About Helen.
Helen founded Eastside Midwives in 2008, to support families through their journey of childbirth. Helen is a highly regarded Midwife, Counsellor, Lactation Consultant, and childbirth educator with over 20 years of experience. She has worked in many birthing settings across Melbourne, covering all areas of Midwifery, including having been a Homebirth Midwife for over 10 years.
*** Currently, Helen does not offer any hands-on birthing support.
Hypnobirthing Classes.
In 2016 Helen became an accredited Hypnobirth Australia Educator. Through the Hypnobirth Australia program. Families are given empowering knowledge on pregnancy, birth and beyond. Helen is able to work with you to develop a 'toolbox' of tips and tricks to take into your birthing space, helping you to achieve a positive and wonderfully calm, empowering birth experience. This can positively carry over into your parenting experience and beyond.
Helen herself has had 3 incredibly empowering Hypnobirths. She fully recognises how a woman's birth experience helps shape her parenting experience and ongoing future relationships. The Hypnobirthing classes not only teach you tools for birthing but Hypnobirthing skills are totally transferable across all areas of life.
Helen believes Hypnobirthing is often more useful for the partner than even the birthing woman, as the course provides partners with so many tips and useful tools to help them feel like an integral part of the birthing team.
Classes are held in Ferntree Gully and there is a combination of weekend and weeknight times tailored to suit your needs. Zoom classes are also available upon request.
Join one of our group classes or sign up for a private class. Refresher classes are also available.
See our Hypnobirthing page for FAQs
To find out more information contact Helen via email at helen@eastsidemidwives.com or call her on 0425 770316.
UPCOMING 2024 GROUP CLASSES:
Saturday 24th August 9am - 5pm
Sunday 15th September 9am - 5pm
Sunday 6th October 9am - 5pm
Class times can be flexible. Please contact me if these dates dont suit your calendar, Im more than happy to schedule more dates.
Group Class: $650 per couple.
Private Class: $850 per couple. Private classes can be booked by calling Helen directly.
3-Hour Refresher Class: $350 per couple. Booked on a needs basis.
Antenatal Education & Lactation IBCLC Support.
Helen offers support and assistance both Antenatally and Postnatally. She is a highly skilled Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) with over 20 years experience, and offers Lactation support in the comfort of your own home, in her clinic or Online.
Medicare rebates are available.
Download the Medicare Doctors referral form here
Pregnancy Consult & Education (1hr ++): $250 (rebate approx. $45)
Lactation Appointment (1hr):
Initial consult $250 (rebate approx. $70).
Followup Consults out of pocket $110.
Zoom/phone consultation (1hr): $200
Counselling.
Helen is a qualified Counsellor ~ Psychotherapist. She offers invaluable counselling support during your pregnancy and postnatally, assisting with any anxiety or apprehension around pregnancy or birthing.
Helen also offers birth debriefing/counselling following a traumatic or difficult birth.
Please inquire for further details.
Download the Medicare Doctors referral form here
Counselling Appointment: $250 ($70 rebate available during pregnancy and until your baby is 7wks old). Followup appointments are $110 out of pocket.
Sleep and Settling Support
Eastside Midwives' experienced occupational therapist Sarah Megens provides comprehensive support to address sleep-related challenges in babies and children up to 10 years of age.
Sarah strongly believes that there is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to your family’s sleep. She works closely with families to develop personalised plans and will look at all factors impacting on sleep including naptime and bedtime routines, room set up, diet, and play.
The goal of sleep and settling support is to promote healthy sleep habits and enhance overall well-being through improved sleep and settling routines. Sarah's goal is to help the whole family achieve a more restful and fulfilling sleep experience, improving your quality of life.
Phone and in-home consultations are available. You can even have Sarah come to your home at your child's usual nap-time or bedtime to support you through settling strategies in the comfort of your home.
Please contact Sarah directly to book, or to discuss the consult which may suit your needs.
Antenatal Sleep Support
This is a new and exciting service Eastside Midwives Collective are offering after hearing feedback from many parents who would have loved education about safe sleeping and settling before birth.
These sessions involve Sarah coming to your home, to look at your nursery set up and educate you around safe sleep practices.
Having a background in occupational therapy means that Sarah is able to also provide you with information to help maintain healthy postures and positive ergonomic set ups. This may sound very clinical, but parenting is a 24/7 job with lots of nappy changes, settling for sleep, cuddling, dressing - having good posture is paramount to help lower risk to your back.
Sarah will also provide education about newborn sleep and help you to feel more comfortable with the 'realm of normal' when it comes to baby's sleep patterns and help you set some solid foundations in setting up healthy sleep habits the whole family will benefit from.
