Pregnancy, birthing and child health

Baby and child screening and assessment clinics

There are baby and child health clinics in all government health centres across the Northern Territory (NT). .

Your nearest health centre can be found at your local community care centre or your nearest remote health centre.

The Child Health Services works with families of children from birth to 5 years of age to provide the best opportunities for your child to have a good start in life.

Child Health Service

The Child Health Service provides you with information, advice and support about your baby's first 5 years.

You and your child should have regular health checks throughout this time.

If you have your baby in the NT, you will be contacted by your local health centre after you and your baby are discharged from hospital.

If you are a new family moving to the NT, you can visit or call your local health centre for information on services.

Child screening and assessment

Your child's health and development screening and assessments are important.

Screening and assessment checks that your child is growing and developing as expected for their age.

It includes regular weight and height screening, developmental assessments as well as providing you with advice on parenting and family support.

The Child Health Service gives you information, advice and support on the following:

  • child health, development and learning
  • nutrition, breastfeeding and lactation advice
  • parenting
  • child safety
  • communication - talking and listening
  • play
  • sleep and settling
  • child behaviour
  • childhood vaccination schedule
  • maternal and family health and wellbeing
  • screening and support for postnatal depression
  • screening and support for domestic and family violence.

Talk to your child health nurse about when screening and assessment is done.

The nurse can refer your child for more support or advice if needed.

My child health record

When you have a baby you will get a copy of the NT child health record while you are still in hospital.

This record is also called the yellow book.

Your health centre will record your child's health information including growth, development and immunisations in the book.

You will also find useful parenting information and tips for each stage of your child’s development and ideas for helping your child learn and grow.

Take the yellow book with you each time you go to:

  • your child's health appointments or immunisations
  • the doctor or paediatrician
  • the hospital for emergencies and appointments
  • the dentist or other health professional such as a physiotherapist or speech therapist
  • a community care centre
  • an early childhood education or care setting such as a childcare centre, family day care, kindergarten or school.

Keep the book safe. It is a permanent record of your child’s health.

See the NT child health record on the Department of Health Digital Library.

Immunisation

Immunisations can be given at your local health centre.

Ask your local child health nurse for more information on how to get your child's vaccines done on time.

Read more about child vaccinations.

Group support

Some health care centres provide group support where you can meet other parents.

For information about group and after hours support, speak to your child's health nurse or contact your local health care centre.


Breastfeeding services

Breastmilk contains all of your baby's nutritional needs for the first six months.

Support groups in the NT

You can meet other mothers who are breastfeeding to get hints and tips on all of the following:

  • basic breastfeeding tips
  • expressing and storing milk
  • returning to work
  • introducing solids
  • night parenting.

Go to the Australian Breastfeeding Association website to find out more.


Childhood injuries

There are basic safety precautions that can prevent children being injured at home, school in the playground and on the roads.

To find out more information on child safety go to the following pages:

Go to Kidsafe NT to find out more about preventing childhood injuries.


Dental services for children

Children in the Northern Territory (NT) who are attending school are entitled to free public dental services until they are 18 years old. 

These services are delivered through school-based clinics, community clinics, remote health centres and mobile services. 

Children are usually treated by dental therapists and oral health therapists. 

In some cases your child may be referred to a dentist or specialists if more complex, specialised treatment or advice is needed. 

Find out how to make an appointment.

Child dental benefits schedule

The child dental benefits schedule offers free basic dental services to eligible children aged between two and 17 years. This is a program that allows Oral Health Services NT to bulk bill the Australian Government for eligible services. 

When you take your child to the dentist for basic services, you will be asked to fill in forms so that Oral Health Services NT can claim for the services. You do not receive any money as part of the child dental benefits schedule.

You will receive a letter telling you whether you are eligible at the beginning of the calendar year.

Go to the child dental benefits schedule website for more information.

Taking your child to the dentist

Some children can be quite anxious going to the dentist so having a parent with them can help.

It will also help you to understand what treatment is needed and how to keep your child's mouth and teeth healthy.

Children under 16

If your child is under 16 they must have a parent or guardian with them at each appointment to give informed consent.


Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe abnormalities that can be caused by alcohol consumption during pregnancy.

