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Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: a free nurse on the phone or video, from pregnancy to age 5

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a free Australian Government helpline. Call 1800 882 436 or video call a maternal child health nurse, 7am to midnight eastern time, every day, about anything from pregnancy until your child turns 5.

A young father sits on a couch in warm lamplight, talking on the phone, his newborn asleep on its back in a bare bassinet beside him

It's late. The baby fed an hour ago and is crying again, the rash on their chest looks different from this morning, and your partner is asleep. Ngala has closed for the night. You don't want to drag everyone to the emergency department for something that might be nothing.

There is a nurse you can call. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is a free national helpline, open every day of the year until midnight eastern time, for any question from planning a pregnancy until your child turns 5.

Call free on 1800 882 436

What it is

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is an Australian Government service, run by Healthdirect Australia. It has a phone line, a video call service, and a website of plain guides on pregnancy, babies and young children.

The people who answer are maternal child health nurses. Each is a registered midwife with a postgraduate diploma in child and family health, and has worked both in a hospital or birthing centre and in community health with families. In WA you might know them as child health nurses.

What you can ask about

The service says it gives free, non-judgemental support and reassurance. Parents call about:

The nurse can also point you to services near you.

When it's open, in WA time

The line runs 7am to midnight Australian Eastern Time, 7 days a week. In Perth that is 5am to 10pm, or 4am to 9pm while the eastern states are on daylight saving (October to April). So it is still open after Ngala closes at 8pm, and opens before it in the morning.

What it costs

Nothing. The call is free, though your mobile plan may charge for it. Video calls are free too.

How to call, step by step

  1. Call 1800 882 436.
  2. You hear a short recorded message. It explains calls are recorded for training, and how to turn recording off or stay anonymous if you'd like.
  3. You wait in a queue for the first free nurse.
  4. The nurse introduces themselves, asks a few questions, then talks through what's going on and what to do next.
  5. If you or your child are unwell, they put you through to a registered nurse triage line, or tell you to see a doctor.

Video call: when you need them to see it

Some things are easier shown than described: a latch that isn't working, how to wrap a baby, a nappy rash. The video call service lets the nurse see you and show you.

  1. Open the video call page on a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone. No app needed.
  2. Tap Start video call. If you can't see the button, turn on location in your browser: video calls only work inside Australia.
  3. Give a first name and a phone number, accept the terms, and wait in the virtual waiting room for a nurse.

If English isn't your first language

Call TIS National on 131 450 and ask them to connect you to Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, or call the line and ask for an interpreter. There is no charge. If you are Deaf, hard of hearing or find it hard to speak, the National Relay Service is on 1800 555 727.

Save it now

Put 1800 882 436 in your phone as "Pregnancy Birth Baby nurse", next to Ngala Parenting Line, the Red Nose safe sleep line and Emergency+.

When to call someone else

Call free on 1800 882 436

Sources