Pregnancy, birth and baby in Hunter New England

​Women requiring specialist or higher-level care will be referred to the High Risk Clinic.

Community antenatal clinics make our services more convenient for women to access ongoing antenatal care in their local communities. These clinics are run by midwives and are for healthy pregnant women with normal risk for medical or obstetric conditions. You can choose a community clinic near you:

Shared care means that you are cared for by your GP in consultation with the hospital doctors and midwives. GP shared care requires all women to attend their local hospital for an initial visit, a visit at 28 weeks and 36 weeks.  

Your baby will be born at a maternity hospital. Shared care enables you to continue seeing your family doctor, who you already know and trust, during your pregnancy, and this may be more convenient for you.

If you're a healthy woman with normal risk for medical or obstetric conditions, and interested in continuity of midwifery care, midwifery group practice (MGP) may be the model of care to suit you.

MGP offers you continuous care with a known midwife throughout your pregnancy birth and postnatal period. You'll get to know your allocated midwife and other midwives from the team. 

MGP model of care is available at:

Hunter Midwifery Group Practice (HMGP)

HMGP midwives provide continuity of midwifery care for healthy women with normal risk for medical or obstetric conditions. You'll be assigned a midwife who will coordinate with you all your care throughout your pregnancy, birth and for 2 weeks after the birth of your baby. 

The service is based at John Hunter Hospital (JHH), with antenatal care provided at one of our community antenatal clinics, JHH or at a home visit. This will be discussed and arranged with your midwife. Most women have their babies at the JHH Birth Centre and go home after 4-6 hours, where the majority of postnatal care can be provided in your home.

John Hunter Hospital Birth Centre Team

John Hunter Hospital Birth Centre Team offers women continuous care with a known midwife throughout the pregnancy and birth. The service is based at John Hunter Hospital (JHH), with antenatal care provided at one of our community antenatal clinic. Most women have their babies at the JHH Birth Centre and go home after 4-6 hours, where the majority of postnatal care can be provided in your home by the postnatal home maternity midwife.

Belmont Midwifery Group Practice (BMGP)

BMGP is a model of care offered by John Hunter Maternity Services which provides women-centred care through pregnancy, birth and for up to 2 weeks after the birth of your baby. Belmont Birthing Centre is a free-standing birthing unit located on the second floor of Belmont District Hospital, staffed by a team of midwives offering holistic and expert midwifery care.

BMGP offers a warm, family-friendly, low technology environment. You'll be allocated a primary care midwife who will care for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and for up to 2 weeks at home. If at any time your primary midwife is on leave, you'll be cared for by another midwife in the BMGP team. You will get to know most of the midwives in the team. You may also choose to see your GP for your routine pregnancy blood tests and scans. Your midwives will consult and collaborate with an obstetrician at John Hunter Hospital as required.

This model of care is available to women who have a healthy pregnancy with normal risk of obstetric or medical conditions. The midwives at your booking visit will discuss with you whether this is a suitable option.

BMGP offers:

• Birth at the Belmont Birthing Centre.
• A public health funded homebirth service: some women who book to have their babies under the care of BMGP choose to have a planned homebirth with the care and support of Belmont midwives. If this is an option that interests you, please ask your midwife at Belmont for more information. There are some restrictions, including set geographical boundaries, that we are happy to discuss with you.

Maitland Midwifery Group Practice (MMGP)

Maitland MGP service offers women continuous care from booking visit with a known midwife throughout the pregnancy birth and postnatal period when you are discharged from hospital usually after 4-6 hours where the majority of postnatal care can be provided in your home. 

You'll get to know your allocated midwife and other midwives from the team. Our team of 7 midwives are focused on individualised care, early discharge from hospital and includes education and support for normal birth and breastfeeding.

Glen Innes Hospital Midwifery Group Practice

The Glen Innes Hospital Midwifery Group Practice program offers you 1 midwife (who works in a team) who will care for you in your pregnancy and at home for up to 6 weeks after your baby is born. Your midwife will support you with active labour, normal birth, breastfeeding and early discharge from the birthing unit.

The midwives consult with a local GP obstetrician, obstetricians in Armidale, Tamworth or JHH, according to your individual health and pregnancy needs.

