Congratulations, you’re pregnant! It’s an exciting time but also overwhelming. Need information about Newcastle obstetricians and local hospitals? Where to birth? How about maternity clothes, baby clothes and baby goods? And don’t forget about looking after yourself with pregnancy yoga and exercise, pregnancy massage as well as pregnancy photographers.
Newy with Kids wants to help you with your pregnancy and child birth by sharing information about local resources in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter.
We hope you’ll find the Newy with Kids Pregnancy, Childbirth & New Parent Guide to be a valuable resource during your pregnancy.
Do you have an addition to the list that you would like to share with local expecting parents? Email reena@newywithkids.com.au.
Please note: Any reference made here to local businesses, products, organisations, services, classes, etc. is for informational purposes only. We understand that there are many choices when it comes to pregnancy, childbirth and parenting and inclusion in this guide does not imply Newy with Kids endorsement. We STRONGLY encourage you to do your own research before engaging with a medical practitioner, business or organization.
Obstetricians
John Bailey
119 Pacific Highway, Charlestown, NSW 2290
Phone (02) 4959 3883
Dr Oliver Brown
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Suite 1.1, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4965 5491
Dr Malcolm Godfrey
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Ground Floor Suite 1, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4957 1733
Dr Lyndal Harborne
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Suite 2.2, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4952 5611
Dr Gregory Hicks
Unit 3, 76 Park Avenue, Kotara, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4957 7333
Dr Matthew Holland
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Suite G 5-6, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4952 7409
Dr Seshu Mandapati
Level 1, 58 Orchardtown Road, New Lambton, NSW 2305
Phone 02 4950 9733
Dr Ljiljana Miljkovic-Petkovic
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Suite 2.5, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4957 2743
Dr Mary Norris
Suite 5, 41 Charles Street, Warners Bay NSW 2282
Phone (02) 4947 4903
Dr Felicity Park
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Suite 2.8, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4952 6555
Dr Nandini Somanathan
3/ 18 Lambton Rd, Broadmeadow NSW 2292
Phone (02) 4962 4148
Dr Penelope Thomas
119 Pacific Highway, Charlestown, NSW 2290
Phone (02) 4959 3883
Dr Susan Winspear
Newcastle Private Specialist Centre, Suite 1, Level 2, 26 Lookout Road, New Lambton Heights, NSW 2305
Phone (02) 4957 6122
Local Hospitals
If you’re having a baby in the Newcastle region, these are the hospitals in which you can birth.
John Hunter Hospital (New Lambton Heights)
Birthing options:
- Birth Suite: Birth Suite, formerly known as the Delivery Suite or Labour Ward cares for women of all risk profiles for obstetric or medical complications in association with labour and birth. In addition to supporting normal labour and birth, staff in Birth Suite are able to offer additional monitoring of mother and baby and interventions as required. This includes the option of epidural analgesia for labour and birth.
- Birth Centre: The birth centre offers labour care for women with no additional risk factors midwifery care with a focus on physiological birth. This includes non-pharmacological analgesia options including water immersion (baths). There is easy access to higher level care in Birth Suite should further help be required.
- Hunter Midwifery Group Practice (HMGP): a continuity of midwifery care program for women with no identified risk factors consisting of antenatal, labour and postnatal care. Birth is generally in the birth centre at John Hunter with a 4-hour postnatal discharge home. You will get to know your midwife as well as other midwives from the team.
- Belmont Midwifery Group Practice (BMGP): a continuity of midwifery care program for women with no identified risk factors consisting of antenatal, labour and postnatal care. Birth is offered at the Belmont Birthing Service, or at home for women within a defined geographical area. If additional care is necessary during your pregnancy or birth, seamless transition to John Hunter Hospital is arranged.
- M3Team: The M3 (Mother Midwifery Medical) team offer a continuity of medical and midwifery program of antenatal and birth care for women with known complex pregnancies. Eligibility for this program is determined at the booking in visit and referral made accordingly.
- Birra Li Aboriginal Birthing Service: Birra Li provides care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and/or women whose baby will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This continuity of midwifery and Indigenous support worker program provides antenatal and extended postnatal care. Medical support is provided as needed.
- Family Care team. It is designed for minority groups such as young mothers and women from migrant backgrounds.
- Private Obstetric Care at John Hunter: Some Obstetricians will enable you to give birth at John Hunter Hospital which is a public hospital.
- Shared Care with your General Practitioner: Many GPs offer shared antenatal care with John Hunter Hospital, with the majority of antenatal care provided by your known GP, and birth at the Birth Suite or Birth Centre.
