title: Reflections on maternal health care within the Victorian Maternal and Child Health Service.
abstract: Women suffer significant morbidity following childbirth and there is a lack of focussed, primary maternal health care to support them. Victorian Maternal and Child Health (MCH) nurses are ideally suited to provide additional care for women when caring for the family with a new baby. With additional training and support, MCH nurses could better fill this health demand and practice gap. This discussion paper reviews what we know about maternal morbidity, current postnatal services for women and the maternal healthcare gap, and makes recommendations for enhancing MCH nursing practice to address this deficit.
authors.affiliation: Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Leesa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.affiliation: Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.affiliation: Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
authors.forename: Rhonda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014739:Victoria