You'll need to come to the maternity unit for a first visit between 11-14 weeks with a midwife. Your baby will be born at Glen Innes Hospital unless certain pregnancy complications arise.

MAPS is available at Maitland Hospital and has an outreach at Cessnock Hospital for women birthing at Maitland Hospital. 

This provides a continuity model of midwifery care in the antenatal and postnatal period. Midwives work within a team based on geographical location and you will be assigned a midwife within that team. The midwife will coordinate all antenatal and postnatal care home visits and followup if discharged from hospital early.

Specialist obstetric care

Specialist obstetricians are best able to care for women who have pregnancies complicated by numerous factors including (but not limited to):

• a previous pregnancy requiring specialist care and/or hospitalisation
• a pregnancy that is not progressing normally
• a multiple pregnancy, for example twins
• diabetes and/or other conditions.

All women have access to specialist obstetric care within Hunter New England LHD.

Specialist obstetric care clinics are available at:

• Armidale Hospital 
• John Hunter Hospital
• Maitland Hospital
• Manning Hospital
• Tamworth Hospital
• Moree Hospital

Pregnancy Connect High Risk Obstetric Virtual (Telehealth) Service

Specialist obstetricians provide virual (telehealth) antenatal care for high-risk pregnancies in partnership with your local maternity service. Care is provided in your local community where available. 

John Hunter Hospital M3Team: care for known complex pregnancies

For some women with certain medical conditions or complicated pregnancies, we offer the option of having care by a team of obstetricians, other specialists and midwives. This model of care is only available at John Hunter Hospital and referrals will take place at your Initial Maternity Assessment and Planning (IMAP) appointment.

The M3Team will provide your pregnancy care at the John Hunter Hospital Antenatal Clinic. You can enquire about this team at your first visit.

This model of care is available at some of our rural facilities and is provided by general practitioners (GPs) with an Advanced Diploma in Obstetrics in consultation with consultant obstetricians according to your individual health and pregnancy needs. This option is not available at John Hunter Hospital or Maitland Hospital.

You'll need to come to the maternity unit for your first visit. You'll need to attend the hospital for a minimum of 3 visits, the initial visit, 28 weeks and 36 weeks. Your baby will be born at your closest hospital maternity unit unless certain pregnancy complications arise. Your GP obstetrician will be available and generally present for your birth. The care during labour will be provided by the midwives at the hospital.

Women seeing a private obstetrician may birth at Hunter New England LHD hospitals. Women choosing this option of care will see their obstetrician for all their antenatal care in their obstetrician's private consulting rooms. The first visit for all women regardless of care provider, is recommended between 11-14 weeks gestation.

You'll need to contact your obstetrician early in your pregnancy and ensure they have the ability to provide you care and continue pregnancy care at their private rooms. A discussion with your obstetrician would be required if you're wanting to birth in the nearest public hospital.

You may choose to have care with a privately practising midwife who will care for your pregnancy and birth. If required your private midwife may be able to support you to birth at your local maternity facility. An initial visit is recommended at your local hospital between 11-14 weeks gestation.   

The AMIHS is a culturally led service providing culturally safe care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, and/or women whose baby will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. The service aims to provide culturally appropriate support and education during pregnancy, after birth and up to 6 weeks postnatally.

An AMIHS midwife works alongside Aboriginal health workers and Aboriginal health practitioners to provide culturally safe maternity care for women. Some AMIHS teams have social workers and lactation consultants available.

Services provided include:

• comprehensive and regular antenatal health checks
• cultural support
• booking in to maternity hospitals
• antenatal education
• healthy lifestyle choices such as smoking cessation programs
• referral and support to access other services
• health promotion and community development activities
• postnatal checks and support
• parenting support
• breastfeeding support
• information on infant feeding and nutrition.

Where available, we work closely with Aboriginal Child and Family Health programs such as Building Strong Foundations (BSF) and New Directions to ensure a smooth transition of care for your family, with the goal to support families and children up to 5-8 years.

You can contact your local AMIHS service if you:

• think you are pregnant or have a positive pregnancy test.
   