Birthing options:
- Birth at Maitland Birth Suite
- Midwifery Group Practice at Birth Centre. The Birth Centre is an area for healthy women with normal risk of medical or obstetric conditions, where normal labour and birth are supported by her partner and midwives, with easy access to further help if required.
- Private obstetrician birth at Maitland Hospital. Some local obstetricians will enable you to give birth at Maitland Hospital.
- Naae Waani Aboriginal Birthing Service: Naae Waani provides care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and/or women whose baby will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
- Shared Care with your General Practitioner: Many GPs offer shared antenatal care with Maitland Hospital, with the majority of antenatal care provided by your known GP, and birth at the Birth Suite or Birth Centre.
- Belmont Midwifery Group Practice. This service is only available to women who have a normal, healthy pregnancy. The BMGP offers women continuous care with a known midwife throughout the pregnancy birth and postnatal period. You will get to know your allocated midwife and other midwives from the team. Women have the option to birth at home or at Belmont Birth Service (based at Belmont Hospital, a midwifery-led unit). There are no obstetricians onsite.
If you want private maternity service in Newcastle, your only choice is Newcastle Private Hospital (located next door to John Hunter Hospital). It offers private birthing suites, a 38 bed maternity ward and eight-bed Level 2 nursery.
Childbirth & Parenting Courses
John Hunter Hospital & Belmont Hospital
John Hunter Hospital conducts classes at the Newcastle Community Health Building on Hunter Street or at Belmont Hospital.
Programs include:
- Birth and parenting
- Breastfeeding
- Being a Father
- Prepare and Aware
- Next Birth after Caesarean
- Multiple Miracles (for those with multiple birth)
- Program for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Women
- Young Mum’s Group
Maitland Hospital provides parent education for expecting parents.
Programs include:
- Birth and parenting
- Breastfeeding
- Positive Birth after Caesarean
- Young Mums Group
Embracing Birth Classes with Karen Scanlen at Embracing Birth. 0407 269 920
Lamaze Childbirth and Parenting Class with Kate Drew at Collective Wisdom. Lamaze training 0435 123 185
Nichola Kinnane at She Births. Weekend courses, online courses and workshops. 1300 101 743
Doulas
Kate Drew, Collective Wisdom, 0435 123 185
Karen Scanlen, Embracing Birth, 0407 269 920
Pregnancy & Baby Books
What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff
What to Expect When You’re Expecting has long been the go-to manual for parents-to-be around the world. With detailed week-by-week explanations of what is happening to mother and baby, and advice backed by the latest research, it’s a pregnancy bible for expecting parents. The fifth edition released in August 2018 has been revised and adapted to meet best Australian practice. It’s everything you need to know and more.
Up the Duff (2020 Edition) by Kaz Cooke
Kaz Cooke gives you the up-to-date lowdown on pregnancy, birth and coping when you first get home. No bossy-boots rules, just lots of cartoons and the soundest, sanest, wittiest advice you’ll ever get. Everything you need to know about the scary parts, the funny parts and your private parts.
Conception, Pregnancy and Birth by Dr Miriam Stoppard
If you’re pregnant and want trusted advice, have all your questions answered by top parenting expert Dr Miriam Stoppard – popular and trusted childbirth specialist. From a month-by-month development guide, to the latest on fertility, antenatal testing, diagnostic procedure, labour choices and caring for your newborn; reassuring, practical advice on all aspects of your antenatal care will help you every step of the way.
Birth Skills by Juju Sundin
Birth Skills is every pregnant woman’s essential, step-by-step guide to taking charge of their labour and birth by Australia’s leading expert in advanced labour pain management with her best-known client, Sarah Murdoch.
Baby Love by Robin Barker
Australia’s bestselling babycare book is loved by thousands of new parents every year. With expert advice for the first 12 months of every baby’s life and full of Robin Barker’s wisdom and humour, this classic guide has been fully revised, including new material on nutrition, food allergy and intolerance, and updates on safe sleeping, breastfeeding, reflux and immunisation.
Pregnancy Support
GP Access
1300 130 147
Monday to Friday: 6pm to 8am on the following day
Saturday 1pm to 8am on the next business bay
Public Holidays: from 6pm the previous business day to 8am on the next business day.
GP Access After Hours provides comprehensive after hours primary medical care for Hunter residents. Nurses will advise you regarding your medical queries.
How Is Dad Going?
