Pregnancy and birth

If you think you are pregnant you can take a pregnancy test or visit your GP. Your GP will be there to provide health advice, discuss any concerns you may have and support the long term needs of your growing family.

Once your pregnancy is confirmed and you would like to receive care in the public system you will need to:

• call 5124 9977 to book into meet with a midwife close to home
• book an appointment with a GP for early pregnancy care
• meet a midwife early in your pregnancy to talk about public pregnancy and birthing options available in Canberra, complete a health and wellbeing assessment and discuss the best options for you
• receive ongoing local support before, during and after your pregnancy.

You’re welcome to attend a free early pregnancy information session or learn about your maternity care options online.

You may choose to see a private obstetrician for your pregnancy care. If this is the case, please see your GP to get a referral to see an obstetrician of your choice. Private midwifery services are also available across the ACT.

We heard from mums and mums-to-be that it’s not always clear what to do when you first find out you’re having a baby and it’s tricky to find out about all the public birthing options that are available to you. That’s why we’ve introduced Canberra Maternity Options.

Before choosing how you would like to be cared for during your pregnancy and birth, you’ll need to meet with a midwife close to home after you are 10 weeks pregnant. You will need to meet with a midwife even if this is not your first pregnancy or if you have already decided which model of pregnancy care you’d like.

During your first appointment, the midwife will ask you a number of questions, including:

• your health and medical history
• your personal preferences of how you would like to be cared for during your pregnancy and birth.

The health and wellbeing assessment and discussion will help the midwife identify what suitable pregnancy care and birthing options are available for you to choose from.

If your GP identifies risk factors while confirming your pregnancy, they may refer you directly to the Fetal Medicine Unit.

We encourage you to read up on what pregnancy and care options are available before meeting with the midwife.

Your first meeting with a midwife will be close to home at one of the following locations, including:

• Belconnen Community Health Centre: 56 Lathlain Street, Belconnen
• City Health Centre: 1 Moore St, City
• Dickson Community Health Centre: 111 Dickson Pl, Dickson
• Florey Child Health Centre: 57 Ratcliffe Crescent, Florey
• Gungahlin Child and Family Centre: 51 Ernest Cavanagh St, Gungahlin
• Gungahlin Community Health Centre: 51 Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin
• Kambah Health Centre: 37 Kingsmill Street, Kambah
• Lanyon Child Health Centre: 23 Sidney Nolan Street, Conder
• Narrabundah Early Childhood Centre: 23 – 27 Kootara Crescent, Narrabundah
• Ngunnawal Child Health Centre: 103 Wanganeen Avenue, Ngunnawal
• Phillip Community Health Centre: 17 Corinna Street, Phillip
• Tuggeranong Child and Family Centre: 159 Anketell St, Greenway
• Tuggeranong Community Health Centre: 159 Anketell Street, Greenaway