Maternal and Child Health

For your first appointment, a Maternal Child and Health nurse will visit you in your home. We will make this appointment for you and you will receive an SMS reminder.

Most families will visit a MCH centre for later visits. An SMS text message appointment reminder will be sent to you in the days leading up to each of your MCH Centre bookings. 

Recommended schedule of visits

The Victorian Department of Health recommends 10 'Key Age and Stage' visits.

How Often can I attend?

You can access the support of a Maternal and Child Health Nurse as you need.

However, there are ten key age and stage visits you are encouraged to participate in and you can find out more about each below:

• 2 weeks
• 4 weeks
• 8 weeks
• 4 months
• 8 months
• 1 year
• 18 months
• 2 years
• 3.5 years

The MCH service provides information, guidance and support on the following topics and many more:

• child health and development
• maternal and family health
• infant feeding including breastfeeding and transition to solids
• community information and local supports
• safety and injury prevention
• sleep and settling
• toilet training
• infant and child behaviour
• child and parent relationships

Your Child Health Record

Please bring with you the green book otherwise known as My Health, Learning and Development Record.

The hospital where your baby was born will provide you with a green book. At each appointment your maternal and child health nurse will record your child’s milestones, health, growth and development in this book. Your child’s immunisations will also be recorded here.