The Family Birthing Centre experience

Your entire birth experience in the Family Birthing Centre can be as personalised and individual as you wish, within acceptable safety limits. You can discuss your birth plan with your midwife.

During labour and delivery

Birthing positions

Any birth position that is comfortable for you is acceptable.

Pain relief options available include within the Family Birthing Centre include:

• water baths
• pain medication injections
• gas and air (nitrous oxide gas mixed with oxygen).

Watch this video to see the how the design of the Family Birth Centre and its specialised equipment supports women in labour.

Pain relief

Epidural anaesthetic is not offered within the Family Birthing Centre, and women requiring this must transition to the main Birth Suite.

Support people and other family members

You and your support person will stay in one of the birth rooms. Your support person is encouraged to remain with you throughout the labour. An additional support person may also be very helpful.

Some families wish to have their other children present as well. If so, an adult other than the primary support person must be with the children during the entire time. If you plan to have your children present at the birth, please discuss this with your midwife.

If complications develop

If a complication develops during the antenatal period, during labour or immediately following your baby’s birth, you will transition to the regular labour and birth suite. Your care will still be provided, however, by your known midwife in partnership with the labour and birth suite team.

After your baby’s birth

If there are no complications your baby will remain with you during your entire stay at the Family Birth Centre. Your midwives will help you to learn how to care for your baby, including breastfeeding, nappy changing and bathing.

Length of stay

The expected length of stay at the Family Birthing Centre is approximately 4 to 6 hours after the birth of your baby. Please make suitable arrangements for going home so that you can leave soon after being discharged by your treating team.

Before you go home, your baby will receive a full examination by your midwife or one of the hospital's neonatal team.

This may include the newborn hearing test which identifies hearing loss so it can be managed as soon as possible. Read more about this test (external link).

If you transitioned to the main Birth Suite to birth your baby

You will be discharged when you and your baby have been examined and the doctor or midwife has decided that it is safe and appropriate for you to go home.

Once you are home

Midwives from the Family Birth Centre or the Visiting Midwifery Service will visit you at home for the first 5 days after birth.

If you live outside the catchment area for these services, your midwife will discuss alternative plans for this period with you at your booking interview. It may be necessary to bring you baby back into hospital for check-ups.