1300 726 306
Monday to Friday: 9am to 7:30am AEST/AEDT
How Is Dad Going? is a website and phone line by Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia. It provides new and expecting fathers with emotional and mental health support.
Mothersafe
1800 647 848
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
MotherSafe is a free telephone service for the women of NSW, based at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick. They provide advice about prescription and over the counter medications that can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They also provide comprehensive counselling service for women concerned about exposures to street drugs, infections, radiation and occupational exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Newcastle Birth Movement. is a daily drop in centre for pregnant mums to chat for free to a birth doula or birth counsellor. 21 Gordon Avenue, Hamilton. They also offer an op shop where mums to be can purchase maternity wear, breastfeeding wear and baby wear.
Newcastle Multiple Birth Club (NMBC)
Newcastle Multiple Birth Club (NMBC) offers friendship, advice, support and fun to families raising twins, triplets, quads and more. A multiple pregnancy and subsequent raising of children the same age can be a daunting experience, to say the least! As Australia’s longest-running multiple birth club, NMBC provides shoulders to lean on and open ears from those who know. The club provides its 100+ member families with many benefits, including club social events and age-based catch ups, private Facebook group, monthly e-newsletter, expectancy program, Taronga and Western Plains Zoos family pass, education programs, product discounts, equipment hire and support officers.
Pregnancy, Birth & Baby
1800 882 436
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a phone and online service for all Australians, providing information, advice and counselling about pregnancy, childbirth and your baby’s first year. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is an initiative of the Federal Government and offers free and confidential information and counselling to women and their partners. They also provide help with postnatal depression.
PANDA (Post and Antenatal Depression Association)
1300 726 306 (Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm AEST)
PANDA provides a helpline in Australia for anyone affected by depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after childbirth, including partners, family members and friends. The telephone information, support and referral service is staffed by trained volunteers, professional counsellors and supervising staff. Most of the volunteers on the helpline have experienced perinatal depression and anxiety.
Maternity Wear
Jeanswest
Small amount of maternity wear at Kotara. Larger selection at Charlestown Square.
Kmart
Maternity selection.
Stores at Waratah, Glendale, Maitland and Salamander Bay.
Target
Maternity selection.
Stores at Charlestown Square, Westfield Kotara and Glendale.
Yum Mum Tum
261 Lambton Road, New Lambton
0406 295 866
Pregnancy Fitness, Pilates & Yoga
Verve for Life, Warners Bay (02) 4954 4191
WellFit Personal Training, Broadmeadow (02) 4968 8478
WellFit Personal Training, Warners Bay (02) 4954 776
YogaBodyWorks, Newcastle (02) 4929 6791
Pregnancy Massage
Angela Mackintosh at Your Pregnancy Massage (mobile service), 0414 404 031
Blossoming Bellies Pregnancy Massage, 0423 845 161
Chiropractic Plus, New Lambton (02) 4058 2621
Chiropractic Plus, Warners Bay (02) 4058 2816
Riina Kosonen at Peak Physio, Newcastle (02) 4929 3898
Non-Medical Ultrasounds
Beautiful Beginnings 3D/4D Maternity Ultrasounds and Photography, Adamstown Heights, 0439 461 479
Pregnancy and Newborn Photography
Alex Warden Photography, 0431 044 116
Beautiful Beginnings 3D/4D Maternity Ultrasounds and Photography, Adamstown Heights, 0439 461 479
bite me photography, Speers Point, 0411 611 372
Designlane Photography, Islington 0414 966 245
Kate Kennedy Birth Photography, 0438 426 860
Kaytie Rich Photography, 0427 158 487
Kylie James Photography, Warners Bay, 0400 518 161
Leighsa Cox Photographer, Lorn, 0421 034 805
Little Kite Photography, Merewether Heights, 0418 226 682
Little Rascals Photography, 0404 846 674
Little Red Door Photography, 0425 228 256
Natural Newborn Photography, Charlestown 0423 470 367
Nicole Butler Photography, 0402 105 297
Pure Imagery Photography, Ashtonfield, 0412 323 017
Breastfeeding Support
In Newcastle, the John Hunter Hospital provides free breastfeeding classes.
They provide:
- Breastfeeding classes for expecting mums
- Breastfeeding session for expecting diabetic women.
- JHH Breastfeeding Clinic – for women with a baby less than 4 weeks old. (For appointments phone 4016 4595).
Maitland Hospital provides parent education for expecting parents.