How to access AMIHS

AMIHS care is available at the following locations:

Birra Li video series

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Video transcript

Birra Li - Pregnancy

[Sarah Corrigan, Aboriginal Health Worker]
 

The earlier that we access pregnancy care we know the better the health outcomes for both mum and bub at the end of the pregnancy. 

 

Here in Newcastle as part of the John Hunter Hospital, we have several different models of care available for women who are pregnant. 

 

You can come through Birra Li which is the Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service, you can get a midwife and Aboriginal health worker. They attend your antenatal appointments with you. They can be at a clinic, at home visit, at the John Hunter itself. There's also midwifery teams Belmont Group Practice. We have a continuous midwife care throughout the pregnancy or you have the option of shared care so seeing your GP or your Aboriginal medical services and then coming up to the hospital for particular visits. 

 

The visits usually involve a midwife doing a check on baby, that's listening to baby's heartbeat with the doppler, measuring your pregnancy belly, taking your blood pressure, recording those on your antenatal record and then sometimes you might go up to the John Hunter and see the doctor as well.
 

In Aboriginal maternal health services we also offer the support of an Aboriginal health worker to negotiate the hospital settings and some of those clinical appointments.

 

It's really important to have regular check-ups because things can be happening inside our body due to the big changes that pregnancy has on mum's body and it's really important that we check on those so things like your iron levels, they can change without mum even realising,

so regular checks mean we know what your baseline is. It also means that if there was anything that was a little bit concerning or a worry then we can get onto that quickly and we make sure that we can get the best outcomes for you and baby. 

 

I think we've probably all heard that saying you know you eat for two when you're pregnant and it's not a hundred percent true what you actually need to do is maintain a really good healthy diet. We know that when we're making a baby they take all the good stuff out of our diet to help them grow big, so it's really important we include, you know, high iron foods in our diets so, red mean at least three times a week. We want to include green leafy veggies, vitamin C rich foods will help us to absorb iron. Whatever we put into our body will pass through the

placenta into bub.

 

We know that there isn't a safe level of alcohol that we can tell women they can drink the safest thing is not to drink at all during pregnancy.

 

Smoking tobacco during pregnancy is responsible for premature birth, smaller birth weights, respiratory illness and we also know that the effects of drugs that mother may take the babies born with those same effects including withdrawal.

 

If you've got any concerns then you can access support around that early.

 

You might often hear that a wives tale that you know towards the end of pregnancy is babies stop moving, they don't move as much and we know that this isn't true. You should feel baby's movements right up to birth, it's really important that if you think your baby's movements have changed or you haven't felt your baby move that you call your health care provider as soon as possible.

 

[Mother]

 

When I was pregnant I had the whooping cough vaccination and down at my GP then I had the flu shot as well I didn't have to have anything else so that was easy. 

 

[Sarah Corrigan, Aboriginal Health Worker]

 

It's important to remain active and to continue exercising in pregnancy, mainly because pregnancy is a normal state for women, it's something that our bodies are designed to do. We know that if mum maintains a healthy weight during pregnancy there can be less complications at birth. We know that moms recover better physically from birth when they're well. It helps with your mental health as well, especially with all those changes during pregnancy, it's good to still have a bit of me time to be able to think through things and sometimes things like specific exercise programs or classes for mum's to be can be a really good place to pick up a support network and have a yarn to other mums.

View our Bira Li video series

PFC a joint program between NSW Health and NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) for families where there are concerns about the safety and wellbeing of their unborn baby. The PFC program is voluntary and family-led. 

PFC can be offered to pregnant women and their families who meet the criteria below:

• Women are between 12-32 weeks pregnant.
• Women and families are having antenatal care or birthing at the following HNELHD Health facilities:
  • Maitland Hospital
  • John Hunter Hospital
  • Gunnedah Hospital
  • Tamworth Hospital
• Women and families have a DCJ worker involved for their unborn baby.

Women and their families can speak to their HNELHD Health worker including midwives, AMIHS or social workers or their DCJ worker about being referred to the PFC Program.  

This service is available at John Hunter, Maitland, Manning, Tamworth and Armidale Hospitals for women with early pregnancy abdominal pain, bleeding or severe vomiting (up to 18 weeks).

