New midwife clinic in Kyabram eases pregnancy care for locals

By Jemma Jones

Jul 21, 2024

**Kyabram District Health Service and Echuca Regional Health are teaming up for a new clinic that will benefit local pregnant women.**

Travelling long distance to appointments for future parents can be a daunting factor that may discourage them from receiving the needed help; now, the help is right in town.

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A collaboration between Kyabram District Health Service and Echuca Regional Health will see prospective Kyabram parents get the help they need through a brand-new midwife pregnancy care clinic.

The clinic, run by the ERH out of the KDHS consulting suites, will operate monthly for women birthing at the ERH.

Although KDHS does not offer birthing services, the clinic will provide a midwife for pregnancy care usually available at ERH.

Appointments include routine antenatal checks, ensuring the baby is healthy, making sure the mother is comfortable, and answering any pressing questions from future parents.

ERH maternity unit manager Karen Taylor said, “just under 20 per cent” of women birthing at ERH are from around the Kyabram area, so having an on-site clinic was a no-brainer.

“It’s really just to make life a little bit easier for women,” she said.

“I’ve got toddlers and I understand getting in and out of the car, driving to appointments … it’s just easier to walk to appointments, it makes the process a lot less intimidating.

“And if it’s in Kyabram, instead of taking a half day off work, they can just come in their lunch break, and it limits the travel time it would have taken to get to Echuca for appointments.

“The Kyabram facilities are really good, so we don’t have to bring much equipment over.”

Mrs Taylor said appointments typically run for an hour for women in early pregnancy or those booking into the hospital.

Other appointments will last for half an hour.

The latest session ran on Wednesday July 10, so find out more information or book for the August session by calling the ERH maternity ward clerk on 03 5485 5305 between 8.30am and 4.00pm.