Patient resources

Mid North Coast Local Health District Maternity Services

• My Health Care Rights apply to all people in all places where health care is provided in Australia. The Charter describes what you, or someone you care for, can expect when receiving health care.
  My Health Care Rights Poster A4
• R.E.A.C.H is a system for patients, their families and carers to raise their worries with staff about changes in a patient’s condition. REACH Poster – Aboriginal Adult 
• NSW Health Privacy leaflet for patients 

• The Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Service (AMIHS) is delivered through a continuity-of-care model, where midwives and Aboriginal health workers collaborate to provide a high-quality maternity service that is culturally safe, women-centred, based on primary healthcare principles and provided in partnership with Aboriginal people. AMIHS acknowledges and builds on the awareness, knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal families and communities about pregnancy and child health. 
• NSW Health’s Strong Women, Strong Babies Pregnancy Diary has information on how to look after yourself and your baby in pregnancy and the busy weeks after the birth

• NSW Health’s Having a Baby Book is for all women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy. It also provides valuable information for partners and families, helping them understand and participate in this significant phase of their lives. Having a Baby has a strong focus on healthy pregnancies and normal birth. However, it also provides information and advice when things do not go to plan. Most importantly, this resource explains the options for pregnancy and birth care in NSW and promotes informed choices for pregnant women.
• Get Healthy in Pregnancy is a free NSW Government service for all pregnant women in NSW. Health coaches are university qualified and offer support and tools to help you stay healthy during your journey from pregnancy, to birth and beyond.
• Healthy Eating During Your Pregnancy
• Pregnancy and food safety – NSW Food Authority
• Avoiding alcohol whilst planning a pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding is the safest choice that you can make for yourself and your baby from Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
• The Royal Hospital for Women Foundation’s Mothersafe is a few comprehensive counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about exposure to drugs, radiation or occupational hazards during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Pelvic floor muscle training for women – Australian Department of Healthcare and Ageing
• Seatbelt Safety
• Things to avoid during pregnancy
• MNCLHD Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Service (SUPPS) brochure
• The MotherSafe service provides a comprehensive counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Anti-D in Pregnancy – Important Information for Rh (D) Negative Women 
• Venous Thromboembolism (Blood Clots)
• Routine antenatal tests
• Ultrasound scans during pregnancy
• Anaemia in pregnancy
• Pregnancy Screening for Group B Streptococcus (GBS)

• The vaccines recommended in pregnancy in NSW (influenza, pertussis and COVID-19) are safe and effective for you and your baby. Vaccination in pregnancy helps protect your baby against these diseases and their complications
• Protecting your baby against influenza starts when you’re pregnant brochure – National Immunisation Program
• Protect your baby from whooping cough brochure – National Immunisation Program
• Maternal RSV vaccination fact sheet
• Maternal vaccinations
• Vaccination before, during and after pregnancy factsheet

• Safer baby to reduce stillbirths
• Growing Matters All pregnancies are different. Regardless of your size, what’s most important is a health rate of growth for your baby
• New research shows that going to sleep on your side from 28 weeks of pregnancy halves your risk of stillbirth compared with sleeping on your back. Side Sleeping flyer
• Safer baby -Let’s talk timing of birth
• Every Week Counts
• Safer Baby in Pregnancy is a national initiative using the latest research to provide pregnant women with best practice care and improved information about how to have a safer pregnancy and reduce their risk of stillbirth. There are ways you can reduce your risk of stillbirth and have a safer pregnancy across 5 key areas:
• Quit smoking for baby
• Your baby’s growth matters 
  All pregnancies are different. Regardless of your size, what’s most important is a health rate of growth for your baby.
• Every Week Counts
• Your baby’s movements matter Feeling regular baby movements is a sign that your baby is well. If your baby’s movements stop or slow down, contact your maternity healthcare professional without delay.
• Sleep on your side Research shows that going-to-sleep on your side from 28 weeks of pregnancy can halve your risk of stillbirth, compared to going-to-sleep on your back.
• Let’s talk timing of birth Your baby continues to grow and develop right up to 39 to 40 weeks. Through research we’re discovering that every week your baby continues to grow inside you makes a difference to their short and long term health and developmental outcomes. 