A referral by a medical practitioner (general practice or emergency department) is required for this service. There is no capacity for self-referral.
 

Our multicultural health unit provide the following services to women from multicultural and diverse backgrounds:

Health care interpreter services

We provide professional health care interpreters for all women from multicultural and diverse backgrounds. Health care interpreters assist women to communicate with their health professional during antenatal visits, labour, postnatal period and other health-related occasions. If you need the assistance of a health care interpreter, please let staff know and they will arrange this for you.

Aboriginal hospital liaison officers

Our Aboriginal hospital liaison officers are available in our hospitals to assist our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

If you or your family require assistance in accessing hospital services, please ask one of our staff members to contact the Aboriginal liaison officer for you.

Some women may still be using alcohol or taking drugs during pregnancy. Alcohol and drugs can have harmful effects on unborn babies. Our staff can offer a range of support for you to optimise your health and the health of your unborn baby.

Substance Use In Pregnancy and Parenting Service (SUPPS) is available at John Hunter Hospital and Tamworth Hospital. If you're pregnant and using illict drugs, drinking alcohol or on an opioid treatment program, it is important to seek pregnancy care and support as soon as possible.

For more information, talk to your doctor, midwife or the team involved in your care.

Social workers are part of the health care team looking after you and your family while you are in hospital. In some of our hospitals, a social worker may be available to see you in the antenatal clinic. This service is confidential and free.

Social workers can offer counselling to individuals and families in all areas, including:

• women or families experiencing difficulties during the pregnancy, such as family breakdown or financial difficulties
• women or families considering adoption
• information about community support services.

To contact a social worker, you can ask your midwife, doctor or other hospital staff involved in your care to contact a social worker for you.

Some of our hospitals also postnatal education films on inpatient television.

Promoting Healthy Eating

Both you and your baby need extra nutrients during all stages of pregnancy and breastfeeding. Eating a nutritious diet during pregnancy promotes healthy growth and development for your baby, prepares you for breastfeeding and is important for your own wellbeing. It is important to remember that even though you are eating for two, there is no need to eat twice as much.

A dietitian can assess your diet and suggest any changes that you may need to make. This is particularly important for women who are under- or over-weight, suffer from anaemia or a malabsorption illness such as crohn’s or coeliac disease or you follow a vegetarian diet. A dietician may be available or recommended at some sites to assess your dietary needs.  A referral by your midwife or doctor may be required to organise this.

If you need to arrange to see the dietitian during your pregnancy, your midwife or doctor can refer you.

Get Healthy in Pregnancy

The Get Healthy in Pregnancy Service is a free telephone health coaching service available to anyone aged 16 years and over. You will be able to talk with a qualified dietitian or exercise physiologist over the phone in the privacy of your own home.

Your health coach could help you to:

• eat healthily
• get active
• gain or maintain a healthy amount of weight during your pregnancy
• not drink alcohol during your pregnancy
• return to your pre-pregnancy weight.

For Aboriginal women or women carrying an Aboriginal baby you may be able to speak with the Get Healthy Aboriginal Liaison Officer (ALO), for your first phone call or one of your coaching calls. The ALO will talk to you about your needs and your access to services in the community before referring you to either a dietitian or an exercise physiologist for the remainder of your phone calls.

Discuss referral to the service with your midwife at your booking-in visit.

Find out more about Get Healthy in Pregnancy.

Helping women to move well: Physiotherapy

A physiotherapist is available to give you advice or treatment on the discomforts that may arise during your pregnancy or after your baby is born. These may include back pain, pelvic pain, pelvic floor weakness, incontinence or abdominal muscle weakness.

If you wish to see a physiotherapist, you may ask your caregiver (midwife or doctor) to refer you to the physiotherapy department or local support service.

