The Kids Research Institute Australia researchers are offering a free nutrition and lifestyle advice program for plus sized mums and their babies who live in the Joondalup/Wanneroo area.
Blooming Together Mums & Bubs is a free, monthly group where new mums can meet with health professionals to receive evidence based nutrition and lifestyle advice for themselves, their baby, and the rest of the family.
"Each session is tailored to the baby's stage of growth and development and the mum's stage of recovery post-pregnancy," Dr Tearne says. Clinical psychologist and child health researcher Dr Jessica Tearne says the program, which will run monthly at the Banksia Grove community centre, is designed to give mums and their babies the best start to live as a family.
"The group is run by researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia including a qualified psychologist, and will feature visiting specialists such as dietitians, physiotherapists, and child nutrition experts."
Port Kennedy resident Jayme Edwards and her daughter Kaylee were involved in a southern suburbs trial of the program which she says was hugely beneficial.
"There wasn't a single session where I didn't feel like I had learnt something new and important about my health or my baby's health and development which was a surprise to me considering this was my third child," Jayme says.
"It wasn't just myself and my baby that benefitted from this it was my entire family. My husband, my three girls and I have all had some benefit from the blooming together program."
"All the information I have learnt, I have implemented into day to day life which has led to my husband losing 19kgs and myself losing nearly 25kgs post pregnancy, giving healthier more active parents to my girls."
Kaylee also says she made some great new friends from the program and Kaylee enjoyed playing with some babies her age.
"Going through pregnancy and post pregnancy with a newborn, it can be hard and a very confusing time especially with the amount of information out there. This program gives you all the correct information followed by support of professionals and other mums in a similar situation," she says.
Researchers are currently recruiting pregnant woman for the program.
Click here for more info.
If you are interested in participating, please contact our research team via the details below.
Dr Jessica Tearne 9489 7878
jessica.tearne@telethonkids.org.au
Dr Lisa Gibson 9489 7940
