Learning about pregnancy, birth and baby

Learning about your pregnancy, birth and baby can help build your confidence and prepare you for the weeks ahead. The RBWH has resources and experienced staff available to ensure you’re supported throughout your journey.

GLOW (online resource)

GLOW is a free online resource, full of helpful and factual information about pregnancy, breastfeeding, birth and going home with a newborn. Access to GLOW is offered for all women having their baby at RBWH and includes the following topics:

• your care during pregnancy
• looking after yourself and baby, including exercise, food, vaccinations and emotional health
• breastfeeding
• labour and birth
• when complications occur
• postnatal support.

Tours

You can book a 30 minute tour of our birth facilities at your first hospital appointment. The tour with a midwife is a great opportunity for you and your support person to find out more about your birth options and to ask any questions.

Emotional support

Pregnancy, birth and early parenthood are times of great change. Most women experience various emotional reactions. It helps if you can talk about your concerns openly with your partner or close friend. There are also many organisations that offer support.

For signs of depression, there are a number of places you can go for help.

Perinatal mental health

• Post and Antenatal Depression Association 1300 726 306
• Beyondblue’s Just Speak Up 1300 22 4636
• White Cloud Foundation 1300 726 306

Mental health support

• Black Dog Institute
• Lifeline 13 11 14 (24 hours a day)
• Sane Australia 1800 18 7263
• MensLine Australia 1300 789 978 (24 hours a day)

Pregnancy support

• Pregnancy, Birth and Baby
• 13 HEALTH 13 43 25 84
• Women’s Health Queensland Wide
• Pregnancy Helpline 1800 090 777 (if you have an unplanned pregnancy and want to discuss your options with a qualified counsellor)
• RBWH Perinatal service – talk to your midwife about referral to the Perinatal Mental Health team

Alcohol

The safest choice for your baby is to not drink any alcohol. This is advice from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

Smoking

Stop smoking during pregnancy. Toxic chemicals are absorbed into your bloodstream and passed to your baby through the umbilical cord. If you aren’t able to stop smoking, cut down as much as you can.

Smoking while pregnant increases your risk of:

• ectopic pregnancy
• miscarriage
• premature labour
• complications during birth.

Smoking while pregnant can increase your baby’s risk of problems after birth:

• sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• low birth weight
• infections and other health problems
• asthma and other breathing difficulties
• behavioural problems.

Call Quitline 13 78 48.