This page is dedicated to helpful resources for expecting and new families.
If you have a resource you would like to see added here please get in touch.
Breastfeeding support:
Robyn Thompson https://www.thethompsonmethod.com/ During her 57 years in the Australian Health System, 45 years as a midwife, Dr Robyn Thompson has had the privilege of being with and beside thousands of First Time and Experienced Mothers giving birth at home and in hospital. Dr Robyn, also has expertise in breastfeeding complications. She was awarded a PhD for her research into why so many women were experiencing painful nipple trauma. (you can youtube here helpful breastfeeding videos also!)
Australian Breast feeding association: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/ “Provide mothers with practical mother-to-mother support and information, enabling them to establish and continue breastfeeding”. The ABA offers breastfeeding classes, support, memberships, pump hire and so much more!
If you are really struggling day of night call the Breastfeeding help hotline 1800 MUM 2 MUM
Paul Clinche: 0438907785 http://www.theclinchtechnique.com/
Paul Clinch is a Remedial Massage Therapist with over 26 years experience.
Established since 1998, Paul offers combined experience in remedial, sports, pregnancy and complications in breast feeding massage, as well as pre and post operative mastectomy and lumpectomy massage. THE CLINCH TECHNIQUE has now progressed into the treatment of mastitis in breastfeeding mothers, which to date has shown excellent results if caught in the early stages.
Jo Spies (Lactation Consultant): 0424 297 808 www.jospies.com.au
Jo has been in private practice for the past 9 years and has helped many mothers to overcome breastfeeding challenges. Jo enjoys supporting new mums with their breastfeeding journey as it can often be much harder than they anticipated, but worth it in the end. Jo is available to come to your home and support you or you can see her at her home clinic in North Lakes.
Little peach London; Supporting, educating and motivating breastfeeding mummas: https://www.littlepeach.org
Robyn Thompson https://www.thethompsonmethod.com/ During her 57 years in the Australian Health System, 45 years as a midwife, Dr Robyn Thompson has had the privilege of being with and beside thousands of First Time and Experienced Mothers giving birth at home and in hospital. Dr Robyn, also has expertise in breastfeeding complications. She was awarded a PhD for her research into why so many women were experiencing painful nipple trauma. (you can youtube here helpful breastfeeding videos also!)
Australian Breast feeding association: https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/ “Provide mothers with practical mother-to-mother support and information, enabling them to establish and continue breastfeeding”. The ABA offers breastfeeding classes, support, memberships, pump hire and so much more!
If you are really struggling day of night call the Breastfeeding help hotline 1800 MUM 2 MUM
Paul Clinche: 0438907785 http://www.theclinchtechnique.com/
Paul Clinch is a Remedial Massage Therapist with over 26 years experience.
Established since 1998, Paul offers combined experience in remedial, sports, pregnancy and complications in breast feeding massage, as well as pre and post operative mastectomy and lumpectomy massage. THE CLINCH TECHNIQUE has now progressed into the treatment of mastitis in breastfeeding mothers, which to date has shown excellent results if caught in the early stages.
Jo Spies (Lactation Consultant): 0424 297 808 www.jospies.com.au
Jo has been in private practice for the past 9 years and has helped many mothers to overcome breastfeeding challenges. Jo enjoys supporting new mums with their breastfeeding journey as it can often be much harder than they anticipated, but worth it in the end. Jo is available to come to your home and support you or you can see her at her home clinic in North Lakes.
Little peach London; Supporting, educating and motivating breastfeeding mummas: https://www.littlepeach.org
Mental Health Support
Life Line 131114 https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/crisis-support
Crisis support, suicide prevention
White cloud foundation 1300 702 926
http://whitecloudfoundation.org/white-cloud-mums
White Cloud Mums is a wellbeing program designed to support women who may be diagnosed or at risk of Perinatal Depression. Our research shows that with early access to clinical treatment, practical services, and emotional support, a mother can reduce her risk factors for Perinatal Depression, recover sooner or prevent the development of a clinical disorder.
PANDA 1300 726 306 https://www.panda.org.au/
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia supports women, men and families across Australia to recover from post and antenatal depression and anxiety, a serious illness that affects around 100,000 Australian families every year
>Support for DADS through PANDA: http://www.howisdadgoing.org.au/new-dads
Peach Tree https://peachtree.org.au/
A safe space for parents and families. Building a village of support by promoting a positive culture around emotional well-being and parenthood.
Anglicare 1300610610 https://anglicaresq.org.au/
Counselling, couples counselling, post natal depression support groups
Rainbow families Queensland http://www.rainbowfamiliesqld.org/for-parents/
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer parents have many of the same parenting challenges and joys as heterosexual parents. Rainbow Families Qld was started due to the lack of support available for rainbow families and the lack of resources available for professionals who come into contact with rainbow families
Sms4dads: https://sms4dads.com/
Dr Chris May ph 02 49217224 chris.may@newcastle.edu.au
SMS4dads provides new fathers with information and connections to online services through their mobile phones. The text messages with tips, information and links to other services help fathers understand and connect with their baby and support their partner.
