Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Helpline

Free, confidential, professional information and counselling for women, their partners and families relating to issues of conception, pregnancy, birthing and postnatal care.

Helpline: 1800 88 24 36

The 24-hour a day, seven days a week Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Helpline (Helpline), which commenced operations on 1 July 2010, is an Australia-wide integrated helpline that provides a coordinated entry point to information and support for women, their partners and families on pregnancy and the first 12 months of a baby’s life, as well as direction to maternity related services including specialist and support services.

Callers to the Helpline are able to obtain quality information relating to pregnancy and the demands of a new baby including maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, a baby’s development and sleeping habits. Where appropriate, the Helpline directs callers to other existing helplines such as the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s 24-hour helpline, or healthdirect Australia for advice from a registered nurse.

Callers experiencing emotional distress and general antenatal and postnatal issues can speak with a qualified counsellor. Professional non-directive counselling is also available to callers seeking information and support on pregnancy options.

Callers experiencing perinatal depression or grief following miscarriage or stillbirth or the loss of a baby in the first twelve months may be referred to targeted telephone-based peer support services, including Bonnie Babes Small Miracles, SIDS and Kids, Post and Antenatal Depression Association (PANDA) and Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support (SANDS) Australia.

This free-call Helpline is available to all Australians, including people living in rural and remote areas. People with a disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can access the Helpline through the National Relay Service and the Translating and Interpreting Service.

A Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Information web portal to complement the Helpline provides access to a comprehensive range of resources relating to pregnancy and the first 12 months of a baby’s life. Information is available in several languages.

The Pregnancy, Birth & Baby Helpline is fully funded by the Australian Government and is in response to the Maternity Services Review, which recommended improved access to birthing and pregnancy-related information to support informed decision-making. The Helpline is being delivered by the National Health Call Centre Network through the Service Provider, the Royal District Nursing Service Inc.