In a life threatening emergency dial Triple Zero (000)

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Midcall program: immediately after birth

If you live in the ACT or Queanbeyan, we will continue to support you at home after you give birth. Midwives from our Midcall program will visit you at home for up to seven days after you leave hospital.

During this time, you will also be able to contact your continuity midwife or the midwives in the postnatal ward for after-hours support.

Maternal and Child Health (MACH): from newborn to 5 years of age

Our Maternal and Child Health (MACH) clinic nurses support you with ongoing information and advice to help you get the best start to parenthood.

Services include:

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Early Parenting Support line

Our Maternal and Child Health nurses also run an early parenting support line. You can call for support with early pregnancy, maternal and child health, breastfeeding and parenting concerns.

Support with breastfeeding

Evidence suggests that breastfeeding provides significant short- and long-term health benefits for both you and your baby.

We have support available to help you overcome problems you might face with breastfeeding. We offer:

  • an early parenting support line.
  • appointments with one of our Maternal and Child Health nurses.
  • our community nutrition team can provide advice and information on a range of nutrition topics whilst breastfeeding.
  • Our Walk-in Centres provide free treatment and advice for mastitis (inflamed breast due to a blocked milk duct). Walk-in Centres are open from 7.30am until 10pm, every day and you don’t need an appointment. Please note Walk-in Centres cannot treat babies under 12 months of age.

There are many other support services for breastfeeding mothers. These include:

Mental health support

Having a baby can be one of the most exciting and challenging things you ever do. Some days can be filled with joy, happiness and delight but other days you may feel anxious, overwhelmed and confused.

While it’s normal to feel tired, irritable and overwhelmed in your transition as a parent, some women can experience extreme depression and anxiety.

We offer a Perinatal Mental Health Consultation Service that specialises in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of women who experience mental health before, during and after their pregnancy.

This service is not a mental health crisis service. If you need urgent mental health support please contact Access Mental Health on 1800 629 354, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

You can also seek support from:

Other supports available from Canberra Health Services

We offer other services beyond our MACH, mental health and nutrition services listed above. These include:

  • A mums and bubs physiotherapy service, which provides assessment, information, exercise advice, early intervention and prevention for people who have given birth in the previous 12 months, as well as and infants under 12 months of age.
  • Early parenting counselling, for parents and families experiencing emotional, social and psychological difficulties that may have an impact on the health and well-being of the children and family.

Tresillian Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Family Centre

If you, or someone you know needs further help and support with the challenges of caring for a new baby you may like to self refer, or talk to your GP or health professional about the services offered through Tresillian Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Family Centre.

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In the case of a life threatening emergency, dial Triple Zero (000).

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Contact us

Switchboard Canberra Hospital
(02) 5124 0000

International callers
+61 (2) 5124 0000

Switchboard North Canberra Hospital
(02) 6201 6111

International callers
+61 (2) 6201 6111

Switchboard other hospitals and services
(02) 5124 0000

International callers
+61 (2) 5124 0000

The switchboard handles all calls to, from and within the hospital 24 hours/seven days a week