Patient Information Sheets

Home

A

Advice after epidural or spinal
- Description:
  What to do if you are feeling unwell after an epidural or spinal anaesthetic. Also available in Arabic, Chinese, Karen and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 109.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Karen File size: 50.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 115.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 180.4K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 111.5K — File type: PDF
Advice for support people during labour and birth
- Description:
  Information for people who will be supporting a woman during labour and birth.
- File Download: English File size: 127.1K — File type: PDF
African liaison and FARREP
- Description:
  Information about our program to support African women at the Mercy Hospital for Women. This includes support for women who come from communities that practice female circumcision. Also available in Arabic and Somali.
- File Download: English File size: 139.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Somali File size: 119.0K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 227.1K — File type: PDF

B

Baby massage
- Description:
  Tips on how to prepare yourself and your baby for a positive massage experience.
- File Download: English File size: 204.3K — File type: PDF
Birth ideas
- Description:
  Suggestions for comforts in labour, birth and early care of your baby.
- File Download: English File size: 123.7K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Breast and nipple thrush
- Description:
  Symptoms, signs and treatment of breast and nipple thrush for mothers and their babies
- File Download: English File size: 130.3K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Expressing breastmilk
- Description:
  Information about how to express breastmilk.
- File Download: English File size: 203.9K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Expressing breastmilk in neonatal nurseries
- Description:
  Information for mothers of premature babies of babies about expressing breastmilk.
- File Download: English File size: 581.5K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Making more breastmilk
- Description:
  Tips on how to make more breastmilk for your baby.
- File Download: English File size: 113.8K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Mastitis
- Description:
  Signs and symptoms of mastitis and what to do.
- File Download: English File size: 107.0K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Nipple shields
- Description:
  A nipple shield may be useful for some mothers who are finding it hard to breastfeed their babies. It is a thin silicone cover placed over the nipple to help with breastfeeding.
- File Download: English File size: 119.4K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – Suppression of lactation: Reducing or stopping your milk production
- Description:
  Advice about reducing or stopping the production of breastmilk.
- File Download: English File size: 111.2K — File type: PDF
Breastfeeding – When baby does not attach at the breast
- Description:
  Advice about feeding your baby in the first few days after giving birth.
- File Download: English File size: 118.6K — File type: PDF
Buying clothes for your baby
- Description:
  Tips to help you make safe and economical choices when buying clothes and nappies for your newborn.
- File Download: English File size: 86.8K — File type: PDF

D

Dietary suggestions for managing nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
- Description:
  Helpful hints to help manage nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
- File Download: English File size: 128.7K — File type: PDF
Difficulties passing urine after having a baby
- Description:
  Advice about following healthy bladder habits after childbirth.
- File Download: English File size: 189.4K — File type: PDF
DRAM (Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscle)
- Description:
  This information is for pregnant or postnatal women who have a DRAM (Diastasis Rectus Abdominus Muscle). It explains what DRAM is, how it can affect you and what you can do to help it recover. Also available in Arabic, Chinese and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 277.4K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 458.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 410.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 425.9K — File type: PDF

E

Epidural anaesthesia during labour
- Description:
  What to expect if you are thinking about an epidural to control pain during childbirth.
- File Download: English File size: 112.9K — File type: PDF

G

GBS in pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period
- Description:
  Explanation for Group B streptococcal (GBS) in pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period. Includes information about the testing procedure at Mercy Health Services. Also available in Arabic, Chinese and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 150.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 205.6K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 198.2K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 171.9K — File type: PDF
Getting enough protein in your diet
- Description:
  The importance of protein in your diet.
- File Download: English File size: 129.8K — File type: PDF
Going home after giving birth
- Description:
  Explains what to expect after the birth of your baby.
- File Download: English File size: 195.6K — File type: PDF
Good bladder habits
- Description:
  What you can do to keep your bladder healthy.
- File Download: English File size: 141.4K — File type: PDF

