Dr Pamela Douglas
Academic Title-Senior Lecturer
Primary Care Clinical Unit
Pamela is a Senior Lecturer at the Discipline of General Practice, University of Queensland.
Pamela has been in general practice since 1985, working over the years in indigenous health, women’s health, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender health, as well as in family medicine. Her area of research expertise is post-birth care and the unsettled baby. She has received two PHCRED Fellowships and in 2009 was awarded the Chris Silagy Scholarship by the RACGP Foundation for her research concerning babies who cry and fuss in the first months of life. Highlights include publishing on this topic in 2011 as the editor's choice and lead article in the BMJ, and as lead article in Archives of Disease in Medicine.
Pamela’s PhD in Women's Studies explores the way contemporary representations of the reproductive maternal body impact on mother and baby health.
Research projects have included:
RACGP Foundation and Queensland Centre for Mothers and Babies. Evaluation of an interdisciplinary approach to crying babies in the first months of life: pilot study.
RACGP Foundation. Key Informant Interviews: interdisciplinary perspectives on key strategies for improving the management of crying babies in the first months of life.
RACGP Foundation. Evaluation of an interdisciplinary training program for health professionals who manage unsettled babies in the first months of life.
She is currently a Fellow of Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and memberships include the Australian Association for Academic Primary Care, Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and the Australian Association of Infant Mental Health.
Dr Pamela Douglas’ website link www.pameladouglas.com.au
Book Chapters
Whittingham, K. and Douglas, P. (2016). "Possums": building contextual behavioural science into an innovative evidence-based approach to parenting support in early life. Psychotherapy in parenthood and beyond: personal enrichment in our lives. (pp. 43-56) edited by Bruce Kirkcaldy. Turin, Italy: Edizioni Minerva Medica.
Douglas, Pamela (2013). Milkmother memoir. Motherhood Memories: Mothers Creating/Writing Lives. (pp. 105-130) edited by Nicole L. Willey and Justine Dymond. Bradford, ON, Canada: Demeter Press.
Journal Articles
Crawford, Emma Jean, Crook, Emma C., Waldby, Lucy and Douglas, Pamela (2024). New perspectives on responsive infant care: a qualitative study of the ways in which Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) shapes mother-infant co-occupations. Journal of Occupational Science, 31 (2), 337-353. doi: 10.1080/14427591.2023.2236117
Douglas, Pamela (2023). Does the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine’s Clinical Protocol #36 ‘The Mastitis Spectrum’ promote overtreatment and risk worsened outcomes for breastfeeding families? Commentary. International Breastfeeding Journal, 18 (1) 51, 1-11. doi: 10.1186/s13006-023-00588-8
Pattinson, Cassandra L., Edmed, Shannon, Smith, Simon S. and Douglas, Pamela S. (2023). Questioning the effectiveness of behavioural sleep interventions for infants. The Journal of Pediatrics, 261 113335, 113335. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.01.012
Douglas, Pamela Sylvia, Perrella, Sharon Lisa and Geddes, Donna Tracy (2022). A brief gestalt intervention changes ultrasound measures of tongue movement during breastfeeding: case series. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 22 (1) 94, 94. doi: 10.1186/s12884-021-04363-7
Douglas, Pamela (2022). Re-thinking benign inflammation of the lactating breast: Classification, prevention, and management. Women's Health, 18, 1-20. doi: 10.1177/17455057221091349
Douglas, Pamela (2022). Re-thinking lactation-related nipple pain and damage. Women's Health, 18, 17455057221087865. doi: 10.1177/17455057221087865
Douglas, Pamela (2022). Re-thinking benign inflammation of the lactating breast: a mechanobiological model. Women's Health, 18, 1-15. doi: 10.1177/17455065221075907
Crawford, Emma, Whittingham, Koa, Pallett, Emma, Douglas, Pamela and Creedy, Debra K. (2021). An evaluation of Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC/Possums Programs) in the first 12 months of life. Maternal and Child Health Journal, 26 (1), 110-123. doi: 10.1007/s10995-021-03230-3
Lefort, Yvonne, Evans, Amy, Livingstone, Verity, Douglas, Pamela, Dahlquist, Nanette, Donnelly, Brian, Leeper, Kathy, Harley, Earl and Lappin, Susan (2021). Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Position Statement on Ankyloglossia in Breastfeeding Dyads. Breastfeeding Medicine, 16 (4), 278-281. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2021.29179.ylf
Douglas, Pamela (2021). Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of nipple and breast candidiasis: a review of the relationship between diagnoses of mammary candidiasis and Candida albicans in breastfeeding women. Women's Health, 17, 1-10. doi: 10.1177/17455065211031480
Whittingham, Koa, Palmer, Chloe, Douglas, Pamela, Creedy, Debra K. and Sheffield, Jeanie (2020). Evaluating the “possums” health professional training in parent–infant sleep. Infant Mental Health Journal, 41 (5) imhj.21885, 603-613. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21885
Douglas, Pamela S. (2019). Pre-emptive intervention for autism spectrum disorder: theoretical foundations and clinical translation. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 13 66, 66. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2019.00066
Ball, Helen L., Douglas, Pamela S., Kulasinghe, Kavindri, Whittingham, Koa and Hill, Peter (2018). The Possums Infant Sleep Program: parents’ perspectives on a novel parent-infant sleep intervention in Australia. Sleep Health, 4 (6), 519-526. doi: 10.1016/j.sleh.2018.08.007
Kapoor, Vishal, Douglas, Pamela S., Hill, Peter S., Walsh, Laurence J and Tennant, Marc (2018). Frenotomy for tongue-tie in Australian children, 2006-2016: an increasing problem. Medical Journal of Australia, 208 (2), 88-89. doi: 10.5694/mja17.00438
Douglas, Pamela and Geddes, Donna (2017). Practice-based interpretation of ultrasound studies leads the way to more effective clinical support and less pharmaceutical and surgical intervention for breastfeeding infants. Midwifery, 58, 145-155. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2017.12.007
Baeza, Carmela, Genna, Catherine Watson, Murphy, James, Hazelbaker, Alison K., Kaplan, Martin, Martinelli, Roberta, Marchesan, Irene, Douglas, Pamela and Smillie, Christina (2017). Assessment and classification of tongue-tie. Clinical Lactation, 8 (3), 93-98. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.93
Douglas, Pamela (2017). Making sense of studies that claim benefits of frenotomy in the absence of classic tongue-tie. Journal of Human Lactation, 33 (3), 519-523. doi: 10.1177/0890334417706694
Douglas, Pamela and Keogh, Renee (2017). Gestalt breastfeeding: Helping mothers and infants optimize positional stability and intraoral breast tissue volume for effective, pain-free milk transfer. Journal of Human Lactation, 33 (3), 509-518. doi: 10.1177/0890334417707958
Douglas, Pamela Sylvia (2017). Conclusions of Ghaheri's study that laser surgery for posterior tongue and lip ties improves breastfeeding are not substantiated. Breastfeeding Medicine, 12 (3), 180-181. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2017.0008
Wattis, Lois, Kam, Renee and Douglas, Pamela (2017). Three experienced lactation consultants reflect upon the oral tie phenomenon. Breastfeeding Review, 25 (1), 9-15.
Genna, Catherine Watson, Murphy, James, Hazelbaker, Alison K., Kaplan, Martin, Smillie, Christina, Martinelli, Roberta, Marchesan, Irene, Baeza, Carmela and Douglas, Pamela (2017). Scope of practice for IBCLCs and identifying via social media. Clinical Lactation, 8 (3), 118-120. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.118
Genna, Catherine Watson, Murphy, James, Smillie, Christina, Martinelli, Roberta, Marchesan, Irene, Kaplan, Martin, Hazelbaker, Alison K., Douglas, Pamela and Baeza, Carmela (2017). Treating tongue-tie. Clinical Lactation, 8 (3), 99-106. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.99
Hazelbaker, Alison K., Baeza, Carmela, Genna, Catherine Watson, Murphy, James, Kaplan, Martin, Douglas, Pamela, Martinelli, Roberta, Marchesan, Irene and Smillie, Christina (2017). Incidence and prevalence of tongue-tie. Clinical Lactation, 8 (3), 89-92. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.89
Smillie, Christina, Genna, Catherine Watson, Murphy, James, Hazelbaker, Alison K., Kaplan, Martin, Douglas, Pamela, Martinelli, Roberta, Marchesan, Irene and Baeza, Carmela (2017). Post-revision instructions and pain relief. Clinical Lactation, 8 (3), 107-109. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.107
Genna, Catherine Watson, Murphy, James, Kaplan, Martin, Hazelbaker, Alison K., Baeza, Carmela, Smillie, Christina, Martinelli, Roberta, Marchesan, Irene and Douglas, Pamela (2017). Complementary techniques to address tongue-tie. Clinical Lactation, 8 (3), 113-117. doi: 10.1891/2158-0782.8.3.113