Beyond Blue: 1300224636 https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/pregnancy-and-new-parents Provides information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health, whatever their age and wherever they live.
Suicide Prevention, Awareness & support
http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international/australia-suicide-hotlines.html
Cope: Centre of Perinatal Excellance
Providing support for the emotional challenges of becoming a parent
https://www.cope.org.au
Extra Support Services
Pillars of strength http://pillarsofstrength.com.au/
In times of crisis even the strongest dads need support. Pillars of Strength is a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing “Time Out” and “In Hospital Support” programs for dads while their baby is ill and to bereaved dads after the loss of their infant child. We are committed to finding ways to provide practical assistance as well as much needed peer support for dads in times of crisis so they can be there for their immediate family, particularly the baby’s mum.
MensLine Australia:1300787978
MensLine Australia is the national telephone and online support, information and referral service for men with family and relationship concerns. The service is available from anywhere in Australia and is staffed by professional counsellors, experienced in men’s issues.
Relationships Australia: 1300364277
RSA helps in the following areas: relationships, children & family, addiction, separation, trauma related issues, domestic violence. Offering help from Counselors, community educators, family dispute resolution practitioners, family support workers, wellbeing workers.
Young Parents Program (YPP) 3357 9944
Antenatal education, Peer support and building relationships, Understanding child development and milestones, Enhancing parenting skills and knowledge, Referral and support to connect to relevant services
BYS Brisbane Youth Service: http://brisyouth.org/
We enable vulnerable young people and young families to navigate life challenges and thrive in the community.
Nundah neighbourhood centre: 32606820
Information and referral services are provided either over the phone, in person or via our website. We can assist with a wide range of issues including: Emergency Relief, Housing, Family and parenting issues, Legal, Local Nundah services, This is a referral/information service only, we do not provide housing or emergency relief, Play groups, Support and counselling
Domestic Violence https://www.commbank.com.au/support/dv-assistance.html
Domestic & Family Violence Emergency Assistance Program; Support for customers affected by domestic and family violence.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex Mental health and counselling support https://www.mymentalhealth.org.au/page/services/interests/lgbti/
Healing foundation https://healingfoundation.org.au/
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, healing is a holistic process, which addresses mental, physical, emotional and spiritual needs and involves connections to culture, family and land. Healing works best when solutions are culturally strong, developed and driven at the local level, and led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Angel baby support
SANDS: http://www.sands.org.au/ Stillbirth, Miscarriage and newborn death support
Heartfelt 1800583768 https://www.heartfelt.org.au/
Heartfelt is a volunteer organisation of professional photographers dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature births or have children with serious terminal illnesses. All services are provided free of charge.
SANDS: http://www.sands.org.au/ Stillbirth, Miscarriage and newborn death support
Heartfelt 1800583768 https://www.heartfelt.org.au/
Heartfelt is a volunteer organisation of professional photographers dedicated to giving the gift of photographic memories to families that have experienced stillbirths, premature births or have children with serious terminal illnesses. All services are provided free of charge.
HYPONOBIRTHING PRACTIONERS:
Sam Geraghty www.northbrisbanehypnobirthing.com.au
Sam is a certified Hypnobirthing Australia practitioner, Clinical Nurse (specializing in mental health) and mum of 2. Sam has been teaching the Hypnobirthing Australia program since 2013, where mums and birthing partners learn skills and techniques for positive birthing. Sam strongly believes that every woman deserves to have a positive, empowering birth, whichever turn their birthing takes. The course that she teaches also caters for cesarean births. She would love to help you on your journey towards having the best birth possible!
Danielle Rhodes yoursacredspace.com.au/
ALTERNATE THERAPIES
Naturopath, Catherine Malen, 07 3367 0337, katherine@brisbanenaturalhealth.com.au
Massage Therapist (Women/Pregnancy only) , Amanda Cannon 0409 414 999, exhaleclinic@gmail.com
Chiropractors Brisbane natural Health Clinic 31865605
Birth Afloat - Birth Pool Specialists
Machatarn O'Hara info@birthafloat.com 0429668845
Inflatable and Heated Birth Pools and accessories
Our Birth Pool Kits have been designed to be picked up or delivered anywhere you choose to birth, whether at home, hospital or birth centers. We've been doing Birth Pools for over 21 years and know what is required for a smooth water birth journey. We have supplies for midwives, hospitals and personal use pools. We stock Birth Pool In A Box Birth Pools and Liners and Made In Water/La Bassine Liners in single and bulk packs.
Feel free to contact us to discuss your individual needs.