• Breastfeeding your baby 
• Every moment matters - alcohol and pregnancy
• Foods to eat or avoid when pregnant
• Get healthy in pregnancy 
• Hyperemesis gravidarum - nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
• MotherSafe - free phone service for women in NSW, call: 1800 647 848
• My HealthCare Rights
• Next birth after caesarean
• NSW Health Having a Baby book (translated into 20 languages)
• Planning a pregnancy - health advice of you're thinking about pregnancy
• Pregnancy, birth and baby
• Preventing blood clots in pregnancy and after birth
• Quit smoking for baby
• Reducing the risk of CMV during pregnancy
• Smoking, vaping and pregnancy
• Vaccination for women who are planning pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding
• Your healthy pregnancy

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources

• Aboriginal Quitline
• Baby coming, you ready?
• Bubba's growth matters
• Every moment matters - Strong born community booklet
• Quit smokes for bubba
• Reducing the Risk of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in Pregnancy - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pamphlet
• Strong women strong babies: Pregnancy diary

• 1800 Respect - safe and healthy relationships
• Glucose tolerance test - FAQs
• Pregnancy, childbirth and incontinence - taking care of your pelvic floor
• Rhesus D negative in pregnancy - what you need to know

• Baby's movements matter
• Gestational diabetes
• Information for women – preventing perineal tears
• Sleep on your side

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources

• Bubba's movements matter
• Sleep on your side when bubba's inside
• Stronger bubba born - preventing stillbirth resources

• Group B Streptococcus and pregnancy
• Hepatitis B and newborn babies
• Medical pain relief in labour
• Non-medical pain relief in labour
• Vitamin K at birth
• Water birth

• Every week counts - timing of birth
• Safe sleeping for baby

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources

• Let's yarn - timing of birth
• 'Ngaminjang Djama' - The Breastfeeding Project video

• Induction of labour
• Pregnancy beyond 41 weeks

• Antidepressants and your baby (PDF 280.62KB)
• Beyond Blue - pregnancy and mental health
• COPE - mental health conditions in pregnancy
• COPE - new parents
• ForWhen - helpline for new and expecting parents - call: 1300 24 23 22
• Gidget Foundation Australia - what is PNDA?
• PANDA Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia
• SMS4Dads - info and tips for new dads

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources

• 13YARN
• SMS 4 Deadly Dads

• After having a baby - Family Planning Australia
• Being a young father - MensLine Australia
• Breastfeeding information and resources
• Child and family health services
• Common newborn concerns
• CPR for infants under 12 months old
• Karitane - parent guidance and support
• Newborn: birth to 3 months
• Rainbow families - child and family health resources
• Raising Children Network
• Safe sleeping recommendations - first 5 years
• Tresillian family care
• Triple P Positive Parenting Program

Please bring all you need for yourself and your baby for one day in 1-2 small overnight bags, as space is limited in the hospital. We suggest you bring:

For the mother

• your antenatal record
• your own clothes to wear during labour and birth. A comfortable cotton nightshirt or long t-shirt or sarongs are suitable (you may need more than one if you wish to be covered while in the shower or bath) and comfortable underwear
• sanitary adhesive pads
• maternity bras or crop top, breast (nursing) pads (disposable or cloth, not plastic lined)
• comfortable clothing, suitable when breastfeeding: t-shirts, shorts, trousers or leggings for day wear, pyjamas, nightshirts, dressing gown and non-slip footwear
• toiletries and tissues
• massage oil
• your favourite food and drink to keep up your energy levels, preferably these should be nonperishable; special foods that require cooling or heating must be carried and stored safely
• Your mobile phone with selection of music, relaxation or affirmations for different stages of labour; some speakers available, but you may bring your own, labelled (all optional but may be helpful)
• notepad or book and pen.

Please leave all valuables at home – there is nowhere to secure them safely in the hospital.

For the support person

• wear closed-in shoes for safety in the birthing service
• change of clothes - swimwear if assisting mother in shower or bath
• jacket or warm clothing for cool air conditioning
• snacks and drinks
• toothbrush and toothpaste.

For baby

• at least three singlets
• at least three sets of clothing (everyday clothes)
• at least three bunny rugs or baby wraps (suggest brushed cotton if cold weather, fine cotton or muslin type if warm weather)
• one packet of cotton buds (for ‘cord’ care)
• optional: bath solution or baby soap, baby lotion or wipes (just water for baby is fine)
• a small pack of disposable nappies (your hospital may supply some nappies during your hospital stay)
• if you are formula feeding your baby, bring a tin of your choice of infant formula - sterile bottles and teats will be provided only while you are in hospital
• an approved baby restraint, as required by law, should be fitted to your car. It is strongly suggested that you do this when you are about 34-36 weeks pregnant. If you need help with this, check the Transport NSW website for fitting stations located near you.