H

Headache after a spinal or epidural injection
- Description:
  Explains the symptoms, cause and treatment of a headache after a spinal or epidural injection. Also available in Arabic, Chinese, Karen and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 135.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 195.3K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Karen File size: 184.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 320.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 268.3K — File type: PDF
Healthy bowel habits
- Description:
  What you can do to keep your bowel healthy.
- File Download: English File size: 144.1K — File type: PDF
Healthy eating for gestational diabetes
- Description:
  Explanation of gestational diabetes (GDM) and the importance of diet in managing this condition. Also includes culturally specific information for women from Arabic, Chinese, Persian and Vietnamese backgrounds (English and translated text).
- File Download: English File size: 244.1K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 423.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 952.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 406.2K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Vietnamese File size: 385.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Somali File size: 272.7K — File type: PDF
Healthy eating for gestational diabetes for Indian women
- Description:
  A guide to managing your nutrition and blood glucose levels during pregnancy if you have gestational diabetes.
- File Download: English File size: 311.1K — File type: PDF
Healthy eating in pregnancy
- Description:
  How to eat well during your pregnancy.
- File Download: English File size: 414.1K — File type: PDF

I

Immunisation before and during pregnancy
- Description:
  Why you should be protected against some infectious diseases before, during and after pregnancy. Also available in Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Hindi, Karen, Persian, Punjabi, Somali and Vietnamese.
- File Download: English File size: 114.1K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Burmese File size: 139.6K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 138.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Hindi File size: 180.2K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Karen File size: 106.6K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 150.1K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Somali File size: 177.0K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 150.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Punjabi File size: 399.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Vietnamese File size: 272.6K — File type: PDF
Induction of labour
- Description:
  Provides information to you and your family about induction of labour at either Mercy Hospital for Women or Werribee Mercy Hospital.
- File Download: English File size: 125.7K — File type: PDF
Infant positioning for development
- Description:
  Advice on how to help your baby with their motor development, play skills and early communication.
- File Download: English File size: 209.1K — File type: PDF
Interpreting services at Mercy Hospitals
- Description:
  Information about why it is important to use a qualified interpreter. Contact details for our Interpreting Services at Mercy Hospital for Women, Werribee Mercy Hospital, Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS) and National Relay Service.
- File Download: English File size: 120.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 96.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 130.4K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Karen File size: 53.0K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 138.6K — File type: PDF

J

Jaundice in newborn babies
- Description:
  Explanation of jaundice in newborns and how it is treated.
- File Download: English File size: 128.4K — File type: PDF

L

Looking after your caesarean section wound
- Description:
  Information about your dressing and stitches, and what to expect when you go home.
- File Download: English File size: 114.1K — File type: PDF

M

Making sense of pelvic pain
- Description:
  Information about persistent pelvic pain and the benefits of treatment. This information is also available in Arabic, Chinese and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 131.3K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 217.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 190.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: File size: 180.0K — File type: PDF
Managing pain following your caesarean
- Description:
  A guide to taking medicines for pain after your caesarean. Also available in Arabic, Chinese, Karen, Persian, Punjabi and Vietnamese.
- File Download: English File size: 117.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 125.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 158.0K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Karen File size: 58.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 140.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Punjabi File size: 209.8K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Vietnamese File size: 103.9K — File type: PDF
Managing your pain after surgery
- Description:
  Explains the three types of pain-relieving medicines, when to take them and how to stop. Also includes information about possible side effects. Also available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek, Karen, Macedonian and Vietnamese.
- File Download: English File size: 103.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Greek File size: 113.6K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 443.4K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Vietnamese File size: 211.3K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Macedonian File size: 125.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Karen File size: 65.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 165.2K — File type: PDF
Maternity Group Practice (MGP)
- Description:
  Explanation of Maternity Group Practice (MGP) at Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg. This is a midwife-based model of care for pregnant women.
- File Download: English File size: 124.9K — File type: PDF

