care is provided by midwives or obstetricians (depending on the categorisation of “risk” status)

• fragmented care — generally see a different provider each appointment and during labour (unless lucky)

• antenatal appointments — hospital or community clinics if available.

• birth location — hospital

• postnatal stay — short ward stay, generally 1–2 nights unless complications arise, with home visit(s) from hospital midwife following discharge

• cost — nil, if medicare eligible

• private insurance — not required

note that most public hospitals offer additional services (both in terms of primary model of care as well as multi-disciplinary support) for families falling into certain social or cultural groups.

care is provided by a primary midwife and backup midwife, or small team of midwives

• continuity of care through pregnancy, birth and postpartum

• antenatal appointments — hospital, community clinic or birth centre

• birth location — hospital, birth centre or home birth (location dependent and eligibility dependent)

• postnatal stay — may eligible for discharge after 4–6 hours with known midwife home-visits to follow, or short ward stay, ongoing home visits from MGP midwives

• cost — nil, if medicare eligible

• eligibility criteria often applies and generally requires early referral

• private insurance — not required

note that some hospitals have culturally or socially specific caseload programs, including but not limited to for First Nations families.

if you are a First Nations birthing person or having a First Nations baby, visit our directory of culturally specific care and support offerings here

care is provided by small team of hospital midwives , with appointments generally taking place in the hospital or community clinics if available.

• continuity model — intention for you to meet several members of the team so as to have a familiar face in birth and during the postpartum period

• antenatal appointments — hospital or community clinic

• birth location — public hospital or birth centre

• postnatal stay — short ward stay, eligible for 6 hour discharge otherwise generally 1–2 nights unless complications arise, with home visit(s) from hospital midwife following discharge

• cost — nil, if medicare eligible

• private insurance — not required

care is provided by a private midwife or general practitioner (GP) in conjunction with your local public hospital (hospital midwives or obstetrician depending on facility), with the majority of appointments taking place in the community with your private midwife or GP, and a small number of appointments at the public hospital

• partial continuity model — continuity through the antenatal period, but generally no continuity in birth (unless private midwife offers birth support)

• antenatal appointments — midwife/GP clinic or home, and hospital

• birth location — public hospital

• postnatal stay — short ward stay, generally 1–2 nights unless complications arise, with home visit(s) from hospital midwife following discharge

• cost — some cost may be associated with antenatal appointments (though medicare rebates applicable if medicare eligble, and some private midwives/GPs offering bulk-billed appointments)

• private insurance — not required

care is provided by a privately practising midwife (PPM).

PPM may be engaged as your sole care provider, as part of shared-care with a public hospital or private hospital, or as a supplement to other pregnancy care.

the role your PPM takes on will depend on your chosen birth location, and if in hospital, whether they have admitting rights.

• continuity model — through pregnancy, birth and postpartum

• antenatal appointments — your home or their clinic

• birth location — hospital or home (with some PPMs offering independent birth centres)

• postnatal stay — flexible depending on chosen birthing location, with comprehensive care being provided in the home from private midwife (frequency determined by the family)

• cost — out of pocket costs, medicare rebates for antenatal and postnatal appointments, and birth in certain circumstances if eligible

• private insurance — not required, may assist with some costs in limited circumstances

care is provided by a private obstetrician or small team of private obstetricians during pregnancy,

• continuity model — through pregnancy, birth and postpartum (but labour support prior to birth mostly provided by hospital midwives)

• antenatal appointments — private hospital or clinic

• birth location — private hospital (or public hospital as private patient)

• postnatal stay —  generally 4–5 day day stay on the postnatal ward, no home visits to follow

• cost — medicare and private health cover rebates if eligible but generally out of pocket costs still apply for management fees and hospital excess

• private insurance — generally required to avoid substantial out of pocket costs

a doula can support you though pregnancy, birth and postpartum.

doulas are not medically trained, their role is not to offer medical advice or to provide clinical treatment, but rather to support you and your partner or other support persons emotionally, physically, and through the provision of evidence-based information, supporting you to make informed decisions, and then advocating on your behalf where required.

doulas can be an essential figure of continuity in your birth team, whether you are birthing in hospital or at home.

at birthchoices we offer doula support from the beginning of pregnancy, through birth and into postpartum. get in touch to discuss having Elysia or Alice on your team.

while you’re here, have a listen to episode 7 of our podcast, where we interview Karli Smith (doula) about the role of doulas.