Quicklinks
Childbirth and Parenting Education Sessions
COVID-19 UPDATE: To ensure our participants and staff well-being we are adhering to the Queensland Health COVID-19 guidelines of personal hygiene and physical distancing. Strict number limits apply to face-to-face sessions. We ask that you do not attend sessions if feeling unwell. For the latest Queensland Health guidelines on COVID-19 Pregnancy and Breastfeeding click here.
Our Childbirth and Parenting Education Sessions are a great way to prepare you and your family for labour, birth and early parenting. They are offered free of charge (valid Medicare Card needed) for women birthing at the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. Dads, partners or birthing support persons are welcome and encouraged to attend or join online. We hope to support your unique journey, add to your knowledge, and complement discussions with your midwife/doctor/healthcare provider. Empowering families enables them to make informed decisions during their pregnancy and parenting journey. Education, knowledge, confidence and support are key to a positive experience.
Various options are available depending on individual needs. We offer both face-to-face and online sessions. Most face-to-face sessions are held at Townsville University Hospital, in the Paluma Room on the first floor, unless stated otherwise.
Sessions include: Early Birds, Preparing for Birth and Parenting, Breastfeeding, Relaxation and Massage, Dads Group connection, Young Parents Pregnancy and Parenting, Bubba Yarns, Having a Baby Again Refresher Course, Birth after a Caesarean and Physiotherapy.
If you have not completed a referral form (available from the Women’s and Children’s Clinic or from your Midwife/Doctor), you can email the Childbirth Education team. Please provide your name, date of birth, date baby is due, model of care, a contact phone number and session(s) you would like to attend.
Summary of Session details
Bookings are essential for all sessions as there are limited spaces. Online sessions available.
Early Bird Sessions: 1 x 2 hours
Available both face-to-face or online via Microsoft Teams.
Great information for pregnancy and beyond. Topics covered include:
- Emotional and physical well-being
- Looking after you and your growing baby
- Pregnancy exercise – the dos and don’ts
- Back and body awareness and care
- Pelvic floor care
- Relaxation techniques
The session is run by a midwife and a physiotherapist.
Who should attend:
All pregnant women are welcome. Dad/partner/ support person welcome and encouraged to attend or join online – women can also attend solo.
When to attend:
Ideally between 14-24 weeks
Number limits:
Face-to-face - Maximum 8 women, minimum 4 women
Online - Maximum 18 women, minimum 5 women
Where is it held:
Allied Health Department, Ground Floor. Online via Microsoft Teams.
Face-to-face Preparing for Birth and Parenting Sessions
Both evening weekdays (4 x 2.5 hours) and weekend day-time (2 x 4.5 hours) options are available.
Evening series:
Part 1 and Part 2 focus on preparing for labour and birth.
Part 3 and 4 cover the hospital stay, parenting, emotional wellbeing and community support. Includes a ‘DadsGroup’ Connection.
Weekend series
Saturday Part 1: Focuses on preparing for labour and birth, includes a ‘DadsGroup’ connection.
Sunday Part 2: Covers information on what to expect after birth, the hospital stay, emotional wellbeing, parenting and community support.
This series is run by a midwife.
Who should attend:
First-time families who are not receiving care as part of the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) or Birth Centre (BC) models of care. Families receiving this model of care will have a one-on-one chat with their caseload midwives around 36weeks. MGP and BC care women can be placed on a waitlist to fill late cancellations.
One support person welcome – dad/partner/birthing support person encouraged to attend. Women can also attend solo.
When to attend:
Ideally between 28 – 36 weeks
Number limits:
Maximum 9 women, minimum 5 women
Where is it held:
Paluma Room, first floor
Online Preparing for Birth and Parenting Sessions (1x 6.5 hours)
Both evening weekdays and weekend day-time options are available. Content similar to the face-to-face sessions.
Part 1: Focuses on preparing for labour and birth, including a ‘DadsGroup’ Connection.
Part 2: Covers information on what to expect after birth, the hospital stay, emotional wellbeing, parenting and community support.
These sessions are run by a midwife via the Microsoft Teams app (available on mobile and desktop).
Who should attend:
First-time families who live out of town
Dad/partner/birthing support person encouraged to join
First-time families who prefer online rather than face-to-face sessions
Families requesting face-to-face session with no places available
Second-time families who have had a gap between babies (the Refresher Course is more specific for families who have had a baby before)
Women under MGP or Birth Centre model of care to complement their midwife’s ‘Birth Chat’
When to attend:
Ideally between 28-36 weeks
Number limits:
Maximum 18 women, minimum 5 women
Where is it held:
Online via Microsoft Teams
Face-to-face Breastfeeding Workshops - 1 x 2.5hrs
Both weekday (1 x 2.5 hours) and weekend day-time (1 x 2.5 hours) options are available.
