Frequently Asked Questions

How do I prepare for an appointment?

Please complete your Intake Form/s as early as possible. Providing these details prior to your appointment allows us more time during your consultation to focus on your concern. If you could also locate your Red Book before I arrive that would be greatly appreciated.

When I visit families I want them to be comfortable and relaxed. Please don’t feel like you have to clean, tidy up, alter your daily schedule or “entertain” me.

If your appointment is feeding related it’s ideal if baby hasn’t fed immediately before I arrive. Having said that, I know what it’s like to have a hangry baby so don’t hesitate to respond to your baby’s needs as required. Usually some skin to skin with mum is often all the encouragement that’s needed for them to feed again.   

If your service is eligible for a Medicare benefit Baby Business can submit the claim on your behalf. To enable this please ensure you have provided Medicare with your bank account details prior to your appointment.

I love all animals therefore as long as your pet/s are happy to see me I will be happy to see them.

I also love children so siblings are welcome at appointments. If however you feel that having brothers and/or sisters around may be too distracing for you or baby it might be best to make alternative arrangements.

    What will happen during my appointment?

    If your appointment is lactation related I will:

    • Ask any questions I might have about your pre-filled intake form.
    • Discuss how you feel breastfeeding is going and talk about your personal goals and needs.
    • Conduct a brief physical exam of your baby and  your breasts, if required.
    • Examine baby’s oral and physical structures (including checking for tongue and lip ties) and assess functionality.
    • Talk about your nutrition, sleep, and mental health.
    • Observe a full feed, if possible.
    • Facilitate optimising positioning and attachment.
    • Consider all possible solutions to any difficulties.
    • Evalute your options to maintain an adequate milk supply while being mindful of your specific circumstances.
    • Work together to develop a personalised Care Plan to help you meet your goals.
    • Ensure the Care Plan is manageable for you and your family.
    • Make referrals to any specialists if indicated.

    At all postnatal appointments I will:

    • Teach you to feed your baby using alternative methods or tools as needed.
    • Review baby’s sleeping habits, feeding (how many times a day and for how long), number of wet and dirty nappies and general behaviour.
    • Assist with expressing, if necessary, including setting up a pump, sizing for flanges and advice re timing.
    • Reassure you about biologically normal behaviour and advise you whether there are any forseable circumstances when you should be concerned.
    • Show you a number of different techniques you can try to settle your baby.
    • Answer any questions you may have.
    • Leave your family feeling more empowered and confident in your parenting abilities.
    What will happen after my appointment?

    After your appointment I will:

    • Make a claim for your Medicare rebate on your behalf (if applicable).
    • Email your customised Care Plan.
    • Attach any information I consider will be helpful for you to look over whenever you need to.
    • With your permission, I will also send your Care Plan to other health care providers (GP, midwife, paediatrician or obstetrician), as designated in your intake form, to facilitate continuity of care.

    For services and packages that include email and text support you can securely message me anytime 24/7. I will answer any questions you have asap therefore there’s no need to worry about whether you’ve thought to ask everything during your appointment.

    Follow up video consultations included with the Preparation for Parenting and Antenatal Lactation Consultation services, must be utilised before baby is 2 weeks of age. These consultations will be bulk billed to Medicare following your appointment. By proceeding with the video consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to the practitioner who rendered the service, namely Rebecca Dawson.

    The 45 minute video follow up included with Postnatal Lactation Consultations must both be used within 2 weeks of your initial appointment.

    Medicare and Private Health Fund Rebates

    Medicare claims for services that qualify for a rebate can be lodged on your behalf (although you’re more than welcome to submit the receipt yourself if you prefer). This is provisional on you having notified Medicare of your bank details.

    Follow Up video consultations included with the Preparation for Parenting and Antenatal Lactation Consultation services will be bulk billed to Medicare following your appointment. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service).

    If you baby is less than 6 weeks and 6 days old at the time of your Postnatal Lactation Consultation Follow Up video consultation this service will be bulk billed to Medicare following your appointment. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service).

    Private Health Fund benefits may also be available. I am a recognised provider with the seventeen Health Funds shown on the “About Me” page. Arrangements are in place which enable clients to claim benefits for lactation services. Additionally some Funds will also cover limited midwifery services, such as antenatal education. Benefits are dependant on your level of cover so please contact your insurer to check your policy prior to making a booking. Following your consultation you will receive a receipt to submit to your insurer. If your health fund is not listed please contact them for their requirements and I will be happy to fulfill same.

    Do you provide services outside the Gold Coast?

    I service the entire Gold Coast municipality, any associated travel costs are included in the price of the consultation.

    Fees listed on this website apply to the Gold Coast area and video consultations only (subject to change without notice). Video consultations are available nationally for most services.

    Consultations are also available in South Brisbane and Tweed Heads, travel rates are available on request. Please contact me with your address for a quote and available appointment times.

    There is a 25%  booking deposit (the balance is to be paid at the time of consultation). This is non-refundable if a cancellation is made within 48 hours of the appointment.

    Parenting Support | Parenting Support Plus

    As this service does not include a review of medical or health information only basic breastfeeding advice can be provided. For support relating to a specific feeding concern, or to discuss weaning, the appropriate service must be booked. If it becomes evident during a Parenting Support appointment that specialised advice is required then a Continuation Consultation (additional fees apply) can be booked. This ensures any information or recommendations given are appropriate for your specific circumstances.

    In-home respite is available until babies are 9 months of age.

    Overnight stays for in-home respite can be arranged on request.

