Better Health Channel
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
betterhealth.vic.gov.au Department of Health
  • Your GP (general practitioner or ‘GP’) can provide basic pregnancy care. Some GPs have extra training that allows them to share pregnancy care with a hospital.
  • Obstetricians are doctors who specialise in caring for mothers and babies during pregnancy, birth and the period straight after birth.
  • Midwives are medically trained in caring for women during pregnancy, labour and birth.
  • A doula is a companion who supports women through their pregnancy and labour. They are generally not medically trained.
  • Maternal and child health nurses monitor the growth and development of children from birth up until they are about 3 and a half years old.

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Content on this website is provided for information purposes only. Information about a therapy, service, product or treatment does not in any way endorse or support such therapy, service, product or treatment and is not intended to replace advice from your doctor or other registered health professional. The information and materials contained on this website are not intended to constitute a comprehensive guide concerning all aspects of the therapy, product or treatment described on the website. All users are urged to always seek advice from a registered health care professional for diagnosis and answers to their medical questions and to ascertain whether the particular therapy, service, product or treatment described on the website is suitable in their circumstances. The State of Victoria and the Department of Health shall not bear any liability for reliance by any user on the materials contained on this website.

Reviewed on: 04-04-2022