By Melissa Grant
Maternal Child Health nurses are no longer seeing children in person due to restrictions aimed at preventing the spread of coronavirus.
Across Victoria, many MCH home and centre visits have been replaced by phone and web consultations until further notice.
The visits help ensure a child’s development on track.
Typically, the nurses weigh and measure the baby/child and ask the parent a number of questions related to their development.
In Casey, all home visits and centre visits have been replaced by phone calls and electronic consultations with a MCH nurse.
Saturday MCH sessions have also been cancelled.
Lactation support to help with breastfeeding is only available by telephone or electronic appointment.
The City of Casey has also suspended its First Time Parent Groups and other group activities.
In the Cardinia Shire, Maternal and Child Health centres have been closed until further notice.
An over the phone consultation service is available by appointment.
Home visits are only available for families of babies aged up to two weeks. The visits are limited to 15 minutes and only the mother/primary carer and baby are to be in the room.
Both Casey and Cardinia councils are contacting parents who have MCH bookings to inform them of the changes.
