Pregnancy

Antenatal Care

Congratulations!  Pregnancy is a very exciting time for you and your loved ones and we look forward to sharing this journey with you.  We are the world's longest running provider of antenatal care and have been providing outstanding care for over 100 years.

Whilst most women have pregnancies that are straightforward and low risk we have a range of options for your pregnancy care that cater for all women and their individual pregnancies.

Prior to attending your first visit at the Hospital please ensure you have visited a general practitioner to:

  • Have your pregnancy confirmed
  • Complete a Hospital referral letter
  • Have the routine antenatal blood tests performed
  • Discuss genetic screening options

Your hospital booking appointment will usually be when you are about 14 weeks pregnant.

TO BOOK THIS APPOINTMENT complete the ONLINE BOOKING FORM (no confirmation email will be received). We aim to contact you within 2-3 weeks. Please answer 'No caller ID'.

Complete the online booking form when you are 6 or more weeks pregnant

Click here to BOOK NOW

Additional information and resources for the pregnancy booking visit

If you have not heard from RHW after 3 weeks, call the Antenatal Outpatients Department on 9382 6048, or leave a voicemail on 9382 6206 and we will call you back. 

Please bring your GP Antenatal referral to your first hospital appointment and your ongoing results to subsequent appointments. 

Regardless of the model of care you choose, hospital doctors will always be available if complications or concerns arise regardless of the option of care that is chosen.

Royal Hospital for Women promotes normal birth. The Hospital is accredited as a Baby Friendly Hospital committed to the promotion of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding.

We believe that pregnancy and birth are normal life events. Through the care we provide at Royal Hospital for Women we aim to promote a nurturing environment for women and their families focusing on healthy, positive experiences throughout pregnancy, birth and the early parenting journey. Each pregnancy is a unique experience and we are committed to providing care that is tailored to your individual needs.

Antenatal Ward / Pregnancy Day Stay

For more information on the Antenatal Ward / Pregnancy Day Stay or Acute Care Unit, please click here

 

Maternity Models of Care

Pregnancy care is shared between the GPs affiliated with the RHW and midwives and doctors from the antenatal Clinic. For this option of care you would generally see your GP as well as a midwife at the hospital through a schedule of regular visits. If the need arises you will be readily referred to the hospital doctors and specialists. 

Your GP shared care team follows  the established best practice guidelines.  We aim to provide you with continuity of care with your GP and the same midwife throughout your pregnancy.

For more information, see the Midwives Clinic and GP Shared Care (GPSC) page. 

In the Midwifery Group Practice model, continuity of midwifery care is provided by a small group of midwives who are on call for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and early postnatal period at home.  You will be allocated a primary midwife but will also meet the other midwives in your group as they could provide some of your care.  The aim of Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) is to provide you with a known midwife for your birth and postnatal care at home.

The Royal Hospital for Women works with many experienced Obstetricians. You may choose to have your pregnancy care with a Private Obstetrician. Obstetricians provide continuity of care for women with pregnancies that are progressing normally, as well as for women with health conditions or complications in pregnancy.

The Malabar Midwives team commenced in 2006 targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families planning to give birth at the Royal Hospital for Women and includes non Aboriginal women who have an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander partner.  The service aims to improve maternal and infant health by providing culturally appropriate care.

The Diabetes Clinic cares for women with diabetes in pregnancy including women with Type 1, Type 2 or Gestational Diabetes. 

The Department of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (MFM) provides an integrated multidisciplinary service for women experiencing a “high risk” pregnancy.

For more information, see the Maternal-Fetal Medicine page. 

The Royal Hospital for Women has recognised how special it is to be having twins by creating a dedicated Multiple Pregnancy Clinic (MPC).  All public patients expecting twins can be offered antenatal care through this clinic.

For more information, see the Twins Clinic page. 

This clinic is for pregnant women and their families whose baby is in a ‘bottom first’ or ‘breech’ position towards the end of their pregnancy (36 weeks pregnant). Women are seen by the Breech team including an Obstetrician and a Midwife. This clinic aims to work in partnership with you and your family as you make the best decision for you and your baby. The Breech Clinic is run in the Outpatients department on the ground floor and takes place on a Thursday morning excluding public holidays.

You can be referred to the Breech Clinic by your health care provider, GP, midwife or doctor. We also welcome women from out of area if they wish to discuss their options further. You can make an appointment by calling in business hours the Outpatients department on 9382 6000 or the Clinical Midwifery Consultant on 0407 498 197.

Prior to your appointment, we recommend having an ultrasound. This ultrasound will provide important information that will help in deciding how best to manage your pregnancy and birth.

What is the Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic?

This clinic aims to provide women at high risk of preterm birth with holistic collaborative care pathways to help reduce the chance of preterm birth.

Who is at risk of preterm birth?

Women who have had/have:

  • Previous preterm birth,
  • Previous preterm ruptured membranes (< 34 weeks),
  • Late miscarriage,
  • Uterine abnormality (e.g., unicornuate uterus, uterine septum),
  • Cervical surgery (defined as cone biopsy, or multiple LLETZ)  
  • A previous cervical cerclage.
  • In addition, women who have a short cervix on ultrasound in the current pregnancy

How am I referred to the preterm clinic?

You will need to be referred by your GP, another doctor or midwife, or may be identified from the online booking form.

Prior to attending the clinic, you will have a booking appointment at the hospital with a midwife, these last around 90 mins. In this appointment your medical, family and pregnancy history is discussed. Your GP needs to complete the antenatal referral form and give you your early pregnancy pathology and ultrasound reports to bring to the appointment.

Please ensure that your GP requests a transvaginal cervical length measurement on the morphology referral.