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:
- a visit at your home shortly after your baby is born
- regular child health checks and booked clinic appointments
- new parent groups where you can meet other parents with babies of a similar age
- early childhood immunisation
- an understanding your baby information session
- breastfeeding support.
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:
- Australian Breastfeeding Association has a 24 hour support line: 1800 686 268
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby helpline: 1800 882 436
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:
- Perinatal Wellbeing Centre (formerly PANDSI): (02) 6288 1936
- PANDA Support line: 1300 726 306 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 7.30pm)
- Beyondblue: online chat, email, online forums and telephone support: 1300 224 636
- Black dog Institute
- Lifeline: 131 114
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.