If a pregnant woman drinks alcohol, it passes from the woman’s bloodstream into the baby’s bloodstream and the baby will have the same blood alcohol concentration as the mother.

Alcohol can cause multiple effects on unborn infants including:

  • miscarriage
  • stillbirth
  • damage to cell growth
  • a spectrum of lifelong disabilities from brain damage known as FASD.

There is no safe type of alcohol, safe amount of alcohol or safe time to drink alcohol while pregnant.

To prevent FASD, the safest option is to avoid alcohol if you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

It is never too late in pregnancy to stop or cut down drinking alcohol as this will increase your chance of having a healthy baby.

Breastfeeding

It is best not to consume alcohol while breastfeeding.

If a mother drinks alcohol, it passes into the breast milk and the baby will then consume alcohol when drinking the milk.

Alcohol can harm the baby as their brain and nervous system continue to develop after birth.

Assessment for FASD should be done by a multidisciplinary team that includes:

  • a paediatrician or adolescent physician
  • and a psychologist.

Assessment teams should also include a combination of the following professionals if available:

  • speech pathologist
  • occupational therapist
  • social worker
  • physiotherapist.

There are ten brain domains assessed by the multidisciplinary team.

Severe impairment of brain function in at least three of these ten domains needs to be present to reach a diagnosis of FASD.

Different categories of FASD

There are certain facial features that may be associated with FASD. These are known as sentinel facial features.

The Australian Guide to the Diagnosis of FASD recommends that the diagnosis be divided into one of two sub-categories:

  • FASD with three sentinel facial features
  • FASD with less than three sentinel facial features.

Find out more on the FASD Hub website.

Babies

Not all babies who are exposed to alcohol as a fetus are affected identically.

Infants may display any of the following signs and symptoms:

  • low birth weight
  • small head circumference
  • failure to thrive
  • feeding problems
  • sensitivity to noise, touch and/or light
  • developmental delay.

Older children

Sometimes children aren't diagnosed until they are older or at school. This is because the effects from alcohol exposure are not always seen at birth.

Most children with FASD will not display the sentinel facial features, but may have learning or behavioural problems that are picked up when they are school-aged.

Signs and symptoms you may see in an older child with FASD include:

  • learning difficulties
  • developmental delays
  • attention deficit/hyperactivity/ADHD
  • memory problems
  • difficulties with social relationships
  • impulsiveness
  • inappropriate behaviour
  • poor understanding of consequences
  • major organ damage such as brain, heart and liver damage.

FASD is a permanent disability and it is not curable. However, there are interventions that can improve someone with FASD’s quality of life.

Early assessment and interventions are associated with better long term outcomes.

Without the correct intervention, it is more likely for secondary issues to arise such as:

  • mental health problems
  • incomplete schooling
  • unemployment
  • physical/sexual/social abuse
  • alcohol and drug problems
  • criminal activity.

Support services

It is important that neurodevelopmental support needs are identified in children as early as possible so that support services can be engaged to lessen the impacts on the individual, families, teachers and carers.

Special education, vocational programs and a structured environment can help people with FASD.

Medication can be helpful for hyperactivity and learning problems.

Support programs are available for individuals and families impacted by FASD.

If you have any concerns or would like further information, please contact your GP, midwife or child health nurse.

Find out more about child health services .


Homebirthing in the NT

A homebirth means you will give birth to your baby in your home with the help of a midwife skilled in homebirth.

You can give birth at home if:

  • you live in Alice Springs or Darwin
  • your pregnancy is uncomplicated
  • there is only one baby
  • the baby's head is down at birth
  • labour starts between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy
  • you have been assessed as eligible by the homebirth midwife.

You should make sure you have good support at home after the birth. You should also be confident in your choice to give birth at home.

Homebirth midwives work with hospital midwives, doctors and other health professionals as required. They follow professional guidelines.

There are regular homebirth morning teas held in the Northern Territory. You can meet other women planning a homebirth and get information from midwives.

More information

The midwifery group practice provides homebirth care in Alice Springs and Darwin.

For more information call:


Diabetes and pregnancy

There are different types of diabetes you can have during pregnancy:

  • pre-existing known as type 1 or 2 diabetes
  • gestational diabetes.

If you have any type of diabetes during pregnancy, you can have a healthy baby but there are some extra risks.