    The most suitable feeding method during an in-home respite visit will be discussed with you. This will be dependent on the age of your baby, your preferences and the length of the booking.

    Video Consultations

    All services (excluding Parenting Support) can be conducted either in your home or via secure video chat technology.

    You will receive a Zoom link that can be accessed using any device with internet connection that supports a microphone and camera.

    It is not possible to physically examine your baby or your breasts through the internet. Therefore if your concern relates to any possible oral restrictions it may be necessary for you to send photos of your baby’s mouth prior to the appointment. The requirements for these photos will be explained to you and they will be stored in a secure Practice Management System. By working together we can, in most instances, do everything else we would normally do during a home visit.

    Follow up video consultations included with the Preparation for Parenting and Antenatal Lactation Consultation services, must be utilised before baby is 2 weeks of age. These consultations will be bulk billed to Medicare following your appointment. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service).

    The 45 minute video follow up included with Postnatal Lactation Consultations must be used within 2 weeks of your initial appointment.

    Both 15 and 45 minute Bulk Billed Video Consultations are only available via video call. To meet the eligibility criteria for these services you must be 6 weeks postpartum, or less. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service). Appointments are strictly 15 or 45 minutes in duration (as per your booking) however multiple appointments may be booked if necessary. Consultations must all be on separate days and are only available until you are 6 weeks postpartum.

    Text | Email Support

    24/7 UNLIMITED text or email support.

    Questions relating to pregnancy, feeding and early parenting welcome.

    Available during antenatal and/or postnatal period.

    No previous consultation with Baby Business is necessary however an Intake Form will be required.

    7, 14 or 28 days or text and email support can be purchased on the website.

    Every endeavour is made to reply to messages within six hours however a response is guaranteed within fourteen hours.

    Fees are non-refundable.

    Only general advice can be given. It is important to note that there may be some circumstances when an answer via text is not suitable or effective. Any question, or situation, considered to be of such a complex nature that further information must be obtained will require a Continuation Consultation (additional fees apply). This will enable a thorough assessment to be carried out to ensure any advice or recommended course of action is safe and appropriate.

    After purchasing 1, 2 or 4 weeks of support please text or email your name and contact details (including mobile number, suburb and email address) to either 0488853334 or bec@babybusiness.com.au so that an Intake Form can be provided to you. Once the completed form is received you will be sent confirmation that your period of support has begun.

    * If your concern is of an urgent medical nature you must immediately contact emergency services.

    Booking Terms and Conditions

    I respect that your time is valuable and appreciate that you understand mine is too.

    A deposit of 25% is required at the time of booking (excluding Bulk Billed Consultations and Video Follow-Ups).

    Baby Business will send a booking reminder 24 hours prior to your appointment. A two hour grace period will apply following this message. This represents the last opportunity to cancel your appointment without penalty. After this two hour grace period all cancellations will incur an administration fee equal to 25% of the service or package price. Confirmations, rebookings and cancellations made during this grace period can be made via return text. Prior to this point cancellations and rebookings may be made via email or text.

    Fees are set out in the services and packages menus on this website. Baby Business reserves the right to change these fees at any time.

    Total payment (less deposit) for any service is due at the time of consultation.

    The Parenting Support Plus fee is to be paid in full (less deposit) at the first appointment in the package.

    Payments can be made via Stripe (credit card), direct deposit or gift certificate.

    Any balance that remains outstanding will be considered a default and (unless alternative arrangements for payment have been agreed upon prior to the consultation), will be forwarded to a collection agency after 7 days.

    If you are not available at the time of your booking (either at your home or via video link) an administration fee equal to 25% of the service or package price will be charged.

    Midwifery services (those that attract a Medicare rebate) are GST exempt. GST is however payable on Lactation Services and this has been included in the fee structure.

    Baby Business provides services to anyone living within the Gold Coast City Council boundary, the associated travel costs are included in the price of the consultation.

    The fees listed on this website apply to the Gold Coast area and video consultations only. Video consultations are available nationally.

    Consultations are also available in South Brisbane and Tweed, rates outside the Gold Coast area are available on request. Please contact me with your address for a price and available appointment times.

    Once a service has been provided the fee is non-refundable.

    The 45 minute follow-up video consultation included in the Preparation for Parenting and Antenatal Lactation Consultation services must be used before baby is 2 weeks old and will be bulk billed to Medicare following your appointment. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service).

    The 45 minute video follow-up included with Postnatal Lactation Consultations must be used within 2 weeks of your initial appointment. If your baby is less than 6 weeks and 6 days old at the time of this consultation the service will be bulk billed to Medicare following your appointment. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service).

    Both 15 and 45 minute Bulk Billed Video Consultations are only available via video call. To meet the eligibility criteria for these services you must be 6 weeks postpartum, or less. By proceeding with the consultation you are assigning your right to benefits to Rebecca Dawson (the practitioner who rendered the service). Appointments are strictly 15 or 45 minutes in duration (as per your booking) however multiple appointments may be booked if necessary. Consultations must all be on separate days and are only available until you are 6 weeks postpartum.

    Baby Business clients who have had a Preparation for Parenting Consultation, Antenatal Lactation Consultation or Postnatal Lactation Consultation are entitled to a 20% discount on future services (Text | Email Support excluded). Discount will be applied at the time your balance payment is made.

    An abridged version of these Booking Terms & Conditions can be found in the Baby Business Booking Page. They are to be read in conjunction with our Privacy Policy and the Website Terms & Conditions.

    By proceeding with your booking you confirm that you have read and understood the terms and conditions and discussed any outstanding questions with your health care provider.