Pregnancy is a special time and while it can be exhausting it’s also exciting and new. It’s important to take of both yourself and your bub.
This means trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle and going to all of your checkups. You will begin to feel your bub move around and kick which can be really exciting. It’s good to have a strong support system so that if things get tough or you need a little bit of extra help there are people you trust who can be there to support you.
This page will explore the key goals and milestones, challenges and tasks as well as some services you can access that can assist you in having a safe and healthy pregnancy!
Image source: The Royal Women's Hospital Victoria, You & Your Boorai.
1. Maintain Emotional Wellbeing
Active Tasks
- Become aware of the Koorie Maternity Services in your area.
Supporting Resources
- Aboriginal Maternity Services - Victoria Health
- Local Koori Maternity Services - VACCHO
- You and Your Borai: Taking Care During Pregnancy (Pages 30-31 contains contact information of Koorie Maternity Services)
2. Keep Your Body Healthy
Active Tasks
- Go on walks.
- Engage in a Pregnancy Specific Exercise program
Supporting Resources
Image source: The Royal Women's Hospital Victoria, You & Your Boorai.
3. Eat a balanced diet & drink plenty of water
Active Tasks
- Be aware of the nutrients you require to keep your baby healthy.
- Develop an understanding of a healthy balanced diet.
- Develop a meal plan
Supporting Resources
- You & Your Boorai - Comprehensive guide (Pages 8 - 9 contain infomation about healthy eating during pregnancy)
- Sample meal plan for pregnancy (SA Health)
- Pregnancy 7 Day Meal Plan (Australian Eggs)
4. Connect to Culture
Active Tasks
- Have 'Welcome Baby to County'
- Organise a birth certificate for your Boorai
Supporting Resources
- Welcome Baby to Country - Partnership Resource Guide
- Cultural Services in Victoria
- Need your boorai’s birth certificate?
- Koorie Services - Births, Deaths & Marriages Victoria
Downloadable Resources
Download and print the resources below.
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You and Your Borai: Taking Care During Pregnancy
This resource is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are pregnant and their families. It will help you find ways to get the support you need and take steps to achieve the things most important to you; a healthy pregnancy and a healthy boorai (baby).Download
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Sample Meal Plan for Pregnancy
Source: Department for Health and Ageing, Government of South AustraliaDownload
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Welcome Baby to Country - Partnership Resource Guide
This resource provides an outline of key activities undertaken by our partners in planning a meaningful Welcome Baby to Country ceremony in their community. (source: First 1000 Days Australia)Download
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Need your boorai’s birth certificate?
The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) works hard to provide services to people in ways that meet community needs.Download