Choices of maternity care
Mater Mothers’ Hospital acknowledges that pregnancy is an exciting time for women and their families and offers a range of services to meet your individual needs.
This brochure outlines the choices of maternity care available to you.
Antenatal care
Your choices for antenatal care will be discussed with you at your first visit to Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
Your choice will be affected by:
- your wishes
- complications that arose in a previous pregnancy
- any medical conditions that you now have
- conditions that may arise in this pregnancy
- where you reside.
Your choices include:
- General Practitioner (GP) shared care
- midwifery care
- public obstetric care
- private obstetric care.
GP shared care
If there are no complications with your pregnancy, your GP can provide your antenatal care from their surgery. This is beneficial if your GP will be the main health carer for you and your family after your baby is born.
During your pregnancy your GP will be able to get to know you and your family. You will visit the hospital early in your pregnancy and again at 36 weeks. You will then continue care with your GP until the baby’s due date. If your baby has not been born one week after this, you will return to the hospital.
Your baby will be born in hospital. If any complications arise during your pregnancy your GP will refer you to an obstetrician.
Midwifery care
A midwife is trained to care for women during normal pregnancy, labour and after giving birth. This care is provided in hospital and community-based clinics. If any complications arise during your pregnancy, the midwife will refer you to an obstetrician.
Midwifery Care Providers include:
Midwifery Group Practice—Mater Midwives Partnership Program (MMPP)
MMPP offers care from two or three midwives, who you get to know during your pregnancy. The midwives provide continuity of care for you throughout your pregnancy and labour and visit you and your baby at home after the birth. For further information telephone 07 3163 1968.
Young Women’s Partnership Program
Young pregnant women are invited to meet midwives and doctors and have their antenatal care in a relaxed, informal atmosphere in West End. Options of care include a young women’s midwifery group practice or a young women’s clinic. The multidisciplinary team provide continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth and early parenthood. For more information telephone 07 3163 1968.
CHAMP Clinic
The CHAMP Clinic provides a service for pregnant women who use recreational drugs or alcohol and also for those who have recently stopped. The clinic also helps women who take opioid replacement medication and provides individualised care to help you get ready for your baby’s birth. This clinic is held at Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
Indigenous women
This clinic is held each Thursday at Mater Mothers’ Hospital. Continuity of care before the baby’s birth is offered from a midwife, obstetrician and indigenous health care workers.
Refugee Maternity Service
This dedicated antenatal clinic at Mater Mothers’ Hospital provides culturally sensitive maternity care for refugee women in a supportive environment by midwives, obstetricians, social workers and interpreters.
Women with special needs
If you have any special needs, such as a disability, please let us know so they can be discussed with a midwife. Plans for your pregnancy and birth can be made at this stage.
Public obstetric care
An obstetrician specialises in pregnancies and birth, often where there is a complication. If you experience complications during your pregnancy an obstetrician will be involved in your care and you will attend the hospital antenatal clinic to see doctors and midwives. Care from other services, such as Maternal Fetal Medicine, can be arranged if required.
Private obstetric care
Care from private obstetricians is available and a list of obstetricians can be obtained from the Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital Bookings office on telephone 07 3163 8847.
Antenatal clinics
Antenatal clinics are available at the following locations, depending on your choice of maternity care.
GP shared care
- available from your local general practitioner.
Midwifery care
- Mater Mothers’ Hospital
- QE II Hospital
- Coorparoo
- Mt Gravatt
- Inala Community Health Centre
- West End
Public obstetric care
Private obstetric care
- available at your obstetrician’s room.
Further information
At your booking in visit to Mater Mothers’ Hospitals you will be given an information booklet containing information on:
- education classes
- tours of the maternity unit
- hospital services
- your hospital stay.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact:
Antenatal Clinic
Telephone 07 3163 8330
Fax 07 3163 8053
This information leaflet reflects Mater Mothers’ Hospital’s commitment to providing high quality care to all women and their families in a safe, supportive environment.