When Should You Register At The Hospital When Pregnant

Having a infant in infirmary

4-minute read

When y'all fall meaning, you lot will need to recall almost where you'd like to have your baby. Your options will depend on where you live and what is available in your area. This page explains what yous can expect from having your babe in a public or individual infirmary.

Where you give birth volition likewise depend on whether your pregnancy and birth are expected to go smoothly, which is known as depression risk. Almost motherhood units in larger hospitals cater for both low and high-risk pregnancies and births.

Why a hospital, not a birthing centre?

Both public and private hospitals seek to provide high-quality care for you and your baby. The reward of a infirmary is that:

hospitals usually provide a range of options for pain relief, such as gas, h2o immersion, relaxation, TENS, epidurals and more — although check that the options you lot're thinking about are available at the infirmary y'all're considering
if things go wrong, hospital motherhood units provide emergency motherhood care, with specialist doctors, operating theatres and intensive intendance units available in all public and most private hospitals
fees and expenses are low in a public hospital if you have a Medicare card

Simply hospitals have disadvantages, too, in that.

a infirmary room might not feel very relaxed and this might affect how you lot cope with labour
you lot might not see the same midwives as those you saw during your pregnancy
yous might non be able to accept as many people effectually yous during labour as you would like
if you're in a public infirmary, yous might exist in a shared room after the birth
giving nascence in a private hospital can be expensive, although some costs may be covered past your private health insurance — information technology's a proficient thought to bank check your insurance coverage and whatsoever await times that may apply

Private hospitals have a higher rate of birth interventions and caesarean section than public hospitals.

Booking in

As soon as your pregnancy is confirmed, you can book into the maternity unit at your local public hospital or at a private hospital. Your starting time appointment will exist between weeks 10 and sixteen of your pregnancy, and you tin discuss your options with the midwife or doctor.

Antenatal care

If you choose to have your babe in a public infirmary:

you will generally go to their antenatal clinic for your pregnancy care, scans and claret tests
you will ordinarily exist offered a range of options regarding who volition provide your care; each unit is different and information technology's best to hash out this early in your pregnancy

If y'all have called care through an obstetrician:

you lot volition accept your babe in i of the hospitals in which your physician practises
your scans and tests are usually done in their rooms and through private providers
there will be actress costs involved

In both settings, midwives will wait after you during labour and after the birth. Your options regarding how you give birth, who can attend and the services bachelor vary according to each hospital.

Most hospitals run birthing classes for expectant mothers and their support person. Maternity units understand the value of a back up person during birth and encourage them to stay with you lot during labour.

After you lot have your baby

After birth, the midwives will support y'all in feeding and caring for your baby.

The length of stay in a infirmary varies from one twenty-four hour period to several days, depending on your recovery, whether you have had a caesarean nascency, and whether you or your baby have any complications.

Having a baby is a natural part of life and hospitals are keen to go mothers and babies home so they are more relaxed, sleep meliorate and are less likely to get an infection. Midwives can visit you at habitation to provide care for y'all and your baby including breastfeeding communication.

Visiting hours can vary between hospitals, then it's a good idea to check when you tin can have visitors.

More data

Y'all can call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, 7 days a week on 1800 882 436 to speak with a maternal child health nurse to detect out more than.

Learn more hither nigh the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: June 2020

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