Ward F3 - Maternity

F3 - Maternity is a small, friendly, 14 bed bayside Maternity unit situated in garden setting. The unit has 4 Birthing Suite beds and a level two nursery.

The majority of families that choose to have their babies here are from the surrounding community areas.

5 Models of Antenatal Care are offered at Sandringham Hospital

• Sandy Midwives Care - where the patients have the majority of their antenatal checks performed by the midwives, post first visit consultation with an obstetrician.
• Family Medicine Obstetric Clinic - antenatal care is given by a group of accredited GP's in the clinic attached to the hospital.
• Specialist Obstetrician - for patients with complicated pregnancies.
• Shared Care - if the patient's family Doctor is accredited with the hospital, he/she may share the patient's antenatal care with the Doctors in the clinic. Costs depend on the family Doctor's fees for antenatal care.

If a patient chooses one of the above options for antenatal care, they will be cared for by the midwives and GP Obstetrician on that day. Paediatricians, anesthetists and obstetricians are called in as necessary.

• GP Obstetric Care - all antenatal care and birth care is given by an accredited GP. The doctor sees the patient in his rooms. Costs depend on the GP's fees for antenatal care.

We offer frequent contact with the same midwives throughout the family's hospital stay.

We care for ‘low to moderate risk' women during pregnancy, labour and birth, postnatally and provide a home visiting service.

We have a "Breastfeeding Support Service" available to mothers & babies between the ages of newborn to 3 months who are having feeding difficulties.

The unit provides antenatal classes held by the midwives and physiotherapists and postnatal exercise classes held by the physiotherapists.