To reduce the chance of any complications, regular checks during pregnancy are needed to ensure the best health for you and your baby.

These complications can include:

  • having a baby that is too big or too small
  • high blood pressure that can harm both mother and baby (pre-eclampsia)
  • having the baby earlier than expected
  • problems with the baby's development
  • difficulties for the mother and increased chance of needing a C-section.

You can have diabetes in pregnancy and not have any symptoms.

The symptoms that you may have, particularly if you have pre-existing diabetes are:

  • being very thirsty
  • needing to go to the toilet more often to urinate.

What is gestational diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs during pregnancy.

Insulin is a hormone that helps move glucose (sugar) from your blood to your muscles and cells.

When you're pregnant, the placenta makes different hormones to help your baby grow.

These hormones can stop insulin from working well, which means you need to make more insulin.

When your blood glucose levels rise above normal due to these hormones, it's called gestational diabetes.

This usually goes away after your baby is born.

Risk factors for gestational diabetes

You might have a higher chance of developing gestational diabetes if you:

  • had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy
  • have a family history of any type of diabetes, especially a close relative
  • have previously had higher blood glucose levels
  • are over 35 years old
  • are above a healthy weight range
  • are of Aboriginal descent
  • are from certain ethnic backgrounds like Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, African, Melanesian, Polynesian, South American, or Middle Eastern
  • have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
  • had a previous baby that weighed 4.5 kg or more at birth.

Not everyone with these risk factors will develop gestational diabetes.

Even if you don't have any of the risk factors, you can still get gestational diabetes, which is why it's important to be tested during pregnancy.

Testing for gestational diabetes

You will be offered testing for gestational diabetes at around 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy.

You will not have to do the test if you already have diabetes.

Testing for gestational diabetes includes drinking a glucose drink and blood test.

Gestational diabetes after pregnancy

Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born.

If you had gestational diabetes during a pregnancy, you have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

You should be tested again 6 to 8 weeks after the birth, and then every 2 to 3 years if you feel unwell or if you plan to have another baby.

Having gestational diabetes does not mean your baby will be born with diabetes, but it can increase the risk of the baby developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Staying healthy during a pregnancy with diabetes

If you have diabetes, gestational or pre-existing type 1 or 2, you can help manage it by:

  • eating healthy foods
  • being active
  • checking your blood glucose level
  • taking medication if your doctor prescribes it
  • talking to your doctor and healthcare team for support.

If you had diabetes before getting pregnant, you should continue taking care of it with the help of your doctors and specialists, both before and after giving birth.

Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinical Register

The Northern Territory (NT) Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinical Register collects information about you if:

  • you're over 16 years old
  • plan to or give birth in the NT
  • have any type of diabetes during pregnancy.

The register gets information from electronic medical records and birth outcome data.

Health professionals use this information to help make decisions about your treatment during your pregnancy, and any future pregnancies.

The information is also used to improve the services for others who may have diabetes during their pregnancy.

Your name and contact details are not used in any reports.

Only the people who are providing you with health care have access to your health information.

At any time you can ask to have your information taken off the register by contacting  the register or asking your health care team.

For more information, or to request to be removed from the register, go to diabetes in pregnancy partnership website.

Diabetes support

It is important to talk to your health care team to find the right support if you have any type of diabetes, especially if you are planning to be or are pregnant.

Healthy Living NT

Healthy Living NT provides services for all types of diabetes in:

  • Darwin
  • Palmerston
  • Alice Springs.

Phone appointments are available if you live outside of these regions.

For more information and to contact an office in your region, go to the Healthy Living NT website.

National Diabetes Services Scheme

The National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) is a Commonwealth Government program and register for all people with diabetes.

The NDSS offers:

  • support services for practical help and guidance
  • diabetes health information and resources
  • subsidised diabetes products

You can be signed up to the NDSS by your doctor, credentialed diabetes educator or nurse practitioner.

For more information about the NDSS, go to the National Diabetes Services Scheme website.


Pregnancy and loss

Pregnancy loss can happen as a miscarriage or a baby that has died in the womb. If you experience either of these it is natural to grieve over your loss and your partner will also grieve with you.

If you have a stillborn baby born after 20 weeks you will need to register the birth of this baby with Births, Deaths and Marriages NT. Your doctor will provide you with the birth and death certificates.

