You will be cared for by a primary midwife, allowing you to build a trusting and supportive relationship. Your care is supported by a small team of MGP midwives who work closely together to provide consistent, high-quality care for all women in the program, and you may meet some of them during your pregnancy.
If you are interested in joining the Midwifery Group Practice (MGP), please email mgp@swh.net.au to enquire about participating in the program. Enquiries are welcome at any time within the first 16 weeks of your pregnancy, preferably after your initial ultrasound confirming your pregnancy or following your first antenatal appointment with the Women’s Health Service.
The Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) has a limited capacity and is able to provide care to a small number of women each month. This program is designed for women with low-risk pregnancies and welcomes all families, whether this is your first pregnancy or you have given birth before.
MGP is available to women who live within a 50-kilometre radius of Warrnambool. As places are limited, a monthly de-identified allocation process is used to ensure fair access to the program.
If complications arise during your pregnancy or birth, your midwives will continue to care for you in collaboration with our medical team. If an appointment with our medical team is needed, your midwife will discuss this with you.
MGP midwives are actively involved in the education and support of midwifery students. At times, a student midwife may be allocated to work with the MGP team or be completing a clinical placement on the maternity ward. You may be asked if you are comfortable with a student being present or assisting during your labour and birth.
You may also choose to have a student midwife follow your care throughout your pregnancy. This offers an opportunity to build a supportive relationship, get to know your student midwife, and benefit from additional continuity of care. Your preferences will always be respected, and your consent will be sought at every stage.
The Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) midwife provides continuous care throughout your pregnancy through regular appointments held at the hospital maternity ward (Level 2). You can expect approximately eight planned visits, scheduled to suit your individual needs. Appointments are generally spaced every 4–6 weeks until 30 weeks of pregnancy, and then occur more frequently as you approach your due date (please refer to the pregnancy care schedule for details). Most appointments are approximately 40 minutes in duration. You are welcome to bring a support person of your choice to your appointments.
Occasionally, appointments may need to be rescheduled if your midwife is attending a labour or birth. In these circumstances, one of the MGP back-up midwives may provide your care. If you need to attend or are admitted to hospital at any time, your MGP midwife will remain involved in your care and will work collaboratively with hospital staff and the medical team to support you.
Midwives provide skilled clinical care, as well as physical and emotional support, throughout labour and birth. Your primary midwife is on call to support you during this important time and provide continuity of care. When labour begins, you can contact your midwife directly by mobile phone. Once labour is established, your care will take place in the hospital, where you will be supported by your primary midwife or a backup midwife from the MGP team on the maternity ward (Level 2). If your primary midwife is unavailable, please contact the maternity ward at South West Healthcare.
After the birth, you and your baby will stay together in a calm, respectful environment, with your chosen support people present. Your midwife will support you to begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth.
If both you and your baby are well, an early discharge home is usually planned between 6 and 24 hours after birth. Following discharge, MGP midwives will continue to provide care and support for you and your baby in your home. If a longer hospital stay is required due to medical needs or complications, you will be admitted to the postnatal ward. Care on the postnatal ward will be provided by hospital staff, who will work closely with the MGP midwives as needed.
The number and timing of home visits will be tailored to your individual needs. This may depend on whether you spend time on the postnatal ward and the level of support required during the first two weeks after birth. Home visits will be provided by your primary MGP midwife or a member of the backup team to support continuity of care. Between visits, your midwife will be available by mobile phone for urgent concerns.
When your care with the MGP at South West Healthcare concludes, ongoing support will continue in the community through your Maternal and Child Health Nurse and General Practitioner, as needed. If any medical concerns arise, midwives work closely with medical colleagues to ensure coordinated and appropriate care for both you and your baby. Your primary MGP midwife will remain involved in your care, even when additional medical support is required.