Hospital Map (15kb, pdf) Hamilton Base Hospital's Maternity Services offers an approach to childbirth that is based on family-centred care, promoting pregnancy and childbirth as a normal healthy life event. Over two hundred babies are born at Hamilton Base Hospital each year. The unit offers birth in a relaxed, homelike environment and partners are encouraged to participate during this special time.
The unit consists of five bedrooms with ensuites (three of which operated as birthing suites), baby care facilities, televisions, telephones and ‘fold out’ couches. The unit is situated on the top floor of the hospitals main building, adjacent to the operating theatre.
Our maternity unit provides quality care for women who have a normal pregnancy and birthing experiences or those with minor medical conditions. The unit has its own Specialist Obstetrician, GP-Obstetricians, a visiting Paediatrician, general surgeons, medical and anaesthetic practitioners.
The Hamilton Base Hospital offers options in antenatal care, provided by a Specialist Obstetrician, GP’s trained in Obstetric Care and Midwives. Which option is best depends on each individual woman’s circumstances and preferences. Your choice should be made in discussion with your GP following the confirmation of your pregnancy.
- Shared Care
Women who are assessed to require high level care, or choose to have their visits with a doctor, are enrolled in the Shared Care model. In this instance the majority of antenatal care is provided by their doctor, with complimentary visits to the Midwives clinic scheduled at 18-20 weeks, 25-30 weeks & 36 weeks gestation.
- Midwifery Model of Care
The Midwifery Model of Care is suitable for women who are assessed by their doctor as requiring low-level care throughout their pregnancy, labour, birth and post-natal experiences. Women can enrol in this model of care following their 18-20 weeks ultrasound. Appointments are conducted in the Maternity Unit. A team of midwives rotate through the clinic, and women are therefore likely to meet some of the midwives who will be caring for them during labour, birth and postnatally. One of these midwives will provide a home visit for mothers and babies once they have been discharged.
In this case, women will attend the Midwives Clinic at 20 weeks, 24 weeks, 32 weeks, 38 weeks and 39 weeks gestation.
Doctor’s visits are scheduled at 18 weeks, 28 weeks, 34 weeks, 36 weeks and 40 weeks and more frequently if required.
The Obstetric / Maternity Unit comprises of a level 1 nursery, allowing for the care of neonates of no less than 36 weeks gestation, and those neonates who do not require mechanical ventilation. Emergency and supportive measures are able to be provided for neonates who require transfer to a tertiary hospital for ongoing care via the Neonatal Emergency Transfer Service (NETS).
Women who require urgent referral to tertiary centres for specialised or ongoing care are transported through liaison with the Perinatal Referral Service (PERS) and the Victorian Rural Ambulance Service.
The Hamilton Base Hospital also offers access to a comprehensive range of additional services such as:
- Breastfeeding support and day stay
- Domiciliary midwifery service
- Antenatal and postnatal mental health support
- Midwifery outpatient support
- Alliances with other health professionals as required eg. dietician, physiotherapy, social workers
- First time mothers support group
The Hamilton Base Hospital is an accredited Baby Friendly Hospital and encourages breastfeeding. It also boasts being honoured with the Johnson & Johnson State Midwifery Award in 2002 and has on staff the 2006 Victorian Midwife of the Year.
Visit the Baby Friendly Health Initiative for further information.
We are committed to quality improvement and adopt practices that are supported by best practice research, minimising risk to both mother and baby and promoting optimal outcomes.
For further in formation about any of these services, please contact our friendly staff on the Obstetric / Maternity Unit on (03) 555 18390 or (03) 5551 8391.