Bereavement support

If you have experienced the death of a baby or child you can contact the organisations below for support.

Amber NT

Amber NT supports Territorians through the unimaginable loss of a child for any reason from conception through to 18 years.

Call Amber NT during business on 08 8948 5311 or go to the Amber NT website.

Red Nose Australia

Red Nose Australia supports anyone affected by pregnancy loss, stillbirth and child death.

Call Red Nose Australia on our 24 hour support line on 1300 308 307 or go to the red nose grief and loss website.

Bears of hope

Bears of hope provides support and care for families who experience the loss of their baby.

Call bears of hope grief support line on 1300 114 673 or go to the bears of hope website.


Pregnancy and your diet

There are certain foods you should avoid when you are pregnant since you are at greater risk of food poisoning.

You should prepare and store food carefully.

Foods to avoid while pregnant

If you are pregnant you should avoid:

  • food that may contain listeria bacteria like soft cheeses (brie, camembert, ricotta, feta and blue cheese), sandwich meats, bean sprouts, pre-prepared salads, pate, caviar, smoked seafood and raw seafood
  • soft serve ice cream
  • raw eggs - they may contain salmonella
  • food such as nuts, if you are allergic to the food - avoiding these foods has no impact on the infant's risk of developing allergy symptoms.

You should also avoid drinking alcohol.

For more information about healthy eating go to the Australian Government eat for health website.

Listeria

Listeriosis is an infection that can occur if you have eaten any of the foods listed above. It can cause fevers and make you feel quite ill.

If you think you may be experiencing listeriosis during pregnancy, you should go to hospital and be treated with antibiotics.

Mercury in fish

You should limit your intake of high mercury foods if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.

Read more about mercury in fish and how much you should eat.

Weight gain in pregnancy

You should monitor your weight during pregnancy. You should not lose weight during pregnancy.

If your pre-pregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) was:

  • below 18.5 - aim to gain between 12.5 and 18kg
  • between 18.5 and 25 - aim to gain about 11.5 to 16kg
  • between 25 and 29.9 - aim to gain about 7 to 11.5kg
  • above 30 - aim to gain between 5 and 9kg.

Go to The Heart Foundation website for a BMI calculator.


Pregnancy health record

Pregnancy health records are used in the Northern Territory (NT) to record details of medical visits and general health information during pregnancy. 

Information included in your pregnancy health record can include any of the following:

  • blood tests
  • medical history
  • measurements of your uterus
  • ultrasounds
  • foetal heart sounds and movement.

Your general practitioner (GP), obstetrician or midwife will start your handheld record at one of your first pregnancy appointments. 

You will get to keep this record and a copy will be made and filed in your medical records. 

It is important to take your pregnancy health record to all appointments, especially if you travel interstate or overseas. It is used by your doctor, midwife and other health professionals to give you the most appropriate care.

If you don't have one, you can ask your midwife to provide your record at any time.


Smoking, pregnancy and breastfeeding

Smoking while pregnant is a major cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or cot death.

While you are pregnant, every puff you take on a cigarette has an immediate effect on your unborn baby.

Smoking increases all of the following:

  • the risk of a miscarriage
  • the risk of complications during the birth
  • the likelihood of having a low-weight baby who is more vulnerable to infection and other health problems
  • the chances of the baby dying at, or shortly after, the birth.

Smoking during pregnancy

Carbon monoxide replaces some of the oxygen in your blood, reducing the amount of oxygen your baby receives through the umbilical cord.

The nicotine increases your heart rate and your baby's heart rate. To prepare for breathing after birth, your unborn baby exercises its chest muscles. Nicotine reduces these movements.

It also causes your blood vessels to narrow, reducing the flow of blood through the umbilical cord. This makes it harder for your baby to get the oxygen and nourishment it needs.

The poisons in cigarette smoke that pass into your bloodstream are also passed to your baby.

Smoking and breastfeeding

The poisons you breathe in through cigarettes are passed to your baby through breast milk. If you are unable to cut down or stop smoking it is still better to smoke and breastfeed than smoke and formula feed your baby.

The Australian Breastfeeding Association has information about breastfeeding for mothers who smoke cigarettes.

Passive smoking

If you or your partner or other household members smoke around the baby, they are smoking too.

