General resources on pregnancy and early parenthood

Find helpful information and resources on the whole pregnancy journey and entering parenthood.

Overview of pregnancy / parenthood

For Dads

What about Dads?

Looking after your body and baby during pregnancy

How to sleep safely during pregnancy

Fetal movements

Maternity vaccinations

The National Centre for Immunisation Research & Surveillance (NCIRS) strongly recommends that pregnant women receive the pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza vaccine. Below are some resources with more information about the vaccines.

COVID-19 vaccination

The Australian Government, Australian Immunisation Technical Advisory Group and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists now routinely recommend COVID vaccination for pregnant women.

For the latest information and resources on COVID-19 vaccination recommendations and more, please visit the COVID-19 information page for pregnant women and parents.

The effects of smoking on your baby

Cervical screening in pregnancy

If you are pregnant and due for a Cervical Screening Test, or have never had one, it’s strongly recommended you have a test.

You can choose to have a self-collected test or a clinician collected test in pregnancy. Both options are equally as effective at detecting HPV and are safe at any stage in your pregnancy.

Screening when you are due for your test, even if you are pregnant, can help to diagnose any abnormal cervical cells early, so they can be monitored and treated sooner if needed.

If you receive a higher risk test result, you will be referred to have a colposcopy. A colposcopy is when a doctor or specially trained nurse uses a special microscope with a bright light, called a colposcope, to look closely at the cells in your cervix, vagina and vulva to identify any cell changes that may need treatment.

Your best protection against cervical cancer is to find and treat any cervical cell changes early.

Find out more about what to expect and how to prepare for a colposcopy in this video developed by Cancer Council Victoria.

Colposcopy: What you should know before your appointment

If you choose to have a Cervical Screening Test after the birth of your baby, it is recommended to wait three months, however you can do the test from six weeks after the birth. If you have a Cervical Screening Test too soon after the delivery there is an increased rate of unsatisfactory test results – for instance, there may not be enough cells in the sample taken, or the cells of the cervix may still be inflamed after birth.

Useful links

Support groups

Mental health support

The pregnancy journey and becoming a parent can be an emotional rollercoaster, so make sure you take time to look after your own wellbeing. If things get tough, there is always support out there.

Here are some places to reach out to for mental health support:

To help you better understand perinatal depression and anxiety, view this video by Gidget Foundation Australia.

Support for pregnancy and baby loss

  • SANDS is a peer-to-peer service staffed by families who have experienced pregnancy and baby loss. This includes miscarriage, medical interruption of pregnancy for maternal or baby related health reasons, late miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death. Apart from excellent online resources, there is a dedicated phone line staffed 24 hours by a specially trained volunteer who has experienced pregnancy or baby loss.
  • Red Nose Grief and Loss – Supporting grieving individuals and families for over 40 years
  • Pink Elephants – Resources, information and peer-support for anyone impacted by early pregnancy loss

Monash Women’s has a strong ethos and history of caring for women and families experiencing loss, learn more.

Family violence support

Twins plus support

Other resources

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