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.

Labour, Birth & Early Parenting: Click here to book now
Please book to attend this three hour session from 26 - 32 weeks of pregnancy.

A Registered midwife/birth educator will facilitate a group session addressing topics covered within the online resources and pre-readings in more detail. You and your support person can discuss any questions you have regarding labour, birth and early parenting. Topics may include; when to come to hospital, early and established labour, coping strategies, pain relief options, midwifery led care, labour/birthing preferences, medical assistance, caesarean births, the postpartum period, healthy relationships, newborn care and behaviours. A support person is welcome and encouraged to attend with you. Sessions run fortnightly on the following days:
Wednesday 6pm – 9pm
Saturday  9am – 12noon
Sunday  9am – 12noon
Sunday  1pm – 4pm

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

Next Birth After Caesarean (NBAC) session: Click here to book now
Please book to attend this three hour session from 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Women and families planning their NBAC are invited to attend an evidence based information session created to empower and support you with 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 with you. Sessions are held bimonthly on a Saturday from 1pm - 4pm.
Please email enquiries to [email protected]

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 sessions run online via ZOOM on every Wednesday and Friday between 11am-12pm.
Click here to book now

Breastfeeding Information

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.