Childbirth and Pregnancy Support in Canberra, ACT

Picture this. Those babies born to mothers who did not undergo prenatal care are threefold likely to suffer from low birth weight and five times more likely to die as compared to those whose mothers sought care early into the pregnancy.

These can be prevented by seeing a specialist early on because they can identify potential problems as they observe mothers every scheduled checkup. This allows doctors to treat these health issues as soon as possible before they create bigger problems and affect both the mother and the baby if left untreated.

Antenatal/Prenatal Care

At first sign of pregnancy or even if you just suspect that you are pregnant, your immediate reaction would be to go to your GP to confirm your suspicion. Once it is proven that you are indeed having a baby, the doctor can begin the necessary initial steps in pregnancy care like organising initial workups such as ultrasounds and initial blood tests. These are not deterred by your decision on where or how you decide to deliver the baby.

Pregnancy Care and Childbirth Options in Canberra

Foetal Medicine Unit

Here is where those high-risk and complex pregnancies are referred to for them to be able the get the specialised care and supervision for both the mother and the baby. At Centenary Hospital’s FMU, specialist doctors, midwives, and sonographers will take care of your pregnancy for that all-important “continuity of care”.

Along the way, some team members may be asked to check up on you such as the genetics doctors, neonatologists, and anaesthetists. When the time comes for your labour and birth, a team of doctors and midwives will take over at the Birthing Suite.

However, this setup can be altered if after the initial appointment or after a few of them, it is decided that you are safe to have regular pregnancy care. They will let you know about this and will help you book the right clinic and practitioner for you.

Homebirth

This Australian capital has been running a three-year trial for babies to be delivered at home, with support from a midwife. Prior to this, a primary midwife is assigned to look after you for the duration of your pregnancy leading up to the actual birth. However, to be eligible for this, one of the requirements is you have to be living within 15 minutes from the Centenary Hospital.

Midwives

These are healthcare professionals who have trained in providing care for women during pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal period. They can work either in public institutions or they can work independently in their private clinics.

When you have chosen a midwife for your pregnancy care, they will usually collaborate with other healthcare professionals when necessary. You also have the option to deliver the baby in a birth centre or at the Centenary Hospital’s birth suite.

Obstetricians

You may opt to be taken care of by the actual medical professional who was trained exactly for overseeing pregnancy and delivering the baby and skip those in between like the GP and the midwives. After all, these professionals will often consult the obstetrician when complications in the pregnancy arise.

These specialists can deliver your baby either in a public or a private hospital, depending on the necessity or your preference. Also, obstetricians are available whether you attend a prenatal in a public hospital or a clinic, or you can also be seen by one via a referral by your GP.

Shared Care

This is where you see your doctor for your prenatal care for the whole duration of the pregnancy, but you also see a midwife or a doctor at a hospital or clinic in between. If any complications arise, you may also be sent to see an obstetrician.

The actual birth will be done at a birth suite, where you will be accompanied by a medical staff. Thereafter, you will be brought to a postnatal ward for your recovery.

Specialist Team Care

If you have a particularly complicated pregnancy, you might be referred to a Specialist Team Care composed of midwives, medical, and allied health staff. As a resident of ACT, you will be visited by a midwife at home after you have been discharged from the hospital.

These services are available at the North Canberra Hospital and Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.

ACT Public Maternity System

If you have decided to go with Canberra’s public maternity for your pregnancy care, two public maternity hospitals will be your options: the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children (Garran) and the North Canberra Hospital (Bruce).

Before you will be allowed an appointment with these hospitals, you need to do the following steps:

  1. You need to sign up for MyDHR through an online registration which can be accessed via the website or mobile app. This is where you can access and update all your health details, schedule, and manage all your future appointments in the facilities.
  2. Learn all about your options when it comes to your maternity and birthing care. If in case your first choice is not possible due to your medical history or the hospital can no longer accommodate you due to slots being already filled up, a midwife will call you to discuss the alternatives.
  3. Call the Central Health Intake at 5124 9977 to register and answer important questions like when is your baby due, your hospital of choice, and your chosen maternity care.
  4. Your first prenatal appointment with the midwife will be set between 12 and 14 weeks. You will be notified of the confirmation of your first appointment and you will also receive a reminder so you won’t forget the details.

What Is a Doula and What Do They Do?

