Dr Douglas is an Australian GP and an international leader in the care of parents and babies.

 

She is a writer and researcher, with special interest in perinatal mental health and breastfeeding medicine. Over the past twenty years, Dr Douglas has published the evidence-base to the programs known as Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC or 'The Possums Programs'), translating the research into education programs for both parents and health professionals. Dr Douglas's groundbreaking work is detailed in 30 international research publications and in her best-selling The Discontented Little Baby Book. 

 

The same social and market forces which have brought us to the brink of catastrophic ecological crisis shape women's experiences in the healthcare system at this time of life. Conflicting advice, and over-diagnosis and overtreatment are widespread. NDC/Possums programs offer a paradigm shift in the way we help families who face breastfeeding, baby sleep and cry-fuss challenges, and is changing practice world-wide. 

 

Dr Douglas began developing the NDC/Possums programs from the late 1990s. She was Founder and Medical Director of the charity Possums for Mothers and Babies Pty Ltd from 2013-2023, which is now closed.

Dr Douglas has now released an updated and expanded version of The Possums Sleep Program, and an updated version of Sleep, Baby & You in collaboration with Professor Helen Ball and the Durham Infant Sleep Centre, UK. She continues to offer NDC Masterclasses and NDC Accreditation for health professionals at The NDC Institute, with other new courses under development. 

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She is also currently seeing patients at Generations Medical in Taringa, Brisbane. You can make an appointment through their website.

 

You can find all NDC Accredited Practitioners here. 

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It's been Dr Douglas's privilege to serve as a Director of the Board of the Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma since 2012, ongoing.