Pregnancy Care

Childbirth & Early Parenting Education Sessions

Bendigo Health offer a range of evidence based information sessions to help support and prepare you for the birth of your baby and the transition to parenthood. These sessions are available both in person and via an online platform.

Childbirth & Early Parenting Weekend Full Day Program Session: Click here to book now
Please book to attend this session from 26 – 32 weeks of pregnancy.

During this full day group session, a Bendigo Health Childbirth Educator will provide expert advice and education to prepare you for birth and becoming a parent. Topics covered include: when to come to hospital; early and established labour; coping strategies; pain relief options; midwifery-led care; labour/birthing preferences; medical assistance; assisted & caesarean births; the postpartum period; healthy relationships; and newborn care and behaviours. We also endeavour to give you a short tour of our birthing suite and postnatal ward. We encourage and welcome one chosen support person to attend with you – one ticket covers both you and your support person.

To compliment this session, we strongly encourage you to consider booking in for both our Breastfeeding & Lactation Preparation and our Antenatal Physio Sessions detailed below.

When: Fortnightly on Saturday 9AM-4PM or Sunday 9AM-4PM
Where: Multipurpose room 14, level 3, Bendigo Health (main hospital)

Childbirth & Early Parenting Wednesday Evening 3 Hour Express Session: Click here to book now
Please book to attend this session from 26 – 32 weeks of pregnancy.

This is a condensed version of our weekend full day session. During this 3 hour express group session, a Bendigo Health Childbirth Educator will provide expert advice and education to prepare you for birth and becoming a parent. Topics covered include: when to come to hospital; early and established labour; coping strategies; pain relief options; midwifery-led care; labour/birthing preferences; medical assistance; assisted & caesarean births; the postpartum period; healthy relationships; and newborn care and behaviours. We also endeavour to give you a short tour of our birthing suite and postnatal ward. We encourage and welcome one chosen support person to attend with you – one ticket covers both you and your support person.

To compliment this session, we strongly encourage you to consider booking in for both our Breastfeeding & Lactation Preparation and Antenatal Physio Sessions detailed below.

When: Fortnightly on Wednesdays 6-9PM
Where: Multipurpose room 14, level 3, Bendigo Health (main hospital)

Next Birth After Caesarean (NBAC) session: Email [email protected] for more information or to book a session.
Please book to attend this session from 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Women and families planning their NBAC are invited to attend an individualised, evidence-based session created to empower and support you and your labour and birthing preferences.

This session aims to build your confidence and knowledge surrounding your choices and future discussions with your care providers. A support person is encouraged to attend.

Sessions are 1:1 with one of our midwives. Depending on your circumstances and learning needs, you may wish to do this session in addition to our generic group session above.

When: sessions are run fortnightly on Wednesdays from 7:30pm.
Where: ZOOM.

Breastfeeding and Lactation Preparation: one hour session - From 28 - 32 weeks of pregnancy

During this session, a lactation consultant will go through breastfeeding and normal newborns feeding patterns in the first weeks of life, as well as some strategies to assist you with this transition.These group classes are held as both face to face or zoom sessions. Please check the information in your handheld record or speak to a midwife for booking details.

Physiotherapy Antenatal Class

During this two hour face-to-face session, our Women's Health Physiotherapist will teach you practical skills to support you to avoid and manage common pregnancy-related musculoskeletal challenges. Topics include:

Activity and exercise in pregnancy: Why? What kind? How much?
Pregnancy related low back and pelvic girdle pain, including pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joints
The pelvic floor and pregnancy
Carpal tunnel and wrist pain
Limb swelling
Abdominal muscle separation or DRAM in pregnancy
Massage and relaxation
Early postnatal recovery: Pelvic floor after birth of any kind, DRAM, handling baby, back and pelvic pain after birth, return to movement and exercise

The session is designed as your first port of call for any Physiotherapy-related issues in pregnancy. Follow up can be organised by the clinician if required. Please book to attend this session from 22 weeks of pregnancy.

A postnatal group session is also available to support your recovery in the first few months after the birth of your baby - you can ask more about this during this antenatal session. To get the most out of your time with our Women's Health Physio, we recommend accessing online module 8 on our website: https://bendigohealth.org.au/PregnancyCare/

When: Wednesdays, 2.30-4.30pm
Where: Multipurpose room, Level 3, Bendigo Health (Main Hospital)

100 Lucan Street, Bendigo 3550

* Due to the nature of these sessions we kindly ask that only the pregnant person attends.

Module 1: Healthy Lifestyle Choices and Keeping the Baby Safe
Module 2: The Pregnant Body
Module 3: Coping with Labour
Module 4: Labour and Birth
Module 5: Medical Assistance During Labour
Module 6: Early Parenting
Module 7: Covid-19 Labour, Birth and Postnatal Hospital Stay
Module 8: Physiotherapy

COVID-19 and pregnancy

Our clinical head of obstetrics and gynaecology Dr Nicola Yuen details the risk of COVID-19 to pregnant women and the benefits of vaccination.

What’s the risk of COVID during pregnancy?

Maternal

Pregnant women with COVID-19 have a higher risk of certain complications compared to non-pregnant women with COVID-19 of the same age, including:

An increased risk (about 5 times higher) of needing admission to hospital
An increased risk (about 2-3 times higher) of needing admission to an intensive care unit
An increased risk (about 3 times higher) of needing invasive ventilation (breathing life support)
An increased rate of emergency caesarean section (at least 2 times higher)
An increased rate of stillbirth and premature delivery

Newborn

COVID-19 during pregnancy also increases the risk of complications for the newborn, including:

An increased risk (about 1.5 times higher) of being born prematurely
An increased risk (about 3 times higher) of needing admission to a hospital newborn care unit
An increased rate of stillbirth

What’s the advice regarding COVID-19 Vaccination for pregnant women

Pregnant women are a priority group for vaccination.

RANZCOG and ATAGI recommend that pregnant women be routinely offered the Pfizer vaccine at any stage of pregnancy.

Vaccine is recommended because the risk of severe outcomes from Covid is significantly higher for pregnant women and their unborn baby.

There is evidence that the Pfizer Covid vaccination is safe in pregnancy.

The first trials of Covid vaccination excluded pregnant women so there was limited evidence in the initial stages of vaccine roll-out overseas.

Over time real world evidence from other countries has demonstrated that the vaccines are safe in pregnant women.

The antibodies from the vaccination cross the placenta and provide protection for newborn babies.

In the UK around 58% of pregnant women declined the vaccine during the roll-out in very early 2021.

In the last month more than 100 women have been admitted to hospital in the UK with Covid – none were fully vaccinated and 5 were partially vaccinated.

These women have developed serious complications including pre-eclampsia, preterm birth and emergency caesarean sections.

No pregnant woman who has been fully vaccinated has been admitted to hospital with COVID.

More information on the Pfizer vaccine for pregnant women can be found here.