Rockingham women are being urged to take part in a program trial aimed at guiding and supporting mums-to-be through a safe and healthy pregnancy.
The program called Blooming Together focuses on plus-size women, size 16 or above, in the early stages of pregnancy.
Blooming Together has been designed by a local midwife, in partnership with child health researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia, and the Women and Newborn Health Service.
It is a free pregnancy care program that aims to offer advice and support on health and lifestyle related matters, as well as encouraging participants to develop a group support network for when their babies are born.
Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia will monitor the program to gauge its success, with the hope it can then be rolled out on a larger scale across other parts of Western Australia.
"Many pregnant women will experience weight gain and other potential health issues during this life-changing period." said The Kids researcher Lisa Gibson.
"Blooming Together provides extra advice and guidance to help plus-size women have the healthiest pregnancy and birth possible, leading to a healthier future for both mums and their babies."
Blooming Together is being supported by a number of health centres and GPs across the Rockingham area, with sessions being held at the Woodbridge Women's Clinic.
A key driver behind the establishment of the program, local midwife Joan Jones, says organisers consulted with women in the area to see what type of support and services might be useful, and then tailored the content to suit.
"The women taking part will receive all of their pregnancy care as part of a combination of one-on-one and group sessions from 12 weeks of pregnancy until birth, as well as an additional follow up session once their baby is born." said Mrs Jones.
"The sessions cover a variety of relevant health and lifestyle topics and will include time with a Dietician, Lactation Consultant, Physiotherapist, as well as Midwives and a GP Obstetrician all working together to benefit the mums-to-be and their babies."
Two trials of Blooming Together will be run in Rockingham. The first trial, with recruitment currently underway, is for women whose babies are due in June 2015, with the first group session taking place in mid-December.
The second trial is for women who may fall pregnant in the coming months and are due in October 2015, with recruitment for this phase starting in January, and the first session being held in April 2015.
Anyone interested in finding out more should visit Blooming Together or contact Lisa Gibson at The Kids on (08)9489 7739 or email blooming.together@telethonkids.org.au
Organisations in the Rockingham area supporting Blooming Together include Woodbridge Women's Clinic, Rockingham Maternity and Family Practice, The Ridge Baldivis Medical Centre, Parmelia Medical Centre and many more.