Maternity Services at CHWC

Due to the COVID-19 response, we need to keep making changes to the way we deliver Women, Youth and Children health services to keep our women and babies safe. We encourage you to regularly check our Temporary changes page for the latest advice.

We recommend you go home between 6 and 24 hours after giving birth when you have a normal birth and your baby is well. There are many reasons for an early transfer home, including:

• partners and family can be more involved in bonding with and caring for the baby
• earlier establishment of routine
• better sleep with less interruption for mother and baby

We will always ensure you are ready to go home at the right time.

We provide follow up care in the first few days after you give birth through our Midcall service. Midcall midwives offer individualised postnatal care, feeding and parenting support in your home. Our service is available 7 days a week from 8:30am to 5pm for women who live in the ACT and Queanbeyan. You may receive between 1 and 3 home visits from our service depending on your needs.

We also recommend planning your support at home before your baby is due. This may include:

• booking leave for your partner or support person
• having an approved baby car seat fitted in your family car
• joining a support group or developing your own
• cooking meals and storing them in the freezer for when you come home from hospital

The Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU) is a walk-in clinic for women who are more than 20 weeks pregnant and experience pregnancy or postnatal related concerns that require assessment and additional monitoring.

This can include early labour symptoms, reduced fetal movements, suspected broken waters or blood pressure checks.

You can self-refer to this service or be referred by your GP, the Antenatal Clinic or other maternity service. If you are participating in a continuity of midwifery care program, please contact your midwife for referral.

For complications at less than 20 weeks, please visit your GP or the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit.

You can contact the MAU on 02 5124 7355. Please call before you come in as some concerns may be resolved over the phone.

The MAU is open from 9am to 8:30pm. We accept the last walk in at 7pm.

We are located on Level 2 of the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, next to the Fetal Medicine Unit. Please speak to reception if you arrive between 9am and 5pm. If you arrive after 5pm, please proceed directly through to the unit.

Our Gynaecology and Antenatal Clinics are located on Level 2 of the hospital and the opening hours are from 8.30pm to 5pm.  All clinics require a GP referral. 

This ward provides midwifery and nursing to care to women who:

• need to be admitted to hospital during pregnancy for a pregnancy related condition
• have had gynaecological surgery
• need admission for gynaecological or pregnancy related conditions
• are in the first 2 to 3 days of postnatal care
• are from the ACT or from regional hospitals that require hospital admission

The Postnatal Ward offers a family friendly environment for mothers and babies who need a longer stay in hospital. We provide care through a team that includes midwives, nurses, lactation consultants, doctors and neonatal specialists.

We encourage and support you to stay with your baby on the ward. A family member or support person is also welcome to stay overnight if you are in a single room. Children are not permitted to stay on the ward overnight under any circumstances.