Mums-to-be benefit from visiting midwives

Natasha Atta-Singh really appreciates the service that midwife, Janet Coll, and her team provides Julie Hartwig Photography

Natasha Atta-Singh really appreciates the service that midwife, Janet Coll, and her team provides Julie Hartwig Photography

Cooloola mums-to-be can now have their antenatal check-ups close to home in Tin Can Bay. The check-ups, performed by experienced midwives, are part of the extended midwifery service offered by Gympie hospital’s maternity and women’s health unit.

Expectant mum, Natasha Atta-Singh says, “The service is fantastic. I don’t have my own transport so I used to have to catch the bus to Gympie every fortnight for my antenatal check-ups.”

“I have other school-aged children, so that was really inconvenient. Having a midwife visiting Tin Can Bay every fortnight saves me so much time and makes life a lot easier.”

Nurse unit manager, Shaneen Osborne, said the antenatal appointments are held every Thursday by appointment at the back of the Tin Can Bay library.

“With the Cooloola region experiencing so much expansion, it was decided to make this antenatal service available locally to assist mums-to-be.”

Women can book their appointment by phoning 5489 8724 during office hours. The postnatal extended midwifery service is also available to Cooloola women.

The postnatal service provides home visits, available to any woman for up to four weeks following the birth of her baby, and is aimed at supporting mothers in the initial postnatal period.

Ms Osborne said the home visits enable midwives to give ongoing feeding and other advice to new mums in the comfort of their own homes.

“The midwives can also offer referrals to other support services if, and when, required,” she said.

“Feedback has been wonderful since we introduced this service in early January 2012, with mums commenting on the individual and personalised service they receive.”

Then you can rely on the friendly midwives at child health to take over the role in caring for your children. They visit every second Thursday morning at the back of the library in Tin Can Bay. You can make an appointment for March 12 or 26 on 5489 8690.

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