Maternal and child health services

MCH appointments

The Maternal and Child Health team is here for you. 

Key ages and stages

Health and development assessments are performed around the following key ages and stages:

• After discharge from hospital (home visit)
• 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 weeks
• 4 months, 8 months
• 12 months
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 3.5 years 

What to bring to your appointment 

• Your child’s green Child Health Record Book
• A change of clothes, including spare nappies, for your baby
• A plastic bag for used nappies
• Clothes or bunny rugs to cover the change table and scales

MCH bookings 

Find a Maternal and Child Health Centre by suburb

The City of Whittlesea has 20 Maternal and Child Health sites located around the municipality. 

Drop-in Sessions

Breastfeeding support

Chat with a Maternal and Child Health Nurse or Lactation Consultant about breastfeeding, or any other issues with feeding your baby.

Open consultation sessions

These sessions offer an opportunity to visit a Maternal and Child Health nurse in between your child’s Key Ages and Stage assessments.

Parenting programs

We have a range of programs that are facilitated by professionals and aimed to assist parents, including a First Time Parent Group, Sleep & Settling program, and The Infant Program. 

Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Service

Our Enhanced Maternal and Child Health (EMCH) Service is an outreach program providing additional support to families with children from birth to preschool age who may be experiencing challenges impacting parenting, relationships and well-being.    

Deadly Boorais and Deadly Families Program

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement includes the Deadly Boorais and Deadly Families Program, which actively engages families and their children who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and supports their engagement in the Maternal and Child Health service.

Part of the Deadly Boorais Deadly Families program is the Yarning Circle and Drop In Session. These provide further opportunity for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to connect and engage with the Maternal and Child Health Service within the City of Whittlesea.

Further support and resources

The Maternal and Child Health 24-hour health line on 13 22 29 can give you information and advice about the care and health of your child aged birth to school age.

The Maternal and Child Health app provides reliable information that families can use everyday, and can be downloaded by clicking here. 

Parenting Support

• Tweddle - Sleep and Setting Information​
• Queen Elizabeth Centre - Early parenting services
• O'Connell Family Centre - Early parenting centre
• Whittlesea Community Connections - for financial aid, legal aid, family support, settlement services and emergency relief
• PANDA - Perinatal depression and anxiety support for parents and families
• Orange Door - A free service for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence, and families who need extra support with the care of children

Other information 

• Raising Children Network - Australian parenting website
• Australian Breastfeeding Association - Breastfeeding support and information
• Better Health Channel - provides information on a range of topics including sleep and settling
• Kidsafe - child accident prevention information
• Royal Children's Hospital - kids health information including fact sheets, videos and podcast episodes
• Yarra Plenty Regional Libraries - library locations around the City of Whittlesea providing storytime and other events and resources for children