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.

CAUTION talk to your health care team and make sure that you understand what is needed to prepare for your birth choices.

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 and feeding
• advice and reminders about immunisations and health checks
• lets you have more time for your other children
• regular health check visits for children up to school age including height, weight, vision, hearing, speech, diet and parent support.

HELP AND ADVICE

Your local child health clinic will help connect you with a child health nurse.

Or talk with your doctor (GP) or midwife.

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 GP, or general practitioner, is a doctor who has done extra training in General Practice.  This means they can help manage lots of different medical conditions for you and your family. A doctor (GP) is the first person you should always go to if you have a health or medical problem that isn’t an emergency.

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 (GP) 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 (GP) 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 (GP) 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.

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 services that are available and some helpful information about when you should call them.

TYPES OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

• ambulances/paramedics
• hospital emergency departments
• 13 Health
• doctors after hours

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.

AMBULANCE AND PARAMEDICS

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.

HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS

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.

MORE INFORMATION

If you would like to know more about when to use an emergency department, visit this website:

http://emergencychoices.org.au

13 HEALTH

This is a free confidential 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).

WHEN TO CALL 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.

DOCTORS AFTER HOURS

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 here and type your postcode. This will give you a list of the doctor (GP)s who are close to where you live.

Australia has two types of hospitals:

1. public hospitals, which are free
2. 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.

The birth of every child is a unique and individual experience for a mother. 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 natural child 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 this happens, stitches will help to heal the tear, these stiches 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 (GP) or midwife for advice. 

CAESAREAN DELIVERY

This is a surgical procedure where baby is born through a cut made in the mother’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 women 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.

A caesarean delivery can only be performed by an obstetrician in a hospital.

PAIN RELIEF

You can get relief from pain during labour in a range of ways:

• 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.
• Moving around, comfort positions, massage, bathing and breathing techniques can assist in active pain management.
• TENS machine – a machine that delivers small pulses of electrical current that may assist in reducing pain.
• 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.
• 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.

HELP AND ADVICE

Before you go into labour talk to your health care team – doctor (GP), obstetrician, midwife – about pain relief options, risks and benefits.

To help every child get the best start in life, the Queensland Government 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.

BENEFITS OF LOCAL MATERNITY HUBS

• bringing the care and expertise of the hospital to the community
• a place for mums to talk to health care professionals and other mums about their new baby, their family, and their lives
• gives information about other maternity services that can be used.

HELP AND ADVICE

Ask your health care team (doctor (GP), midwife, pharmacist) or other people in your community, about where to find your local maternity and child health hub.

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
• babies born in Australia are automatically enrolled in Medicare.

HELP AND ASSISTANCE

If you need to get a Medicare card, or need to know more about how it works, ask for help from:

• your doctor (GP)
• your community connector
• the health care worker in your community.

A midwife is a health professional who is trained to care for you during your pregnancy, labour and the birth of your baby. They help you to stay healthy while pregnant and help during birth.

DURING PREGNANCY

Your midwife will:

• check your baby’s health, growth and position
• help with hospital bookings and any checks and tests you may need to have
• 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
• monitor pain relief
• 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

Ask your doctor (GP) or other people in your community, about where to find a midwife close to where you live.

An obstetrician is a doctor who has special extra skills in delivering babies and providing medical care to women during pregnancy (antenatal care) and after pregnancy (postnatal care).

BENEFITS

• obstetricians are trained to deal with complications and emergencies during pregnancy, birth and after delivery
• obstetricians will check your baby’s health, growth and position
• obstetricians can do, or refer you for, your routine tests
• obstetricians can help you get ready for labour and birth
• obstetricians perform caesarean births
• many obstetricians are also trained in women’s 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 delivery
• 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 provide you with a referral to the obstetrician of your choice.

A pharmacist is a trained health care professional who prepares and gives you the medicines your doctor has told 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:

• morning sickness when you are pregnant
• things that might be happening with your new baby, like nappy rash, cradle cap, feeding and reflux
• constipation
• contraception
• immunisations
• products 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 nurses work in a doctor (GP)’s surgery and help the doctor (GP) to care for patients.

A PRACTICE NURSE IS TRAINED TO

• talk to you before or after your visit to the doctor
• weigh baby
• 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.

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 your partner or 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.

WHAT IS PREGNANCY?

Pregnancy is the time when one or more babies grows inside a woman.

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 ‘foetus’ until birth.

When someone becomes pregnant through planning, or by surprise, it’s only natural to start asking questions.

THE SIGNS OF PREGNANCY

 You may be pregnant if you have missed periods, have sore breasts, feel sick and are vomiting, feel hungry and have to go to the toilet to urinate many times.

If you think you are pregnant, your doctor (GP) can give you a test or you can buy a test from your pharmacist or the supermarket.

FEELINGS ABOUT BEING PREGNANT

Some women will be scared and worried when they find out they are pregnant. Others will 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 mother.

WHAT IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG?

Sadly, not all pregnancies will end with the birth of a 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 on its own outside of the mother’s womb), a stillbirth (when a baby dies before or during birth), or a medical termination (when a pregnancy is ended by medications or surgery).

When a woman experiences one of these events, it is very important for her to get a lot of support to help with recovery. This support should come from your doctor (GP), family, community health workers and connectors. Most facilities now have special midwives who can support women and their families in grief and sadness during difficult times.

HELP AND ADVICE

If you think you are pregnant, or want to become pregnant, there is lots of free help, advice and medical support available to you from:

• your doctor (GP)
• 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 (GP) to confirm your pregnancy and have a check-up.

A referral is a written letter from one health professional to another health professional or health service asking them to diagnose or treat you for a particular condition.

You will get a referral:

• for your hospital care, midwife services or to see an obstetrician
• if you need special skills or care from another type of doctor
• if you need tests or treatment from another kind of medical 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 (GP)
• your midwife
• your obstetrician.

REMEMBER  build a relationship with your doctor (GP) so they can make sure you get the right help from the right health professional, at the right time.

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, you can find one by talking to your:

• doctor (GP)
• community connector
• community care worker
• child health nurse
• midwife