Lachlan Maternity Services - Western NSW Local Health District

07/12/2024

We love this from our friends .

Download the Ready to COPE app and start having these conversations before your baby arrives.

29/11/2024

Are you looking for a gym buddy? A mum to grab a coffee with and talk about that damn sleep regression?

Maybe you just want a like-minded mama you can chat with – even if that’s via text at 2am while you’re up feeding, or changing nappies.

With over 85,000 members across 45 locations Australia-wide, Mama Tribe will help you find local, like-minded mama friends near you.

Join now via

21/11/2024

Perinatal anxiety and depression commonly occurs for both women and men.
This free event raising awareness is on in Parkes on Thursday 28/11/24

12/11/2024

The environment for labour and birth is an essential element in supporting how your body and baby work together

25/10/2024

Your body
Your baby
Your decision

There's an important nuance in making birth and health decisions which doesn't always get mentioned.

That is:

It's not always about a yes/no, accept/decline dichotomy.

Often, there is a middle ground.

This middle ground is about making decisions as and about an individual within their own context and according to need.

Just not routinely.

Or based on what the guideline says.

If you're making decisions about your health or birth, you might want to bear this in mind.

Declining an intervention doesn't always mean an absolute 'no.'

You can say, 'I want to wait and see.'

Or, 'I don't want routine intervention / induction / screening just because I have a risk factor, but I'll consider things that are right for me or my individual circumstances.'

Your body, your baby, your decisions.

I have a longer explanation of this in a blog post for those who would like to know more.

It's at https://www.sarawickham.com/riffing-ranting-and-raving/deciding-to-decline-or-deciding-to-wait-and-see/

I hope it makes the decisions that are right for you.

There's also a lot more on this in my book, "What's Right For Me? Making decisions in pregnancy and childbirth."

More info at www.sarawickham.com/me

23/10/2024

Today is

It’s a good reminder for all health professionals to communicate clearly and drop the jargon.

Jargon, such as technical terms and acronyms, can be confusing. Using plain, easy to understand language can help to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes.

If you’re one of our patients or consumers and something we say doesn’t make sense, please let us know. Ask us to explain it again – we’re here to help.

Sometimes, we need reminding.

15/10/2024

Evidence about women’s experiences of induction of labour.

Women want more information and support with decision making about induction of labour, especially when there's no good medical reason for it

15/10/2024

Great opportunity for families

15/10/2024

“The truth is no one talks about the consuming grief, the sadness, the mixed feelings, the anger you feel after you lose a baby. People tell you to move on that things happen for a reason. I’m constantly trying to understand why this has happened to me, to us and it’s very hard to understand why.

“But every time you talk about it and shed some tears, it’s like a little bit getting out of your system, even though it will always be there. It relieves the pressure.”

~ Renata

Read Renata’s story as part of The Truth Campaign: cope.org.au/thetruth

11/10/2024

Finger feeding is a great option for providing baby with expressed breastmilk

10/10/2024

‘To be held’ ❤️

06/10/2024

Informed consent is needed for all treatment or procedures, unless it is an emergency. Read on to learn more about informed consent in Australia.

01/10/2024

Research shows that women ‘love’ midwifery continuity of care. MGP is available through our maternity service. Other models of care including MAPP and AMIHS provide women the opportunity to get to know a midwife who provides antenatal and postnatal care

24/09/2024

The Ready to COPE app is a great resource for families

Pregnancy and parenthood is a unique experience and time of great change – physically, mentally and emotionally. It is also a time when women are most at risk of developing emotional and mental health conditions. Men are at increased risk too.

Ready to COPE is a free app for mums, dads and non-birthing partners that is designed to empower and comfort with trustworthy and credible information.

It can also help new and expectant parents prepare for and understand thoughts and feelings as they arise during pregnancy and the newborn period.

Download it for free today.

https://www.cope.org.au/readytocope/

21/09/2024

Amazing advice for birth partners

Here's some tips for birth partners...
Keep in mind...Every woman is unique, we have different needs.
Some women need touch and motivation, while others want silence, no touch

But one thing is sure...all women want, need someone there, someone to support them, love them.
She will always remember who was with her and how she was made to feel during labor and birth. Birth has an imprint on the rest of a woman's life 💜