Choosing an option for maternity care
All options for maternity care are delivered by caring and dedicated health professionals in partnership with you and your support people. Your general practitioner (GP) or midwife will discuss these options at your first appointment.
Which maternity care best suits you?
All care options have the opportunity for discharge home at 6 hours after birth, if you have a normal birth and you and your baby are well. If you need to stay longer, you can expect to be discharged around 24 hours following a normal birth or within 72 hours after a caesarean birth.
We recommend you return to your GP at 1 week after birth (for a baby check-up) and 6 weeks after birth (a check-up for you and your baby). You may like to ask your GP if they have completed the Maternity GP Alignment Program offered by RBWH.
Midwifery care
Have your care with a midwife or a small team of midwives. Your midwife is a qualified health professional, trained and committed to providing care, education, advice and support to you and your family during pregnancy, labour, birth, and the early postnatal period.
There are different midwifery care options which include:
You are able to access Ngarrama Royal MGP if you identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman or you are having a child with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background. This small group of dedicated midwives will care for you and your family throughout your pregnancy and after your baby is born.
Your appointments: Appointments during your pregnancy are offered either in the community clinic or at hospital.
Your birth: Use of a birth pool during labour and/or water birth may be available if your labour remains low-risk. If you require a caesarean section, your Ngarrama midwife may still support you where possible.
Home visits: Your Ngarrama midwife will visit you at home after your baby is born.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required. Indigenous health workers will also provide you with support and information to help you throughout your pregnancy.
You will have most of your care with one midwife who is supported with a midwife or small team of midwives.
Your birth: Your midwife or back-up midwife, will be with you for your labour and birth.
You will have the option to birth in the Birth Centre or Birth Suite, depending on your individual needs and circumstances. Use of a birth pool during labour and/or water birth may be available if your labour remains low-risk. If you require a caesarean section, your MGP midwife may still support you where possible.
Availability: MGP has limited spaces available. If you are considering this option, please ask your GP to mention this on your referral.
Home visits: Your midwife or back-up midwife, will visit you at home after your baby is born, providing you live within the RBWH suburb catchment.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
If you have a low-risk pregnancy, you may have your care with the Birth Centre midwives. These midwives work in small caseload groups of midwives.
Your appointments: Your appointments during pregnancy and labour will be in the Birth Centre, provided everything remains low-risk.
Your birth: Use of a birth pool during labour and/or water birth may be available if your labour remains low-risk. If you require a caesarean section, your midwife may still support you where possible. If you live within the RBWH suburb catchment area, your midwife will visit you at home after your baby is born.
Availability: Birth Centre has limited spaces available. If you are considering this option, please ask your GP to mention this on your referral.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
You can have your antenatal care with a private midwife in the community and receive Medicare rebates.
Select a private midwife from one of the following:
Your appointments: Have your antenatal care with your midwife in the community and receive Medicare rebates. Your midwife can offer all of your routine blood tests and ultrasounds and recommend when to have appointment(s) at the hospital.
Your birth: Use of a birth pool during labour and/or water birth may be available if your labour remains low-risk. If you require a caesarean section, your private midwife may still support you where possible.
Home visits: Your private midwife will provide ongoing care and home visits after your baby is born.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
You may choose to be cared for by a small group of midwives in a convenient community setting. At the Nundah Community Health Centre, you and a small group of dedicated midwives coordinate your care. Your pregnancy must be low-risk if you wish to choose this option.
Your appointments: The majority of your antenatal appointments will be at Nundah Community Health Centre.
Your birth: You will have the option to birth in the Birth Centre or Birth Suite depending on your individual needs and circumstances. Use of a birth pool during labour and/or water birth may be available if your labour remains low-risk.
Home visits: If you live within the RBWH suburb catchment area, you will be offered a home visit by a RBWH midwife after you go home.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
Your care throughout pregnancy is coordinated by you and a small group of dedicated midwives.
Your appointments: Your antenatal appointments will be at RBWH.
Your birth: If possible one of your team midwives will be with you for your labour and birth. You will have the option to birth in the Birth Centre or Birth Suite, depending on your individual needs and circumstances. Use of a birth pool during labour and/or water birth may be available for you, if your labour remains low-risk. If you require a caesarean section, your midwife may still support you where possible.
Availability: Pegasus and Phoenix have limited spaces available. Please ask your GP to mention this on your referral if you are considering this option.
Home visit: If you live within the RBWH suburb catchment area, you will be offered a home visit by a RBWH midwife after you go home.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
GP shared care
You will have most of your care with your local GP.
Your appointments: Most of your appointments are with your GP with some offered at hospital.
Home visits: If you live within the RBWH suburb catchment area, you will be offered a home visit by a RBWH midwife after you go home.
It is recommended you return to your GP at 1 week after birth (a baby check-up) and 6 weeks after birth (a check-up for you and your baby).
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
Specialist care
Obstetrician and other specialists (complex health conditions)
You will receive specialist obstetric care if you have pre-existing health conditions or if problems develop during your pregnancy. A doctor or midwife will generally advise you if you need specialist care.
Your specialist team
You will be cared for by a group of different specialist doctors and other health professionals, this may include obstetricians, midwives, medical obstetric physicians, endocrinologists, cardiologists, neurologists, physiotherapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, perinatal psychology nurses, anaesthetists, social workers and/or dietitians.
Additional care
If you are unable to birth at your local hospital for medical reasons, you may be transferred to the RBWH for specialist, individualised care and support. If you have a serious medical condition, you may be also supported by the complex case midwife, who will help coordinate your care between different specialists if required.
At all times during your pregnancy and birth you will have access to obstetricians and other specialists if required.
Contact us
Maternity outpatient appointments
Location: Ground floor, Ned Hanlon Building
Phone: (07) 3646 7182
Email: rbwh_maternity
Open: Monday-Friday 8.00am-4.00pm
Private practice appointments
Phone: (07) 3646 3395
Refer a patient
Maternity outpatient
Complete the Maternity booking in referral form and forward it to Metro North Central Patient Intaketo refer your patient.
Dietitian maternity outpatient
Complete the Maternity Dietitian Outpatient Referral Form for telephone coaching weight management program.