• If you think you are in labour or having contractions, contact your birthing suite or your midwife who can advise you on what to do next. They will then be expecting you when you arrive.
• If you have any vaginal loss, you can wear a sanitary pad.
• Have your support person drive safely and use your seat belt with lap belt positioned below your baby. Have old towels available to catch leaks if they occur, and an old ice-cream bucket in case of nausea or vomiting.
• In NSW, an ambulance ride can be very expensive; it is strongly suggested that you join an ambulance fund for your family emergency situations, if you are not already covered by private health insurance (this may be done through any major private health fund office or online).
• Bring your antenatal record. Your antenatal record provides us with your history and plan of management for labour and birth. Please carry it at all times and present it to the midwife or receptionist on your arrival at the birth suite.

We welcome people who will support and encourage you throughout labour and birth. There is room for a maximum of 2 support people at any one time in the birth suite.

Doulas

It is your choice who supports you during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. A doula is a layperson who provides continuous support during the antenatal, childbirth and postnatal period. The doula attends as an employee of the woman giving birth. Under normal circumstances, you're able to have 2 support people with you in the birthing suite. A doula is to be considered one of the 2 support people.

Hunter New England LHD is open to the use of doulas at birth, and maternity services will facilitate a productive, receptive environment for doulas to support women. However, the District clearly states that it does not accept responsibility and is not accountable for any actions or advice given to labouring women by doulas.

Learn more in our doula factsheet (PDF 184.75KB).

Children

There are no childcare facilities available in the maternity unit. If you would like to have your children present for labour and birth, we request you have 1 adult, other than your main support person to care and supervise. However, the limit of 2 additional people at a time will also need to be considered. Please discuss before birth with your healthcare providers.

All the Maternity sites in our District have a birthing suite with midwives who provide care for women in labour.

During your pregnancy, ask your midwife and/or doctor how and where to locate the birthing suite at your local hospital, so you will know where to go when the time comes.

When you arrive at the hospital, go to the birth suite reception desk or maternity unit reception, where you will be met by a midwife and taken to an available room.

John Hunter Hospital (JHH) is the referral hospital for the rural sites and if needed can collaborate and give advice if any concerns arise during labour and birth. There are occasions when during this time you may need to be transferred to a larger hospital to provide you safe and appropriate pregnancy or labour care.

At JHH there is also a birth centre, which is offered to women with low-risk pregnancies wanting a more natural labour and birth. This is used by the midwifery group practice.

If you live in Newcastle or Lake Macquarie, depending on your pregnancy model of care, you may choose to birth at Belmont Birth Service (based at Belmont Hospital, a midwifery-led unit), or if necessary, at JHH. Home birth is an option for this model of care however there are some restrictions on this including the distance you live from JHH.

View our virtual tours available for JHH birthing suite, birth centre and Belmont birthing service.

John Hunter Hospital Maternity Services
 

Belmont Midwifery Group Practice Birth Suite
 

During your stay in the postnatal ward, you'll be supported by midwives who will assist you to develop the skills to care for your baby. There are educational films on the hospital television as well as inpatient education sessions on the ward such a baby bathing demonstration. These are all great opportunities to gain confidence as new parents.

When you first arrive at the postnatal ward, the midwife caring for you will discuss a plan of care for your stay including discharge planning.

Our hospital postnatal wards rooms may vary depending on your birthing hospital, but you may need to stay in a shared your room of up to 4 beds. This means that family members are unable to stay overnight with you and your baby. There are a very small number of single rooms available. Women with more complicated postnatal stays are allocated to the single rooms as first priority. We also attempt to meet the needs of women who have private health insurance by offering a single room whenever possible.

