Mater Midwive's Partnership Program
Midwifery Group Practice
The Mater Midwives’ Partnership Program is provided by the Mater Mothers’ Midwifery Group Practice. The program is designed to ensure that you receive dedicated, consistent care throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the early weeks after your baby is born. You will be looked after by a dedicated midwife, who will get to know you very well and provide care in consultation with you and your family. We call this midwife your "named midwife".
The midwives in the group practice work closely with the Mater Mothers’ Hospital obstetric team, so that you will receive specialist care when or if needed. The program cares for women who are generally well, and have little risk of complications. If complications do arise, it becomes a team effort, where you and your baby will receive the specialist care you need, still with the support of your midwife.
How to book into the program
If you wish to participate in the Mater Midwives’ Partnership Program you should be:
- having a natural birth. That is, not planning to have a caesarean or epidural for your labour unless necessary
- prepared to go home with your baby between 4 and 24 hours after birth, if you are both well
- pregnant with only one baby
- considered healthy by your General Practitioner (GP).
Your GP will refer you to the Mater Mothers’ Hospital Antenatal Clinic, noting that you would like to participate in the Mater Midwives’ Partnership Program.
Once you have been referred to the antenatal clinic you will:
- receive a telephone call from one of the Midwifery Group Practice midwives to discuss your decision
- have a meeting with your midwife, either at home or at a local community clinic
- be reviewed by a doctor at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
To ensure we provide you and your baby with exceptional care, it is important that the care you are likely to need is within the program guidelines. Once it has been established that you are eligible, and a place is available at the time when your baby is due, you will be booked into the program.
If there is no place available, your pregnancy will continue within another Mater Mothers’ Hospital model of care of your choice. Your name will be kept on a waiting list to be contacted if a place in the program becomes available.
If you would like more information about the program or would like to self refer please telephone 07 3163 1968.
Your care
Your midwife will be responsible for the majority of your care. You will get to know your midwife quite well and will be able to contact them at all times. If your midwife is away, you will be put in contact with one of the other midwives in the Midwifery Group Practice, who you were introduced to at the beginning of the program.
Staff at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital Birth Suite are available if you need any urgent assistance and you can telephone them on 07 3163 1918 (all hours).
Pregnancy Check-ups
Your scheduled pregnancy check-ups will be in a local clinic setting. Your midwife will be at the clinic as well as other midwives from your Midwifery group practice.
The antenatal session includes discussions on topics such as diet, exercise, pregnancy, active birth, labour, baby care and infant feeding. The group antenatal sessions enable you to to meet other midwives from the group and women from your community. Your group will have the opportunity to choose the topics and the midwives will facilitate these discussions.
You are welcome to stay for the 90 minute antenatal session which includes your check-up. This will be performed on a yoga mat in the group.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are a few of the frequently asked questions from women who have been involved in the Mater Midwives’ Partnership Program.
What happens if I need a doctor during my pregnancy?
A dedicated medical team at Mater Mothers’ Hospital works closely with your group practice midwife. If a complication arises your midwife and the medical team will ensure you and your baby receive the specialist care you need. The doctor, in most cases, will work with you and your midwife to keep you in the program. Your midwife will discuss your options with you and keep you and your family involved in any new plans for the care of you and your baby.
Who will care for me during my labour and birth?
When you think you are in labour, please telephone your midwife. When you and your midwife agree that you are ready to come into hospital they will meet you at the Mater Mothers’ Hospital Birth Suite. Your midwife will care for you during your labour and birth, while another midwife from your group practice may assist.
What happens after my baby is born?
If you and your baby are well, you will either go home directly from your Mater Mothers’ Birth Suite, after four hours, or be transferred to the postnatal ward for up to 24 hours. It is important that you have arranged to have some help when you return home.
If you or your baby need to stay for medical reasons, you will remain in the Mater Mothers’ Hospital until your doctor is happy for you to go home.
Will a midwife visit me at home?
If needed, your midwife will visit you and your baby at home for up to six weeks after you’ve given birth. These visits will be arranged between you and your midwife.
Before their last visit, your midwife will help you arrange for you to see your GP and give you the contact details of your local Community Child Health Service. This service will provide you and your baby with the best available health information.
Further Information
If you have any questions or feedback regarding the Mater Midwives’ Partnership Program or midwives in the Midwifery Group Practice, please contact the Midwifery Unit Manager on telephone 07 3163 8823.
Contact details
In an emergency, please contact the Mater Mothers’ Hospital Birthing Suites on telephone 07 3163 1918 (all hours).
Mater Mothers’ Hospital
Raymond Terrace
South Brisbane Q 4101