The Women's at Parkville provides primary and tertiary care, while the Women's at Sandringham (at Sandringham Hospital) provides primary care for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies.
The Women's has one referral pathway for both Parkville and Sandringham.
Parkville
Maternity services available to women who live in the Parkville hospital's local area:
- Pregnancy, labour & birth care in hospital
- Postnatal care in hospital and in the home
- Breastfeeding service
- Childbirth education
- Early pregnancy assessment service
- Recurrent miscarriage clinic
- Women's alcohol & drug service
- Multiple birth clinic
For more information, view the clinic and service pages.
Sandringham
Maternity services available to women who live in the Sandringham catchment area:
- Pregnancy, labour & birth care in the hospital
- Postnatal care in hospital and in the home
- Breastfeeding service
- Childbirth education
Please also see the Womens at Sandringham Home page.
Inclusion criteria for Sandringham are:
- singleton or dichorionic twin pregnancy
- Parity: <5
- Body Mass Index (BMI) > 17 and < 37.9 at date of referral
- Resides in local area of the Women's at Sandringham
Postnatal length of stay
Women, who have had an uncomplicated vaginal birth at the Women's in Parkville and Sandringham, will be home with their baby the day after birth to recover and transition to parenting in a familiar environment with their family. Women suitable for this model of postnatal care, will be provided with further support from midwives visiting the home from the hospital. The schedule of visits will be discussed with each woman with their individual needs considered.
There is flexibility in the model, and women who have had a caesarean birth or have more complex needs will remain in hospital where they will be cared for and supported by our teams of midwives, doctors and allied health professionals.
All new mothers and their babies will be assessed to ensure they are suitable for home the day after birth. As specialists in caring for both low risk and high risk women, evidence indicates that the best environment for a well and healthy new mother and her baby to recover is at home. Recovery will be enhanced in a relaxed and comfortable environment which facilitates rest as women are not exposed to the unavoidable interruptions and noise of a busy hospital ward.