Our maternity services
The Fiona Stanley Hospital maternity service is provided by midwives, doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with the support of neonatology and all related specialties.
We focus on providing a woman-centred model of care for low-risk women through to care for women with complex medical and obstetric problems. This care is provided through our outpatient medical and midwifery antenatal clinics, as well as inpatient wards, the birth suite and the Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU).
We provide care to all women who live in our postcode catchment area. Use your postcode (Healthy WA) to find out if you can be referred to our maternity service. To receive maternity care at FSH you will need to be referred by your general practitioner (GP). Read more about GP shared care below.
We also offer specialist consultation and referral to all women in the south metropolitan area with medical conditions including increased BMI and diabetes in pregnancy requiring Insulin management.
Complex fetal medicine services, including births under 30 weeks, are not provided at our hospital and will be transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital (external site).
Fiona Stanley Hospital is committed to ensuring low risk women can continue to access their GPs for the majority of their antenatal care. Please discuss this with your GP if you are suitable for this type of care.
Resources for health professionals
- Antenatal shared care guidelines for general practitioners (PDF 441KB)
- GP shared care referral form (PDF 62KB)
- Antenatal shared care summary (PDF 218KB)
- Information for referring general practitioners (GPs)
Shared care for women with a BMI >40 who reside in the SMHS area
Fiona Stanley Hospital, as Level 5 obstetric hospital for the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS), provides a consultancy and referral service for the management of high-risk patients.
The referral pathway to Fiona Stanley Hospital for management of women with body mass index (BMI) > 40 in pregnancy has been structured to offer the expert care that is required, while maintaining patient-centred care and allowing women to care close to home.
For information on what to expect during pregnancy visit Healthy WA (external site).
Supporting your body during pregnancy
How your body manages your pregnancy depends on many factors.
To support current and recent Fiona Stanley Hospital maternity patients, a comprehensive range of online maternity physiotherapy resources is now available.
From the comfort of your own home, you can now watch videos and read about:
- caring for your back and pelvis
- exercising your pelvic floor muscles
- managing discomforts of pregnancy
- healthy bowel and bladder habits
- self-care and exercise.
About maternity service bypass
Although you may have been referred to Fiona Stanley Hospital and attended our antenatal clinics, you may not necessarily deliver at our hospital. This will be determined by the demand on our maternity unit on any given day. In the event that you cannot be accepted by our maternity unit, you may be directed to another maternity hospital. Read more about our bypass practice.
Managing labour pain with epidural anaesthetic
If you are receiving care during your pregnancy at Fiona Stanley Hospital, one option you may be offered to help relieve pain during labour is an epidural anaesthetic.
Our outpatient services include:
- midwifery led clinics for low-risk women
- consultant led antenatal clinic for medium/high risk women including specialist clinics for the various complications in pregnancy
- a Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU), accessible via the birthing suite on level 3
- a visiting midwifery service to allow mothers and their babies to return to their home environments as soon as they are able and be seen by expert midwives. This service is available throughout the week
- lactation consultant services and education both while in hospital and as an outpatient – you can be referred by the ANC, your GP or direct referral if you have had your baby at Fiona Stanley hospital postnatally
- parent education classes midwifery during pregnancy
- newborn hearing screening is available seven days a week. If you go home early you are able to come to clinic to ensure this screening test is completed.
Diabetes in Pregnancy Clinic (DIP)
Referral pathway for gestational diabetics requiring insulin review at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
It is essential that the correct information is provided by the referring site to ensure appropriate review. This includes NWHPR up to date referral, booking pathology, medical imaging reports, medical and obstetric history. Completion of the form, including the blood glucose table on the referral letter, will enable the DIP team to prioritise any women requiring urgent medical review.
However, it is the responsibility of the referring site to contact FSH Maternal and Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU) urgently on 6152 4301 should they have significant concerns for the wellbeing of the woman.
Resources for health professionals
Medical disorders in pregnancy
Fiona Stanley Hospital provides a consultancy and referral service for the management of high-risk patients with underlying complex medical conditions. The referral pathway to Fiona Stanley Hospital for management of women during pregnancy is via the FSH GP referral form. The referrer should contact FSH Maternal and Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU) urgently on 6152 4301 if they have significant concerns for the wellbeing of the woman.
The inpatient service is located on level 3 of the main hospital.
Services provided include:
- maternity care to low, medium and high-risk women and babies
- two maternity inpatient wards 3C and 3D
- birthing suites that include:
- 6 domestic-style birthing rooms each with double shower ensuites and ability to accommodate twin births
- one large bathroom with birthing pool, and
- a co-located obstetric theatre for emergency caesarean sections and procedures
- a Family Birthing Centre that offers a safe and comfortable setting in which healthy expectant parents with uncomplicated pregnancies can give birth.
See the maternity service photo gallery.
The first 3 months after having a baby can be referred to as the ‘fourth trimester’.
During this time your body is working to return to its pre-pregnant state, both physically and emotionally. Read more about the physiotherapy services available to support you after you have given birth at Fiona Stanley Hospital.
It is important to take time to look after yourself as well as your baby. To help you adjust to becoming a new mother:
- rest when your baby is resting
- minimise visitors
- ask or accept help from friends or family – this could be accepting meals or help with childminding, housework, shopping or cooking
- make time to breath and relax.
Visting maternity patients
Find out about visiting maternity patients.
Contact us
Call our Fiona Stanley Hospital Helpdesk on 6152 2222 for all queries.
Location
Our Maternity service is located in the main hospital building. The main entrance to the hospital is accessed off Robin Warren Drive – view the Fiona Stanley Hospital map (PDF 1MB).
Maternity Wards 3C and 3D
Level 3, access via blue lifts on the main concourse
Birthing suite
Level 3, access via blue or orange lifts on the main concourse
Family Birthing Centre
Level 3D of the main hospital building
Level 3D Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU)
Level 3D, access via blue lifts on the main concourse
Maternity clinics
Clinic 5, Outpatients - located off the main concourse
Opening hours
All clinics and outpatient services
8:00am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday
Maternal Fetal Assessment Unit (MFAU) and Birthing Suite
24 hours daily
Learn more
Find out more about our maternity services.