Many public hospitals now provide a midwives clinic for pregnancy visits. Midwives' clinics are essentially available to women who have no pre-existing health conditions (such as
diabetes) and whose pregnancies are progressing relatively normally with one baby (no
twins or more). The midwife normally seeks the advice of an obstetric registrar or consultant if there are health concerns or if complications arise. Some midwives clinics continue to care for women with variations from the standard 'norm' (For example, babies in a
breech position or women planning a
VBAC), with the doctors becoming more involved with the pregnancy care closer to the birth and during the labour.
If more concerning complications do develop (such as
high blood pressure,
bleeding during pregnancy or the labour starting
prematurely - before 37 weeks) then the woman's care will most likely be transferred from the midwives clinic to the doctors in the hospital's antenatal clinic. Policies and guidelines for what is acceptable for a midwives' clinic to manage will vary from hospital to hospital. Ask your midwife.
Midwives' clinics also usually have access to the services of dieticians, social workers,
genetic counsellors, physiotherapists and childbirth educators as required. Or they may refer you to services in the local community.
Pregnancy visits
The birth
Pain relief options
Postnatal care
6-8 week postnatal check
Fees
Pregnancy visits. Routine pregnancy visits are provided by one (or a group of 2 or 3) midwives. You may see the same midwife for the entire pregnancy or you may see 2 or 3 midwives at various visits throughout the pregnancy. The midwife you see will usually take your blood tests and order ultrasounds or other tests as required. Wait times for appointments are usually reasonable as they are generally scheduled times (depending on how busy the midwife is and how well she is running to time). The
first pregnancy visit