They breathe the same dangerous chemicals. This is called passive smoking.

Children have smaller, more delicate lungs than adults and are more affected by tobacco smoke.

Babies and children who are exposed to passive smoking are at a higher risk of developing serious illnesses, such as:

  • cot death
  • chest illnesses such as croup, bronchitis and pneumonia
  • poorer lung function
  • asthma
  • glue ear, which is the most common cause of hearing loss in children.

The best way to protect your children from passive smoking is to have a total smoking ban inside your home.

Quit smoking

For free information, advice and support to stop smoking call the Quitline 24 hours a day on 13 78 48.

You can also download the free app 'Quit for you - Quit for two', which provides support to quit smoking if you are pregnant or planning to be.


Support for new parents

For general information and support for expecting parents through to raising teenagers, go to the Raising Children Network website.

Support groups

Early bird groups are for mothers and partners to meet from birth up to the baby turning 8 weeks old.

From 9 weeks onwards, there is a Territory Parent Support (TPS) group.

Darwin

Early bird groups meet at Casuarina and Palmerston clinics.

From 9 weeks old, you can go to the following groups:

  • Territory Support Group at the Casuarina Clinic
  • Baby Birds Group at the Palmerston Clinic.

Tennant Creek

Early bird and Territory Parent Support groups are organised on demand.

Pink Palace playgroup is run regularly for non-Aboriginal mothers and babies.

Aboriginal mothers can get support and care from the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Health Centre.

The health centre hosts 'stronger families' information and support groups. Each month the group discusses a different topic about parenting and has lunch after.

For more information, go to the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Health Centre.

Gove

Parent group sessions happen a few times a year. These go for 1.5 hours over 6 sessions.

In Nhulunbuy you can get parent support through the following:

Contact the Gove community health clinic.

After hours support

If you need help on the weekends or after business hours, you can contact one of the following services:

In an emergency, call 000.

Information for mothers-to-be

Newborn screening for genetic conditions fact sheet on the NSW Health website.

For information about newborn screening for hearing go to the following websites:

For information on well baby assessments, read more about baby assessments and clinics.

For baby capsule hire or car seat checks, go to the Kid Safe NT website.

To find out more information about your baby up to 12 months old, go to the Kidspot website.

Health services for new parents

Most general practitioners (GPs) provide antenatal and postnatal care.

For a list of GPs near you, go to the National Health Services Directory on the NT PHN website.

ServiceContact Services provided
Danila Dilba Health Service - Aboriginal medical service P: 08 8942 5444 Women's clinic
Pregnancy and postnatal care
Family planning service P: 08 8948 0144 Pregnancy advice and care
Postnatal care
Aboriginal Education and Language Centre P: 08 8984 4174 Provides information, reconnection and health services for north-east Arnhem Aboriginal women about birthing choices and parenting.
Anglicare P: 08 8985 0000 Health connector for youth and antenatal classes
Australian Breastfeeding Association P: 1800 686 268 (7 days a week) Support for breastfeeding mothers through social mornings for pregnant women and new parents, newsletter, library and breastfeeding literature.
Childbirth Education Association P: 08 8948 3043 Childbirth preparation courses, pregnancy stretch and relaxation classes, newsletter, library and videos for members.
Community care centres Find a community care centre Child health and assessment clinics, postnatal home visits, settling baby and sleep workshops, Meet Other Parents Social Group (MOPS), breastfeeding support, postnatal depression support, growing toddlers workshops.
Darwin Homebirth Group P: 08 8922 5522
E: dhbginfo@gmail.com
Monthly coffee mornings for pregnant women, new parents and midwives. Provides information about access to midwives and doctors supporting health.
YWCA DarwinP: 08 8981 8323
W: www.ywcaofdarwin.com.au/parentingprograms.php
Offers a range of programs throughout the year, including SHEIRA support group, a group supporting young pregnant women and young mothers.
Sids and Kids NTP: 08 8948 5311 or
0448 849 234 (24-hour support)
W: www.sidssa.org.au
Supporting families bereaved of children aged from conception to 18 years who have died from any cause, including miscarriage, sickness, accident and suicide.
Pregnancy Birth and BabyP: 1800 882 436 (24-hour support)
W: www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au
Counselling available from 7am to midnight based on individual needs including comprehensive fact sheets.