These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
If you find out you are pregnant, you will need to think about:
the type of birth you want
where you want to have your baby
who will provide your pregnancy care.
It is important to have all the right information to help you make choices that are best for you and your baby.
In Queensland, you may be able to give birth at:
a public hospital
a private hospital
a birth centre (public)
at home.
Your health care team will discuss these options with you.
TIPtalk to your health care team and make sure that you understand what is needed to prepare for your birth choices.
Child Health Nurse
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
When baby comes home it’s a busy time for the whole family. The free child health nurse service can help.
THE BENEFITS
support with baby‘s routine: washing, sleeping, settling, feeding and development
advice and reminders about immunisations and health checks
family help while getting used to being a parent
regular health checks for children up to school age including height, weight, vision, hearing, speech, diet, behaviour and parent support.
HELP AND ADVICE
Your local child health clinic will help connect you with a child health nurse. Or you can call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) and ask for the child health nurse.
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
Community health workers provide a link between the community and the services available through the government, such as health care and social services.
THINGS YOU CAN TALK ABOUT WITH A COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER
health care and social services
family health needs
connecting with your culture
culturally appropriate health care
translating and interpreting
counselling and ongoing support.
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS
Most community health workers have family or deep roots in the local community. They will have similar values and ethnic backgrounds, and usually the same language as those in their community.
A doctor (GP) is the best person to go to if you have a health or medical problem that isn’t an emergency.
A doctor (GP) is the best person to go to if you have a health or medical problem that isn’t an emergency.
To find a local doctor click here and type in your post code.
A DOCTOR (GP) CAN
treat you for many different types of illness
refer you to a specialist or another type of medical doctor
share in your pregnancy care
write you a prescription for medicines
advise you on general health issues such as exercise and nutrition
take care of the health needs for your whole family.
GP SHARED CARE
This is a service where your pregnancy care is shared between your regular doctor, and the doctors and midwives at your local hospital. This type of shared pregnancy care is good if you have a low-risk pregnancy. You will receive your pregnancy care through your doctor in a familiar setting and build a relationship with that doctor during pregnancy that will help you long after baby is born.
REMEMBER when a doctor gets to know you and your family well, they can treat you, not just the medical condition.
CAUTION if it is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
Emergencies
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
There is always medical help available when you need it. To help you choose the right help at the right time, here are the emergency and after hours services that are available and some helpful information about when you should call them.
TYPES OF EMERGENCY SERVICES
13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
Doctor (GP) (including after hours)
Ambulance
Emergency Department (ED)
13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84)
Doctor (GP) (including after hours)
Ambulance
Emergency Department (ED)
This is a freeconfidential telephone service where you can speak to a registered nurse to get health advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone number to dial is 13 43 25 84 (13 HEALTH).
if you are feeling sick and you need to get advice about how you are feeling
to get advice on how to treat your sickness
to see which health care person to visit about your sickness
if you would like to speak to somebody about general health information for yourself or any members of your family.
Ask your regular doctor (GP) about what you should do if you need to contact them when they are closed.
If your regular doctor (GP) is not available, click hereand type your postcode. This will give you a list of the doctors who are close to where you live.
Ambulances are used for medical emergencies. When an ambulance arrives, you will be treated by paramedics.
CALL AN AMBULANCE IF
you have chest pain
there has been a serious accident
you have severe bleeding
you have difficulty breathing
you are in extreme pain
someone is unconscious
you go into labour and don’t think you can get to the hospital in time.
Alternatively, if you speak another language and are unsure on how to use an ambulance you can click here for a step by step video.
HOW PARAMEDICS HELP YOU
paramedics are trained to treat emergencies outside of a hospital or in the ambulance on the way to hospital
they can deal with pregnancy emergencies like unexpected bleeding and even deliver your baby in the ambulance if they need to.
Most hospitals have an emergency department (ED).
USING AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
emergency departments are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
if you have an accident or need urgent medical help, go to your nearest emergency department
patients with the most serious conditions are treated first
you do not need an appointment to go to an emergency department.
If you would like to know more about when to use an emergency department, click here.
To find a local hospital, click here and type in your postcode.