Townsville University Hospital is accredited as ‘baby friendly’. This initiative is a global effort to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
The information discussed during this workshop helps with making an informed choice about feeding baby. It explores information and support on breastfeeding. It will increase knowledge and confidence on how to avoid/deal with common challenges and dispel myths.
Sessions are run by a midwife/lactation consultant (LC).
Who should attend:
All pregnant women are welcome. One support person welcome – Dad/partner/birthing support person encouraged to attend. Women can also attend solo.
When to attend:
Ideally between 28-36 weeks
Number limits:
Maximum 12 women, minimum 4 women
Where is it held:
Paluma Room, first floor
Lactation Support/Clinic – 1 x 30 mins
The lactation consultants attend Dr Watson’s Antenatal Clinic every Tuesday morning to offer additional support to women and their support person or family members attending this clinic.
Lactation consultants also offer a 30-minute appointment that can be a stand-alone session or to complement a breastfeeding session.
Who should attend:
Women with special needs concerning feeding baby (for example: diabetes, multiple pregnancy, thyroid issues, previous breast surgery and previous breastfeeding challenges)
Women experiencing early breastfeeding challenges requiring additional support following the birth (attend with baby)
One support person welcome – dad/partner/support person
When to attend:
Ideally between 28-38 weeks
Number limits:
This ‘one-on-one’ appointment
Where is it held:
Maternity ward, lactation consultants’ room, second floor
Online Breastfeeding Workshops - 1 x 2hrs
Townsville University Hospital is accredited as ‘baby friendly’. This initiative is a global effort to implement practices that protect, promote and support breastfeeding.
The information discussed during this workshop helps with making an informed choice about feeding baby. It explores information and support on breastfeeding. It will increase knowledge and confidence on how to avoid/deal with common challenges and dispel myths.
The session is run by a midwife/lactation consultant (LC) via the Microsoft Teams App.
Who should attend:
All pregnant women are welcome
Dad/partner/support person are encouraged to join
When to attend:
Ideally between 28-36 weeks
Number limits:
Max 18 women, min 5 women
Where is it held:
Online via Microsoft Teams
Face-to-face Relaxation and Massage for pregnancy and birth – 1 x 3 hours
Both evening weekday and weekend day-time options are available.
We explore pain perceptions and relaxation techniques; reducing stress; emotional wellbeing; how the uterus works; mind and body connections; creating a calming birth environment plus tips for support people.
Attendees will be able to practice some coping strategies including useful positions, breath awareness, visualisation, massage and acupressure.
This is a stand-alone session. It complements other sessions.
Who should attend:
All pregnant women are welcome. One support person welcome – Dad/partner/birthing support person encouraged to attend. Women can also attend solo.
When to attend:
Ideally between 26-36 weeks
Number limits:
Maximum 6 women, minimum 4 women
Where is it held:
Paluma Room, first floor
Online Relaxation and Massage for pregnancy and birth – 1 x 2 hours
We explore pain perceptions and relaxation techniques; reducing stress; emotional wellbeing; how the uterus works; mind and body connections; creating a calming birth environment plus tips for support people. Similar content to the face-to-face session without the practical hands-on aspect.
This session is run by a midwife via the Microsoft Teams app (available on both mobile and desktop).
This is a stand-alone session. It complements other sessions.
Who should attend:
All pregnant women are welcome
Dad/partner/brthing support person encouraged to join
When to attend:
Ideally between 26-36 weeks
Number limits:
Maximum 18 women, minimum 5 women
Where is it held:
Online via Microsoft Teams
Birth Suite and Maternity Ward Tour - 10 minutes, done virtually
Until further notice, Townsville University Hospital is providing a virtual tour of Birth Suite and the Maternity Ward. The virtual tour can be found here or by clicking above. A virtual tour is also included in the Childbirth and Parenting Series/ Refresher Course/ Young Parents Pregnancy and Parenting Group.
Refresher Course: Preparing ‘again’ for Birth and Parenting - 1 x 3 hours
This session is face-to-face session and aims to refresh knowledge and increase skills/ confidence surrounding labour and birth. We explore early parenting and siblings when bringing another baby home.
The session is run by a midwife.
