Models of maternity care at Mater Mothers' Hospital
For information about Mater Mothers’ Private Brisbane click here.
When your GP confirms your pregnancy, they will send a referral to Mater Mothers Hospital’s Antenatal Clinic. We will then review and process your referral. We will also assess from your referral if you have any other medical issues. Due to demand, there may be delays to our processes. Please contact your GP if you have any concerns about your referral.
Once your referral has been approved you will receive confirmation and details of your first antenatal clinic appointment. You will also receive a text message with a link to an online antenatal history form that you need to complete before your appointment so that your midwife has all your information. Your appointments may be in person or via Telehealth.
When you attend this first appointment, we will confirm your model of maternity care. The model of care will be affected by:
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Any complications that occurred in a previous pregnancy
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any medical conditions you may have
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conditions that may arise in this pregnancy
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whether you live in Mater Maternity Care Catchment
Please continue to see your GP while waiting for your first appointment at Mater Mothers.
General Practitioner (GP) shared care
If your pregnancy is low risk and your GP provides GPSC you will be allocated to GPSC model of care.
Many GP’s with a special interest in maternity care have attended the GP Shared Care Alignment Course, which provides education about best practice in maternity care.
This model of care supports you with continuity of care during your pregnancy journey and beyond. It means most of your maternity care will be close to you, at home or work with the health professional you already know and your GP will continue to care for you and your baby after the birth. Your GP may have flexible appointment times (Saturdays or after hours) and it may be easier for your partner or support person to attend with you. Also, your GP may have convenient and no cost parking.
In this model of care, you will attend a booking appointment with a Mater Midwife and Obstetrician. You will also have a booked appointment at 36 weeks and if you are pregnant after your due date you will have another appointment with a Mater Midwife. If required, you will also see an Obstetrician at these appointments. Please bring any blood results or ultrasound scan reports to you Midwife appointments. The rest of your regular check-ups will be with your aligned GP.
Your GP and the Mater Mothers’ Hospital will communicate closely during your pregnancy and your GP is able to consult with Mater obstetricians at any time.
Antenatal clinic
Our Mater midwives are committed to providing you with specialised care, education, advice and support throughout your pregnancy journey. Through Mater Mothers’ Hospital’s antenatal clinic, there are specialist midwifery models of care to support women with particular needs. Antenatal clinics are located at Mater Mothers’ Hospital in South Brisbane, as well as through our Community Clinics at Inala, Norman Park, Coorparoo and Brookwater.
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CHAMP Clinic—a service specifically designed for women whose pregnancy may be affected by the use of recreational or prescription drugs, cigarettes or alcohol.
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Women with special needs—if you have any special needs, you will be allocated a model of care to support appropriate planning for your pregnancy and birth.
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Young women—at Mater Mothers’ Hospital we will provide young pregnant women with antenatal care in a relaxed, informal atmosphere at Coorparoo. This team of care providers will provide continuity of care throughout your pregnancy and early parenthood.
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Refugee clinic—a service designed to meet the needs of women from a Refugee background
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Pregnancy after loss clinic—a service designed to support women who have experienced the loss of a baby in their previous pregnancy.
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Obstetric and Midwifery care for women—with known or new Obstetric or medical complications in pregnancy.
Midwifery group practice
Mater Mothers’ Hospital Midwifery Group Practice is designed to ensure that you receive dedicated, consistent care throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the early weeks after your baby is born with a home visit. You will be looked after by a dedicated midwife, who will get to know you very well and provide care in consultation with you and your family. Your midwife will also be supported by their team through the Midwifery Group Practice.
The midwives in the group practice work closely with Mater Mothers’ Hospital’s obstetric team, so that you will receive specialist care when or if needed. The program cares for women who are generally well and have a lower risk of complications.
The MGP has three teams which care for pregnant women with specific needs:
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Young women - at Mater Mothers’ Hospital we will provide young pregnant women with antenatal care in a relaxed, informal atmosphere at Coorparoo. You will be introduced to our team of doctors and midwives, who will provide continuity of care throughout your pregnancy, birth and early parenthood.
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The Birthing in Our Community (BIOC) - the team provides maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their families. BIOC offers care from midwives, obstetricians, family support workers and other specialists in partnership with Mater, the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care Service (ATSIHCS). Antenatal clinics are located at Salisbury Mums and Bubs Centre, and Mater Mothers’ Hospital.
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Refugee Maternity Service - women from a Refugee background are invited to attend midwifery maternity care at Mater Mothers’ Hospital or through the Midwifery Group Practice model at Inala. This service is dedicated to providing culturally sensitive maternity care for refugee women in a supportive environment. You will be cared for by our multidisciplinary team of midwives, obstetricians, social workers and interpreters.
Developing a birth plan
Many couples wish to develop and share their plan for labour and birth with their maternity team. While staff at Mater Mothers’ Hospital would encourage you to consider your preferences for this special time, it is important to discuss these with your midwife prior to going into labour so that any details which might incur a risk to you or your baby can be fully discussed before labour begins.
Because labour and birth involve so many variables, it is not possible to predict exactly what will happen, and you should be reassured that the Mater Mothers’ Hospital team are committed to providing the best care which is safe for both you and your baby. Sometimes, in emergency situations this may mean your preferences may not be able to be followed exactly. Wherever possible we would endeavour to discuss the reasons for this with you to facilitate informed consent and your understanding of events
Coming to hospital for the birth of your baby
During the final stages of your pregnancy, we highly recommend that you and your support person take time to familiarise yourselves with our hospital and where to go.
For more details view Having your baby at Mater Mothers’ Hospital
We’ve also created a handy list of what to pack in your hospital bag. You can find it, as well as other childbirth online resources, here:
You can find out more information about antenatal classes, information brochures about pregnancy, birth and baby care and a virtual tour of Mater Mothers Hospital, as well as information on pregnancy on this website.