Pregnancy is one difficult phase that women go through, especially when it’s their first time. There’s the physical aspect such as gaining weight and changes in body shape, and for some, even the texture of the skin changes. Then, there are the emotional and psychological aspects because of the hormones. These changes can be abrupt and these expectant mothers might not have been prepared for all of these that they can be so overwhelmed.

That’s where Doula comes in for support through all of these. They are basically trained professional birth coaches who provide physical, informational, emotional, and mental support to mothers and expectant mothers to get through prenatal to postpartum with ease. They are non-medical labour assistants that provide care to women during childbirth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or even induced abortion. 

However, contrary to common beliefs, Doulas do not only support women during these phases of their lives. They can even extend support to the husband and family members as well. Some even deal with non-reproductive phases of life such as end-of-life support.

Key Roles of a Doula

Doulas are not really that common in Australia. However, because women have become more and more aware of what they want and need during their pregnancy journey, doulas are becoming increasingly popular than they used to. Here are some reasons why.

Support Patients’ Physical, Mental, and Emotional State

Because Doulas are specifically trained to be of service during women’s labour and childbirth, they are knowledgeable and experienced in giving comfort and managing the mother’s labour pains through strategies and the use of different tools. They can also provide suggestions about how to maintain a safe and efficient birthing.

In terms of emotional and mental state, doulas help in conditioning both the mother and the husband or partner on the right attitude and expectations to achieve their birth goals and ensure safety and efficiency.

While the mother is in the labour or delivery room, doulas can provide the partner reassurance from time to time that everything is part of the process and that everything is okay. This can be particularly crucial during a long labour, which means the other half can take a rest physically and mentally so they can make informed and sound decisions for the benefit of both the mother and the child.

Ensure Stress-Free and Safe Pre- And Post-natal Environment

Doulas are mainly expected to create an environment for mothers’ need for care, warmth, safety, and protection while in their vulnerable state, from prenatal which extends up to after giving birth. Part of their training is to provide you with information that is proven to help mothers-to-be prepare for D-day. 

At post-natal, they can assist in feeding the baby and in the mother’s adjusting to life together with the newborn. They can help you with any position that you are comfortable with sitting or lying down and may even assist you in bathing, should you wish. They can even guide you with proper breathing and may provide you with other calming methods if you are stressed by your new situation.

Facilitate Communication With the Patients’ Medical Team

Couples may be confused with so many details that the mother’s medical team has ordered that they either may often overlook some important cues for medical emergencies or they can sometimes be overly paranoid over simple symptoms that shouldn’t be too concerning to call the doctor. Doulas can be very helpful in identifying the difference between these two.

They can provide you with guidance on what to ask your OB-Gynaecologist or Midwife, or when it is time to seek more than just a Q & A. Doulas’ assistance has a huge impact on the mothers’ decisions come birthing time which can definitely affect the level of satisfaction with the eventual outcome.

Create Peaceful and Respectful Birthing

Perhaps 100% of labouring women prefer complete privacy during this time. But besides wanting to be left alone in this vulnerable state, a warm, quiet, and dark room can minimise the release of adrenaline which is known to inhibit labour and eventually delay giving birth.

Also, when in an environment with natural aesthetics, the body can maximise the effect on its endorphins which helps the mother relax and somehow feel less pain. With the Doula’s help, they can work with the husband or partner and the mother’s medical team to ensure that this is achieved.

Proven Benefits of Doula’s Services

Different studies have shown and documented the proven benefits of having a doula by the mother’s side during labour and some of these are the following:

  • Improved breastfeeding.
  • Improved interaction between mother and infant.
  • The incidence of postpartum depression was reduced.
  • Increased maternal satisfaction.
  • Reduction of caesarean rate by 50%.
  • Reduction in analgesia use by 30%.
  • Reduction in epidural requests by 60%.
  • Reduction in forceps delivery by 40%.
  • Reduction in oxytocin use by 40%.
  • Shorten labour by 25%.

Not Part of a Doula’s Services

It is important to note that despite doulas assisting in pregnancy and birthing which are considered medical situations that can cause symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to even death, they are NOT medical professionals. Hence, they are not to be expected to diagnose illnesses and conditions and give medical advice.

They are not also expected to know how to deliver a baby nor how to perform tasks such as foetal heart monitoring or vaginal examinations. And most importantly, don’t expect them to replace the emotional support that your husband or partner can provide. Manage your expectations when hiring a doula and better yet, ask as many questions as possible before deciding to hire one.