Bumper baby Expo ready for debut

EXPECTANT mums, those with little ones and their families will be able to access a huge amount of like-minded service providers and experts at the first-ever Birth and Baby Expo on Sunday 27 October at Strathdale Community Centre.

Representatives from the Bendigo Health Parent Infant Unit and the Victorian Virtual Emergency Department will be in attendance, as well as lactation consultants, private midwives, physiotherapists, osteopaths, naturopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors and traditional chinese medicine practitioners, plus much, much more.

There will also be live talks, exclusive discounts and door prizes offered throughout the day.

The Expo is the brainchild of local doulas (birth coaches/companions) Mel Chisholm and Teghan Gregg, who saw an opportunity and need to showcase local pregnancy and birth-related consultants and businesses in the same place at the same time.

Ms Gregg said it’s the community aspect of the Expo that’s driven the project to fruition, which has taken 12 months to prepare.

“I feel like the more we’ve all connected as service providers, the more we’ve all realised and understood that there’s a huge need for something like this in Bendigo,” she said.

“We’re trying to build that old village back up. People say it takes a village, and we’re trying to encourage that within our (growing) collective.”

The Bendigo Birth and Baby Expo takes place on Sunday 27 October from 10am to 3pm at Strathdale Community Centre.

Tickets can be purchased on the Humanitix website for $5, with entry for anyone under the age of 18 free.