Quicklinks
Childbirth and parenting education sessions
COVID-19 restrictions
Visitors to our hospitals do not need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or check-in on arrival. From October 31 2022 community members are asked to follow Queensland Health's traffic light guidelines about if they should to wear a mask when visiting a Townsville Hospital and Health Service facility. Please wear a mask if requested by staff.
You should not attend a healthcare facility, including aged care homes, as a visitor if you are unwell or have any COVID-19 symptoms.
Our preparing for birth and parenting sessions cover a variety of topics to assist you with the transition to parenthood.
Townsville University Hospital offers both face-to-face and online interactive sessions.
This service is free for women (with a valid Medicare card) who birth through the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. We encourage dads, partners or a support person to attend.
When to book?
To secure your place, we recommend you book most sessions from 20 weeks. It is suggested you book your place in the Early Pregnancy 101 and Birth after Caesarean classes from 12 weeks.
Early pregnancy 101 (1 x 3 hours)
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What is covered?
- Emotional and physical well-being
- Looking after you and your growing baby
- Informed decision making
- Pregnancy and exercise – the dos and don’ts
- Back and body awareness and care
- Pelvic floor care
- Relaxation techniques
Who runs the session?
This session is run by a midwife and a physiotherapist.
Face-to-face sessions held on the ground floor in the Allied Health Department.
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Relaxation and massage (1 x 3 hours)
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What is covered?
- Pain perceptions and relaxation techniques
- Mind and body connections – hormonal interplay in labour
- Creating a calming birth environment
- Tips for support people
- Coping strategies including useful positions, movement, breath awareness, visualisation and massage
Who runs the session?
This session is run by midwives.
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Preparing for birth and parenting series (4 x 2.5 hours on weeknights or 2 x 4.5 hours on weekends)
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The face to face preparing for birth and parenting sessions are not available to women receiving caseload care, an online option is offered.
What is covered?
- When to come to hospital
- Physiological labour and birth
- Variances in birth including induction and caesarean birth
- Informed decision making
- Comfort measures, pain relief options; tips for fathers, partners and support people
- Skin to skin, early breastfeeding
- Hospital stay, after birth care, nappy changing, settling baby
- Emotional wellness
- Adapting to parenthood
- Community support
- Includes a Dads Group Connection
Who runs the sessions?
This session is run by a midwife
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Introduction to breastfeeding (1 x 2.5hrs)
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What is covered?
- Baby Friendly Health Initiative’s infant feeding policy and the Ten Steps to WHO Successful Breastfeeding
- Making an informed choice about feeding baby - why breastfeed?
- Labour, birth and postnatal practices to support breastfeeding
- Newborn output and changes
- Expressing and storing breast milk– Donor Milk
- Breastfeeding FAQs
- Avoiding and overcoming common breastfeeding issues and challenges
- Resources, community support and where to receive help, including WHAT AT THE Australia Breastfeeding Association
Who runs the session?
This session is run by a midwife lactation consultant.
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Complex needs breastfeeding (1 x 2.5 hours)
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Who can attend?
Pregnant women with:
- previous serious feeding issues or concerns that have impacted on emotional or physical wellbeing
- a multiple pregnancy (twins, triplets)
- an unwell baby or a preterm baby requiring special assistance/considerations
Please note, this support people can not attend this session.
What is covered?
- Content is adapted to meet the group's needs
Who runs the sessions?
This session is run by a midwife lactation consultant.
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Lactation support and clinic (1 x 30 mins)
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Our lactation consultants attend the Antenatal Clinic on Tuesday mornings to offer additional support to women at their 34-week appointment. No booking is required. Face-to-face sessions are available as needed and requested.
Lactation consultants also offer one-on-one 30-minute appointments which can be a stand-alone session or to complement a group breastfeeding session.
Who should attend?
- Women with special needs concerning feeding baby. This could include women with diabetes, multiple pregnancy, thyroid issues, previous breast surgery or previous breastfeeding challenges.
- Women experiencing early breastfeeding challenges requiring additional support following birth. If this is you, we suggest you attend the session with your baby. Father, partner or a support person is welcome.