Who should attend:
Pregnant women who have had a baby before
Women considering a vaginal birth (VBAC) after having had a previous baby by caesarean
When to attend:
Ideally between 26-36 weeks
Number limit:
Maximum 8 women, minimum 4 women
One support person welcome – Dad/partner/birthing support person encouraged to attend.
Women can also attend solo.
Where is it held:
Paluma Room, first floor
Birth After Caesarean Information Session
Available both face-to-face (1 x 2.5 hours) or online (1 x 1.5 hours) via Microsoft Teams.
The session is designed for women who are pregnant and have had a baby by a caesarean birth. We discuss and explore having a vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC) and of having a repeat caesarean. We look at the hospital’s policy on caring for a woman having a VBAC and discuss ways to help women feel more prepared and confident for their birthing experience. It complements individual one-on-one discussions with care providers.
Session is run by a midwife and obstetrician.
Who should attend:
All pregnant women who have had a caesarean birth are welcome
One support person – Dad/partner/support person are encouraged to attend/ join online. Women can also attend solo.
When to attend:
Attend from 24 - 34 weeks
Number limits:
Face-to-face - Maximum 8 women, minimum 4 women
Online - Maximum 18 women, minimum 5 women
Where is it held:
Paluma Room, first floor/Online via Microsoft Teams
Bubba Yarns - TAIHS
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 and dads.
A Townsville Hospital and Health Service midwife often joins to offer advice and answer any questions. For more information call: (07) 4759 4039.
When: Every Thursday, 10.30am - 12pm
Venue: 16 Peel Street, Garbutt
Face-to-face Young Parents’ Pregnancy and Parenting Program (YPP) – 2-hour sessions
The group is fun and relaxed. It aims to help young women and families feel more confident and prepared. We explore practical tips for pregnancy, labour and birth. We look at what to expect in hospital and in the early weeks. New young parents can attend. We chat about baby growth/development, looking after yourself, parenting tips and where to go for support.
Program is run by a midwife and child health nurse.
Who should attend:
Young parents 21 years and younger with a baby under 4 months
Pregnant women 21 years and younger are welcome including those under MGP/ Birth Centre care
Women and their partner/support/family may also attend other sessions held at the hospital
When to attend:
From 20 weeks to 4 months after the birth
Ideally 4 sessions before birth and 4 sessions after the birth
Number limits:
Maximum 10 women
One support person welcome – Dad/partner/birthing support person/friend
Where is it held:
IMPS Building, Kirwan Health Campus, 138 Thuringowa Drive, Kirwan
Dates and times:
Thursday afternoons 1pm to 3pm, last session for 2021 – 2 December
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) / Birth Centre
Preparing for labour and birth
Women in the MGP and Birth Centre models of care will have a "birth chat" with their own midwife to help make informed choices around labour, birth and early parenting.
Some of the sessions may be appropriate for women to attend to compliment discussions with their midwife.
How to Book (unless otherwise stated)
- Complete a ‘Referral Form for Childbirth and Parenting Sessions’. These forms are available at the Primary Reception Area, Health and Wellbeing Service Group (formally known as the Women's and Children's Clinic). Leave completed form in white mail box located in main reception area.
- Ask your healthcare provider (midwife/doctor/GP) to make a referral on your behalf
- Email Townsville Childbirth Education with your full name, date of birth, date baby is due, a mobile number and session preference(s).
Bookings essential as limited spaces are available.
To ensure our participants and staff well-being we are adhering to the Queensland Health COVID-19 guidelines of personal hygiene and physical distancing. Strict number limits apply to face to face sessions. We ask that you do not attend sessions if feeling unwell.
Contact us
Townsville University Hospital
Townsville Birth Centre
Ph: (07) 4433 2779
All-Risk Midwifery Group Practice
Ph: (07) 4433 2353
Midwife Clinic Care
Ph: (07) 4433 1450
Outreach Midwife Clinic Care - Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS)
Ph: Jacqui 0459 815 4598
or
Mothers and Babies Clinic at TAIHS (07) 4759 4045.
Ingham Health Service
Ph: (07) 4720 3050
Ayr Health Service
Ph: (07) 4783 0855
Referrals
To obtain a referral form:
E: Childbirth and Education team
Useful resources
Australian College of Midwives
www.midwives.org.au
Friends of the Birth Centre - Queensland Association
www.fbc.org.au
It's my choice
www.yourchildyourchoice.com.au
Pregnancy, baby and birth
www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au
Raising Children Network
www.raisingchildren.net.au
Australian Breastfeeding Association
www.breastfeeding.asn.au
Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia
www.panda.org.au
BeyondBlue - Pregnancy and new parents
www.healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au
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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.