A popular private post-natal service is expanding into North West Tasmania, giving mums-to-be more care options in their newborns’ first days.
The St Lukes Private Post-Natal service gives parents the choice of either a three-night luxury hotel stay with baby equipment provided and visits from a midwife or lactation consultant, or they can be visited in the comfort of their own home.
The program has been running in northern Tasmania for around seven years, and is expanding to the Coast following recent changes to the North West Regional Hospital’s obstetric offering.
St Lukes Chief Health Officer, Luke Cameron said the organisation was proud to bring this service to our North West families.
“It is personalised to the needs of new and growing families, providing further choice and certainty around post-natal support,” Mr Cameron said.
“The first days of a new baby’s life are wondrous, but can be overwhelming. The St Lukes Private Post-Natal Service ensures North West mums have everything they need to feel safe and supported.”
St Lukes members will be able to choose:
• Hotel care:
o Launceston and Devonport: a three-night stay at a luxury hotel for the mother, baby and a support person, with a bassinet, change table and other necessary equipment provided. The package includes visits from a midwife or lactation consultant twice a day.
• At Home care:
o Launceston, Burnie or Devonport: Support in the comfort of members’ own homes within a 25km radius of the cities*, including in-person visits from a midwife or lactation consultant twice a day.
o Out of Region: phone support from a midwife or lactation consultant twice a day.
As well as midwife and lactation support, all members will receive a physiotherapy appointment, meal support, cleaning voucher and a pamper package.
Service user and mother-of-four Danielle Forward has just welcomed a baby girl. She and her husband chose the hotel care offering for some quality bonding time with their new baby.
“It’s fantastic. A new baby is a big adjustment – whether it’s your first baby or your fourth – and you need a lot of support,” said Ms Forward.
“For first-time mums this would be amazing, who’d have so many questions for the midwives and lactation consultants. For us, it was so nice not to worry about meals, and even having a cleaner go to our home.
“My husband and I were excited to have these few nights before coming home to the busyness of life with our two, three and five-year old boys. If we’d gone straight home, that would just be craziness!”
St Lukes’ North West Private Post-Natal Service launched in late 2023. The Tasmanian not-for-profit has been offering the program for new mums at the Launceston General Hospital since the Calvary St. Vincent private post-natal unit closed in 2016.
Full details are available at stlukes.com.au/private-post-natal-service.
*Within a 25-kilometre radius of the Launceston General Hospital, North West Regional Hospital or Novotel Devonport.
ENDS
Contact: Emily Woodgate, Timmins Ray Public Relations: 012 828 802 | emily@timminsray.com.au