Shared Medical Appointments (SMAs) are small group sessions for families with babies up to the age of 12 months which are designed to provide parents with up-to-date and evidence-based information. They are coordinated by Dr Sonja Morgan (GP / Lactation Consultant).
These sessions provide an opportunity for families to discuss any questions or concerns about their baby or their adjustment to their new life as a parent. The topics covered each session are tailored to the needs of the families who are present on the day and every family is invited to join in the discussion and ask their own questions or discuss their own situation as they feel comfortable.
Topics that are commonly covered include:
- infant sleep and managing night-time waking
- how to optimise feeding for your baby (this includes breastfeeding, bottle feeding, mix feeding, supply lines etc)
- maintenance of milk supply
- weight gain concerns
- unsettled behaviour
- settling techniques
- colic, reflux and wind
- milestones
- how to introduce solids
- ideas for sensory stimulation
- how to prepare for returning to work
- maintaining parental mental health
- general parenting strategies
Shared Medical Apointments are available at Growlife Medical every second Friday and we ask that families make a booking with the reception team to attend these. You are welcome to book in for as many of our clinic group sessions as you need following an initial one-on-one consultation (at our clinic, home visit or online) with any of the health professionals for assessment and preliminary management. There is no out-of-pocket expense if you and your baby are registered with Medicare.
Please book by 11:00 am the day before, by calling reception on 3036 4081.