Pregnancy

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 this model, care is provided by a known midwife who works in a small team. This known midwife with the support of the small team will provide continuity of care during your pregnancy and after the baby is born. The aim is to provide woman centred care, supporting the woman and her family on the early parenting journey.

For more information, see the Maternity Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS) page. 

In the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) 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. 

For more information, see the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) page.

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 was established in 2006 after community consultation identified the need to improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families planning to give birth at the Royal Hospital for Women. The service is committed to improve the health of mothers and babies by providing seamless, accessible, and culturally safe care.

The Medical Disorders in Pregnancy and High Risk Obstetrics Clinics are for women with medical disorders in pregnancy (other than diabetes).

The Diabetes in Pregnancy service 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 whose baby is in a breech position (bottom first) towards the end of their pregnancy (36 weeks gestation). Women are seen by the Breech Clinic team (Obstetrician and a Midwife).

This clinic aims to work in partnership with you. 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.

For more information, please refer to our Pregnancy Factsheets

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.

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 will be discussed. Your GP needs to complete an eReferral and give you your early pregnancy pathology and ultrasound reports to bring to the booking appointment.

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