P

Pelvic floor muscle training
- Description:
  The importance of looking after your pelvic floor.
- File Download: English File size: 169.1K — File type: PDF
Pelvic organ prolapse
- Description:
  Explanation and advice about pelvic organ prolapse.
- File Download: English File size: 339.9K — File type: PDF
Physical activity for pregnant women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)
- Description:
  Describes the benefits of being active during your pregnancy if you have gestational diabetes. It is for women without medical restrictions.
- File Download: English File size: 95.0K — File type: PDF
Physiotherapy after a third or fourth degree tear
- Description:
  Explanation of a third or fourth degree tear after childbirth and how you can help your recovery. Also available in Arabic, Chinese and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 178.5K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 581.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 375.2K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 464.8K — File type: PDF
Physiotherapy after a vaginal delivery
- Description:
  Explains how to assist your recovery after a vaginal birth.
- File Download: English File size: 235.4K — File type: PDF
Physiotherapy following vaginal and abdominal surgery
- Description:
  Advice about your recovery after vaginal and abdominal surgery. Also available in Arabic, Chinese, Greek and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 165.7K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 310.9K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 205.6K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Greek File size: 376.4K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 288.2K — File type: PDF
Pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome
- Description:
  Advice about pregnancy related carpal tunnel syndrome.
- File Download: English File size: 961.1K — File type: PDF
Pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PRPGP)
- Description:
  Advice about pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PRPGP), which is pain in the pelvic joints that can develop during or after pregnancy. Also available in Arabic, Chinese and Persian.
- File Download: English File size: 192.2K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Arabic File size: 283.4K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Chinese File size: 300.3K — File type: PDF
- File Download: Persian File size: 311.3K — File type: PDF

R

Recognising serious illness in your baby
- Description:
  This information is for families who have had a baby and leave hospital in less than 24 hours after the birth.
- File Download: English File size: 135.2K — File type: PDF

S

Surgical management of miscarriage
- Description:
  Explains the surgical procedure called dilatation and curettage or 'D&C'. This is generally a safe way to pass pregnancy tissue.
- File Download: English File size: 133.5K — File type: PDF

T

Tummy time tips
- Description:
  Information about the importance of tummy time in the development of your baby's back, neck and arm muscles.
- File Download: English File size: 185.4K — File type: PDF

U

Understanding perineal tears and episiotomies during a vaginal birth
- Description:
  Written information and short video explaining the risk of vaginal tears and episiotomy in labour, and how to treat them. Watch with sound on.
- File Download: English File size: 816.6K — File type: PDF

Y

Your hospital stay at Mercy Hospital for Women
- Description:
  What to expect if you are a patient at Mercy Hospital for Women.
- File Download: English File size: 3.1M — File type: PDF
Your hospital stay at O’Connell Family Centre
- Description:
  What to expect if you are a patient at O'Connell Family Centre
- File Download: English File size: 6.4M — File type: PDF
Your hospital stay at Werribee Mercy Hospital
- Description:
  What to expect if you are a patient at Werribee Mercy Hospital.
- File Download: English File size: 6.1M — File type: PDF
Your stay with us at Mercy Care Centre Young
- Description:
  What to expect if you are a patient at Mercy Care Centre Young.
- File Download: English File size: 2.7M — File type: PDF
Your stay with us at Mercy Health Albury
- Description:
  What to expect if you are a patient at Mercy Health Albury.
- File Download: English File size: 2.4M — File type: PDF

Our locations

Patients and visitors

Health professionals

Residential Aged Care

Home Care

Retirement Living

About Mercy Health

Our latest updates

The Mercy Health Foundation

A

B

D

E

G

H

I

J

L

M

P

R

S

T

U

Y

Emergency

Search site

Health Services navigation

Healthy ageing

Patient information sheets

Filter by category

Filter by language

Skip to letter

A

B

D

E

G

H

I

J

L

M

P

R

S

T

U

Y

Share this page