Pregnancy, labour, birth, breastfeeding and early parenting

This page is a guide for pregnant women and their families to some of the key topics and information available at Peninsula University Hospital.

ACCESS – community health, rehabilitation and specialist services

Contact ACCESS

ACCESS is the first point of contact for information and referrals to a wide range of community health, rehabilitation and specialist services provided by Bayside Health Peninsula.

Contact ACCESS

Anti D

You and Your Baby: Important information for Rh(D) negative women

Important information from Australian Red Cross Lifeblood for Rh (D) negative women – prevention of haemolytic disease of the newborn.

You and Your Baby: Important information for Rh(D) negative women

Healthy eating for pregnancy: in pictures

Information from Raising Children, the Australian parenting website.

Healthy eating for pregnancy: in pictures

Iron in Pregnancy

During pregnancy iron is needed in larger amounts because the mother’s blood volume increases, and the baby’s blood is also developing.

Iron in pregnancy

Baby safety at home

Keep Baby Safe

Advice from the ACCC to help you make the best decisions to keep your baby safe, including product guides and information on how you can buy and use baby products safely.

Keep Baby Safe

Breastfeeding support service

Breastfeeding Support Service

Bayside Health Peninsula’s Breastfeeding Support Service offers outpatient appointments and drop in services at Peninsula University Hospital and Hastings Community Health.

Breastfeeding support service

Tips for successful breastfeeding

Tips for before, at, and after birth – including the first 24 hours and what you need to know before you go home.

Tips for successful breastfeeding

Caesarean section

Your Caesarean Section – Information for Women and Their Families

This sheet is to inform you about some additional options you may wish to consider. It also provides information about the support person you may wish to bring with you.

Your Caesarean Section

Information for Women after a Caesarean Birth

Answers to common questions such as what happens in hospital after the procedure, and after going home.

Information for women after a Caesarean birth

Caesarean Section Pain Management When You Go Home

As you recover at home from this major surgery, it is normal to experience some pain. This brochure outlines ways to help manage your pain and medication options.

Caesarean Section Pain Management When You Go Home

Car safety for babies

Road Safety

Access to fact sheets, videos, and a free child car restraint checking program from Kidsafe VIC, to help you keep your kids safe on the roads.

Road safety

Expressing breast milk during pregnancy

Expressing breast milk during pregnancy

Patient information.

Expressing breast milk during pregnancy

Every week counts/timing of birth

Let’s Talk Timing of Birth

An informative video on how to have a safe and healthy pregnancy, including decisions you and your healthcare provider may make about having a planned birth.

Let’s talk timing of birth

Every Week Counts

Brochure explaining baby’s development between 35 weeks and 40 weeks gestation.

Every week counts

The first few hours after birth, including Hep B vaccine and Vitamin K

Infant hepatitis B – birth dose

Information from the Department of Health about the hepatitis B vaccine given to newborn babies. Includes information about the disease, why babies should have the vaccine, and information about possible side effects.

Infant hepatitis B

Vitamin K and newborn babies

Information on vitamin K injections, recommended for newborns to prevent haemorrhagic disease of the newborn (HDN).

Vitamin K and newborn babies

After baby is born: your newborn’s first 24 hours

Information on what happens immediately after the birth, including the standard checks and immunisations baby will have in the first 24 hours.

After baby is born: your newborn’s first 24 hours

Food Safety

Food Safety in Pregnancy

Guidelines on avoiding listeria, and general food safety tips.

Food Safety in Pregnancy

Glucose tests

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

The Oral Glucose Tolerance Test measures your body’s response to sugar, helping diagnose diabetes and other conditions affecting blood glucose levels.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Glucose Tolerance Test

The Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) measures the body’s ability to process glucose by taking blood samples before and after consuming a glucose solution, commonly used to diagnose diabetes or gestational diabetes.

Glucose Tolerance Test

Group B Streptococcus

Group B Streptococcus

Information on testing for Group B streptococcus (GBS, or group B strep), a type of bacteria that lives in our bodies.

Group B Streptococcus

GBS Screening Test

A fact sheet to help you decide whether to have the test along with information on what to expect if the test is positive.

GBS screening test

Hearing tests

Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program

The Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program (VIHSP) screens the hearing of newborn babies in their first weeks of life. Early detection and intervention improves outcomes for babies with hearing loss.

