Clinician's Guide to the First 2000 Days

This episode explores nutrition for children aged 12 months to school age, emphasising healthy growth and development. It highlights key nutritional needs and community-based supports through child health nursing. Experts discuss how parents and caregivers can access resources and guidance to foster optimal growth and wellbeing for young children, ensuring children receive the best start to life. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Fiona Nave and Leonie Trembath.Fiona is an Advanced Paediatric Dietitian with over 20 years' experience working with children and their families to support them towards achieving better nutrition outcomes.  Fiona currently works at Health and Wellbeing Queensland, leading on the first 2000 days. She also continues to work privately, supporting children with restricted diets. Fiona is passionate about healthy eating and regularly presents on radio or pens blogs to help increase parent confidence and knowledge in supporting kids to eat nutritious foods with enjoyment. Leonie Trembath is the Clinical Nurse for Child Youth and Family Health currently based at South West Hospital Health Service in Charleville with outreach clinics across the Hub sector. Working across many decades Leonie has backgrounds in nursing, midwifery, child and family health lactation consultancy, continence and health promotion, working with families and services in partnership to support transitioning into parenthood and navigating varied health challenges with families. 

“Smiles and Sounds” explores speech and oral milestones from 12 months to school age, focusing on key developmental stages. Experts discuss routine milestone assessments that help identify potential issues early, offering insights into prevention and the importance of early intervention. The conversation emphasises how healthcare professionals can support children’s speech and oral health for optimal development before school. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Stephen Moore and Kym Dunston.Kym is a paediatric speech pathologist with over 25 years’ experience in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, supporting children with communication and literacy development, whether that be in a clinic or in homes, schools, and childcare services.  Kym’s current role in the Centre for Children’s Health and Wellbeing team involves bringing together what is known about the Social Determinants of Health and the importance of the early years to improve health equity, especially for vulnerable children.Stephen Moor is an Oral Health Therapist with over 35 years' experience working for Metro North HHS across both the Queensland Children’s Hospital at South Brisbane and the Oral Health Centre at Herston.  Stephen provides dental care to children requiring special care, including children with cleft lip and palate, cranio-facial anomalies, medically compromised children, children diagnosed with ASD and cerebral palsy.   He is passionate about promoting the importance of good oral health to prevent dental disease and provide children with a fun and inviting environment to experience positive outcomes. 

Childhood development in the early years is crucial for long-term health and wellbeing. This episode delves into growth milestones and the importance of early intervention. Experts discuss how primary care providers can monitor development, offer preventive care, and address concerns, ensuring timely support to promote healthy growth and development from toddlerhood to preschool. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Dr Nicole White and Dr Jennifer Deacon.Dr Jennifer Deacon has been a Paediatrician since 2005 and is currently a Senior staff specialist at Gold Coast University Hospital, the Paediatric Lead of Lavender Mother Baby unit, a Statewide maternal mental health unit and  Medical Lead of Children’s Hospital in the home. Jennifer has a special interest in infant and toddlers and loves working with families to improve the long-term health outcomes of the community.  Dr Nicole White is an experienced GP, providing comprehensive care to children and young people.  In addition to her clinical role, she sits as a GP representative on a number of paediatric clinical networks and is a GP Liaison officer at Children’s Health Qld. Dr Nicole is passionate about growth and development, health promotion and wellbeing of children and young people in our community. 

This episode focuses on the health and wellbeing of new mums, exploring both physical and mental health aspects as they transition into motherhood. Discussions cover the physical recovery after birth, mental health challenges like postpartum depression, and the psychosocial changes women experience. Our experts provide insights into supporting a mum’s overall health during this transformative period. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Melissa Billiau and Dr Sarah Thomas.Melissa is an advanced pelvic health physiotherapist with over 12 years experience working with women’s and men’s pelvic health concerns. She is the clinical lead in a primary health clinic at Ripley Satellite Hospital supporting Specialist Outpatient Department waitlists for Gynaecology and Urology. Dr Sarah Thomas is a Perinatal Psychiatrist, currently working at the Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane in a Consultation Liaison role, Sarah leads the Perinatal Psychiatry clinic at Catherine's House for Mothers, Babies and Families, as well as working at the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health providing psychiatric care to First Nations Women in the Birthing In Our Community program. Sarah is passionate about upskilling other healthcare professionals working in the perinatal space with mental health education. 

The episode delves into infant development during the first 12 months, covering key topics like breastfeeding, sleep, physical milestones, and “well baby checks”. Our experts discuss the importance of vaccinations and explore the social supports available to parents in navigating their baby’s needs.  In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Dr Mairaed Crawford and Brigitte Corcoran.Dr Mairaed Crawford is a GP at Neighbourhood Medical who has a keen interest in antenatal care, breastfeeding, and lactation support.  With a diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and an accredited provider of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mairaed brings this experience to her consults with women and families to support them wholistically as they transition to parenthood.   Brigitte is a highly experienced Paediatric Dietitian with over 28 years of expertise in paediatric nutrition. She has advanced skills in managing infants with feeding and growth challenges, as well as children with immediate and delayed-onset food allergies. Widely recognized as an authority in infant feeding, Brigitte has worked across diverse healthcare settings, including major tertiary hospitals, regional hospitals, and community health centres, both in Queensland and internationally. 

