Our Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic provides pregnancy care for women who have an increased chance of having a spontaneous preterm birth.
About this service
We offer continuity of pregnancy care for women who have an increased chance of having a spontaneous early birth before 37 weeks.
This includes:
- women who have had a previous spontaneous preterm birth between 16 and 34 weeks
- women who have had an ultrasound that shows a short cervix in the current pregnancy.
Our clinic is located within the Fetal Medicine Unit. A specialised team will support you in your pregnancy, including an obstetrician, a midwife and ultrasound technicians. A personalised management plan will be made for your pregnancy care and will be discussed with you at your first pregnancy visit. Once your management plan is in place and the pregnancy is progressing well, you may have the rest of your pregnancy care at your chosen hospital or at Centenary Hospital For Women and Children.
Who we care for
Our service is available for women who are referred from a general practitioner (GP) or from the Maternity Options Service.
We offer our service for free if you have a Medicare Card or Asylum seeker card.
How to access this service
You need a referral to access this service.
Your health professional will refer you to us via the Fetal Medicine Unit.
What to expect
We will triage your referral within one week of receiving it. Urgent referrals may be reviewed sooner.
Our administration team will call you to book your appointment. Your first appointment will usually occur between 12 and 16 weeks of pregnancy depending on your history and timing of referral.
Your first appointment may include an ultrasound of your baby and your cervix (involving an internal ultrasound scan) and a doctor or a midwife appointment.
Please call us if you have any questions on (02) 5124 7461 or email us at PTBClinic@act.gov.au
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- Health Care Card and/or concession card (if you have one)
- List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
- Previous x-ray films, scans, ultrasounds or any other test results or reports
Where we’re located
Fetal Medicine Unit, Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, Building 11, Level 2, Canberra Hospital.
We have directions to Centenary Hospital for Women and Children and Canberra Hospital.
Resources
Progesterone Treatment Health Information Flyer [PDF 533kB]
Preterm Birth Prevention Clinic [PDF 481kB]
Information for referrers
Please see Community HealthPathways for detailed referral criteria and information.
Referral options:
- Phone: (02) 5124 7461
- Fax: (02) 5124 3154
- SmartForm
The preterm birth prevention screening and management pathways were initiated to help in the screening and management of women with risk factors for pre-term birth. You can find them on Community HealthPathways: