Birthing services in Central Australia

Introduction

Maternity services in Central Australia services Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and the Barkly region.

Over 800 babies are born at Alice Springs Hospital every year.

Maternity services include:

  • antenatal clinic
  • midwives clinic
  • midwifery group practice
  • hospital or home birthing options
  • shared care
  • obstetric clinics
  • paediatric clinics
  • birthing suite
  • water birthing
  • maternity unit
  • postnatal home visits
  • neonatal unit
  • paediatric unit
  • lactation consultant for breastfeeding support.

Antenatal care in Central Australia

Antenatal care is the care you receive from doctors and midwives during your pregnancy.

The Alice Springs antenatal clinic is at the Alice Springs Hospital appointments are free for Australian residents.

Make an appointment

Once your pregnancy is confirmed, call the Alice Springs Hospital maternity unit 08 8951 7620 or 08 8951 7621.

You can self-referral or be referred by your doctor.

If you need an interpreter, let the clinic know before the appointment. The hospital will help arrange this service.

If you don't have a Medicare card, you must pay for antenatal appointments and any hospital admissions. The hospital will help you understand how much each service is and create a suitable payment plan.

Read more about medicare services, go to the Services Australia website.

What to bring to your first appointment

Bring the following to your first appointment:

  • Medicare card
  • health care card
  • a copy of any test results for this pregnancy
  • GP contact details and referral letter if you have seen a doctor
  • private health insurance card if you have one
  • passport - only if you don't have a Medicare card.

What to expect

Your first antenatal appointment may take up to an hour.

A midwife or doctor or a combination of both will discuss and record your medical, surgical, social history and general wellbeing.

You will have the opportunity to also discuss:

  • pregnancy care
  • waterbirth and birthing options
  • childbirth education classes
  • feeding preferences for baby
  • pregnancy health records
  • screening tests
  • future antenatal clinic visits.

Specialist medical care during pregnancy

Specialist medical care during pregnancy is provided by an obstetrician.

They provide care for women who need extra medical care during their pregnancy, birth and after the baby is born.

Obstetric clinics are held at the hospital on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

You need a referral from your doctor or midwife.

Each visit is structured around your needs.

All pregnancy assessments and tests will be done in these sessions.

Pregnant women with diabetes

The diabetes antenatal clinic and education team (DANCE) looks after pregnant women with diabetes in the Alice Springs region.

You need a referral from your doctor or midwife for this clinic.

This clinic operates on a Wednesday at the hospital and is supported by:

  • midwives
  • doctors
  • dietitians
  • diabetes educators - healthcare professionals who help pregnant women self-manage their diabetes.

Find out more about diabetes in pregnancy.


Midwife 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:

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.


Childbirth education classes in Alice Springs

You can attend a free childbirth education class a the Alice Springs Hospital.

Call the maternity unit to make a booking 08 8951 7620.

Topics include:

  • pregnancy and healthy food
  • pregnancy assessments
  • tests and genetic testing in pregnancy
  • how labour starts, managing early labour at home
  • when to go to hospital in labour
  • normal labour and active birth
  • water birth
  • pain management options
  • variations to normal labour
  • first days with the new baby
  • breastfeeding
  • general recovery after birth
  • parenting support
  • what to take to hospital.

Birth and beyond parent resource centre

The birth and beyond parent resource Centre is a non-government organisation that provides Alice Springs families with information, support and education for pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

Services include:

  • birth classes
  • library
  • DVD collection
  • community newsletter
  • breast pump hire
  • weekly information sessions
  • meetings with other parents.

Giving birth at Alice Springs Hospital

At Alice Springs Hospital, there are 4 birthing rooms and 16 beds for women who are either waiting to give birth or have already birthed.

Contact the maternity ward

If you're worried about your pregnancy, you can visit the maternity ward at Alice Springs Hospital or you can contact the ward by calling 08 8951 7620.

Support person

When you come to the hospital to give birth, you're encouraged to have someone with you, someone you feel comfortable with, who can help you with emotional and physical support.

This person can be with you in the room where you give birth or in the operation room if you're having a C-section.

After giving birth

After giving birth at the hospital, there is an option to:

  • go home 4 hours after birth
  • move to the maternity unit where you can be given midwifery support for 3 - 5 days.

This will depend on you and your baby's health and your preferences.

If you stay in hospital, the midwives and doctors will check on you every day and help you take care of your new baby.

Visitors

Partners are welcomed anytime but are encouraged to allow a rest period for the mothers between 12pm and 2pm.

If you would like other visitors, including children and family, check the rules for visiting Alice Springs Hospital.

Meals

Meals are served at:

  • breakfast at 8am
  • lunch at 12pm
  • dinner at 5.30pm.

Returning home

If you're returning to a remote area, the maternity unit will organise accommodation and travel before you leave the hospital. Your care will continue at the health clinic closest to your home.

If you live locally read more about the midwife services.

The hospital will send a letter to you, your GP and your nearest community care clinic.

The letter includes information about your:

  • pregnancy
  • labour
  • birth
  • after birth.

It is recommended that you and your baby have a 6 week post-birth check up. Your general practitioner, community care centre or Congress Alukura can assist you.


Lactation consultants in Alice Springs

A lactation consultant is a professional who helps with breastfeeding challenges.

After an assessment with a midwife or doctor, they might refer you to a lactation consultant.

You can also attend the breastfeeding clinic at the midwifery group practice premises on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Call the Alice Springs Hospital lactation consultant on 08 8951 7620 or the midwifery group practice to make a booking 08 8961 7067.


Tennant Creek and Barkly midwife care

At 38 weeks of pregnancy you will travel to Alice Springs to await for your labour, you will give birth at Alice Springs Hospital.

Your accommodation, travel and all pregnancy appointments will be organised before you leave home.

Pregnancy care by the midwifery group practice is provided at the Tennant Creek Hospital from Monday to Friday, with a 24 hour on-call service.

You can contact the clinic by calling 08 8962 4214.

Your care is shared between general practitioners, health clinics and the Alice Springs Hospital.

If you need a higher level of care, you are referred to the obstetric specialists at Alice Springs Hospital. Telehealth is used for these consultations.

Ultrasound services are available at the Tennant Creek Hospital.

Read more about giving birth at Alice Springs Hospital.