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Choosing an option for maternity care

Choosing the best maternity care option for you will depend on your own personal preferences and sometimes, your medical history.

We want to ensure you have the right care at the right time, at the right place including access to care close to home .All options for maternity care are provided by caring health professionals in partnership with you and your support people.

There are two public maternity hospitals in the ACT:

We offer four main options for maternity care for your pregnancy, birth and after your baby is born:

We encourage you to see a GP  to confirm your pregnancy and to receive early pregnancy care, advice and support. Having a GP is important at this time for you and your family’s health and wellbeing. No matter which option of care you receive, your GP will continue to support your general health and wellbeing during pregnancy.

You should continue to see a GP as your primary health carer until you have your first maternity appointment with the hospital.

If you have a normal birth and both you and your baby are healthy, you can go home 6 hours after giving birth. If you need to stay longer in the hospital, you'll usually go home about 24 hours after a normal birth, or within 3 days after a C-section. This applies for all maternity care options. We recommend you return to your GP at 1 week and 6 weeks after birth for a baby and mother check-up.

Information for people not living in the ACT

If you live outside the ACT and need to access Canberra’s public maternity system, speak to your local maternity service or GP to start your maternity care and ask for a referral to access Canberra’s public maternity system.

You’re pregnant: what now?

There are a few things you need to do before we see you. Follow the steps below when you find out you’re pregnant.

Step 1. Sign up for MyDigital Health Record (MyDHR)

Sign up to MyDHR by completing the online registration. If you’re already registered skip to step 2.

MyDHR allows you to access and update your personal and health information from home and manage future appointments. You may also be able to access patient education materials tailored to your needs. You can access your own Digital Health Record (DHR) through the secure website or a mobile app.

The DHR safely stores health information for patients who use the ACT’s public health services. Private health facilities are not included.

Step 2. Find out more about your maternity care options

It is important for you to learn about your maternity care and birthing options. When you let your GP or Central Health Intake know you’re pregnant, they will ask you what your preferred maternity care option is.

Sometimes your preferred model of maternity care may not be possible. This might be due to your health history or because of availability of that model of maternity care.  In this situation, a midwife will discuss the most appropriate model for you during your first appointment.

Things to think about when making your decision about which maternity care option is best for you:

  • Do you have a Medicare Card?
    • Talk to your GP about your options if you do not have a Medicare card
  • Do you, or the father of the baby, identify as a First Nations person?
    • If yes, you might consider
      • Continuity of Care
      • Winnunga Nimmityjah midwifery care
  • Do you have any serious medical conditions? For example, a heart condition, epilepsy, autoimmune disease?
    • If yes, you might require Specialist care or Maternal Fetal Medicine care. Talk to your GP to make sure your referral for care has all your health information included.
  • Is it important for you to have the same person, most of the time including for the birth, for your maternity care?
    • If yes, you might consider Continuity of Care.
  • Where would you prefer your regular appointments to be?
    • If community Midwife Clinics, you might consider
      • Continuity of Care
      • Maternity Care Team
    • If at the hospital, you might consider
      • Maternity Care Team
    • If at your GP, you might consider
      • GP Shared Care

Step 3. Let us know you are pregnant

Make an appointment with a GP as soon as possible, who will send a referral to us for public maternity care.

At your appointment, your GP will:

  • confirm your pregnancy and your expected due date
  • discuss options and provide early pregnancy advice
  • ensure you are taking the right supplements and initiate any recommended medications/vaccinations
  • appropriately support and refer you for pregnancy care, and early specialist care if needed.

Your GP will organise:

  • a referral to Canberra Maternity Options for ACT public maternity care for you
  • early pregnancy screening
    • urine tests
    • blood tests
    • ultrasounds.

No matter what maternity care option you chose for your ongoing pregnancy needs your GP will continue to care for you and your baby throughout pregnancy and beyond.

OR

If you are more than 10 weeks pregnant, You can call Central Health Intake (CHI) on 5124 9977 to register yourself. You will be asked some questions about your baby’s due date, the hospital you plan to birth at and your preferred maternity care option.

Step 4. Your first antenatal appointment with a midwife

Your first appointment with a midwife is ideally when you are between 12-14 weeks pregnant. You will be contacted to arrange your first antenatal appointment. You will receive a reminder about your appointment.

During this appointment the midwife will:

  • talk through your health, wellbeing and medical history
  • take your blood pressure
  • discuss online resources including health and wellbeing resources
  • discuss your maternity care options and a plan for your care.

They may also listen to your baby’s heartbeat.

Your appointments will follow the recommended antenatal schedule as shown in your Pregnancy Health Record, which will be given to you at your first antenatal appointment.