Douglas, Pamela S. (2016). High level evidence does not support first wave behavioural approaches to parent-infant sleep. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 29, 121-122. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2015.10.007
Douglas, Pamela (2016). Response to "Behavioral management of sleep problems in infants under 6 months - what works?". Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 37 (6), 520-521. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0000000000000311
Williams, Owain, Mutch, Allyson, Douglas, Pamela S., Boyle, Frances M. and Hill, Peter S. (2015). Proposed changes to Medicare: undermining equity and outcomes in Australian primary health care?. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39 (2), 106-108. doi: 10.1111/1753-6405.12348
Douglas, Pamela and Whittingham, Koa (2015). RESPONSE TO 'SLEEPING LIKE A BABY? INFANT SLEEP: IMPACT ON CARE GIVERS AND CURRENT CONTROVERSIES'. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 51 (2), 234-234. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12835
Whittingham, Koa and Douglas, Pamela (2014). Optimizing parent-infant sleep from birth to 6 months: a new paradigm. Infant Mental Health Journal, 35 (6), 614-623. doi: 10.1002/imhj.21455
Douglas, Pamela Sylvia and Hill, Peter Stewart (2013). A neurobiological model for cry-fuss problems in the first three to four months of life. Medical Hypotheses, 81 (5), 816-822. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2013.09.004
Douglas, Pamela S., Miller, Yvette, Bucetti, Anne, Hill, Peter S. and Creedy, Debra K. (2013). Preliminary evaluation of a primary care intervention for cry-fuss behaviours in the first 3-4 months of life ('The Possums Approach'): effects on cry-fuss behaviours and matrnal mood. Australian Journal of Primary Health, Online Early (1), 1-8. doi: 10.1071/PY13011
Douglas, Pamela S. and Hill, Peter S. (2013). Behavioral sleep interventions in the first six months of life do not improve outcomes for mothers or infants: a systematic review. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 34 (7), 497-507. doi: 10.1097/DBP.0b013e31829cafa6
Douglas, Pamela and Shirley, Beth (2013). How to treat: the crying baby. Australian Doctor, 31-38.
Douglas, Pamela Sylvia (2013). Diagnosing gastro-oesophageal reflux disease or lactose intolerance in babies who cry a lot in the first few months overlooks feeding problems. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 49 (4), E252-E256. doi: 10.1111/jpc.12153
Douglas, Pamela Sylvia (2013). Rethinking "posterior" tongue-tie. Breastfeeding Medicine, 8 [Fast Track Articles] (6), 1-4. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2013.0103
Douglas, Pamela S., Mares, Renata E. and Hill, Peter S. (2012). Interdisciplinary perspectives on the management of the unsettled baby: key strategies for improved outcomes. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 18 (4), 332-338. doi: 10.1071/PY11073
Douglas, Pamela and Hill, Peter (2011). Managing infants who cry excessively in the first few months of life. British Medical Journal, 343 (7836) d7772, 1-6. doi: 10.1136/bmj.d7772
Douglas, Pamela S. and Hill, Peter S. (2011). The crying baby: what approach?. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 23 (5), 523-529. doi: 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834a1b78
Douglas, Pamela Sylvia, Hill, Peter Stewart and Brodribb, Wendy (2011). The unsettled baby: How complexity science helps. Archives of Disease in Childhood, 96 (9), 793-797. doi: 10.1136/adc.2010.199190
Douglas, Pamela (2011). The rise and fall of infant reflux: The limits of evidence-based medicine. Griffith Review, 32.
Douglas, Pamela S. and Hiscock, Harriet (2010). The unsettled baby: Crying out for an integrated, multidisciplinary primary care approach. Medical Journal of Australia, 193 (9), 533-536. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb04039.x
Douglas, Pamela (2010). Yummy mummy and the medicalised milkmother. Hecate: An interdisciplinary journal of women's liberation, 36 (1/2), 119-135.
Douglas, Pamela (2007). Crying baby. Hecate, 33 (2), 74-75.
Douglas, P. S. (2005). Excessive crying and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in infants: misalignment of biology and culture. Medical Hypotheses, 64 (5), 887-898. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2004.12.009