Pregnancy Care Options

In Australia, overseas visitors, overseas students and patients who are not eligible for Medicare under their current VISA arrangements are required to pay for the cost of their health care. Please contact the Overseas Liaison Officer on (08) 6458 1066 or email KEMHPPLO@health.wa.gov.au to obtain information regarding fees for your appointment.

There are many choices available to women in WA for their pregnancy care options. The WA Department of Health has created a Maternity Services Framework which determines which public hospital a woman can attend, based on her residential postcode. In some cases, if you live outside the boundaries for KEMH, you may still need to access our health service if medical professionals consider it important that you do so.

To view the postcode listings and work out which is your hospital visit the Healthywa website (external site).

King Edward Memorial Hospital

King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) offers world-class care and wide-ranging support services to WA women with complicated pregnancies, infants born prematurely and those who live locally. Women experiencing a complex or ‘high-risk’ pregnancy may be referred to KEMH for their pregnancy care.

Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) provides women with pregnancy care from the same small group of midwives. Women are cared for by the same midwives for the duration of their pregnancy, labour and birth and in the postnatal period.

MGP is offered at KEMH through the Family Birth Centre, MGP 4 and 5, Ngangk Maawit Mia - "Mother Baby House" and the Community Midwifery Program with more information provided below.

Midwifery Group Practice - Family Birth Centre

The Family Birth Centre (FBC) offers midwifery led care in a home-like environment separate from the main hospital. It provides care to women anticipating a low-risk pregnancy and birth who would like to support a natural, physiological labour and birth.

Women who feel the FBC is the right fit for them are welcome to self-refer. As the FBC provides care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and postpartum, shared care is not available.

The service welcomes women from across metropolitan Perth and regional Western Australia who can attend all their pregnancy and postpartum appointments in person and reside within FBC catchment as their birth approaches.

Places are limited, so women are encouraged to apply early. Eligibility is assessed individually and reviewed throughout pregnancy. Find out more and apply at Family Birth Centre.

Midwifery Group Practice, MGP 4 and 5

Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) 4 and 5 offer personalised care from a primary midwife, supported by a small team, throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. All births take place in the Labour and Birth Suite at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH), with priority given to women who live within the hospital’s catchment area.

The teams care for women of all levels of risk in collaboration with KEMH’s multidisciplinary team. Waterbirth is available for eligible women. Shared care is not available.

A GP referral specifically requesting MGP 4 and 5 is required and are recommended to be sent in early due to limited places being available. Clients residing outside of catchment may be considered depending on team capacity.

Midwifery Group Practice - Ngangk Maawit Mia - “Mother Baby House"

Ngangk Maawit Mia provides culturally safe, personalised maternity care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women whose baby is Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The midwives work closely with Aboriginal Grandmothers, Aboriginal Liaison Services and other healthcare teams to support each woman’s individual needs, choices and culture. Women may self-refer at any stage of pregnancy or be referred with their consent by a healthcare provider and will be accepted dependent upon midwife availability. Please complete the NGANGK MAAWIT MIA "Mother Baby House" Application Form

Midwifery Group Practice - Community Midwifery Program

The Community Midwifery Program (CMP) is a publicly funded homebirth service for women living with the Perth metropolitan area who are anticipating a low-risk pregnancy and birth. Eligibility is assessed when applying and reviewed throughout pregnancy. Women receive continuity of care from a known midwife, supported by a small team, throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and for up to two weeks postpartum.

Appointments are held at community clinics located north, east or south of Perth, depending on where the woman lives. Births take place at home or at the Kalamunda Birthing Rooms.

Depending on team capacity, applications may also be considered for birth at KEMH or the Fiona Stanley Hospital Birthing Centre. Women can self-refer, and early application is encouraged as places are limited.

Osborne Park Hospital

Women and Newborn Health Service (WNHS) offer a maternity unit at Osborne Park Hospital (external site) (OPH) which provides obstetric care to women with low to moderate risk pregnancies.

Women may choose this pregnancy care option for general convenience whilst receiving equally specialised care at a small, suburban site. Women who choose to birth at OPH will still have access to all the usual pregnancy support services which includes access to our Breastfeeding Centre WA, Dietitians, Women’s Physiotherapists and Social Workers.

Ask your doctor to request care at OPH when they send your referral. Antenatal shared care with a nominated General Practitioner (GP), or Endorsed Privately Practicing Midwife (EPPM) is also available at OPH.

See Shared maternity care at Osborne Park Hospital patient information (PDF)

Hospital antenatal clinic midwives

Women with uncomplicated pregnancies may choose to have their care with midwives at the Antenatal Clinic and deliver in the hospital. Clinic appointments are available on weekdays and on some evenings.

Shared care

Shared care: After seeing the midwife/doctor at KEMH for your hospital booking visit, you are then seen by a GP of your choice who is eligible to participate in shared care until approximately 36 to 38 weeks.

Private practicing midwife

Some women wish to consider a privately practicing midwife who is self-employed and can admit pregnant women under their care.

Obstetric doctor care

This type of antenatal care is only available in our antenatal clinics to women who have:

• A complicated medical history
• Had a previous pregnancy requiring specialist care and/or hospitalisation
• A pregnancy that is not progressing normally
• A multiple pregnancy e.g. twins. Some women are transferred from midwifery or shared care to obstetric doctor care if problems occur.

High risk referrals from another site

Sometimes women are referred to KEMH at different stages of their pregnancy due to some unexpected complications. We understand it can be unsettling to have your care transferred, however, we will always be sure make your transition to us is as smooth as possible and ask that if you have any questions or uncertainties you contact your health care team. If you transferred to us and you’d like to know more about our service the Pregnancy, Birth and Your Baby book (PDF) is a good place to start as is our Welcome to King Edward Memorial Hospital book (PDF).