Bliss Birth Labour TENS Hire https://blissbirth.com.au/products/labour-tens-machine-hire
The Elle Tens Plus is the ultimate in obstetric TENS, specifically designed for use during labour, and is perfectly safe for you and baby. TENS is the most effective pain relief you can use at home, and provides completely drug-free, natural relief from pain. The more comfortable and calm you are during the early stages of labour, the less interventions you are going to need, making it a must-have for your natural birth plan.
PHOTOGRAPHERS (pregnancy, birth and beyond)
Genna Shaw 0412697854
https://www.facebook.com/pg/mamatoadoula/posts/
https://www.mamatoa.com/?fbclid=IwAR0WGtZo5Be1nocde3MXjwSZyom4J4JPk0TPFo77pQT0eo023L-7KiAhpSQ
https://www.notanotherchildbirthclass.com/
Kavita
Hannah Paulsen
www.betweentwoworldsbirthphotography.com.au/
Michelle Palasia www.michellepalasia.com/
MIDWIVES
Deborah MacGillivray - Local Midwife & Yoni Mapping Therapist www.goddessbirthing.com.au
Jodie Johnson: local midwife http://www.passionatebirth.com.au/postnatal.html
My Midwives: Address: 07 3118 5240 brisbanenorth@mymidwives.com.au
Prenatal & Postnatal DOULAS
Jenni Bernard Brisbane northside: 0421302962
Jackie Hayward Brisbane southside: 042221266
Tara Albrecht; Sol Birth & Photography located in Gympie 0423357782 www.facebook.com/solbirthdbp/
Juliana Maria 0467 800 984 https://www.facebook.com/pg/mamaformama/about/?ref=page_internal
Michelle Palasia https://www.michellepalasia.com/
Find a postpartum doula or lactation consultant on the following websites, where you can read about their experiences, testimonials, prices, offerings and more.
http://www.douladirectory.com.au/
https://findadoula.com.au/
https://www.doulanetwork.org/directory
Sam Geraghty www.northbrisbanehypnobirthing.com.au
Sam is a certified Hypnobirthing Australia practitioner, Clinical Nurse (specializing in mental health) and mum of 2. Sam has been teaching the Hypnobirthing Australia program since 2013, where mums and birthing partners learn skills and techniques for positive birthing. Sam strongly believes that every woman deserves to have a positive, empowering birth, whichever turn their birthing takes. The course that she teaches also caters for cesarean births. She would love to help you on your journey towards having the best birth possible!
Danielle Rhodes yoursacredspace.com.au/
ALTERNATE THERAPIES
Naturopath, Catherine Malen, 07 3367 0337, katherine@brisbanenaturalhealth.com.au
Massage Therapist (Women/Pregnancy only) , Amanda Cannon 0409 414 999, exhaleclinic@gmail.com
Chiropractors Brisbane natural Health Clinic 31865605
Birth Afloat - Birth Pool Specialists
Machatarn O'Hara info@birthafloat.com 0429668845
Inflatable and Heated Birth Pools and accessories
Our Birth Pool Kits have been designed to be picked up or delivered anywhere you choose to birth, whether at home, hospital or birth centers. We've been doing Birth Pools for over 21 years and know what is required for a smooth water birth journey. We have supplies for midwives, hospitals and personal use pools. We stock Birth Pool In A Box Birth Pools and Liners and Made In Water/La Bassine Liners in single and bulk packs.
Feel free to contact us to discuss your individual needs.
Bliss Birth Labour TENS Hire https://blissbirth.com.au/products/labour-tens-machine-hire
The Elle Tens Plus is the ultimate in obstetric TENS, specifically designed for use during labour, and is perfectly safe for you and baby. TENS is the most effective pain relief you can use at home, and provides completely drug-free, natural relief from pain. The more comfortable and calm you are during the early stages of labour, the less interventions you are going to need, making it a must-have for your natural birth plan.
PHOTOGRAPHERS (pregnancy, birth and beyond)
Genna Shaw 0412697854
https://www.facebook.com/pg/mamatoadoula/posts/
https://www.mamatoa.com/?fbclid=IwAR0WGtZo5Be1nocde3MXjwSZyom4J4JPk0TPFo77pQT0eo023L-7KiAhpSQ
https://www.notanotherchildbirthclass.com/
Kavita
Hannah Paulsen
www.betweentwoworldsbirthphotography.com.au/
Michelle Palasia www.michellepalasia.com/
MIDWIVES
Deborah MacGillivray - Local Midwife & Yoni Mapping Therapist www.goddessbirthing.com.au
Jodie Johnson: local midwife http://www.passionatebirth.com.au/postnatal.html
My Midwives: Address: 07 3118 5240 brisbanenorth@mymidwives.com.au
Prenatal & Postnatal DOULAS
Jenni Bernard Brisbane northside: 0421302962
Jackie Hayward Brisbane southside: 042221266
Tara Albrecht; Sol Birth & Photography located in Gympie 0423357782 www.facebook.com/solbirthdbp/
Juliana Maria 0467 800 984 https://www.facebook.com/pg/mamaformama/about/?ref=page_internal
Michelle Palasia https://www.michellepalasia.com/
Find a postpartum doula or lactation consultant on the following websites, where you can read about their experiences, testimonials, prices, offerings and more.