• Gestational diabetes | healthdirect
• Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Incontinence
• Hyperemesis gravidarum

• MNCLHD childbirth and parenting classes
• Pregnancy Birth and Baby
• Pregnancy Beyond 41 Weeks
• Perineal massage
• Perineal tears – How to reduce the risk
• Perineal tears: What you need to know during pregnancy
• Labour and birth fact sheets – Westmead Hospital 
• Your Next Birth After Caesarean section
• Breastfeeding your Baby
• Third Stage Information
• Pain Relief in Labour

• Gidget House provide free individual psychological counselling services and compassionate holistic care for expectant and new parents and their families
• Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood
• The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) provides support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent
• SMS4dads send free text messages, support, info & tips for dads & dads-to-be.
• MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere.
• Birth Trauma Australia 
• ForWhen | For Parents Guiding new and expecting parents to perinatal mental health support
  Pregnancy and parenthood is a time of big change for new parents. You’re not alone in how you may be feeling. And while it can be difficult, it’s important to realise that help is available. In those moments, ForWhen can help you get the guidance and support you need, when you need it. 

• Smoking and vaping during pregnancy – healthdirect
• The iCanQuit NSW community helps people quit for good
  • Smoking and pregnancy – iCanQuit
  • Aboriginal Quitline – iCanQuit
• Vaping and e-cigarettes during pregnancy and breastfeeding – the Royal Women’s Hospital
• Quit smoking for Baby – Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth
• Smoking, vaping and pregnancy: in pictures – raisingchildren.net.au

• Hepatitis B vaccination for babies – NSW Health
• Vitamin K for Newborn Babies – National Health and Medical Research Council
• Newborn Bloodspot Screening – NSW Health
• Why does my baby need a hearing screen? NSW Health
• Jaundice in newborns –  Raising Children Network
• Common newborn concerns factsheet -The Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network Caring for a newborn can be challenging; this factsheet offers guidance on common issues, normal changes, and signs that may require medical attention.

• Breastfeeding your baby – NSW Health
• Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA)
• Feeding your baby
• Attaching your baby at the breast video
• Expressing the first milk video
• Engorgement
• The first few months
• Breastfeeding in the first hours
• Breastfeeding Basics video
• Breastfeeding Confidence booklet
• The MotherSafe service provides a comprehensive counselling service for women and their healthcare providers concerned about exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding

• Baby faces back of the car in a rearward facing child seat or a capsule
• Safe Sleeping for First Nations Families

• Child and Family Health Nursing Service – Mid North Coast Local Health District
• Parenting Guides, Advice & Support – Tresillian Family Care Centres
• Karitane – Partnerships Made For Parents
• Raising Children Network
• healthdirect

• Safe Sleeping Practices for Newborns – Red Nose Australia
• Keeping Children Safe – Kidsafe Australia
• Falls Prevention
• Baby Wearing

• Childhood vaccinations – NSW Health
• NSW Immunisation Schedule – NSW Health
• Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation

• Get Healthy NSW
• Contraception – Family Planning NSW
• Uniting I’m a Dad Program – Coffs Harbour
• Uniting CHARM’D Pregnancy Group – Coffs Harbour
• Pregnancy Birth and Baby

• Gidget House provide free individual psychological counselling services and compassionate holistic care for expectant and new parents and their families
• Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia (PANDA) supports the mental health of parents and families during pregnancy and in their first year of parenthood
• The Centre of Perinatal Excellence (COPE) provides support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent
• SMS4dads send free text messages, support, info & tips for dads & dads-to-be.
• MensLine Australia is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere.
• Birth Trauma Australia 
• ForWhen | For Parents Pregnancy and parenthood is a time of big change for new parents. You’re not alone in how you may be feeling. And while it can be difficult, it’s important to realise that help is available. In those moments, ForWhen can help you get the guidance and support you need, when you need it. 

Feeding babies and young children can feel tricky and stressful. The PICNIC Project is available to parents and carers on the NSW Mid North Coast to make it easier.

• Smoking and pregnancy – iCanQuit
• Aboriginal Quitline – iCanQuit
• Second-hand smoke, third-hand smoke and vapour: effects on children – raisingchildren.net.au

• Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Incontinence 
• Pelvic Floor First