Maternity care in Australia

There is a range of high-quality maternity services and models of care for people living in Australia. If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, there are many options for care and support during pregnancy and birth. These include care from midwives or doctors, and care given in public or private health places.

Learning about your options for antenatal care in Australia and where you can give birth will help you make the best choices for you. If you live in a rural or remote area, allow plenty of time to find what services are available.

It’s your choice which type of care you have. You have a right to respectful, person-centred care.

There are 3 main types of healthcare professionals who can care for you during your pregnancy, depending on your health needs and where you plan to give birth:

• General practitioners (GPs) are doctors who look after general health and treat many different health problems. Your GP will often be the first healthcare professional you see if you think you are pregnant.
• GP obstetricians are GPs who have additional training in women’s health. They can offer shared care with public hospitals. This is where you see your GP and a hospital midwife for your pregnancy care. If you live in a rural or remote area, your GP might provide all of your pregnancy care and assist during the birth. 
• A midwife has special training to support and care for you during pregnancy, labour and birth. Midwives work in public and private hospitals with obstetricians and in the community. They help you to stay healthy during your pregnancy and work with obstetricians as needed. Unless you have an assisted birth or surgical procedure like a caesarean, they are likely to help deliver your baby. Midwives also care for you and your baby in the first few weeks after the birth.
• An obstetrician is a doctor who has had special training to look after you and your baby during pregnancy, birth and straight after birth. If you are having your baby in a public hospital, you might only see an obstetrician if there is a medical need. If you choose to be cared for by a private obstetrician, they will manage your antenatal care throughout your pregnancy and may be present at the birth.

Antenatal care is the care you get during pregnancy. You will have antenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy.

Antenatal appointments are important, even if you are healthy and your pregnancy is going well. They allow your midwife or doctor to check on your health and your baby’s health. They can identify and suggest ways to manage any problems early. These appointments are also opportunities for you to ask questions and talk about any concerns you have.

In Australia, your options for antenatal care are sometimes linked to where you plan to give birth. If you want to give birth in a hospital or birth centre, it's a good idea to book as early as possible.

If you have just found out that you are pregnant, it's important to see your doctor (GP) or midwife to start your antenatal care.

It's best to make your first antenatal appointment when you are about 6 to 8 weeks pregnant (usually, this is 6 to 8 weeks after your last period started). This appointment can be with a midwife, your doctor or at a clinic or hospital. Typically, this appointment will be with your GP.

At this appointment, you can learn about the options for maternity care in your area.

At your first antenatal appointment, the doctor or midwife will confirm that you are pregnant. They will perform a detailed health check, including asking about your medical history and your family medical history. They may ask about any previous experience of pregnancy, hospitals and medical care.

Doing this early helps the team caring for you manage anything that may be relevant to your pregnancy. This will be a longer appointment than usual.
Your doctor or midwife will discuss your pregnancy care with you, including:

• where you plan to give birth
• where you will receive antenatal care and which health professionals you will see
• how many appointments you are likely to have
• where you can go for antenatal classes

They may also offer you tests to check for health conditions that may cause problems during pregnancy or labour. It's your choice whether to have any tests.

You may be given a pregnancy health record card. This helps you keep track of your care.

They will also give you information and resources on:

• vaccinations
• dietary recommendations
• how to feed your baby
• counselling support 
• other lifestyle advice for your pregnancy, such as help to quit smoking or vaping

You can also talk about your mental health and wellbeing at your antenatal appointments.

There are several options for where you can have your baby in Australia. The options available depend on where you live and whether you have any pregnancy complications. It is important that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of different birthing options.

Making the best choice for you depends on what’s important for you and your partner, if you have one. You might want to think about:

• how far you want to travel
• what you can afford
• if it is important to you to see the same doctor or midwife at every visit
• if you would like your GP to look after you through your pregnancy
• what level of medical intervention you prefer
• what methods of pain relief you would like to have available during birth

Your GP or midwife can discuss your options with you. This can help you decide what’s best for you. You may also like to talk to your friends and family about their experiences. Pregnancy and birth preferences and experiences are different for everyone.

Your doctor or midwife can give you referrals to other healthcare professionals if you need to see them for additional support or care.

Public hospital

If you decide to give birth in a public hospital, you may book at the local maternity hospital for your area.

Hospitals may offer different models of antenatal care, including:

• seeing midwives at the hospital's antenatal clinic
• shared care between the hospital and your GP
• a midwife group practice (caseload) model that provides continuity of care with the same midwife

The midwives caring for you will refer you to an obstetrician if you experience any pregnancy complications.

Some advantages of public hospital care may be the following:

• It may offer more than one model of antenatal care.
• You can have minimal intervention during birth if you choose while still having access to additional medical care if you need it.
• Medicare covers most of the cost of care during the pregnancy and birth.
• Most major public hospitals can care for you and your baby if there are complications.
• You may be able to see allied health professionals if needed.

Some disadvantages may be:

• You may not be able to choose which midwife or doctor you see.
• You might not always see the same midwife or doctor at each visit.
• The staff who care for you during pregnancy might not be at the birth.
• Appointment waiting times may be longer than at a private clinic.
• After the birth, you’re more likely to be in a shared hospital room.

You can also choose to be a private patient in a public hospital. As a private patient in a public hospital, you will be cared for by your chosen doctor, but you will not be guaranteed a single room. You may be responsible for hospital, medical and diagnostic expenses, although you may receive a Medicare benefit for some services.

Private hospital

If you decide to give birth in a private hospital, you will need a private obstetrician or GP obstetrician. You will need to book in to one of the hospitals where your doctor works.

Most people who choose a private hospital use their private health insurance (Opens in new tab).

The first step is to see your GP for a referral to an obstetrician.

Some advantages of private hospital may be:

• You can choose the doctor who will care for you throughout pregnancy, labour and after birth.
• The obstetrician and hospital midwives who care for you during the pregnancy will usually be there during your labour and birth.
• You might be able to choose a more convenient location for your care.
• The waiting time for appointments may be shorter than in the public hospital system.
• You may have the option of a private room. Your partner may also be able to stay with you.

Some disadvantages may be:

• It’s expensive, particularly if you don’t have private health insurance.
• Usually there are extra costs that your insurance doesn’t cover. This may include a fee for an anaesthetist or paediatrician if you need one.
• Some services that are free to public patients may not be free if you are a private patient.

Birth centre

Birth centres provide a more home-like environment to give birth in than a hospital. They may be an option if your pregnancy is low risk.

A midwife or team of midwives will care for you during pregnancy, labour and birth. You might also see an obstetrician if there are any complications during your pregnancy or birth. Birth centres usually don’t offer epidurals.

Birth centres are often attached to hospitals. If a problem develops during your labour, you may need to move to the hospital for medical care.

You’ll usually go home within 24 hours after birth, with care from midwives at home afterwards.

If you are interested in having your baby at a birth centre, see your doctor as soon as possible to find out what’s in your area and get a referral. If you choose a birth centre attached to a public hospital, Medicare will cover the costs of your birth. There may be some out-of-pocket costs for some tests.

Homebirth

You can choose to have your baby at home. Talk with your midwife or doctor about possible risks during your pregnancy. If there are any complications during your pregnancy or labour, the midwife or doctor caring for you will be able to arrange a transfer to hospital for medical care.

If you are planning to have a homebirth, you can choose where to have your antenatal care, based on what is available in your area. You can book in to your local hospital as well, just in case complications arise.

To use a publicly funded homebirth service, you will need to meet certain criteria and you may need a referral from your doctor. Or, you can find a private midwife on the Homebirth Australia (Opens in new tab) website.

It’s important to make sure that your midwife is registered and qualified for homebirths. Check that they have procedures in place to refer you to an obstetrician if needed, and to transfer you quickly and safely to hospital if a problem arises during your labour or birth or afterwards.

You will also need to make sure that your baby can get any treatments they need after birth. Check that your midwife or doctor can care for you after birth and examine your newborn baby. You may also need someone who can refer your baby for standard newborn tests.

After the birth, you might go home the next day. Other times, you will be recommended to stay in hospital for several days. Some people choose to go home as soon as 4 to 6 hours after giving birth. How long you stay will depend on:

• your preferences
• your recovery
• where you give birth
• whether you have had a caesarean birth
• whether you or your baby have any complications
• your support system at home

The cost of having a baby varies depending on whether you give birth in the public or private system.

In Australia, the costs of pregnancy care in the public hospital system are mostly covered by Medicare. In the private system, you will need to pay for your care or use private health insurance. With a private hospital stay, you may have to pay extra fees (known as 'out-of-pocket' costs).

Be sure to check that your private health insurance covers maternity care and whether there is a waiting period before you are covered or any gap payment.

For information, advice and support during your pregnancy, talk with your midwife or doctor.

Rural and remote areas of Australia

If you are pregnant and live in a more remote region of Australia, your GP may play a bigger role in your antenatal care. Your care may be provided by different health professionals in your community working together.

You can find more information about maternity services in rural Australia by state.

Information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

Different states and territories have their own programs designed to meet the maternity care needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Ask your doctor or Aboriginal health worker for more information or find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) or Affiliate near you.

• Birthing on Country (Opens in new tab) is a culturally sensitive maternity care model 
• The Royal Women's Hospital offers culturally appropriate pregnancy resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Opens in new tab) peoples
• Aboriginal Maternity Services offers Koori maternity services around Victoria (Opens in new tab).
• NGIYANG provides culturally sensitive pregnancy care (Opens in new tab), early child development, immunisation, parenting support, education and referrals.

Languages other than English

• For help with support services in your language, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (Opens in new tab) (TIS) on 131 450.
• Monash Health Women's (Opens in new tab) has health information in many community languages.