If you are not sure what to do, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. If you do not speak English or prefer to speak in another language, you can ask the operator for an interpreter.
Hospital
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
Australia has two types of hospitals:
public hospitals, which are free
private hospitals, where you need private health insurance, or you pay the costs yourself.
HOSPITAL SERVICES
Hospitals provide services for non-admitted (outpatients) or admitted patients (hospitalisations or inpatients). Most hospitalisations are for serious medical care such as:
curing a condition
treating serious symptoms like chest pain
managing child birth.
If you decide to give birth to your baby in a hospital make sure you talk to your health care team – doctor (GP), midwife, obstetrician – about the things you have to do before you go to hospital to have your baby.
To find a local hospital, click here and type in your postcode.
REMEMBER unless you go to a hospital emergency department you are not able to walk into a hospital without an appointment – to be an admitted patient you need a referral from a doctor.
Labour & Birth
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
The birth of every child is a unique and individual experience for a parent. There are some things that you may want to talk about with your health care team – doctor (GP), midwife, obstetrician – to get ready:
the birthing stages
types of birth (vaginal or caesarean)
what you can do to help your labour
pain relief.
STAGES OF BIRTH
Knowing about the different stages of birth can help you feel confident and comfortable during your pregnancy and when it’s time to have baby. There are three birthing stages:
Stage One: this is when your cervix is opening, and your baby is getting ready to be born
Stage Two: this is when your baby is being born
Stage Three: this is when the placenta (the organ that your baby is attached to in your womb) is delivered.
VAGINAL BIRTH
If you have a vaginal birth (which can include pain medication) you will mainly feel two types of things – pain and pressure.
As your baby moves downwards ready to be born, you’ll go from feeling pain (which is what is happening during contractions), to feeling pressure as baby pushes down ready for delivery.
During delivery, the soft and flexible tissues of the vagina can tear too. If stitches are used to help with healing a tear, they will dissolve by themselves.
Tears will heal quickly, leaving little or no scarring. If you have ongoing pain or any concerns after giving birth, ask your doctor or midwife for advice.
CAESAREAN DELIVERY
This is a surgical procedure where baby is born through a cut made in the parent’s abdominal wall and uterus.
A caesarean may be planned (elective) for known issues during the pregnancy such as babies who are bottom down (breech) or unplanned (emergency) for issues during labour (e.g. baby is in distress). These include:
if your labour is taking longer than normal
your baby is in distress or in an abnormal position
if you request to have a caesarean.
In Australia, many parents give birth safely by caesarean delivery because it is recommended for them, considering all of the things that are affecting them, their baby and family.
Caesarean births are performed by an obstetrician in a hospital.
PAIN RELIEF
You can get relief from pain during labour in a range of ways:
Moving around, comfort positions, massage, bathing and breathing techniques can assist in active pain management.
Gas – it won’t remove all of the pain, but it can help to reduce it and make it more bearable. Many women like it because it is easy to use, and they can control it themselves.
TENS machine – a machine that delivers small pulses of electrical current that may assist in reducing pain.
Morphine – a strong painkiller given by injection in the leg or bottom. It helps reduce the severity of pain but does not take it away completely. It can sometimes make you or baby sleepy.
Epidural – an injection in the back that numbs the nerves that carry pain from the birth canal to the brain. For most women an epidural usually gives complete pain relief. It can slow down the labour progress. Only an anaesthetist can provide an epidural.
HELP AND ADVICE
Before you go into labour talk to your health care team – doctor, obstetrician, midwife – about pain relief options, risks and benefits.
Maternity & Child Hubs
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
To help every child get the best start in life, the Queensland Government along with many community partners, has set up community-based maternity and child health hubs. These local hubs are run by midwives for the benefit of people living in the local community. Speak to your doctor (GP) about the hubs because you’ll need a referral from your doctor (GP) to make an appointment.
BENEFITS OF MATERNITY HUBS
bringing the care and expertise of the midwives and nurses to the community
a place for parents to meet and talk to health care professionals and other families about their new baby, their family and their lives
gives information about other services that can help.
HELP AND ADVICE
Ask your health care team – doctor (GP), midwife, child health nurse, pharmacist – or other people in your community, about where to find your local maternity and child health hub.
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
Medicare gives Australian residents access to free or subsidised health care as well as free treatment in public hospitals. It is funded by the Australian Government.
WHEN TO USE A MEDICARE CARD
whenever you visit your doctor (GP)
making a Medicare claim for a visit to any doctor
for treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
at a pharmacy when getting a prescription on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
WHO CAN GET A MEDICARE CARD?
Australian or New Zealand citizens over 15 years of age
Australian permanent residents over 15 years of age
children under 15 are listed on their parent’s card
HELP AND ASSISTANCE
If you need to get a Medicare card, or need to know more about how it works, ask for help from:
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
A midwife is a health professional who is trained to care for you during your pregnancy, labour and the birth of your baby, and who can help care for you and your baby/babies for the few weeks after birth. Your midwife will usually work for the hospital and you may have one throughout your pregnancy and birth or you may meet several.
DURING PREGNANCY
Your midwife will:
check your health and the progress of your pregnancy
check your baby’s health, growth and position
help perform or organise any checks and tests you may need to have
arrange hospital bookings
give you support and advice
help you prepare for labour and birth.
DURING LABOUR AND BIRTH
Your midwife will:
give you information, encouragement and emotional support
monitor your progress and suggest things to do to help your labour
monitor the baby’s heartbeat and other signs
offer you pain relief, or arrange for a doctor to give it to you
get extra medical help if needed.
AFTER BIRTH
Your midwife will:
help you with breastfeeding and settling your baby
show you how to bath your baby and change nappies
administer pain relief if needed
carry out routine heath tests such as newborn screening
connect you and your family to all kinds of health and community support.
HELP AND ADVICE
You might also consider Private Midwife Care, where your care is provided by a midwife or group of midwives from a private group practice for your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal care. In this model you have the option of choosing whether to have your baby in hospital or at home. Speak with your doctor (GP) about the options that might work best for you.
Obstetrician
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
An obstetrician is a doctor who has additional training and skills to provide medical care during pregnancy (antenatal care), during labour and birth and after pregnancy (postnatal care).
BENEFITS
obstetricians are trained to deal with complications and emergencies during pregnancy, birth and after birth
they check your health and the progress of your pregnancy
they will check your baby’s health, growth and position
they can do, or refer you for, your routine tests
they can help you get ready for labour and birth
they can perform caesarean births
they are also trained in reproductive health (gynaecology).
HELP AND ADVICE
in public hospitals an obstetrician will look after you if you have complications during your pregnancy, labour or after birth
if you have private health insurance with maternity cover, you can choose your own obstetrician to look after you during your pregnancy and labour
your doctor (GP) will can provide you with a referral to a private obstetrician of your choice.
Pharmacist
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
A pharmacist is a trained health care professional who prepares and gives you the medicines your doctor has asked you to take.
TALK TO A PHARMACIST ABOUT
medical dosage (the right amount of medicine to take)
how to take medicine the best and safest way
how to take over-the-counter medicines (medicines that don’t need a prescription from your doctor)
the way medicine might make you feel (for example, making you feel sleepy).
OTHER WAYS A PHARMACIST CAN HELP
Your pharmacist can also help you with things like:
nausea and vomiting in pregnancy
things that might be happening with your new baby, like nappy rash, cradle cap, feeding and reflux
constipation
contraception
immunisations
products like vitamins for general health and wellbeing
first aid kits
connecting you to child health nurses.
REMEMBER build an ongoing relationship with your local pharmacist, because when they get to know you and your family, they can help all of you to stay healthy.
Practice Nurse
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
Practice nurses work in a doctor (GP)’s clinic and help the doctor to care for patients.
A PRACTICE NURSE IS TRAINED TO
talk to you before or after your visit to the doctor
weigh baby
do physical examinations
take medical tests (for example, a pregnancy test)
give advice about contraception and fitting contraceptive devices
provide emergency first aid
treat wounds
apply and remove dressings
take patient samples (swabs and specimens), check pulses, temperatures and blood pressure
give immunisations
write records, keep patient notes up-to-date, and talk to other health professionals on behalf of patients.
Pregnancy Care
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
Regular health checks during pregnancy are the best way to prevent problems for you and baby.
THE BENEFITS
check-ups can find possible risks early
get good advice on diet and exercise
getting ready for parenting – bring a support person when you can
being able to talk about your birth plan and what to do if things go wrong
knowing you and baby are well helps you enjoy your pregnancy.
HELP & ADVICE
Your health care team – doctor (GP), midwife, obstetrician – will work with you to support a safe pregnancy.
Pregnancy Questions
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
WHAT IS PREGNANCY?
Pregnancy is the time when one or more babies grows inside a person.
The baby is born around 40 weeks from the start of a woman’s last period (around 9 months).
An ’embryo’ is the growing baby during the first eight weeks. After eight weeks, the baby is called a ‘fetus’ until birth.
When someone becomes pregnant, it’s only natural to start asking questions.
THE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY
You may miss your period, have sore breasts, feel sick, vomit, feel hungry and have to go to the toilet to urinate many times.
If you think you are pregnant, you can buy a test from your pharmacist or the supermarket or ask your doctor (GP) for a test.
FEELINGS ABOUT BEING PREGNANT
Some people may be scared and worried when they find out they are pregnant. Others may be very excited and happy.
How you feel about being pregnant can depend on many things – your age, what’s happening in your life, whether or not you want to be pregnant, and whether you feel ready to have a baby and be a parent.
WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?
Not all pregnancies will end with the birth of a live baby. For reasons that cannot always be explained, a pregnancy may end in a miscarriage (the natural death of a baby before it is able to survive outside of the womb), a stillbirth (when a baby dies before or during birth), or a medical termination (when a pregnancy is ended by medications or surgery).
If you experience pregnancy loss, it is important to get the support you require to help with recovery. This support can come from your family, midwife, doctor, community health workers and connectors. Many hospitals have staff who specialise in supporting parents and their families during these times.
HELP AND ADVICE
If you think you are pregnant, or want to become pregnant, there is lots of help, advice and medical support available to you from:
your doctor
midwife
child health nurse
pharmacist
community connectors
community health workers
social workers
parent groups.
REMEMBER the first important step is to go to your doctor to confirm your pregnancy and have a check-up.
Referrals
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
A referral is a request from one health professional to another health professional or health service asking them to test, consult or manage you for a particular situation or condition.
Your doctor (GP) can give you a referral for:
hospital care, midwifery, or obstetric advice
specific tests, skills, or care from another type of health care professional.
Seeing the right health professional at the right time is important during your pregnancy and after your baby is born.
HELP AND ADVICE
Referrals can be made by:
your doctor
your midwife
your obstetrician.
REMEMBER build a relationship with your doctor so they can make sure you get the right help from the right health professional, at the right time.
Social Worker
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
A social worker is a health professional who helps people in times of need and crisis. Social workers help with practical and emotional support, and advice.
HOW CAN A SOCIAL WORKER HELP?
Social workers help people who are:
homeless
experiencing domestic violence
experiencing sexual assault or child abuse
addicted to alcohol and/or drugs
living with trauma from a previous incident
coping with the death of a family member or friend.
They help people to find government housing, get Centrelink entitlements and assist with financial matters if needed.
HELP AND ADVICE
If you need the help of a social worker, talk to your:
doctor (GP)
community connector
community care worker
child health nurse
midwife.
Your Health Care Team
These are all the people who can help when you're pregnant or planning to get pregnant. The best person to start with is a doctor (GP).
Being cared for by the same trusted health professionals over a long period of time is called ‘continuity of care’, and it starts with your doctor (GP).
To find a local doctor (GP) click here and type in your post code.
THE BENEFITS
your doctor (GP) gets to know you and your family
your doctor can refer you to other health professionals
over time you and your family will have a team of people who get to know you well, and can give you the best medical support
continuity of care means treating you and your family, not just a health condition.
START NOW
The best time to start getting continuity of care is when you are planning to become pregnant and start to see a doctor.
Your doctor can care for you all the way through your pregnancy, refer you to other health professionals if needed, help you to work out the best plan for birth, and organise your birthing care through the medical system.
When you keep going to the same doctor after baby is born, they will get to know all about the health needs of you, your new baby, and every member of your family.