Pregnancy, Birth and Breastfeeding in Gippsland
Local Resources
Private Midwives
Me! I am an endorsed midwife working as a privately practising midwife throughout Gippsland. I provide homebirth services in conjunction with other local midwives, hospital birth support and pregnancy & postpartum care (including for those women who don’t want birth support). Check out my Private Midwifery Services tab for more info.
Embracing Birth South Gippsland: Amanda is an endorsed midwife working as an independent midwife. Amanda lives between South Gippsland and the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Amanda services all of Gippsland, Mornington Peninsula, Eastern and South-Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne and beyond. She provides homebirth and hospital birth support services in conjunction with other local midwives.
My Kind of Midwife: Renee is an endorsed midwife working independently in the Gippsland, Mornington Peninsula and South East Melbourne areas. She provides homebirth services in conjunction with other local midwives.
The Village Way: Megan is an endorsed midwife working independently in Gippsland. She is based in Maffra and services East and Central Gippsland, as well as surrounding areas. She provides homebirth services and hospital birth support in conjunction with other local midwives. Megan also offers Hypnobirthing Classes.
New Beginnings Midwifery: Nikki is an endorsed midwife working in the Latrobe Valley. She offers antenatal and postnatal care to women birthing through the hospital system.
A Beautiful Start to Life - Midwifery Care: Michelle is an endorsed midwife working in Tyers. She offers antenatal and postnatal care to women birthing through the hospital system.
Birth & Postnatal Support
Maternal Connection Postpartum Doula: Marisa is a postpartum doula and registered nurse working in South Gippsland. She offers practical support for families after birth, including cooking, caring for baby, birth debrief, practical help around the home, sleep and self-care strategies and much more.
Harmony Yoga and Birth - Birth and Postpartum Doula: Georgia is a birth and postpartum doula working in Traralgon. She also offers yoga classes that are suitable during pregnancy and postpartum. Her services as a doula include birth planning, labour & birth support (including rebozo use, acupressure, breath techniques & homeopathy, and postpartum support including home-cooked meals.
Wholesome Birthkeeper: Tiarne is a birth and postpartum doula, servicing Traralgon and surrounding areas of Gippsland. Tiarne has 3 children, and has had a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean). She also stocks a variety of birth and postnatal products on her website.
Bump to Bourne: Kylie is a birth and postpartum doula, servicing Rosedale and surrounding areas of Gippsland. Kylie has 3 children herself, and is passionate about caring for families during their labour, birth and parenting journeys. She offers free 15 minute phone consultations to see if she is a good match for you.
Holding Hearts Doula Care: Stacey is a pregnancy, birth and postpartum doula located in South Gippsland (Leongatha). She offers virtual support, as well as in-person options.
The Rebirth Collective: Jayde is a pregnancy, birth and postpartum doula, servicing most areas of Gippsland. Jayde has 3 children, and also offers hypnobirthing classes.
KC Mother Care: Kylie is a registered nurse and postpartum doula, supporting mothers and families across Gippsland. She has 2 children and offers a variety of packages.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is incredibly beneficial throughout pregnancy for managing many common pregnancy symptoms and concerns including morning sickness, hyperemesis, pelvic and back pain as well as anxiety and depression in pregnancy. It can also be used for helping to turn breech or malpositioned babies, and to prepare the body for labour in the weeks and months leading up to birth.
Cocoon Acupuncture (Drouin & Traralgon): The team at Cocoon Acupuncture have a number of practitioners available to support you throughout your pregnancy journey.
Leongatha Health Hub (Leongatha): The team at Leongatha Health Hub offer a variety of different healthcare and wellbeing services. Nashira Car is ready and waiting to help with all your acupuncture needs and questions.
Life Naturally (Inverloch): Louise is a Registered Nurse/Midwife with a passion for natural, normal birth and has completed extensive further studies to allow her to support women through pregnancy and fertility. Lousie’s qualifications include: Spinning Babies Aware Practitioner (SpBAP), Masters of Applied Science Acupuncture, HpnoBirthing International Birth Educator and many more
Gippsland Acupuncture (Sale): Andrew Olijnyk has a Bachelor of Science - Honours in Human Biology as well as being an AHPRA registered practitioner of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine and a member of the AACMA (Australian Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Association).
Breastfeeding Support
For immediate breastfeeding help and support, call the Australian Breastfeeding Association 24 hour helpline on 1800 686 268. You do not need to be a member to call.
Warragul Breastfeeding Clinic: Breastfeeding support by a lactation consultant, free via medicare. By appointment only, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Located on the grounds of the Warragul Hospital, you can self refer to this service. You currently need to have birthed at Warragul Hospital to access this service.
Latrobe Regional Hospital Breastfeeding Clinic: Breastfeeding support by a lactation consultant (or trainee), free via medicare. By appointment only, Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Located on the Thomson Maternity Unit at Latrobe Regional Hospital, you can self refer to this service. You do not need to have birthed at LRH to access this service.
Dr Alison Stacey: Dr Stacey is a GP and an IBCLC. She practises privately at Yarragon Medical Centre. No referral is needed. Private billing fees apply. Mention that the issue is breastfeeding related when calling to make an appointment.
Galaxy Lactation: Cassandra & Shae run Galaxy Lactation, located in Langwarrin and Frankston South, offering mobile IBCLC and Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist services. Cass is a Registered Nurse / Midwife, an IBCLC and an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist. Shae is a Registered Nurse specialising in NICU care and an IBCLC. No referral is needed, private billing applies.
Your Baby Your Choice: Robyn is a Registered Midwife/Nurse, IBCLC and a mother of 5 children. She offers breastfeeding support during pregnancy and after birth. She is based in Drouin, and will travel within 50km of her home base. No referral is needed, private billing applies.
