The Maternity Services unit provides quality maternity care to the local community and surrounding regional areas.
What we do
We offer individualized, family centred maternity care including:
- A range of pregnancy, birthing and postnatal support services
- Ensuring families are well prepared for and informed during pregnancy
- Have adequate access to support services upon leaving hospital
Flexibility and choice are an important aspect of maternity care. Midwives encourage all families to choose birthing and postnatal options that best suit their individual needs and circumstances. We also encourage the involvement of family members in the birth and care of a new baby.
Who we care for
Maternity services provide care to low-moderate risk pregnant women and their families.
Referral to Higher Level Obstetric Services
Higher level Obstetric Services are available if you or your baby are considered at high risk for complications.
All women birthing at Colac Area Health Maternity Services are encouraged to have ambulance cover.
Feedback
We welcome all women and their families to provide us with your feedback and suggestions for service improvement. Please contact the Maternity Services team or complete the online feedback form. You will be offered a patient satisfaction survey following your birth.
Facilities
The maternity unit is a 4-bed unit comprising of 2 birth suites and 2 postnatal rooms.
Staff
We have a dedicated team of midwives, a lactation consultant, GP Obstetricians and GP Anaesthetists. Staff are available 24 hours per day.
With access to a range of staff, we aim to provide continuity or care across the entire birthing and early parenting experience.
Birthing
Women are admitted directly to the maternity unit. An assessment is made by the midwifery staff in collaboration with the ‘on call’ GP Obstetrician.
There are two birthing suites, each with ensuites.
- One birthing suite has a large bath for those who wish to use deep water immersion. This may help with labour pain, or if a water birth is preferred.
Other Facilities
- Family members have access to a lounge with kitchenette
- 24 hour access to operating theatre for emergencies or planned caesarean section
- 24 hours access to anaesthetic services
- Diagnostic services including pathology, radiology/medical imaging (Hours restricted)
- Access to Level one neonatal nursery
If a baby is born before 37 weeks, unwell at birth or requires ongoing medical support, they will be stabilized at Colac Area Health and transferred to a higher-level neonatal facility if necessary. Maternity services staff will collaborate with Paediatric Infant Perinatal Emergency Retrieval (PIPER).
Visiting hours
For maternity patients 8am – 8pm only. Partners/support persons and other children are welcome to visit anytime.
If you are not well/have any cold or flu symptoms, we strongly recommend that you do not visit Maternity patients.
Maternity Booking In
The Booking-In process is important, and it is recommended to follow the below process to ensure that all goes well during your pregnancy.
The midwife will take an initial history, discuss your pregnancy and health concerns, answer any questions you may have and will liaise with the GP Obstetrician about your ongoing pregnancy needs.
Your antenatal appointment schedule will vary depending on whether you will be receiving Shared Care with a GPO from Corangamite Clinic or receiving care with the Public Antenatal Clinic. Your schedule of care will also depend on any risk factors that you may have.
Colac Area Health Maternity Referral form
To complete the referral form by hand please click here, download and print.
To complete editable version please click here.
The referral form can be emailed to [email protected]
Antenatal Clinic
Public Antenatal Clinic– care is provided via the Public Antenatal Clinic at CAH with a GPO and Midwives. The schedule of visits will depend on whether the woman is low or moderate risk.
Shared Care– Shared care can only be provided with a GPO that is currently credentialed within CAH. Women that are receiving shared care will see their private GPO, and see CAH midwives for four scheduled appointments at booking-in, 24 weeks, 34 weeks and 38 weeks.
Appointments are held in the Colac Area Health Family and Community Services Building. Appointment times may be subject to change.
There is access to other services if needed. This includes dietician, diabetes educator, women’s health physio, dental clinic, smoking cessation clinic, social worker, family violence workers.
Childbirth Education Classes
These classes are designed for families requiring information about pregnancy, birth and parenting.
They are also ideal for families keen to establish parenting networks – especially (but not limited to) first time parents. Attendance at these classes for women and their support person usually commence at around 28 weeks of pregnancy.
Content is tailored to meet the individual needs of the group.
Classes are held either on Tuesday evenings or Sunday mornings at Colac Area Health.
To make a booking please contact 5232 5117.
Breastfeeding Support
The Maternity services at Colac Area Health will help you with breastfeeding by:
- Supporting you in establishing breastfeeding
- Providing support, advice and education with feeding for your baby
If you require more intensive breastfeeding support, contact Maternity to arrange an appointment with our Lactation Consultant.
Postnatal Care
The postnatal ward is located within the maternity unit (2 beds) and provides comfortable, single room accommodation with ensuite. Single room accommodation is also available within the acute ward in close proximity to the maternity unit.
Midwives and medical staff are available 24 hours. The postnatal ward is close to the birthing suite. This environment helps with the transition to parenthood.
Postnatal care and support
During you stay at Colac Area Health Maternity, our dedicated team of midwives will support you in your parenting journey.
We will help you to develop skills in caring for your newborn baby and transition into your new parenting role. After the birth of your baby, you will ‘room-in’ with your baby 24 hours a day.
The length of time you spend in hospital following the birth of your baby depends on a number of factors including:
- the type of birth
- your post birth recovery
- the general health of you and your baby
If you have an uncomplicated vaginal birth, your stay will be one to two nights. Women who have had a caesarean birth generally stay between two to three nights. These are average length of stays. You also have the option of going home earlier.
If you require extended postnatal care as an inpatient, your length of stay will be determined according to you and your baby’s clinical needs of care.
Debrief post birth
The delivery of a baby is a positive event for many parents, but for some, it can be a mixed experience or even very negative. We are here to help women, birthing people and partners who are struggling with ongoing problems related to the birthing experience.
Birth debriefs are appointments designed to support you in sharing and understanding your birth experience, explore any grief from unexpected birth outcomes and discuss any thoughts or feelings that are arising as a result of your birthing and early parenting experience.
We aim to tailor this service to your specific needs. Which means it can be an informal conversation or a more formal review of your medical notes with feedback given to the organisation.
Taking your baby home
- Discharge time is before 11am
- Ensure that an approved infant restraint has been correctly fitted to your car
- Once you leave hospital, there are a number of support services available to help you and your baby settle into a routine at home.
Support when you go home
Midwives will continue to support you when you go home from hospital. A midwife will visit you in your home and assist you with feeding and discuss any concerns you may have with your postnatal health and that of your baby.
Further support is available from your local Maternal and Child Health Service when the midwife has finished visiting. The Maternal and Child Health Service is a free service that is provided for children from birth to school age by local government. The Maternal and Child Health Nurse will contact you within two weeks of your baby’s birth and arrange a time for them to visit you in your home. The Maternal and Child Health Nurse will monitor your baby’s growth and development and provide you with advice regarding feeding, parenting, and immunization as well as offer you advice with your own health and well-being.
The Maternal and Child Health Service has a helpline for assisting you outside o business hours. The number of the service is 13 22 29.
General Practitioners
You are advised to see your GP six weeks after giving birth. This visit is an opportunity to have both you and your baby physically checked and for you to discuss any problems or concerns.
Other Services
- Australasian Birth Trauma Association birthtrauma.org.au
- COPE 1300 740 398 cope.org.au
- Beyond Blue 1300 225 636 beyondblue.org.au
- PANDA 1300 726 306 panda.org.au
- Australian Breastfeeding Association 1800 686 268 breastfeeding.asn.au
