Maternity Unit

Our professional team of midwives and obstetricians support pregnant women in their pregnancy, birth and postnatal period.  

If your pregnancy has been normal, with no complications, it is best to stay at home in early labour for as long as possible. Research has shown that women labour much better if they stay at home in the early stages. You will be comfortable in familiar surroundings and your labour will progress in its own time.

It’s not always clear when labour has started. If you’re not sure or you are worried, please call the hospital.  Sometimes just talking through your symptoms is enough to help you relax and, during the course of the conversation, you and the midwife can decide when it’s time to come to the hospital.

Please call (03) 5320 4979 to speak to a midwife before coming to the hospital.

Please contact the hospital if:

• Your baby’s pattern of movements have changed
• Your waters have broken
• Your contractions are becoming painful and regular
• You have any vaginal bleeding
• You think you may be going into labour before 37 weeks’ gestation
• You think you may be going into labour and you are booked for a Caesarean Section
• You develop a severe headache, blurred vision or upper abdominal pain
• You are worried about yourself or your baby

Depending on the nature of your call, you may be advised to remain at home or to be assessed in the hospital.  

When you arrive at the hospital, you will be assessed in PAS (Pregnancy Assessment Service).  Your blood pressure, pulse and temperature will be taken, and the midwife will listen to the baby’s heartbeat.  

The midwife or doctor will feel your abdomen to check the position of the baby and assess your contractions.  A vaginal (internal) examination may also be offered to assess how much your cervix has opened (dilated) and how far down your baby’s head is in the pelvis.  

If you are in active labour, you will be admitted to the Birthing Suite.  If you are in early labour, you may be able to return home for a period of time.

Grampians Health Ballarat has 4 nominated birth suites available 24 hours a day Monday to Sunday.