Choosing your maternity care
Mater Mothers’ Hospital acknowledge that pregnancy is an exciting time for women and their families and offers a range of services to meet your individual needs.
Your choice of care will be affected by:
- your wishes
- complications that arose in a previous pregnancy
- any medical conditions that you now have
- conditions that may arise in this pregnancy
- where you reside.
Mater Mothers’ Hospital provides the following choices for your maternity care:
Read more information about Mater Mothers’ Hospital choices for maternity care.
General Practitioner (GP) shared care
If there are no complications with your pregnancy, your GP can provide your antenatal care from their surgery. This is beneficial if your GP will be the main health carer for you and your family after your baby is born.
During your pregnancy your GP will be able to get to know you and your family. You will visit the hospital early in your pregnancy and again at 36 weeks. You will then continue care with your GP until the baby’s due date. If your baby has not been born one week after this, you will return to the hospital.
Your baby will be born in hospital. If any complications arise during your pregnancy your GP will refer you to a Mater Mothers’ Hospital obstetrician.
Find GPs accredited to provide shared care at Mater Mothers' Hospital.
Obstetric care
If you experience complications during your pregnancy an obstetrician will be involved in your care and you will attend the hospital antenatal clinic to see doctors and midwives. Care from other services, such as Maternal Fetal Medicine, can be arranged if required.
Midwifery care
Mater Mothers’ Hospital midwives will provide support in hospital and community-based clinics. The midwifery and nursing team will look after you on the postnatal ward after your baby’s birth. A Midwifery or Nursing Unit Manager is responsible for each ward and clinical department. If you have any concerns about your care, you may ask to speak to the manager of your ward or clinical department.
Midwifery group practice
Mater Mothers’ Hospital Midwifery Group Practice is designed to ensure that you receive dedicated, consistent care throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the early weeks after your baby is born. You will be looked after by a dedicated midwife, who will get to know you very well and provide care in consultation with you and your family.
The midwives in the group practice work closely with the Mater Mothers’ Hospital obstetric team, so that you will receive specialist care when or if needed. The program cares for women who are generally well, and have little risk of complications.
Read more information about Mater Mothers’ Hospital Midwifery Group Practice
Read more about Mater Mothers’ Hospital Choices of Maternity Care