http://www.douladirectory.com.au/
https://findadoula.com.au/
https://www.doulanetwork.org/directory
Community
Another struggle new parents face alongside overwhelm is feelings of loneliness. Being surrounded by four walls, day in day out can really get to a person. Below I have listed some regular programs available for parents and bubs, some of which cater to older siblings too, so you can get out of the house and have some much needed adult-human interaction.
YOGA SOL mums and bubs yoga: Ferny Hills 3851 0860
Playgroup Queensland: - free call 1800 171 882 https://www.playgroupqld.com.au/
Playgroups can be attended by mothers, fathers, grandparents, nannies or other carers and the babies, toddlers and pre-school aged children in their care. Playgroup Queensland runs hundreds of playgroups across the State each week.
Library rhyme time: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/subsite.aspx?id=100618
Baby Rhyme Time helps develop the skills needed to communicate and to learn to read. In a friendly and relaxed environment you and your baby can learn rhymes, action songs and fingerplays to share together.
While visiting the library, browse and borrow from our collections of toys, eResources, picture books,music, rhyme and story CDs, children’s DVDs, and parenting resources too. *Sessions sponsored by the First 5 Forever project.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association
also has regular meetups, becoming a member allows you to stay in the loop and be a part of a supportive community.
Peach tree https://peachtree.org.au/
The SPP is a 6-week commitment for mothers with babies aged between 0 and 12 months. The program moves through six (6) workbook topics, all relevant to parenting experiences through the postnatal period, providing a safe, sensitive, and non-judgemental space for mothers to speak openly about their parenting experiences with others who understand. All workshops are facilitated and supported by two (2) Peer Workers who themselves share a lived-experience of perinatal mental health challenges with a story of hope and recovery. Each week will focus on:
Week 1: Welcome to our Circle of Sunshine!
Week 2: Understanding your experience
Week 3: Navigating relationships changes
Week 4: Caring for your baby’s needs
Week 5: Caring for you IS caring for your family
Week 6: Connections and Celebrations!
There are mums and dads all over the world wanting to connect with other parents, to feel apart of a community, many facebook pages have regular meetups, if you have no success finding one close by, maybe could you start one? Start small with a simple local park playdate?
Another struggle new parents face alongside overwhelm is feelings of loneliness. Being surrounded by four walls, day in day out can really get to a person. Below I have listed some regular programs available for parents and bubs, some of which cater to older siblings too, so you can get out of the house and have some much needed adult-human interaction.
YOGA SOL mums and bubs yoga: Ferny Hills 3851 0860
Playgroup Queensland: - free call 1800 171 882 https://www.playgroupqld.com.au/
Playgroups can be attended by mothers, fathers, grandparents, nannies or other carers and the babies, toddlers and pre-school aged children in their care. Playgroup Queensland runs hundreds of playgroups across the State each week.
Library rhyme time: https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/subsite.aspx?id=100618
Baby Rhyme Time helps develop the skills needed to communicate and to learn to read. In a friendly and relaxed environment you and your baby can learn rhymes, action songs and fingerplays to share together.
While visiting the library, browse and borrow from our collections of toys, eResources, picture books,music, rhyme and story CDs, children’s DVDs, and parenting resources too. *Sessions sponsored by the First 5 Forever project.
The Australian Breastfeeding Association
also has regular meetups, becoming a member allows you to stay in the loop and be a part of a supportive community.
Peach tree https://peachtree.org.au/
The SPP is a 6-week commitment for mothers with babies aged between 0 and 12 months. The program moves through six (6) workbook topics, all relevant to parenting experiences through the postnatal period, providing a safe, sensitive, and non-judgemental space for mothers to speak openly about their parenting experiences with others who understand. All workshops are facilitated and supported by two (2) Peer Workers who themselves share a lived-experience of perinatal mental health challenges with a story of hope and recovery. Each week will focus on:
Week 1: Welcome to our Circle of Sunshine!
Week 2: Understanding your experience
Week 3: Navigating relationships changes
Week 4: Caring for your baby’s needs
Week 5: Caring for you IS caring for your family
Week 6: Connections and Celebrations!
There are mums and dads all over the world wanting to connect with other parents, to feel apart of a community, many facebook pages have regular meetups, if you have no success finding one close by, maybe could you start one? Start small with a simple local park playdate?
