Birth and postnatal support
When to come in
Before coming in call and speak to a Midwife on 08 8239 9146. Your Midwife will advise if you should come into the hospital.
When you arrive, go straight to our Maternity Unit on the 2nd Floor.
After your baby is born
After birth, your baby remains with you. ‘Rooming in’ is encouraged for all mothers and babies. This close contact will quickly enable you to learn to respond to your baby’s cues.
Your midwife will provide support and assistance to you with care and feeding of your baby. Contrary to popular opinion, mothers who have their babies with them at night do not lose sleep, in comparison with mothers whose babies are in a nursery. In fact, there may be some beneficial effects including better quality sleep. You are less likely to be disturbed by the sound of other babies in the night.
We welcome the family as a whole and as such do not restrict visiting times for fathers and other children.
Going home from hospital
Going home with your baby is an exciting time. It is also a time of new experiences. Our midwives offer 24 hour support, 7 days a week when you need help and guidance and are only a phone call away.
We offer guidance before and after the birth of your child with ongoing support through our post-natal clinic. We follow the “World Health Organisation top 10 steps to successful breastfeeding” and our internationally certified lactation consultants are available to offer individual advice and support to mothers who may be having issues with breast feeding.
Inpatient and clinic lactation support is offered to all new mothers.
These workshops are conducted by our Internationally Certified Lactation Consultants and help educate parents in the various aspects of breast feeding.
24 hour phone support: Call our midwives on 08 8239 9146
Cost: Free for women who have given birth at Calvary North Adelaide
Before you leave ensure that you have been given your Birth Registration paper, Centrelink pack and Baby Personal Health record book. Centrelink papers cannot be reissued by the Hospital if you misplace them, so please ensure these documents are stored in a safe place.
Calvary North Adelaide Hospital holds postnatal Calvary Babies Parent Groups on Wednesdays, 10am-12 noon, every fortnight. These popular, casual occasions are designed for new parents to get together and chat. New friendships are often formed and Midwives are present to discuss your progress.
Calvary Community Care can offer a helping hand while you adjust to the changes in routine, including:
- Cooking and grocery shopping
- Cleaning and household maintenance
- Transport
Our Hospital to Home Service can be provided under a government subsidised support package (if you’re eligible), delivered on a private basis, or as a combination of the two.
Run monthly on a Thursday evening, this informal class is run by senior midwives and provides up to date information and guidelines across a range of topics, including:
- A brief introduction to Calvary
- Update on labour, pain relief and birthing
- Breast feeding and how grandparents can support>
- Safety – childproofing homes, safe sleeping, choking and resuscitation
- Options for nappies and environmental impact
- Postnatal depression
- Tour of the unit
Bookings can be made via your midwife or at maternity reception.
Contact us
For further information or enquiries, please contact the Maternity Unit between 9am – 4pm.
Call: 08 8239 9146 | Fax: 08 8239 9115