Family Birthing Centre
The Family Birthing Centre offers a safe and comfortable setting in which healthy expectant parents with uncomplicated pregnancies can give birth.
Its state-of-the-art facilities assist you to have an active labour and birth in a relaxed and informal environment that encourages the support of family and friends.
The centre has a warm, welcoming and non-clinical environment with no visible medical equipment. Its design principles support health and wellbeing by reflecting our connection to the living world.
All three birthing rooms are comfortably furnished with a birthing pool in each room, comfortable day beds and chairs, as well as ensuites with separate shower and toilet.
Take a look at the Family Birthing Centre
See how the centre's specialised equipment supports women in labour
The Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) works within the Family Birthing Centre and is for women who choose to be cared for by the same group of midwives throughout their pregnancy and after the birth.
Read about what you can expect through this program.
Who can use this service
We offer care for healthy ‘low risk’ women who anticipate a normal pregnancy and birth. We are unable to accept women who have had a previous caesarean section or have a pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) over 35. See the full list of exclusion criteria (PDF 239KB) for this service.
To be eligible for our care, you need to live within a 50 minute drive of Fiona Stanley Hospital. Women living south of the river will have their referrals prioritised.
If you live outside of the Perth metropolitan area you must be able to travel to Fiona Stanley Hospital for all your antenatal appointments. If this is not possible we recommend continuing care with your local health provider and applying to the centre one month before coming to Perth to have your baby. Due to our philosophy of continuity of care from a known midwife we are unable to save places for women in advance.
There is no cost for this service for Medicare eligible patients.
For more details on whether you are eligible phone 6152 9416.
Self-referral
Please complete the application form (Word 736KB) and email to the Family Birthing Centre.
Please note your application will be assessed against a list of exclusion criteria (PDF 239KB) as the FBC offers care for healthy ‘low risk’ women who anticipate a normal pregnancy and birth.
Information for health professionals
Please see the full list of exclusion criteria (PDF 239KB).
Assessing your application
Your application will be assessed within 3 weeks of being received. If you apply earlier than 8 weeks into your pregnancy your application will be placed in a queue and processed after your eighth week of pregnancy. During this time, you need to continue your first trimester pregnancy care with your GP, including the first trimester screening and prenatal blood tests.
A midwife will contact you between weeks 13–15 of your pregnancy to arrange a telephone consultation to take your complete medical history and assess you against the list of exclusion criteria (PDF 239KB)
If your medical history excludes you from care within the Family Birthing Centre, your midwife will help you decide the best option and refer you to another health care provider.
If you have not heard from a midwife by 15 weeks into your pregnancy, please phone 6152 9416.
Contact us
For more information phone the Midwifery Manager on 6152 9416 or email the Family Birthing Centre.
Location
Level 3D of the main hospital building – view the Fiona Stanley Hospital map (PDF 1MB).
Opening hours
This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more
Find out more about our maternity services.