My Practice:

I provide education and consultation services for pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding in private practice.

I am employed in a specialist Lactation Consultant role (CN/LC) at Nambour General Hospital. Consequently I am unable to offer direct midwifery birth support services.

The cost of a consultation in your home is $100 and private health fund rebates may apply. A referral from a medical practitioner is not required.

What can I offer in your Birthjourney?

• I can offer holistic, woman-centred care.
• I am committed to offering women the choice of personalised care which is focussed on their individual needs and family structure.
• I will visit you in your home for all care during your pregnancy and postnatally.
• I will support women who are planning a vaginal birth after a caesarian section (VBAC).
• I have extensive educational resources available for loan.

Professional Profile & Service

My Qualifications:
I have attained a Bachelor of Nursing Degree (Edith Cowan University, Perth WA) and Post Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing, Midwifery (Curtin University, Perth WA) - gaining high distinctions in both courses.

I served as a volunteer St. John's Ambulance officer for several years before studying nursing. My experience includes surgical, medical and emergency nursing. I gained midwifery experience at King Edward Memorial Hospital Perth, Rockingham Kwinana District Hospital, and Peel Health Campus Mandurah.

I have written two clinical papers which have been published in professional journals (internationally and nationally):

=> More publications by Lois Wattis

My Registrations:
I am registered with the Queensland Nursing Council in Division 1 as a Comprehensive Registered Nurse/Midwife with General Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Midwifery qualifications (RN/RM).

I am accredited with the Australian College of Midwives Inc. as an Independent Practising Midwife (IPM). I am also a Fellow of the Australian College of Midwives (FACM) which was awarded in 2005 at the International Congress of Midwives, Brisbane in recognition of my services to women and midwifery in Australia. I am accredited as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC).

My History:
After working initially in the hospital maternity system, I practised as a Community Midwife in Western Australia for over four years providing primary midwifery care and conducting home births.

I was contracted to the Community Midwifery Program which services women in the metropolitan area of Perth, Western Australia. Program midwives provide women with continuous primary care with the choice of home birth, or birth in hospital if necessary. The Community Midwifery Program is funded through the Health Dept. WA.

My commitment to developing birth options in the Peel Region of WA came to fruition with the formation of the "Peel Pregnancy Resources & Midwifery Support Group - PR&MS", and the provision of free midwifery advice via the Pregnancy and Childbirth Information Service in Pinjarra WA. I contributed to the development of the document "Implementing the National Maternity Action Plan in WA" (NMAP).