AFTER 65 years being active in the midwifery field, Rhodanthe Lipsett continues to reach out to mothers and babies across Australia.

The long-time Canberran is a Fellow of the Australian College of Midwives and now helps new mums and babies through her book “Baby Care: Nurturing your baby your way”, which contains essential knowledge for the first three months.

Rhodanthe says the first six weeks are the most difficult for new mums, and it is important to assist, encourage and inspire them so that they experience more up times than down times.

“Babies are babies for such a short time that parents need to be able to delight in them and avoid unnecessary worries,” Rhodanthe says.

“As we try to respond to cues and build a comfortable and nurturing relationship with this small but definite person, we discover that they themselves influence and shape this relationship astoundingly effectively.”

The Australian College of Midwives has established the Rhodanthe Lipsett Trust, to provide annual scholarships to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery students, to assist them in their study to become midwives.

“I’ve always been aware of the special needs of indigenous women. It’s so important that they have culturally appropriate treatment,” she says.

“We need to respect their cultural ways and at the same time they need the benefit of the knowledge and skill we can provide so the births are safe for the mother and baby.”

“Baby Care” has been praised nationally since the first edition was published in 2004 under the original title of  “No One Right Way”.

Earlier this month at Admiralty House in Sydney, the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce launched the book’s third edition.

“The joy, the power of this book is in the encouragement it gives parents to find a way of knowing and doing what suits them and their babies best, building capacity and promoting resilience,” Ms Bryce said.

Australian College of Midwives CEO Ann Kinnear encourages people to make a donation to the Rhodanthe Lipsett Trust.
“Rhodanthe is remarkable. At 90 years old she is still working tirelessly for midwifery and young babies,” she says.

Rhodanthe is also helping teenage mothers continue their education.

Through the Canberra College Cares program, pregnant teens will each receive their own copy of “Baby Care” with a special message from a member of the community, who has donated the book.

“This project is to help the girls who are courageous and determined to finish their education, to make a career and a life for their babies,” Rhodanthe says.

To donate a copy of the book to help teen mums, email executiveofficer@midwives.org.au or call the Australian College of Midwives on 6230 7333.