our futureC A L V A R Y M A T E R N I T Y U N I T

T H E B E G I N N I N G

Are you planning a family? 3

Booking in to have your baby at Calvary 4

T H E M I D D L E

Calvary Antenatal Team Care (CATC) 5

Parent Education Program 5

Breast Feeding Clinic 8

A N D B E Y O N D

Postnatal Support 9

Mothers Support Package 9

Infant Massage Classes 9

Postnatal Breastfeeding Clinic 10

Special Care Nursery 11

After the birth 11

Fathers role during your stay in hospital 12

Food services 13

On-going support 13

Visiting hours 13

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We would like to thank you for choosing Calvary Health Care Tasmania.

Pregnancy is an exciting time for you and your family. Calvary Health Care Tasmania would

like you to take this opportunity to discover what our services can offer you.

We are committed to meeting your individual needs during the beginning, the middle

and beyond your pregnancy and birth.

T H E B E G I N N I N G

Are you planning a family?Family seminars are held regularly throughout the year and will cover topics such as diet,

work, exercise and early screening and more. You will also be given a tour of our facilities.

The seminars run for approximately 2 hours and are held on a Saturday morning.

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Booking in to have your baby at CalvaryStep 1

Complete the Maternity Registration Details form supplied with this package OR go to the website

and complete the registration form.

Step 2

Contact the Maternity and Women’s Health Unit ward clerk on (03) 6278 5328 and make an

appointment for a pre-admission meeting with a midwife. You may complete your pre-admission

over the phone if you have been to Calvary before and do not require a tour of the Maternity Unit.

If you wish to participate in Calvary Antenatal Team Care (CATC) you also will need to obtain a

consent form from your obstetrician. You may also book your parent education classes at this time.

Step 3

Forward your completed Maternity Registration Details form to the Maternity and Women’s Health

Unit; by fax, post or e-mail, OR bring the completed form with you to your pre-admission meeting.

It is advisable to bring a referral letter from your doctor or a copy of your antenatal history to

your pre-admission meeting. We also suggest that you discuss your level of cover with your Health

Fund prior to your hospital admission. This is to ensure that your Health Fund covers you in the

event that your baby requires the use of our Special Care Nursery.

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T H E M I D D L E

Calvary Antenatal Team Care (CATC)This program is about comprehensive antenatal care with a collaborative approach which

provides excellent outcomes. The Team Care approach will mean you interact more with

your midwife, with alternate visits between your Obstetrician and the CATC midwife.

During the visits you will have the opportunity to become more familiar with the Maternity Unit

and get to know the midwives.

To be involved in CATC please discuss with your Obstetrician.

Parent Education ProgramAt Calvary we offer a comprehensive Parent Education Program for you and your partner.

Our aim is to provide information, guidance and support during your pregnancy,

birth and throughout the postnatal period. This will help you to make informed

decisions for you and your baby.

Fitness in pregnancy – conducted by our physiotherapist

All women are encouraged to attend this session that is designed to educate you on

• Generalfitnessforpregnancyandlabour

• Theimportanceofbackcareinpregnancy

• Theneedforpelvicfloorexercisesduringpregnancy,andthepostnatalperiod

• Relaxationtechniquesforlabourandbirthing

• UseoftheTENSmachinetomanagecontractions.

Fathers Session (men only) – facilitatedbyGoodBeginnings

• Amalefacilitatorlooksatissuesfacingnewfathers–Topicsinclude:Yourchangingrole,

Your changing relationship, Postnatal Depression, Coping with a new baby at home,

community support and much more.

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Evening Sessions

Acomprehensiveprogramcoveringthefollowingtopics:

Labour and birth

• Roleofthesupportperson

• Thenaturalprocessoflabour

• Managingcontractionsathome

• Strategiesforthemanagementoflabour

• Painreliefoptions

• TouroftheBirthUnit,viewaBirthSuite

• Theprocessofgivingbirth

• Whattobringtohospital

• Whentocontactthehospital/cometohospital

• Medicalinterventions,whenandwhyisitnecessary?

Breastfeeding and Parenting

• Benefitsofbreastfeedingformotherandbaby

• The10stepstosuccessfulbreastfeeding

• Breastfeedingpositioningandattachment

Role and lifestyle changes

• Decisionmakingforyouandyourbaby

• Communicationasacoupleaboutparentingandrelatedissues

• Emotionalchangesduringpregnancy

• Babycareinhospitalandathome

• Realisticexpectationsofselfandbaby

Doctors

• Apaediatricianwilldiscusstheirroleinthecareofyourbaby

• Ananaesthetistwilldiscusspainreliefoptionsindetail

OR

Saturday Workshop

Thissessioncoversthefollowingtopics:

• Theroleofthesupportperson

• Thenaturalprocessoflabourandbirth

• Interventions.WhenandWhy?

• Managingcontractionsathome

• Breastfeeding

• Parentingtopicsofinterest

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Oneeveningsession:Doctors

• Apaediatricianwilldiscusstheirroleinthecareofyourbaby

• Ananaesthetistwilldiscusspainreliefoptionsindetail

Refresher Session

A one-hour session designed as an informal update for parents with previous birthing experience.

Vaginal Birth After Caesarean

A one-hour session designed to assist parents who have experienced a previous caesarean birth.

After initial consultation with your obstetrician this session can help you develop management

strategies for a vaginal birth.

Grandparents Session

This is a session designed to assist your parents and grandparents realise the changes in childbirth,

breastfeeding and parenting since you were born. These sessions only run upon request and a

mutually convenient time needs to be arranged.

