Iodine – Understand why getting enough Iodine is important in pregnancy
Listeria – How to avoid Listeriosis in pregnancy; what to eat and what to avoid
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes overview from Diabetes Australia
Maternal and child health nurse
Maternal and child health nurse – what do they do and when do I see them?
Mindfulness
Mind the Bump – a free mindfulness meditation app for new parents
Headspace – meditation and mind training in an easy to follow format, available as an app
PANDA – perinatal anxiety and depression; a must read for everyone
Multiple birth
Australian Multiple Birth Association (AMBA) – help and advice from birth to teenagerhood for parents of multiples
Parenthood and settling a new baby
Babysomnia – a private service offering assistance with settling techniques and sleep for babies and toddlers
Tweddle – Fantastic service; support and assistance with settling, peer support for parents of ill or disabled children
Parentline – A statewide telephone counselling service for parents of children from birth to 18
Raising children network – A very diverse range of tools, guides and information covering most areas of parenting
Pregnancy, birth and baby – another fantastic general advice website with a phone line for extra help
Screening and scans
VCGS – NIPT (Percept)- one way of screening for Down Syndrome, alternative to ‘Harmony’
Harmony – NIPT – one way of screening for Down Syndrome, alternative to “Percept’
VCGS – Maternal serum screening – another method of screening for Down syndrome
VCGS – Genetic carrier screening – screening for Cystic fibrosis, Spinal muscular atrophy and Fragile X syndrome
WUME – East Melbourne- this links you to their informative page explaining the role of ultrasound throughout pregnancy
Vaccines
Whooping cough vaccine for parents – vaccination is now free and recommended for parents to be
Hepatitis B Vaccine for newborns – link to a PDF with information regarding this important vaccination
Vitamin K injection for newborns – an easy to follow brochure outlining the importance and need for Vitamin K at birth