The first six weeks after birth, often referred to as the fourth trimester, are a time of huge physical and emotional change. While your baby is adjusting to life outside the womb, you’re recovering from pregnancy and birth, learning to feed, and finding your rhythm as a new family.
Good postpartum support can make a world of difference. From reassurance about what’s normal, to breastfeeding guidance and emotional check-ins, the right care helps families feel confident, calm and supported.
If you’re looking for postpartum support in Melbourne, there are a few different options available, each with its own benefits and limitations.
Most families in Melbourne will receive some form of follow-up through the public system. We are so lucky to have access to these resources. This can look like:
After you’re discharged from hospital, most hospitals provide one or two home visits, usually within the first week. These visits are helpful for a quick check on mum and baby, but they’re often brief and therefore have limited scope.
Between one and two weeks postpartum, families are booked for an appointment with their council Maternal & Child Health Nurse. The first appointment is usually at home.
It’s a fantastic free service, but again appointments can feel rushed because services are incredibly busy. Ongoing support can also depend on availability. Public services provide an important safety net, but many families find the care ends too soon or doesn’t go deep enough.
Over 20% of families in Melbourne choose to have their maternity care through a private hospital and obstetrician.
Care following discharge varies between hospitals, but because you generally stay longer after giving birth in a private hospital (around five to six days on average), you won’t usually receive home visits afterwards.
You will still receive your appointment with a Maternal & Child Health Nurse.
For families wanting more personalised, consistent care, booking a private postpartum midwife can be transformative.
With in-home visits, you receive holistic care tailored to your family’s needs, including:
Because you see the same midwife across multiple visits, you build trust and continuity, something that is often missing within the public system.
With Medicare rebates available, families can access private postpartum care packages for less than $84 out of pocket per visit, making this option more accessible than many people expect.
Sometimes in-person visits aren’t practical, or perhaps you live outside Melbourne.
Virtual postpartum care is a growing option that brings professional support to families through Telehealth.
Virtual appointments can cover:
This makes individualised postpartum support accessible Australia-wide, even for families without local services.
Paula is an Endorsed Midwife and the founder of Pause Postpartum, a private midwifery service supporting families in the early weeks after birth. With extensive experience in pregnancy, birth and postpartum care, Paula has seen how much more confident families feel when they are truly supported, and how this positively impacts their postpartum experience.
Whether you’re preparing for your own postpartum, showing love to a new mum, or simply wanting to make everyday life a little easier, food is one of the most nourishing gifts we can give. This recipe collection has been created with you in mind: quick to make, freezer-friendly, and packed with ingredients that fuel tired bodies and busy minds. Each one can be baked ahead of time for yourself or wrapped up and given as a thoughtful gift. Includes 6 recipes, a shopping list and a plan to get them all prepped and ready in one go.
Karen O’Mara is a dedicated clinical social worker specialising in general women’s and perinatal counselling, mothers groups focusing on emotional experiences, and Circle of Security® Parenting™ programs to support and empower parents to develop knowledge and skills to meet their children’s emotional needs.
Kirsten is an Australian-trained and registered osteopath with over 20 years of clinical experience, offering holistic osteopathic care for the whole family. She has a special interest in pregnancy and postpartum care, and loves working with babies and children of all ages.
I’m Polly and I’m here to support you throughout your breastfeeding journey by providing preparation during pregnancy and personalised breastfeeding support after birth. Breastfeeding can present many challenges, and receiving the right support can greatly impact the health and well-being of both you and your baby.
We have cherry picked the most useful resources for your fourth trimester so that you don't have to waste precious hours searching.
Article - Etta Watts-Russell (Lactamo)
I wasn’t prepared for how hard breastfeeding would be. Because it’s “natural”, I assumed it would be easy. And I knew the health benefits, so I set really high expectations for myself. But I struggled - with all of my 4 children. I remember thinking: If breastfeeding is so important for mums and babies, why isn’t there more support?
Interview - Louise Barton + Elisha Wildblood (Not Another Onesie)
Who's doing what at home? The truth about domestic load & how to lighten it together.
Article - Elise Clement (Elise Clement Psychotherapy & Coaching)
Perfectionism is not a healthy habit. Even less so when it comes to motherhood, unless you’re keen to rub shoulders with overwhelm, resentment, rage and the feeling of never being satisfied, which can eventually lead to maternal burnout.
eBook - Louise Barton & Elisha Wildblood (Not Another Onesie)
This recipe collection has been created with you in mind: quick to make, freezer-friendly, and packed with ingredients that fuel tired bodies and busy minds. Each one can be baked ahead of time for yourself or wrapped up and given as a thoughtful gift.