Maternity Service

Babies Birth at PDH PDH

Portland District Health provides a 24-hour midwifery service. The service includes antenatal and post-natal care with support for breastfeeding and parenting.

Our Philosophy

At Portland District Health we view uncomplicated pregnancy and childbirth as a normal healthy life event.
We believe every birth as a unique event, and women should receive care appropriate to the social, personal and cultural needs throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and in the days following discharge home.  We encourage women and their families to be actively involved in their transition to parenthood.

Our Service

It is recommended that women, their families and the community know and understand what care is offered at the local health service.

Maternity care at Portland District Health  is ‘shared' between your GP, specialists at SWHC and team midwives working together to ensure safe quality care for women and their babies.
Obstetric GP's supporting maternity services at Portland have additional training in pregnancy, birth and newborn care.

At Portland District Health we provide low risk birthing services for women with term pregnancies (between 37 - 42 weeks). Those women who develop complications or go into labour less than 37 completed pregnancy weeks, will be referred to a specialist located at a larger regional hospital for birth of the baby.
Portland District Health also provides postnatal and domicillary care to women who give birth at other hospitals.

Services provided at Portland

1. Booking In Service 
2. Antenatal Care & check ups
3. Pregnancy & Birth education classes
4. Antenatal monitoring (cardiotocograph) if required
5. Antenatal Ultrasounds
6. Labour & birth care (when services are available)
7. Post birth care
8. Breastfeeding support
9. Home visit following discharge home

Links

Breastfeeding Information and Assistance
Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) - www.breastfeeding.asn.au

Having a baby In Victoria
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/maternity/ -  Explains birth care options in Victoria, what is available and where.

Better Health channel
www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au - Information and support links; pregnancy, parenting and services.

Well Women's Website (fact sheets)
http://wellwomens.rwh.org.au

 Quit Information line
Ph 13 18 48

 Vichealth Alcohol and pregnancy (Fact sheet)http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Publications/Alcohol-Misuse/Asking-questions-about-alcohol-in-pregnancy.aspx

Postnatal & Parenting Support

24 hr Maternal & Child Health Line
Ph; 132 229

Post & Antenatal depression Association (PaNDA)
Ph; (03) 9428 4600

Beyond Blue
1300224636

Australian Multiple Birth Association
www.amba.or.au - Information and support links when parenting twins, triplets or more.

Immunisation programme
1300 882 008
www.health.vic.gov/immunisation

Kidsafe
www.kidsafe.com.au - Child accident prevention

 

Your Pregnancy

There are many steps you can take to help yourself through pregnancy and prepare for childbirth and parenthood. A healthy lifestyle includes eating well, keeping fit with regular exercise and avoiding smoking. It is also important in pregnancy to attend regular checkups and to avoid alcohol and drugs unless they are recommended or prescribed by your doctor. Remind your doctor or other health professional that you are pregnant.

Dental health is important during pregnancy as hormonal changes affect your gums. Bleeding gums is a common problem during pregnancy and care needs to be taken with tooth brushing and flossing. A visit to the dentist is recommended whilst pregnant, and remember to inform them that you are pregnant.

 

When to notify your doctor/midwife/hospital

It is recommended that irrespective of when your baby is due, you contact your hospital or carer if you have any of the following:

• any vaginal bleeding
• less movement of your baby than usual
• any pain that doesn’t go away
• waters break (membranes rupture)
• a concern your waters may have broken
• a high temperature
• vomiting that will not stop
• an unrelenting headache
• visibility loss or blurred vision
• widespread itching of the skin
• sudden swelling of face, hands and feet
• any worries.

(Reference: www.health.vic.gov.au/maternity/yourpregnancy/changes.htm)

 

Student midwives

At times there will be midwifery students at the hospital working with the midwife. It is your right to refuse permission for the student to be involved in your care, but it is greatly appreciated when students are given this important supervised learning opportunity.

 

Coming to hospital

Please contact the midwife on 55210691 when you are in labour. If this call is not successful, phone north ward for further assistance: 55210348. You are asked to come in through Accident and Emergency at the hospital where you will initially be assessed prior to transfer to the birthing or labour room. There are occasional days when a doctor may not be available when you come into labour. At these times you will be transferred for ongoing care. It is important that you are an Ambulance Victoria member to cover this possibility. Full health care cards cover ambulance.

 What to bring

It is advisable to pack your bag several weeks before your due date.

You need:

• Comfortable clothing for your stay (consider clothing suitable for labour and breastfeeding)
• 6 pair of underpants
• Nursing bra and breast pads
• Footwear
• 2-3 packets of sanitary pads (maternity size recommended)
• Toiletries
• Plastic bag for washing

 Optional:

• Music CDs for labour
• Lip balm; massage/aromatherapy oils
• Camera, film batteries, video camera
• Light snacks/icy poles/sweets
• Wheat hot pack/pillow
• Pen and paper

Your baby needs:

• Clothes nappy and bunny rug for going home
• Baby wipes/baby wash (if desired)
• Mittens (optional)
• If bottle feeding, you will need to supply formula, bottles and teats
• Approved infant car restraint fitted to your vehicle

We suggest you wash all baby clothes before use. Never store baby clothes or bedding in mothballs (naphthalene) as they can be toxic.

 

PREGNANCY CARE SCHEDULE

Weeks	Visit No	Recommended Tests	Shared Care GP/PDH	Clinic PDH Midwife or doctor
7-12	1	Blood group, Rh and antibodies FBE Rubella Hep B HIV/Hep C if indicated Syphilis Urine Test (MSU) for asymptomatic bacteraemia   Tests to be offered: Maternal Serum Screening+/- Nuchal Translucency scan Discuss 19-20 week morphology scan ? Vitamin D   Ensure all women have completed paper ‘booking in’ to PDH via Pre-admission clinic	GP	PDH Pregnancy Care Clinic
10-14		PDH Midwifery Booking In Appointment	Midwife	Midwife
14-16	2	Standard antenatal check Discuss and review results MSST if requested Discuss morphology scan and provide request slip	GP	Clinic PDH
20-22	3	Standard antenatal check Discuss any results	Clinic PDH	Clinic PDH
24-26	4	Standard antenatal check GCT Rh antibodies if needed FBE	GP	Clinic PDH
28-30	5	Standard antenatal check Review results Anti D at 28 weeks	GP	Clinic PDH
32-33	6	Standard antenatal check If Rh neg, check antibodies, Ant D at 34 weeks	GP	Clinic PDH
35-36	7	Standard antenatal check +/- Consultant check GBS screen Hb if indicated	Clinic PDH	Clinic PDH
38	8	Standard antenatal check Review results	GP	Clinic PDH
40	9	Standard antenatal check	GP	Clinic PDH
41	10	Review.  CTG prior to appointment	Clinic PDH	Clinic PDH

 For further information contact the midwives on 55210691