Rooming-in

Your baby will remain with you following birth. Skin-to-skin is encouraged for a minimum of 1 hour after the birth or until the first breastfeed. Skin to skin contact stimulates your production of the oxytocin hormone, which decreases bleeding, promotes bonding and breastfeeding. It allows the baby to smell, touch and know mum as well as stay warm. When the baby shows signs of readiness, he or she will be able to breastfeed.

It is important not to separate mothers from their babies, so mothers keep their baby at the bedside with them, 24 hours a day. The midwives will assist and provide support with all aspects of baby’s care. Please ask for assistance if required. 

There is also a mother and baby care board near each bed which is a very useful way to request support. We also ask that this board is used to communicate with the staff if you are leaving the ward for any reason. We request that you write your mobile phone number and the approximate time of your return to the ward.

Visitors

We acknowledge that new mothers need rest and so we encourage a rest period on the wards, generally between 1pm and 3pm each day. Find out the visiting hours of your hospital.

We also request that visitors are up to date with the whooping cough vaccination when visiting new babies, and if feeling unwell with colds and flu-like illness, please avoid visiting new mothers and babies.

Get more information for patients, carers and visitors.

Keeping you and your baby safe in hospital

Sometimes mothers to be and new mothers can fall while in hospital and cause injury particularly if they are tired, or if they have recently had an anaesthetic (including an epidural), pain medication or heavy bleeding or if the mum to be or new mum has other medical conditions such as low blood pressure, epilepsy or diabetes.

We request that you:

• use your call bell if you require assistance
• wear safe footwear at all times
• take your time when moving about
• use a shower chair when showering
• use a light as required during the nighttime.

It's important also to keep your baby safe from falling. We ask you to ensure that your baby:

• is placed on their back to sleep and placed in their own cot placed next to your bed
• is never left unattended on an adult bed or other surface from which they can fall
• is always in their own cot while being transported. Walking around with your baby in your arms is not encouraged.

We do not encourage sleeping with your baby as babies can fall or have sleep accidents. Learn more about safe sleeping for babies.

Please ensure that visitors are aware of these important factors to keep your baby safe.

We recognise that babies like to feel safe in their mum's arms, but sometimes tired mums can fall asleep with their babies and babies can then easily fall from their mums' hold. We ask that you avoid all of these situations that place your baby at risk of falls.

What happens to the placenta (afterbirth)?

After the birth of your baby, the placenta will be disposed of in accordance with NSW Health Guidelines. You may choose to take your placenta home with you, please let the midwife know prior to birth.

On some occasions the placenta may be sent to the pathology department, for extra information.

Stem cell collection and storage

If you are interested in the collection of stem cells from your baby’s cord blood for possible future use, you need to organise this with one of the private companies several weeks before coming to hospital to birth your baby. You will need to organise the collection, equipment, courier service and storage with the private company.

Discharging home

Discuss with your midwife your needs for discharge. Ensure that you arrange on the previous evening for someone to collect you.

Discharge time on the postnatal ward is usually between the hours of 9am-10am.

The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Children's Hospital in Newcastle provides highly specialised, family-centred care for sick and premature newborns.

Sometimes babies requiring care in the NICU may need a longer hospital stay than the mother. In these instances, the mother will be discharged from hospital before the baby.

For families who live out of area, limited accommodation may be available at Ronald McDonald House, which is located on the grounds of John Hunter Hospital. Please discuss these options with the staff on the postnatal ward or in NICU.

The arrival of a newborn baby is a very exciting time for parents and families. Our team of dedicated, caring and compassionate medical professionals recognise that having your baby admitted to NICU can also be a difficult time. Our first priority is taking care of your baby and family.

Learn more about NICU.

For most women, pregnancy and birth is a healthy experience. We understand you need to share this exciting time with your family. Rather than stay in hospital after your baby is born, you may prefer to take advantage of the home midwifery service offered by your hospital.

Discuss with the midwife caring for you the options available for postnatal care at home. You may be asked to return to the hospital for a postnatal check, in some situations.

