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 conducted every Sunday afternoon at 2.30pm. You are welcome to meet us in front of the Women’s Health Unit entrance on level 4, and one of our midwives will show you around. No appointment is necessary for this tour.

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.

Visiting Hours

Birthing Suites:

Open access for partner and one other identified support person

Antenatal and Postnatal Suites:

6.30am – 1.30pm

3.30pm – 8.30pm

The ward is closed to ALL visitors between 1:30pm and 3:30pm

Women have the option to express a ‘No Visitors’ request at any time during their stay, so it is advisable for visitors to ensure access will be allowed prior to arrival.

Visiting during the ward closure is by pre-arrangement only.

Children visiting the ward must be supervised at all times and must not be left unattended by partners or visitors.

Partners and visitors who are unwell should refrain from accessing the ward to avoid the spread of possible infectious illness to mothers and babies.

To ensure patient comfort a maximum of four visitors is permitted at any one time.