Where is it held?
This session is held at the lactation consultants' room in our maternity ward on level two.
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Young parents' sessions (2 x 2hrs)
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This is a drop-in session, no booking is required.
Who should attend?
- Pregnant women 21 years & under
- Dads, partners or a support person are welcome.
- Expectant mothers are welcome to attend solo
When and where are sessions held?
- Townsville University Hospital sessions are held on the last Thursday of the month 1pm-3pm. Attendees should meet inside the front foyer of the hospital
- Kirwan Health Campus sessions are held on the first Thursday of the month 1pm to 3pm. Attendees should meet inside the IMPS building
What is covered?
- Tour of our maternity facilities, tips for labour and birth at Townsville University Hospital
- Early parenthood, baby care, what to expect when baby arrives and community support
Who runs the sessions?
This session is run by a midwife and child youth and family health nurse.
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Refresher course - preparing 'again' for birth and parenthood (1 x 2.5hrs)
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This session is for women who have previously had a baby.
What is covered?
- When to come to hospital
- Physiological labour and birth
- Informed decision making
- Comfort measures, pain relief options; tips for dad / the support person
- Skin to skin, early breastfeeding
- Emotional wellness
- Adapting to parenthood again - early parenting and siblings
- Community support
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Virtual birth suite and maternity ward tour (10 minutes)
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Watch now
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Birth after caesarean (1 x 2.5 hours)
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This session is for women who are pregnant and have previously had a baby by a caesarean birth.
What’s covered:
- The pros and cons of having a vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC) and having a repeat caesarean section, both elective and emergency
- The hospital’s policy on caring for a woman having a VBAC and having a caesarean section
- Options and informed decision making
- Practical tips to be more prepared and confident for the birthing experience
- Where to go to for support
This session complements individual one-on-one discussions with health care providers and is run by a midwife and obstetrician.
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Bubba Yarns - TAIHS
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Bubba Yarns is friendly, weekly event held at TAIHS Yemani Meta in Garbutt. It is for pregnant families and families with little bubbas. Come yarn together, be social and supportive with other mums, dads and families.
A midwife often joins to provide support and answer questions. For more information call: (07) 4759 4039.
Bubba Yarns is held every Thursday between 10.30am – 12.00pm at 16 Peel Street, Garbutt.
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Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)/Birth Centre
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Women birthing through the Midwifery Group Practice and Birth Centre models of care will have a "birth chat" with their own midwife around 36 weeks. Fathers, partners and support people can participate.
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Where are sessions held?
Unless otherwise stated, face-to-face sessions are held at the Townsville Hospital, Staff Health Hub. This is a separate building to the side of the Acute Mental Health Services and diagonally opposite our Emergency Department near the roundabout. The Childbirth and Parenting Room entrance is at the back of the building.
How to connect to online sessions?
Online sessions are run using Microsoft Teams. You can join us from the comfort of your own home. Download the app here.
A Microsoft Teams link will be sent to you before the session. Download the app or install Microsoft Teams at least 30 minutes before the session to ensure you are ready and your equipment is working.
You do not need to create an account.
Microsoft Teams works best on a computer or tablet. There is reduced functionality if a smart phone is used.
How to book?
Bookings are essential. To book please call the team between 9:30am - 1:30pm (Tuesday to Friday) on (07) 4433 1450.
Each session allows for a maximum of 6 women each with a support person.
Please have the following information accessible when you call to book:
- Full name, date of birth (hospital ‘URN’ number if known) and date baby is due
- Your model of care
- Session preferences (please provide a first and second preferred date option for each face-to-face session requested and an online option)
- A mobile phone number to receive an invite and reminder SMS to each session. We ask you please reply within 24 hours to the SMS invite to hold your booking
Useful resources
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia
BeyondBlue - Pregnancy and new parents
The Gidget Foundation Australia
COPE (Centre of Perinatal Excellence)
Dads of Townsville (DG) Facebook
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The Townsville Hospital and Health Service acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which our health facilities have been built. We pay respects to Elders past, present and emerging; and we value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and knowledge.