Victorian Infant Hearing Screening Program

Health care rights

Charter of Healthcare Rights

Information on your health care rights, as outlined by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care.

Charter of Healthcare Rights

Healthy exercise in pregnancy

Exercise in pregnancy for women

Key points on why being active in pregnancy is good for you and your baby, along with tips and what to aim for.

Exercise in pregnancy for women

Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy

Informative video on pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy.

Pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy

Pelvic Girdle Pain during Pregnancy

Written information on pelvic girdle plain during pregnancy.

Pelvic Girdle Pain during Pregnancy

Pelvic and low back pain exercises in pregnancy

Illustrated brochure on pelvic and low back pain exercises.

Pelvic and low back pain exercises in pregnancy

Taking care of your pelvic floor during pregnancy

Comprehensive information on strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, progressing exercise, and additional care.

Taking care of your pelvic floor during pregnancy

Post natal pelvic floor care and exercises

Video information on pelvic floor care and demonstrated exercises.

Post natal pelvic floor care and exercises

Exercises for low back or pelvic pain

Video demonstration of exercises.

Exercises for low back or pelvic pain

Healthy weight gain in pregnancy

Pregnancy: healthy weight & weight gain

Key points on healthy weight and weight gain, including practical tips.

Pregnancy: healthy weight & weight gain

The importance of healthy eating during pregnancy

Video information from a dietician.

The importance of healthy eating during pregnancy

Induction of labour

Induction of labour

Written information for women.

Induction of labour

Managing your labour

Managing your labour

Information on how to manage pain in labour.

Managing your labour

Support people: labour and birth

Key points on selecting support people to care for and encourage you during labour and birth.

Support people: labour and birth

New parents emotional health support

New parents

Information on adjusting to the changes and challenges in the first year.

New parents

How are you going?

A mental health checklist for during pregnancy, birth and parenting.

How are you going?

Newborn screening test

Newborn Screening: what to expect

Key points on screening tests, suitable for babies 0-72 hours.

Newborn screening

Packing bag for hospital

Pregnancy journey

Online information including what to what for the hospital.

Pregnancy journey

Pregnancy emotional health

Pregnancy Emotions & Mood Swings

Challenges every new parent faces.

Pregnancy Emotions & Mood Swings

Pregnancy vaccines

Pregnancy vaccines

Pregnancy vaccines

Recovering after birth – the first 6 weeks

Pregnancy: labour & birth

Comprehensive information, including information for new mothers on the first 6 weeks after giving birth.

Pregnancy: labour & birth

Reducing 3rd and 4th degree perineal tears

Reducing Third and Fourth Degree Perineal Tears

Brochure explaining what third and fourth degree tears are, preventative measures and care options.

Reducing Third and Fourth Degree Perineal Tears

Reducing your risk of perineal tears

Animation explaining what an OASI is, the four components of the OASI Care Bundle and how women can reduce their risk of sustaining an OASI in childbirth.

Reducing your risk of perineal tears

Practising perineal massage during your pregnancy

A fact sheet explaining the benefits of practising perineal massage towards the end of your pregnancy in preparation for your labour and birth.

Practising perineal massage during your pregnancy

Safe sleeping

Safe Sleeping Practices for Newborns

Safe sleeping information from Red Nose Australia.

Safe Sleeping Practices for Newborns

Safer baby – smoking, sleep on side, fetal movements

Safer Baby in Pregnancy

Safer Baby 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.

Safer Baby in Pregnancy

Ultrasounds

18-22 week morphology ultrasound

Link

Your 20-22 Week Pregnancy Ultrasound

Information on the 20-22 Week Ultrasound, recommended as part of your routine pregnancy care.

Your 20-22 Week Pregnancy Ultrasound

Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC)

Vaginal birth after caesarean

Detailed information from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Vaginal birth after caesarean

Vitamin D supplementation for babies

Vitamin D: what you need to know

Key points on why children and adults need Vitamin D, and Vitamin D during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Vitamin D: what you need to know

Vitamin D for you and your baby

Brochure on Vitamin D for you and your baby, including information on supplements.

Vitamin D for you and your baby

Vitamin D supplementation for your baby

Information for families and carers of a newborn baby.

Vitamin D supplementation for your baby

Water birth/water immersion in labour

Are you thinking about a water birth?

Information for women including who a water birth is suitable for and what to expect.

Are you thinking about a water birth?

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