They provide
- Breastfeeding classes for expecting mums
Australian Breastfeeding Association – Newcastle
The Newcastle group covers the Newcastle and Port Stephens council areas. With the current restrictions on in-person gatherings, many local groups across Australia are running virtual and online get-togethers.
They provide:
- Breastfeeding Classes
- Breast pump hire
- Local support groups
Australian Breastfeeding Association – Lake Macquarie
The Lake Macquarie group covers the Lake Macquarie council areas. Local areas to the north including Cameron Park, east to Cardiff Heights, Garden Suburb and over to Whitebridge, Charlestown, Dudley and Redhead. They cover both the eastern and western sides of Lake Macquarie from Swansea, Belmont, Gateshead and Valentine via Warners Bay and Toronto to Morisset.
They provide:
- Breastfeeding Education Live sessions (online classes)
- Breast pump hire
- Local support groups
Australian Breastfeeding Association – Lower Hunter
The Lower Hunter group covers a wide area including the following suburbs (and their surronding suburbs): Maitland, Cessnock, East Maitland, Rutherford and Kurri Kurri. However people from the greater Newcastle and Hunter regions are always welcome. With the current restrictions on in-person gatherings, many local groups across Australia are running virtual and online get-togethers.
They provide:
- Breastfeeding Classes
- Breast pump hire (through Newcastle ABA)
- Local support groups
Australian Breastfeeding Association – Upper Hunter
The Upper Hunter Group of ABA covers the local government areas of Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter (Merriwa, Scone, Murrundi, Aberdeen). Meeting are currently only held in Scone, however meetings may be arranged if there is an interested group of mums in another town. With the current restrictions on in-person gatherings, many local groups across Australia are running virtual and online get-togethers
They provide:
- Breast pump hire
- Local support groups
Australian Breastfeeding Helpline
1800 686 268
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) runs the National Breastfeeding Helpline. It’s staffed by trained, volunteer counsellors who answer calls on a roster system in their own homes. As breastfeeding mothers, ABA counsellors know that breastfeeding may not always seem easy. They can provide reassurance and give you knowledge about how breastfeeding works and help in overcoming common hurdles. Telephone counselling is available free to all callers.
Medical supply store Ansteys located at Broadmeadow also have breasts pumps for hire.
Private Lactation Consultants
Judy McPhillips, Maryville 0423 523 086
Sally Richards, Lorn, (02) 4933 2622
Baby Sleep Consultants
Natalie Ebrill, Sleep and Settle, 0434 953 953
Nursery & Baby Stores
Babyshop
276 Brunker Road
Adamstown, NSW 2289
(02) 4952 7827
Fee’s Chic Shack
Jesmond Central Pop-Up
Jesmond, NSW 2299
0410 582 104
Baby Bunting
Shop 1, 335 Hillsborough Road
Warners Bay, NSW 2282
(02) 4954 0322
Baby Bunting
Shop 13, 343 New England Hwy
Rutherford, NSW
(02) 4932 7560
Hire for Baby
Newcastle & Newcastle Airport
(02) 4017 0102
Kids Carousel
340 Pacific Highway
Belmont NSW
(02) 4947 7000
Lollipop Kids
94 Beaumont Street
Hamilton, NSW
(02) 4961 6633
20 Kenrick Street
The Junction, NSW
(02) 4969 7349
Mod Bodz
Shop 3, 427 High Street
Maitland, NSW
(02) 4934 2959
Princess Scallywag
Shop 3/116 High Street
East Maitland, NSW
0448 467 846
New Parent Support
Australian Breastfeeding Helpline
1800 686 268
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) runs the National Breastfeeding Helpline. It’s staffed by trained, volunteer counsellors who answer calls on a roster system in their own homes. As breastfeeding mothers, ABA counsellors know that breastfeeding may not always seem easy. They can provide reassurance and give you knowledge about how breastfeeding works and help in overcoming common hurdles. Telephone counselling is available free to all callers.
GP Access
1300 130 147
Monday to Friday: 6pm to 8am on the following day
Saturday 1pm to 8am on the next business bay
Public Holidays: from 6pm the previous business day to 8am on the next business day.
GP Access After Hours provides comprehensive after hours primary medical care for Hunter residents. Nurses will advise you regarding your medical queries.
How Is Dad Going?
1300 726 306
Monday to Friday: 9am to 7:30am AEST/AEDT
How Is Dad Going? is a website and phone line by Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia. It provides new and expecting fathers with emotional and mental health support.
