The Birth Centre is available to women who are experiencing a healthy pregnancy. The RPA Birth Centre is a midwifery-led option, care is provided by a small team of midwives who share a passion for natural, active birth. The Birth Centre provides holistic midwifery care for women and their families during the pregnancy, labour and birth and postnatal period. 

If complications arise during your pregnancy, your midwife will work in collaboration with doctors and other health professionals to best support you. For some women, care will need to be transferred from the Birth Centre for additional care. If transfer occurs during labour, your Birth Centre midwife will continue to care for you in the Delivery Ward. The Birth Centre also provides midwifery support at home for up to two weeks post birth if you live within the catchment area for RPA. Alternative options are available for those outside of this area. 

Pregnancy care is shared between a GP who is affiliated with the Antenatal Shared Care program to provide pregnancy care with RPA Hospital. You will see your GP for most of your antenatal visits and then attend the hospital for scheduled visits with the midwives, generally at 14, 30 and 37 weeks. You may also see an obstetrician if needed.  The GP is not involved in the birth of your baby but will see you for your post birth check-up. 

Benefits of GP Shared Care include: 

• Often a GP is close to your home or work and knows your family well 
• Many GPs speak a language other than English and can provide care in your preferred language 
• Your GP can continue to provide their usual care for you and your family after your baby is born

Midwifery Group Practice provides women with pregnancy, labour, birth and postnatal care by a known midwife. You will be allocated a ‘primary’ midwife who will provide personalised care and education during your pregnancy, be on call to support you during labour and birth and provide up to two weeks of home visits after you have your baby. Your midwife consults with an obstetrician who can provide care or advice during pregnancy if needed. Midwifery Group Practice is suitable for women with a low to moderate risk pregnancy. Women can choose to give birth in the Birth Centre or Delivery Ward.  

RPA Midwifery Group Practice is available to women living in the RPA catchment area which includes the following suburbs: Annandale, Alexandria, Balmain, Birchgrove, Camperdown, Chippendale, Darlington, Dulwich Hill, Enmore, Erskineville, Forest Lodge, Glebe, Haymarket, Leichhardt, Lewisham, Lilyfield, Marrickville, Newtown, Petersham, Pyrmont, Redfern, Rozelle, St Peters, Stanmore, Sydenham, Tempe and Waterloo. 

Women living in the Concord catchment area and wishing to birth at RPA may be able to receive their care through Concord Midwifery Group Practice. The Concord catchment area includes the following suburbs Ashfield, Dobroyd Point, Haberfield, Summer Hill, Burwood, Burwood Heights, Croydon Park, Corydon, Canda Bay, Concord, Cabarita, Breakfast Point, Mortlake, Concord West, Liberty Grove, Rhodes, Drummoyne, Russell Lea, Abbotsford, Rodd Point, Five Dock, Wareemba, Strathfield, Strathfield South, Enfield, parts of South Strathfield, Belfield and Greenacre.

Aboriginal Midwifery Group Practice  

RPA Women and Babies has dedicated Midwifery Group Practice for women who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. The service is supported by a Clinical Midwife Consultant and an Aboriginal health worker. 

The midwife will provide care during your pregnancy, labour, birth and in the community for up to two weeks after your birth.  

A midwife-led care option that provides women and their families with pregnancy and postnatal care by a known midwife. A ‘buddy’ midwife will be available when the named midwife is off duty. Labour and birth care will be provided by the team in Delivery Ward.  

Pregnancy care is provided by the team of midwives working in the Midwifery Clinic. This pregnancy care type is suitable for women with a low to moderate risk of complications in pregnancy. Appointments are available at community Outreach Clinics as well as at the RPA Women and Babies Midwifery Clinic. Visits can also be arranged with doctors, mental health clinicians or other specialists if required. 

During your stay in hospital you will be cared for by our hospital midwives. Women in the Midwifery Clinic who live in Sydney Local Health District will receive postnatal visits from our Midwifery@Home midwives. Women living outside of the District will be referred to their local service for postnatal care.  

Some women may require more specialised pregnancy care. Your healthcare team may include midwives, allied health professionals, obstetricians and other specialist doctors.  

A midwife will review your pregnancy and health history at your first hospital visit and arrange the referral to a specialist clinic if required. If you need specialist input earlier in your pregnancy, your GP can also directly refer you to the appropriate Specialist Pregnancy Clinic.  

You can choose to receive your pregnancy care from a private obstetrician and birth your baby at RPA.

There are a number of private obstetricians who practise at RPA.

Women choosing this option of care will see their obstetrician for all their antenatal care in their obstetrician’s private consulting rooms. You will then be booked in to deliver your baby at RPA, with priority access to our private maternity wing.

Our private maternity services include care from midwives and obstetricians, access to specialist education sessions, private health insurance gap payment waived up to $500 per calendar year, and access to the RPA Staff and Visitor Car Park via redeemable tickets.

Please note, private obstetric care is not covered by Medicare. A referral from your GP to your chosen obstetrician is required. Obstetrician fees are available by contacting their office directly.
View our list of Private Obstetricians