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/Childbirth Educator will facilitate a three hour face-to-face group session addressing the topics covered within out online resources and pre-readings. You and your chosen support person can come and 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; and newborn care and behaviours.
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: sessions run fortnightly on the following days*
Wednesday 6pm-9pm
Saturday 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm
Sunday 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm
Where: Multipurpose room, level 3, Bendigo Health (main hospital)
*Sessions for July onwards will be added soon. Please check this page for updates.
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 sessions run online via ZOOM on every Wednesday and Friday between 11am-12pm.
Click here to book now
Antenatal Physiotherapy: Click here to book
During a two hour face-to-face group session, our Women’s Health Physiotherapist will teach you practical skills to support you to avoid or reduce common, pregnancy-related musculoskeletal challenges. Along with massage and relaxation, the session will cover back, pelvic floor and abdominal muscle exercises.
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 highly recommend accessing online module number 8 above.
When: Wednesdays, 2.30-4.30pm
Where: Multipurpose room, level 3, Bendigo Health (main hospital)
*Due to the nature of these sessions we kindly ask that only the birthing person attend.
Bendigo Health Resources
Bendigo Health have created a virtual tour of our Maternity Ward to make navigating the hospital during your pregnancy that little bit easier. Bendigo Health will no longer run the Saturday tour. If you have any questions please contact us and our staff will speak to you.
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:
Newborn
COVID-19 during pregnancy also increases the risk of complications for the newborn, including:
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.
Women's Clinics
Ph: 03 5454 7288
