Georgia, participant in City of Boroondara Circle of Security program, Sleep and Settling program and breastfeeding clinic:

'Becoming a parent is like getting a new role that you've never done before, without a job description and no experience, and you're expected to hit the ground running like immediately. And that's exactly what I felt like.

But the Maternal Child Health Unit was just such a big help. 

People say nothing can prepare you. It was quite a shock. It was definitely stressful, but also really exciting. 

I remember feeling like every day felt like a week at the beginning. I think it was just kind of the relentless nature of it. I was exhausted and also I wasn't able to get anything done that I wanted to. I think there's a tendency to Google a lot, and I get worried because I might look at the most kind of extreme situation and think that that's what was happening. 

Through the MCH there was a breastfeeding clinic that I could go to and they were so patient. I did a sleep school at some point as well, which I'd highly recommend. And these things actually just increased my confidence, and then after that, it was so much easier. So it kind of helped with my sanity. 

They offered for me to do a parenting programme called the Circle of Security. It just gave me really practical skills, and I enjoyed meeting with other mums who were in the same situation as me, and I realised that I wasn't the only one who'd gone through these challenges. 

I don't think anybody's going to say to me that I'm like a failure or silly for for getting extra support. And although people say there's kind of no right or wrong way to parent, I think it can be really valuable to have support that's based on research. And I think if it's there, why wouldn't you access it? 

Also, the benefit of speaking to an expert is that they can actually tailor the information to your specific needs. 

It's hard to think about where I would be without the extra support I've received, because it's so much become a part of who I am. It's given me a framework for how I think about things. I think I'd probably be a lot more confused about things because I'd question myself a lot. So I'd probably feel more stressed and more alone with my problems. I think it's helped my confidence in that I know what to do in pretty much any given situation. 

Part of the Circle of Security programme is about how important it is to actually delight in your child, that that sets them up for having healthy self-esteem. So I feel like I'm able to delight in Kira because other things are kind of taken care of. I'm able to spend time laughing with Kira, and reading books with her, and playing games, and it is about that. It's about quality time with your baby, rather than being stressed about how to get the baby to sleep, or stressed about being behind with the housework.'