Peninsula Health

Being pregnant can be very exciting, but it can also be a bit of a scary time. Not all pregnancies are planned, and there can be lots of stress around how you might be able to incorporate a baby into your life. Alternatively, this might be a very planned or even a long awaited pregnancy. Big changes are going to be happening, and even if you are looking forward to this, it is natural to have worries at times. This section is a practical guide to help you make the most of your health and wellbeing during pregnancy.

Having a baby can be a wonderful journey, and it is a journey that many people can share in, and have a positive impact. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and it is great if you can gather those around who will guide and support you.

If you do not have a big social support network, consider joining pregnancy and breastfeeding support groups, or finding out about having a student midwife to share your journey.

If you speak a language other than English, Health Translations is a great Victorian Government website, which provides a host of information brochures in many different languages. Use the link below to find helpful pregnancy information.

The following steps will help assist you in starting your pregnancy journey:

1. See your GP to confirm your pregnancy. The GP will need to order blood tests including Rubella, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, blood group and antibodies, iron levels, as well as a urine test. Sometimes, they may also check things like your thyroid function, Vitamin D levels, and other infectious illness like chicken pox or parvo virus.
2. The GP may give you a referral for a dating scan, which should ideally be around 8 weeks of pregnancy.
3. The GP will offer genetic screening tests, which may come as:

• An NIPT (non-invasive pregnancy testing), which is a blood test done from 10 weeks onwards; you will also need an 11-13 week ultrasound done.
• or a combined ultrasound at 11+1 weeks -13+6 weeks and blood test done between 9 weeks – 13+6 weeks (maternal serum screening).

Some people will choose to do both, and others may choose not to do any at all. It is important to discuss these options with your GP.

4. The GP will refer you to the hospital for your booking appointment. This referral should be received by the hospital as early in your pregnancy as possible – ideally in the first trimester/less than 13 weeks. You will receive confirmation of this in the mail, along with a list of accredited GPs, information about childbirth classes, and a health survey, which assists us in your booking appointment.
5. Please bring your survey, and any test or ultrasound results you have to your booking in appointment.
6. Make sure you have a current ambulance subscription, particularly as your pregnancy progresses, in case of emergency.

Helpful links:

What is happening in your pregnancy – week by week?

Health Translations

Ambulance subscription

Frankston Hospital offers comprehensive and inclusive pregnancy care, with a number of antenatal and postnatal programs available. We have Rainbow Tick accreditation, a Koori focused KMS program, and offer translators for anyone whose primary language is not English. The Frankston maternity ward is called the Women’s Health Unit. It is comprised of a five-bed pregnancy assessment unit, a birth unit, and an antenatal/postnatal unit, with 36 beds in total.

Tours of the midwifery unit are now being replaced with a virtual tour of the unit. 

Frankston Hospital has a Special Care Nursery which provides facilities for up to 13 babies from 32 weeks pregnancy onward, needing closer observation or specialised treatment.

Virtual Ward Tour

Visiting Hours

Please refer to the Visitor Guidelines page or speak to a member of your healthcare team. 

Australian Breastfeeding Association

Australian Breastfeeding Association – Breastfeeding Confidence

Australian Breastfeeding Association – Expressing and storing breastmilk 2

Australian Breastfeeding Association – Is my baby getting enough milk?

Better Health Channel – First days after birth

Better Health Channel – First weeks after birth

Better Health Channel – Hepatitis B immunization

Better Health Channel – Vitamin K injection at birth

Beyond Blue – Postnatal depression/anxiety and coping

Early Learning Association Australia (ELAA) – Car seat safety

Peninsula Health – Healthy eating for pregnancy

Raising Children – Baby-led attachment

Raising Children – Mother-led attachment

Raising Children – Breastfeeding positions

Raising Children – How partners can help with breastfeeding

Raising Children – Expressing and storing breastmilk

Raising Children – Blocked ducts and mastitis and breastfeeding

Raising Children – Safe bottle feeding and formula preparation

Red Nose – SIDS/SUDI and safe sleeping

The Royal Women’s Hospital – How to use nipple shields (if necessary)

The Royal Women’s Hospital – Tongue-tie and breastfeeding

Victorian Government, We Are Family – New baby and pets

World Health Organisation – Safe bottle feeding and formula preparation

What Were We Thinking – New parent coping techniques

Australian Government, Department of Health – How to quit smoking

Better Health Channel  – Having a baby in Victoria

Better Health Channel – Tests, Scans and Checks: Pregnancy and Labour

Better Health Channel – Pregnancy antenatal checks of your baby

Better Health Channel – Developing a birth plan

Peninsula Health – Hip pain during pregnancy

Raising Childeren – Pregnancy and diet

Sleep On Side

Better Health Channel – Developing a birth plan

The Royal Women’s Hospital – Labour birth

The Royal Women’s Hospital – Managing pain in labour