Our Maternity Outpatients Clinics offers pregnancy care, childbirth education classes, and postnatal home visits.
We provide quality maternity care that respects the rights, cultural differences, and expectations of all pregnant people and their supports.
You will need to see your GP or private obstetrician for initial tests; this will include blood tests and Ultrasounds. Once your pregnancy is confirmed, you can be referred to the Maternity Outpatients Clinic.
We'll contact you to schedule an appointment with a doctor and midwife between 10-17 weeks of pregnancy. This includes a health history review, test results discussion, and planning your ongoing care.
From 20 weeks, your care provider will measure your abdomen, check the baby's heartbeat, and discuss any concerns.
Appointments usually take around 20 minutes, but please allow at least 2 hours. If you've been waiting over an hour, check with reception.
Please always bring your Pregnancy Record, along with you Medicare card, health care card, private health card, and next of kin details.
If you're bleeding, in labour, or worried about your baby, call the labour ward in Ballarat on 03 5320 4980 or 03 5320 4979 or Horsham on 03 5381 9261 available 24/7.
After discharge, a midwife will visit you at home 1-2 times, usually 3-6 days after delivery. If you live in a remote area, you may need to visit the nearest hospital.
For low-risk pregnancies, midwives/GP practitioners provide care in three ways:
For higher-risk pregnancies, you'll primarily see a doctor, with midwife visits at booking, 25, and 34 weeks.
You can choose a private obstetrician for your care, with a midwife visit at booking. Private patient expenses apply. For more information, call the Private Patient Liaison at 03 5320 4214 (Ballarat).