An innovative program between the Women's Mental Health Program (Division of Psychiatry) and Maternity Services (The Bendigo Hospital). This program has a strong preventative and early intervention focus for women in the post partum period.

Offered on a weekly basis as part of the educative program for new mothers this ¾ hours session focuses on:

• The Birth Experience - recognition of the birth experience; a chance to look at expectations as opposed to outcomes and looking specifically at the feelings associated with this.
• The Emotional Changes Following Birth - from Baby Blues through to post natal distress/depression - it includes recognition of the symptoms and local options as to who to turn to if you are experiencing distress.
• The Changing role in Becoming a Parent - how to adjust to changes in the importance of taking time out for yourself and supportive networks available for new mum.
• Although the program is targeted specifically at new mothers, partners and significant others are encouraged to attend if available.

The second part of the program is to offer training to maternity ward staff and maternal and child health nurses in rural/remote areas of the Loddon Southern Mallee Region. This training is aimed to skill up staff so that they can incorporate these elements into their own education sessions offered to new mothers.

This Training package can be used as a model within any maternity service or maternal and child health centre to compliment existing education program for new mothers.