Hospitals and pregnancy care - North

Options of care during your pregnancy – North

We provide different antenatal care options in North Tasmania. These are:

• midwifery-based care
• Midwifery Group Practice
• midwife community clinics
• midwife satellite clinics
• medical clinics
• GP shared care
• pre-term birth prevention clinic.

Learn more about the different types of care.

Hospitals and pregnancy-related service contacts

Pregnancy Assessment Clinic (PAC)

• The PAC is located in the Maternity Unit on Level 4 of Launceston General Hospital.
• You may be referred to the PAC for assessment by your doctor or midwife.
• PAC midwives and doctor will assess the well-being of you and your baby.
• After this assessment you will either go home or be admitted to the maternity unit.
• If you go home, it is important to follow the advice and attend any follow up appointments..
• If you experience pain or bleeding before you’re booked in, please visit Emergency.

Maternity unit accommodation

• We have a ‘rooming-in’ policy.
• This means your baby is with you 24 hours a day.
• During your stay you are responsible for the care, supervision and safety of your baby.
• It is your responsibility not to leave your baby alone.
• Tell staff if you intend to leave the ward for any reason.
• If you leave your room/ward during visiting hours, please ask a family member to watch your baby.
• We do not have a nursery for well babies.

Birthing suites and ward rooms

• Birthing suites are where you will labour, give birth and spend the first few hours with your baby.
• Birthing suites are on Ward 4B at Launceston General Hospital.
• Maternity accommodation is on Ward 4O at Launceston General Hospital.
• If you choose to stay in hospital, you will be transferred to the maternity ward.
• Your partner cannot stay in the maternity ward with you.
• You will be cared for in a ward room if you are admitted antenatally or for postnatal care.
•  If you’re having a planned caesarean section, you will be admitted to Ward 4O before your operation.

Where to go for your pregnancy tests

Ultrasound

• For your ultrasound, please visit Radiology on Level 3 of Launceston General Hospital.
• Your scans will be organised with you at your booking in appointment.

Pathology tests and bookings

• It is important to have all blood tests ordered by your doctor.
• Please have these before your booking in your antenatal appointment.
• For your blood tests, please visit Pathology on Level 2 of Launceston General Hospital.
• It can be accessed from the Frankland Street Entrance and parking is available.

Diabetes in pregnancy blood test

• You must fast (this means no food or drink other than water) before your diabetes in pregnancy blood test.
• Your Midwife or GP will give you a written instruction leaflet.
• Get your test done as early as possible in the morning.
• Please allow 2-3 hours for the completion of this test.

Antenatal education

We offer antenatal educational online including video clips and telehealth sessions.

Antenatal online information is designed in five sections to help you with your physical, mental and emotional preparation for pregnancy, birth, early parenting and feeding your baby.

This allows you and your support person, the opportunity to examine the information at your own leisure. There will be a group telehealth antenatal education session scheduled with a midwife to link in from the comfort of your home. If you require a 1:1 phone or telehealth session, this can be also scheduled.

By writing questions down you can discuss ideas, thoughts and choices for birthing and parenting with your health professional at your next visit.

It is best to commence your Birth, Parenting & Breastfeeding information sessions around 28 - 32 weeks gestation.

Bookings for all telehealth and 1:1 phone session are essential and can be made through the Pregnancy and Gynaecology Clinic reception or by phoning 1300 977 694 between 9.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Please review the following video clips and information before attending the telehealth antenatal education session.

Pregnancy and parenting

• We recommend you link into a birth and parenting online information, especially if this is your or your partners first child.
• Birth and parenting telehealth sessions are facilitated by midwives.
• They will cover self help skills, an understanding of labour and birth, feeding, unexpected outcomes, natural and medical pain relief options to help make informed choices.
• Transition to parenting can be a busy but exciting time. We offer you some strategies to cope with the early days at home and give you information regarding follow up support in the community.

Please read the Maternity Information Package as this may also answer questions or concerns you might have or take a look at our Pregnancy Education and Parenting Education Presentations.

Virtual tour of the Maternity Unit

Labour and birth

The labour process is a unique experience for each woman. It can be helpful to have an understanding of the birth process and stages of labour, and the different strategies and options for pain relief if required.

This is an exciting time however, it is necessary for you to call the Birth Suite prior to presenting so we can ask some important questions regarding you and your support person’s current health status. Please also feel free to take a look at our Labour and Birth Education Presentation for more information.

Breastfeeding

Breastmilk is the most nutritious food you can give your baby. Breastfeeding is natural but a learned skill. We recommend you link into the online video on antenatal breastfeeding tips. Partners are encouraged to also link in with educational sessions as their support is essential.

All THS hospitals are accredited Baby Friendly Hospitals and follow the 10 Steps to Successful Breastfeeding. The full Breastfeeding policy is available on request.

If you have specific concerns, you can ask your Midwife or Health Professional to book a one on one telephone/telehealth appointment with a lactation consultant.

Learn more about breastfeeding

Antenatal Breast Expressing (EBM)

If recommended by your health professional, some women may be asked to commence gentle hand expression of breast after 34weeks of pregnancy. This can be frozen until after you deliver then utilised to aid the stabilisation of your infant’s blood sugar levels.