Maternity services
Where to find this service
Where to find this service
What we do
Our Maternity team are here to support you throughout your pregnancy, labour, birth and the early days of parenting. We provide maternity care services across two of our campuses:
- Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s (JKWC) at Sunshine Hospital
- Bacchus Marsh Hospital.
We are a multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, neonatologists, midwives, nurses and allied health professionals with a wealth of knowledge and experience. We are dedicated to ensuring that both you and your baby receive the highest quality of care throughout your journey with us.
Services
Pregnancy bookings
It’s important to have your health and your baby’s health checked as soon as you know or suspect that you are pregnant. Midwives at either our JKWC (Sunshine) campus or our Bacchus Marsh campus will provide a thorough pregnancy booking appointment for you.
Find out how to book an appointment with us.
Pregnancy care
We provide you with a number of care options to choose from based on your circumstances and needs, including:
- midwifery care at Sunshine Hospital, Bacchus Marsh Hospital and Melton Health
- continued midwifery care at home (up to two weeks)
- homebirth program, if eligible
- shared maternity care with a GP
- specialist care at one of our clinics.
Learn more about your pregnancy care options at Western Health.
Homebirth program
We offer a publicly funded homebirth maternity care option for women and birthing people who live within 30 minutes’ travel of Joan Kirner Women's and Children's at Sunshine Hospital and meet additional eligibility criteria. This option is an extension of the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) caseload midwifery program.
Breastfeeding support service
Our team of trained professionals are here to support you with breastfeeding your baby, including:
- preparing you to feed your baby
- encouraging skin-to-skin contact
- checking positioning, attachment and suckling
- helping you with common breastfeeding problems
- referring you to community support resources upon hospital discharge.
Learn more about our lactation service and available supports.
Childbirth education
We offer 2 childbirth education programs designed to help you get ready for labour, birth and caring for your newborn:
- EmpowerED Birth and Parenting
- Positive Birth Program by Hypnobirthing Australia.
Both classes are available to parents having their baby at JKWC (Sunshine Hospital) and Bacchus Marsh Hospital.
Personalised care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women
The Galinjera Maternity Program is made up of a small team of dedicated midwives and doctors who work in partnership with the Aboriginal Health Unit and the Koori Maternity Service midwife to care for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and beyond.
Supporting your mental health and wellbeing
We understand that pregnancy and early parenting can bring a lot of stress, anxiety and unexpected challenges. Through our Perinatal Mental Health Service, we’re here to support your emotional wellbeing throughout your perinatal journey and up to 6 months after giving birth.
Expert neonatal care
The Newborn Services Department provides specialised treatment and care for babies who need extra support after birth. Our team of neonatologists, special care nurses and allied health professionals can help you and your baby both in hospital and at home.
Our facilities
Maternity Assessment Centre
Our team of midwives work together with medical staff to evaluate the progress of labour and monitor the health of both you and your baby.
Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinic
This clinic, located at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital, provides care for women with the highest risk and most complex pregnancies.
Pregnancy Care Clinics
These midwifery and specialist obstetric clinics are located at both Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital. We also offer community-based clinics for antenatal care.
Birthing suites
Our midwives, obstetricians and neonatologists will provide you with expert care throughout your labour and childbirth. You may be able to labour and/or birth in water if it is considered safe for you and your baby.
Maternity Wards
We offer 64 beds in single and 2-bed rooms at our Joan Kirner campus and 8 beds in single rooms at our Bacchus Marsh campus. Find out what you can expect during your admission with us, and how we’ll prepare you for returning home.
Obstetrics - Bacchus Marsh and Melton
Our Obstetric services at Bacchus Marsh and Melton provide you with assessment and management during your pregnancy. The service is publicly funded. There is no out-of-pocket fee associated with this service.
Please note: If you have Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), you are not able to be seen at Western Health and you may be referred to a tertiary hospital.
Referrals
You will need a referral from your general practitioner or doctor. Once the referral is received, you will be contacted with the outcome of the triage process.
Please ensure that your referral has the clinician's name – Dr Jocelyn Benedicto – on it or it will be unable to be accepted. Please ensure that all recent blood tests, pathology etc are attached to your referral.
Referrals can be accepted by fax on (03) 8746 0668 or via Connecting Care.
Contact
Referral and Appointment Service
Phone: 9747 7609
Fax: (for referrals) 8746 0668
More information
Read more about our services and how we care for you and your baby at Western Health in this pregnancy booklet (PDF, 4.5MB).
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