 Depending on the hospital where you receive care, your midwife will:

• visit you in the comfort of your own home giving you one-to-one advice and support
• visit between 9.30am and 4pm
• text message you on the morning of your planned home visit with an estimated time of arrival
• support you with feeding your baby
• advise you on helping your baby to sleep
• support with caring for your baby such as bathing
• weigh your baby
• perform blood tests for your baby
• complete your postnatal check
• provide you with support and reassurance
• put you in contact with our Child and Family Health Nursing Service for home visits

You may choose to use this service directly from the birth suite or within a couple of days of having your baby. 

Please ensure that you are at home for the planned time of the visit and ensure any animals on the property are restrained for safety reasons. 

Routine screening as outlined in the NSW Health Having a Baby book will be offered in the early postnatal days.

A physiotherapist will examine your baby’s hips to check for any hip problems, depending on your hospital.

You will be offered a screening test for hearing for your baby soon after birth. About 1 to 2 babies out of every 1,000 will have a significant hearing loss. This screening program is called the NSW Statewide Infant Screening Hearing program (SWISH), and is available in the postnatal ward or at your local early childhood and family centre if you go home early.

Newborn Bloodspot Screening will be done around day 3-4 by your midwife or a pathology technician.

Physiotherapy after your birth

Depending on your birthing hospital, a physiotherapist may be able to support you for individualised advice and exercise strategies following the birth of your baby while in hospital or as an outpatient if that is recommended. 

Contraception

It is possible to fall pregnant immediately after giving birth even if you are breastfeeding. Contraception will usually be discussed towards the end of your pregnancy. In special circumstances, this can be organised soon after birth while in hospital.

If you do not desire to fall pregnant then consider using barrier contraception (condoms). You may resume sexual activity as soon as you feel comfortable. You may need to wait longer if you had a vaginal birth requiring stitches, or a caesarean birth.

If you're breastfeeding, then it is important not to start the combined oral contraceptive pill as it may affect your milk supply. Your options will include progesterone-only pills (the mini pill), a progesterone implant or progesterone injection given every third month.

Ask your GP/obstetrician/midwife for more information at your 6-week appointment.

Postnatal follow up with your GP

We recommend that you and your baby visit your local GP within 2 weeks after birth.

At this appointment:

• organise a six-week appointment for a postnatal check
• your baby should have a complete routine head-to-toe check up
• discuss contraception with you GP
• have a plan when your next pap smear is due
• discuss current medications and follow-up scripts required
• have perineal suturing reviewed or caesarean wound check
• discuss any discomforts that you may be experiencing including incontinence
• discuss your emotional wellbeing.

You will need to organise another follow-up with your GP in 6 weeks for another routine postnatal check. A full complete postnatal review should be attended at this appointment which may include:

• blood tests (as required).
• breast check
• blood pressure
• cervical screening
• perineal stitches or caesarean section wound
• discuss any incontinence you may be experiencing
• emotional wellbeing.

The midwives caring for you can give assistance, support and advice with breastfeeding. If additional help is required, the midwife caring for you can help you plan your meetings with the lactation consultant midwife, if this is available at your birthing hospital.

If you have made an informed choice not to breastfeed, please bring your tin of formula with you. While in the postnatal ward you will be educated on how to prepare this to feed your baby.

Support services for breastfeeding your baby when you go home:

• If you go home from hospital early our home maternity service midwives will provide breastfeeding assistance during the first few days.
  • You can also contact your local birthing hospital for advice.
• A range of breastfeeding support services may be available in your area depending on our local resources. 
• Our child and family health nursing service provides long-term ongoing feeding and parenting support. You will be linked to this free service before discharge from our maternity service.
• Look for Who Can I Call? in your postnatal pack for useful phone numbers.
• The Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) provides breastfeeding support in the community.
• 24-hour phone number: 1800 686 268 (1800 MUM 2 MUM).

Resources

• Newborns: breastfeeding and bottle feeding.
• Watch the video series: Attaching your baby at the breast.
• Learn about how to prevent and manage engorgement.
• Learn about nipple shields
• Expressing and storing breastmilk
• Breastfeeding for rainbow families
• Breastfeeding and dummies
• Using a breast pump
• When breastfeeding doesn't work out.

Multicultural resources

• Breastfeeding resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• The Australian Breastfeeding Association's How breastfeeding works booklet has been translated into 14 languages.

For more information and support, contact a breastfeeding support service near you: