Both Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s and Bacchus Marsh campuses offer a number of options for pregnancy care if you choose to birth with Western Health. Options for pregnancy care include:
Pregnancy care options are discussed with you at your first appointment and a model of care is chosen based on individual assessment and needs. The primary model of care may change during your pregnancy due to ongoing assessment and changing needs.
Midwifery care is offered at both campuses for women with uncomplicated pregnancies:
pregnancy care is provided by midwives
appointments are offered at: Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s at Sunshine Hospital, Bacchus Marsh Hospital and Melton Health.
Shared Maternity Care – with a hospital affiliated GP
Offered at both campuses.
Shared Maternity Care is a model of care which allows you to have the majority of your pregnancy care visits in your local community with an accredited general practitioner (GP). Shared maternity care aims to provide care in the community that considers all of your needs in a safe and culturally appropriate way. Women often choose this model as it provides care from consistent caregivers, convenience and they have an existing relationship with their GP that they can continue long after giving birth with their baby.
Your family GP can confirm your pregnancy, recommend your blood tests and ultrasound and refer you to Western Health for the birth of your baby.
Western Health currently has no community midwives affiliated to provide this service.
If shared care is an option you would like to consider but do not currently have a regular GP, Our Shared Care Liaison Officer can help you find a suitable General Practitioner.
Offered at JKWC.
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) is made up of small teams of midwives who practice in pairs and provide maternity care throughout your pregnancy, labour, birth and the early parenting period. The MGP option for pregnancy care allows you to go home sooner after your baby’s birth (4-6 hours). Your midwife will visit you at home up to two weeks after the birth of your baby.
MGP is a popular option chosen by women; you may need to be placed on the MGP waiting list.
Homebirth is a Medicare funded program offered for women with an uncomplicated pregnancy. Homebirth is a natural extension of Midwifery Group Practice (MGP), described above, where you are allocated your known and backup midwife. Due to the programs overwhelming reputation and success Western Health’s homebirth program has become a popular pregnancy care option for women wishing to birth at home. If a place in the Homebirth program is not available due to demand, you may have the option of being cared for within the MGP program.
Koori Maternity Service (KMS) is part of Midwifery Group Practice (described above) at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s, and facilitates access to culturally safe pregnancy, labour & birth and postnatal care for up to two weeks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Shared Care can also be arranged with the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) or your General Practitioner.
KMS is supported by a dedicated Aboriginal Health Liaison Officer (AHLO)
to assist in meeting your individual requirements.
Providing continuity of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families at Joan Kirner Women’s.
The Galinjera Maternity Program is a small team of dedicated midwives and doctors, who will provide care to you throughout your pregnancy, birth and beyond. Regular visits with a midwife you know and trust is important so that you and your baby feel safe, supported and well cared for. The midwives and doctors of the Galinjera team are committed to providing you and your family with respectful care.
You will be referred to one of our specialist clinics if you and/or your baby require specialist care during your pregnancy. Sometimes your care can be shared between the specialist doctors and your midwife. Referral to a Specialist Clinic may occur for you if you have:
a multiple pregnancy· a previous complicated pregnancy
a pre-existing medical condition such as blood pressure, diabetes or a thyroid problem
alcohol and/or drug use
a high Body Mass Index (BMI)
There may be times when you are booked at Bacchus Marsh Hospital but may require specialist care. If this is the case, you may be transferred to Joan Kirner Women’s & Children’s for review or ongoing care.
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