Empowered Lactation: Sarah is a Registered Midwife and an IBCLC, and mother to 2 children. She is located on the Bass Coast, and services Bass Coast and South Gippsland Shires. No referral is needed, private billing applies. Travel fees apply for travel greater than 40km from Wonthaggi, Victoria.
Australian Breastfeeding Association, Gippsland Group: The ABA Gippsland Group meets both in-person and virtually at a number of locations around Gippsland. New families are welcome to attend one or two sessions before becoming a member. This is a great way to be surrounded by support from other breastfeeding women. The group also offers electric breast pump hire, and the general ABA website is an amazing resource.
Eastern Ranges Lactation: Tracey is a Registered Nurse and an IBCLC with over 30 years of neonatal and Paediatric nursing experience. While Tracy is not local to Gippsland she will travel and offers online support options. Tracy is an incredibly experienced lactation consultant and highly recommended.
Osteopathy for pregnancy and infants
Osteopaths can be highly beneficial during pregnancy to help manage pregnancy symptoms and discomfort, including back and pelvic pain and can also help to prepare your body as it approaches labour. Postnatally, seeing an osteopath can aid in your recovery. Many infants may also benefit from seeing an osteopath specialising in paediatric care, particularly infants who have been born via forceps or vacuum, those who have had a traumatic birth, infants with suspected or confirmed tongue tie or extremely unsettled infants.
Gippsland Osteopathy and Sports Medicine Clinic (Traralgon): Operating since 2008 the team have been providing the highest quality services and care to the Gippsland region.
Warragul Osteopathic Clinic (Warragul): Dr Tania McDOnald started the practice in 2007 and since then has grown the team to include ten osteopaths and five administration staff.
Bairnsdale Osteopathy and Pelvic Health (Bairnsdale): Jess Weatherall grew up in East Gippsland and after years of studying, Bachelor of Applied Science (Clinical Science) and Bachelor of Osteopathic Science, and travel overseas, she returned home and set up practice.
Health Links Gippsland (Traralgon, Trafalgar, Orbost, Bairnsdale, Sale & Yarram): Our team have a wide range of experience and treat patients of all ages, from newborn babies through to the elderly.
Tongue Tie Assessment
Chelsea McMillan, Lala Speech Pathology: Chelsea is a speech pathologist, Lactation Consultant and Orofacial Myologist. She has extensive training in assessing tongue ties in infants, including their impact on breastfeeding. No referral is needed, and she works out of Sale or Bairnsdale. Private billing fees apply. Mention that the issue is related to breastfeeding issues when calling to make an appointment.
Cassandra Poynton, Galaxy Lactation: Cass is a Registered Nurse/Midwife, IBCLC and an Orofacial Myofunctional Therapist. She has extensive training in assessing tongue ties in infants and their impact on breastfeeding. No referral is needed. She is based in Langwarrin, offering a mobile service including skype consultation. Private billing fees apply.
Birth Photographers
Kirra Photography: Mikaela is an experienced photographer offering services including birth photography. She also offers maternity, newborn, little sitter, cake smash and family photography amongst other services. She is based in Traralgon.
Sarah Harris Photography: Sarah is a Bunyip-based photographer, offering services including birth photography, including. She also offers maternity, newborn and family photoraphy.
Lisa Hayman Photo and Film: Lisa is a Sale-based photographer, offering services including birth photography. She also offers wedding, family, couple, maternity, newborn and fresh-48 photography.
Women’s Health Physiotherapists
Claire Issell Physio: Claire Issell is an experienced Women’s Health Physiotherapist working in Traralgon and Trafalgar. She is also a mum herself. She offers pregnancy and post-natal care, including treatment of mastitis and dry needling. She has extensive knowledge and experience in pelvic floor, back and abdominal muscle health and healing during pregnancy and postpartum.
Goodlife Physiotherapy: Joelene Gathercole is the chief physiotherapist and owner of Goodlife Physiotherapy in Traralgon. Joelene has a Master’s in Physiotherapy and expertise in Women’s Health Phsyiotherapy. Goodlife Physiotherapy also offers Pregnancy and Postpartum Pilates.
Jennifer Massey Physiotherapy: Jennifer Massey is an experienced and well rounded Physiotherapist. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Physiotherapy and Post Graduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor and Continence Physiotherapy. She works within a busy medical centre in Moe. Through this Jennifer has access to a diverse range of medical professionals, allied health and nursing staff.
Birth Trauma
Birth Trauma Debriefing and Counselling
Should be undertaken with a specialist trained in this area. It is worth noting that when a hospital offers a “birth debriefing” this is generally not done by someone trained in this area. It can be helpful to go through Freedom of Information and apply for a copy of your hospital notes throughout your labour and birth to assist you in processing and understanding what happened.
Meg Rankin Counselling: Meg is an experienced Social Worker and Counsellor trained in birth debriefing and birth trauma counselling. Meg is Melbourne-based and offers online options
Jess The Midwife: Jess is an experienced Midwife who is trained in birth debriefing and birth trauma counselling. Jess is Melbourne-based and offers online options.
Birthtalk.org: An online Birth Trauma resource run by two amazing Australian women who have also written the book “How to Heal a Bad Birth” (highly recommended read). This website contains many great resources including processing your birth trauma and planning for future births, whether that is a vaginal birth or a caesarean birth. This resource is particularly focussed on psychological and emotional birth trauma.
Australasian Birth Trauma Association: Another Australian-based birth trauma resource with lots if great online information. This resource particularly has some wonderful information on dealing with physical birth trauma such as ongoing pelvic floor damage, painful intercourse and pelvic organ prolapse.
If you know of another great pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding business or support in Gippsland, please let me know!