Maternity services in rural Tasmania

You may be able to choose the type of care you get during pregnancy and birth.

Depending on where you live in Tasmania, you may choose to get care from:

• Midwifery group practices and the 'Know Your Midwife (Opens in new tab)' scheme. This means the same midwife or team of midwives will care for you throughout your pregnancy, labour and birth. They may continue caring for you at home after the birth.
• Midwife satellite clinics are available in local communities and are suitable if you don't have any pregnancy complications. They are not available to care for you during labour and birth.
• Your GP might offer 'shared maternity care' with the midwives and doctors at a local hospital.
• Privately practising midwives (Opens in new tab) can provide care. If you use an eligible midwife some of the costs are covered by Medicare.
• A private obstetrician (specialist) can provide medical care at a public or a private hospital.

It's best for you to have the same health professional care for you throughout your pregnancy, birth and early parenting.

Midwifery continuity of care

Midwifery continuity of care is when a midwife or team of midwives cares for you through your pregnancy and labour.

Getting continuity of care from your midwife has many benefits, such as:

• having a more positive birth experience
• having fewer interventions during labour
• being more likely to have a vaginal birth
• being more likely to be able to breastfeed your baby

To help choose the type of care best for you, see the Department of Health website (Opens in new tab). It's your choice where to give birth.

Where you choose to give birth will depend on where you live and whether you have pregnancy complications.

Your choices may include:

• a public hospital
• a private hospital
• a birth centre
• at home

Public hospitals

You can receive maternity care from some public hospitals in Tasmania. The cost of care in a public hospital is usually covered by Medicare (Opens in new tab). In some hospitals, your doctor (GP) may be able to share the care with hospital staff.

Some public hospitals also provide private care. This means you can choose your own private doctor or obstetrician to care for you. Private health insurance can help cover some of these costs.

Private hospitals

Private hospitals offer similar services, and some have birthing centre suites. Private health insurance can help cover some of the costs.

Birth centre

A public birth centre is an option if you don't have any pregnancy complications. The costs are covered by Medicare. You can be transferred to hospital if you have complications.

Here are some options in Tasmania:

• The Royal Hobart Hospital (Opens in new tab) has a public birth centre.
• The Launceston Birth Centre (Opens in new tab) is a private centre run by midwives and encourage birthing with low intervention.

Home birth

A home birth may be suitable if you don't have any serious pregnancy complications. You can be transferred to hospital during labour if there are problems.

You can talk about your options with your doctor or midwife.

Birthing on country in rural Tasmania

Birthing on country (Opens in new tab) is about giving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies the best start in life. It includes supporting you in your transition to parenting through culturally appropriate care.

Ask your midwife or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker about local programs.

Find an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) near you (Opens in new tab).

You can also contact the Tasmanian Aboriginal Health Service for information on choices in your area.

The Patient Travel Assistance Scheme (PTAS) (Opens in new tab) provides financial assistance for your travel and accommodation costs.

It can cover:

• private vehicle use
• taxi — when you need to fly or take the Spirit of Tasmania
• public transport
• air travel
• Spirit of Tasmania
• accommodation

If you need to travel far to give birth, try to plan ahead.

Read about having a baby in Tasmania the Royal Hobart Hospital Maternity Information Package: your guide to Pregnancy, Birth and Early Parenting (Opens in new tab).

Learn about pregnancy care in your area, see the Tasmanian Department of Health website (Opens in new tab).

Find out more about parenting in regional and remote areas.

If you are unhappy about the care you get, you may want to learn about making a healthcare complaint.