Birthing services in Central Australia

There are 3 models of care for pregnant women giving birth at Alice Springs Hospital:

• midwifery group practice
• midwives clinic
• shared care

You can decide which care service is best for you.

All services provide:

• pregnancy checks
• will discuss options of care
• support you through pregnancy, labour, birth and newborn care
• give you information you can take home to discuss with your family.

If you're worried about your pregnancy, you can call or visit the maternity ward at Alice Spring Hospital.

Midwifery group practice

The midwifery group practice is for women who would like to give birth in their own home or at the Alice Springs Hospital.

This includes women who travel to Alice Springs from remote locations to await the birth.

The midwifery group practice lets you choose between having:

• clinic or home antenatal visits
• birthing at home or in the hospital

You will see the same group of midwives for the duration of your care and for 6 weeks after birth.

There is a phone service available 24 hours a day, where you can talk to a midwife and get assessed over the phone.

You or your doctor can refer to this service, make an appointment by calling 08 8951 7067.

The practice is located in the Todd Mall, in Eurilpa House on the ground floor.

Midwives clinic

The midwives clinic is for women who are planning to give birth at the Alice Springs Hospital.

You or your doctor can refer from 8 weeks of pregnancy.

Make an appointment at the clinic by calling 08 8951 7620 or 08 8951 7621.

The clinic runs on:

• Tuesdays from 12pm - 8pm
• Mondays and Thursdays from 8am - 4pm.

Midwives will care for you during pregnancy, labour and birth.

If you and your baby are well after the birth, you can either go home 4 hours later or stay in the maternity unit for additional care.

Midwives will visit you in your home for up to 10 days after the birth.

Your doctor or community midwives and nurses will continue your care after this time.

Shared care

You can choose to share your care between:

• general practitioners
• Alukura midwives or doctors
• community clinics
• doctors or midwives at the hospital.

Your shared care team will record information about your pregnancy and health in a pregnancy record book. You must bring this to all appointments so that everyone who helps you will see the most recent information about you.

Your labour and birth care will be with the midwives and doctors in the birthing suite at Alice Springs Hospital.