In this episode, we explore shared care as mothers’ transition from tertiary services back to primary care. Focusing on women's health checks and preventive conversations, our experts discuss the bio-psychosocial and cultural support systems available for mums and partners in the first 12 months in Queensland, considering challenges such as cost of living and access to healthcare. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Emma Shipton and Dr Dale Garred.Emma is a Registered Midwife, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and a PhD Candidate at the University of Queensland. She has experience across the pregnancy spectrum and has a particular interest in how health professionals can best support families into the fourth trimester. Emma currently works a midwife at a tertiary hospital, and as an Associate Lecturer at UQ, focusing on fostering passion in student midwives and highlighting the importance of postnatal support for the woman-baby dyad. Dr Dale Garred is a Brisbane based GP who is passionate about Women’s’ Health and in particular preventative medicine and the key role of General Practitioners in optimising general health and wellbeing. Her experience is broad across the lifespan having worked as a nurse before completing her medical degree and spending time early in her career working in emergency medicine in both rural and urban settings. She is aligned with multiple Brisbane maternity hospitals and regularly sees patients for both antenatal and post partum care.  

The importance of physical wellbeing for expectant mothers is key to a healthy pregnancy. From managing weight gain, morning sickness and staying active to the specific challenges of conditions like Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), this episode provides practical advice on how to support women throughout this incredible period of their lives. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Dr Susan de Jersey and Kassia Beetham.Dr Susan de Jersey is and Advanced Accredited Practicing Dietitian and Credentialled Diabetes Educator at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Manager in the Prevention Strategy Branch within The Department of Health in Queensland and has an academic appointment as an Associate Professor in the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of Queensland.  Susan and her team focus on ensuring women have access to wholistic care that supports their current and future health during the reproductive years. Dr Kassia Beetham is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and the course coordinator for the Master of Clinical Exercise Physiology at ACU’s Brisbane Campus.  Kassia’s research focusses on the physiological changes that occur during pregnancy and how exercise can influence the mother and baby’s health. In particular, Kassia’s investigates the effects of higher intensity exercise on placental and foetal outcomes, the effect of resistance training on post-partum pelvic floor dysfunction, and the effects of higher intensity exercise in pregnant athletes. 

In this episode, we explore the key components of antenatal medical care that support a safe and informed pregnancy journey. Covering the first trimester to the final weeks before labour, we discuss shared models of care, medical assessments, birth plans and effective approaches to preventive care to enhance the long-term health of both mother and baby. In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Dr Kirstin Millard and Kieran Froese. Kirstin is an obstetrician and gynaecologist fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists with a Masters of Reproductive Medicine. Kirstin takes a patient-centred approach to managing gynaecological problems. She believes in working in partnership with her patients to find a solution that meets each woman’s individual preferences and needs Dr Kirstin is a staff specialist at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital and also provides care through Hatch Maternity. Kieran Froese (she/her) is an endorsed, clinical midwife and midwifery unit manager living in Meanjin/Brisbane and working at Mater Mothers' Hospital. Her diverse career has been focussed on making high quality midwifery care better accessible to more people. Kieran’s current role allows her to make space for midwives in private obstetric care and develop the role of endorsed midwives in the hospital workforce. In this episode on antenatal care, both guests discuss clinical processes as they relate to care at Mater Hospitals, which may differ from care offered across Queensland Health facilities.

‘Before the beginning’ explores the often-overlooked phase of preconception — the period before pregnancy. This episode explores how health and environmental factors can influence reproductive health and how healthcare professionals can support parents-to-be to optimise their wellbeing long before trying to conceive.In this episode, Dr Sam Manger speaks to Dr Terri-Lynne South and Dr Shelley Wilkinson. Dr Shelley Wilkinson is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian with a PhD in Psychology. She is currently working with the Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane to create an evidence-informed, co-creation approach to the delivery of care within Obstetric Medicine. Dr Shelley Wilkinson is also the Director and Principal Dietitian of Lifestyle Maternity, a specialised dietetic practice focused on providing nutrition and lifestyle support for women throughout their fertility journey, pregnancy, and the first year postpartum. Terri-Lynne is both a Medical Doctor (GP) and an Accredited Practicing Dietitian with a specific interest in obesity management and health conditions associated with a higher BMI.  Terri-Lynne is the medical director of a community-based multi-disciplinary health centre that focuses on holistic management of any health condition associated with a higher BMI.  She is the current chair of the RACGP (Royal Australian College of General Practice) Specific Interest Group in Obesity Management and a a member of several national organisations that promote multi-dimensional advocacy for people living with obesity.

Welcome to the Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days. This 9-episode podcast series is designed to empower and upskill health professionals in best practice preventive care for parents-to-be and parents of young children. Topics will cover the critical first 2000 days from preconception through to preschool years. Podcast host Dr Sam Manger joins subject matter experts from across Queensland to explore a new topic in each episode, including preconception, antenatal care, postnatal care for mothers and babies, and toddler growth and development.  The Clinician’s Guide to the First 2000 Days podcast series builds on the success of the Clinician’s Guide to Healthy Kids podcast series, launched in 2023. Both series are available on the Clinicians Hub, a digital repository of tools, resources and training designed to help health professionals discuss, identify, prevent and manage chronic disease.