Karitane Careline
1300 CARING (1300 227 464) or (02) 9794 2350
Monday – Thursday 12:30 – 9pm & 11pm – 6am and Friday – Saturday 9am – 3.30pm
Do you have a parenting question about your 0 – 5 year old child? When you call Karitane Careline a friendly and experienced Child and Family Health Nurse will support you with guidance and encouragement on your parenting journey. Our professional team are here to support you with topics that include:
- Sleep and settling
- Feeding
- Playing and connecting with your baby
- Your feelings and adjustment to parenting
The free Careline is a call back service. A Child and Family Health Nurses will call you back within 24 hours between the hours of Monday – Thursday 12:30 – 9pm & 11pm – 6am and Friday – Saturday 9am – 3.30pm.
There’s also lots of resources on the Karitane website including videos on the unique challenges of parenting to mums and dads with children from birth to 5 years of age.
Mothersafe
1800 647 848
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
MotherSafe is a free telephone service for the women of NSW, based at the Royal Hospital for Women, Randwick. They provide advice about prescription and over the counter medications that can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. They also provide comprehensive counselling service for women concerned about exposures to street drugs, infections, radiation and occupational exposures during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Newcastle Multiple Birth Club (NMBC)
Newcastle Multiple Birth Club (NMBC) offers friendship, advice, support and fun to families raising twins, triplets, quads and more. A multiple pregnancy and subsequent raising of children the same age can be a daunting experience, to say the least! As Australia’s longest-running multiple birth club, NMBC provides shoulders to lean on and open ears from those who know. The club provides its 100+ member families with many benefits, including club social events and age-based catch ups, private Facebook group, monthly e-newsletter, expectancy program, Taronga and Western Plains Zoos family pass, education programs, product discounts, equipment hire and support officers.
Newcastle Mums and Bubs
(02) 4089 3462
Suite 14/235 Darby Street, Cooks Hill
Newcastle Mums and Bubs provides support for you and your baby on your parenting journey. Their services include evidence-based methods to help parents and babies with sleep difficulties, support for breastfeeding, bottle-feeding and slow weight gain, help managing crying, fussing and unsettled babies using a holistic approach and antenatal education sessions including group Q&A sessions. Their Neuroprotective Development Care is provided through the “Possums Programs” approach.
Pregnancy, Birth & Baby
1800 882 436
Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a phone and online service for all Australians, providing information, advice and counselling about pregnancy, childbirth and your baby’s first year. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is an initiative of the Federal Government and offers free and confidential information and counselling to women and their partners. They also provide help with postnatal depression.
PANDA (Post and Antenatal Depression Association)
1300 726 306 (Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm AEST)
PANDA provides a helpline in Australia for anyone affected by depression and anxiety during pregnancy and after childbirth, including partners, family members and friends. The telephone information, support and referral service is staffed by trained volunteers, professional counsellors and supervising staff. Most of the volunteers on the helpline have experienced perinatal depression and anxiety
Tresillian Parent’s Help Line
(02) 9787 0855 or 1800 637 357 Freecall outside Sydney and within NSW
24 hours a day, 7 days
Tresillian offers a Parent’s Help Line where you can ring up and speak to one of their qualified Child and Family Health nurses on any aspect of parenting children aged up to five years. They are best known for their assistance with sleep issues and offer residential programs for parents and children.
Pregnancy/ Infant Loss & Support
Bears of Hope
1300 11 HOPE (Grief Services)
Bears Of Hope Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support provides leading support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby. They provide crucial information and assistance to families through their time of loss, and beyond. Families receive a gift of a Bear of Hope donated by another bereaved family as well as information to help them make decisions and memories in hospital and beyond.
Red Nose (formerly SIDS and Kids) Hunter Region
1 300 308 307
Red Nose Grief and Loss provides 24 hour bereavement support are available to anyone who has experienced the sudden and unexpected death of their baby or child during pregnancy, birth, infancy and early childhood.
You might also like:
Newy with Kids Baby Guide with information on information on baby-friendly places, local playgroups, baby book sessions, baby sleep advice and more.
Child Care Guide: 100 + Centres for child care in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & the Hunter
Advice For New Mums: 10 Honest Tips From Other Mums
Started in late 2012 by a local mum, Newy with Kids has grown into a thriving go-to family guide for the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie & Hunter region. Parents visit the Newy with Kids website to find things to do with babies, kids and teens. Whether it’s local attractions, upcoming events, kids eat free, school holiday activities or birthday party ideas, Newy with Kids is the best website for local parents to find local kid-friendly activities and information 24/7.