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Breast Feeding ClinicBeforeyourbaby’sbirth:

ItmaybebeneficialtoseeaLactationConsultantforexampleifyouhaveanyofthefollowing:

• Previousbreastsurgery–especiallybreastreduction

• Flatorinvertednipples

• Previousbreastfeedingdifficulties

• Anyspecialneeds–physicaloremotional

During your visit we will discuss a plan that will optimise your breastfeeding experience.

A copy of this will be included in your history.

Your plan will be available to your midwife when you come to have your baby.

ThiswillalsoalerttheLactationConsultanttoyourarrivalandyourneeds.

Through following the World Health Organisation recommended Ten Steps to Successful

Breastfeedingweaimtoprotect,promoteandsupportbreastfeeding.TheTenStepsareasfollows:

1. Have a written breastfeeding policy that is routinely communicated to all health-care staff.

2. Train all health-care staff in the skills necessary to implement this policy.

3. Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of breastfeeding.

4. Place babies in skin to skin contact with their mothers immediately following birth for at least an hour

and encourage mothers to recognise when their babies are ready to breastfeed, offering help if needed.

5. Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation even if they are separated from

their infants.

6. Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk unless medically indicated.

7. Practice rooming-in – allow mothers and infants to stay together 24 hours a day.

8. Encourage breastfeeding on demand.

9. Give no artificial teats or dummies to breastfeeding infants.

10. Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer mothers to them on discharge

from hospital or clinic.

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A N D B E Y O N D

Postnatal Support• Specialistmidwiferycare

• BreastfeedingdiscussionfacilitatedbyaLactationConsultant

• Gettingbackintoshape,facilitatedbyaphysiotherapist

• IntroductiontoInfantMassage–Infantmassagecourse–4weeklysessionsconductedbya

certifiedinstructor

• AwideselectionofeducationliteratureandDVD’sareavailableuponrequest

Mothers Support PackageThe mothers Support Package is available if you choose to go home early. We can help make the

transition a little easier for you by offering a package which includes a voucher from the Hill Street

Grocerandmidwiferysupport.Tofindouthowyoucouldbeeligibleaskyourmidwife.

Infant Massage ClassesThe Maternity and Women’s Health Unit offer an introductory Infant Massage session while you

areinhospitalwithyourbaby.Infantmassagebenefitsyouandyourbaby,andisagreatway

for Dads and other family members to feel involved in baby’s care and nurturing.

ThebenefitsofInfantMassageforyouandyourbabyareimmense.Itcanimprovesleeppatterns

resultinginamoresettledbaby,relievesstress/painofcolic,strengthenstheimmunesystem

just to name a few.

AsaparentInfantMassageincreasesyourconfidenceandskillsinhandlingyourbaby,givesyou

a greater connection, deepens bonding and enhances communication providing a nurturing

environment. It is important to start with skin-to-skin contact immediately following your baby’s

birth, then continue with loving touch through massage.

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Accredited and experienced Infant Massage Educators (midwives) facilitate classes on the unit

following discharge from hospital. The classes consist of four sessions of 1 hour over a four-week

period. There is a fee to cover costs.

Contact Maternity and Women’s Health Unit.

Postnatal Breastfeeding ClinicThe Maternity and Women’s Health Unit of Calvary Health Care Tasmania (CHCT) is an accredited

Baby Friendly Hospital. We aim to provide services of the highest quality to support breastfeeding

mothers.

The service is available to you before and after your baby’s birth. Advice is available in person or

over the phone.

How to Book

To make an appointment telephone the Maternity and Women’s Health Unit on (03) 6278 5328.

Book in advance to ensure your preferred appointment time is available.

If you have a baby make a time that coincides with a breastfeed.

Please bring your baby’s Health Journal with you.

TheBreastfeedingClinicislocatedontheMaternityandWomen’sHealthUnit,3rdFloorLenah

ValleyCampus,49AugustaRoadLenahValley,7008.

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Special Care NurseryThe Special Care Nursery is a specialist service for babies requiring extra medical support and

care. As a unit we offer care for babies born prematurely from 34 weeks gestation, where your

paediatrician is happy to care for your baby’s needs on a visiting basis. If your baby requires a

higherlevelofmedicalsupporthe/shewillneedtobetransferredtotheNeonatalIntensive

CareUnitatTheRoyalHobartHospital,butmaybetransferredbackwhentheyarewellenough.

You will be orientated to the Special Care Nursery as required and encouraged to assist with your

baby’s care and feeding. Other visitors are kept to a minimum, therefore only two adults at any

one time and no children other than your own.

We ask you to please consider the privacy of other babies and their families.

Please be aware that if your baby is admitted to the Special Care Nursery a fee is generated for the

services required. It is important that you contact your Health Insurance Fund to ensure you

have adequate cover in the event that your baby will need to be admitted to the Special

Care Nursery.

After the birthAfter birth, your baby remains with you, and subsequently goes with you to your room.

The midwife provides support and assistance to you with care and feeding of your baby.

Contrary to popular opinion, mothers who have their babies with them at night do not

lose sleep, in comparison with mothers whose babies are in a nursery. In fact, there maybe

somebeneficialeffectsincludingbetterqualitysleep.Youarelesslikelytobedisturbed

by the sound of other babies in the night.

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Fathers role during your stay in hospitalWe welcome the family as a whole and as such do not restrict visiting times for fathers and

other children.

Fathers are welcomed and encouraged to attend all the Parent Education Sessions, and we

evenhaveonespecificallydesignedforFathersrunbymenfromtheGoodBeginningsprogram.

The aim is to give them a safe forum to ask questions and help the transition into parenthood.

As a support person Fathers are welcome in the Birthing Suites and are seen as part of the whole

process–welikeFatherstobeinvolvedasmuchastheyfeelcomfortablewith.Fathersareoffered

tocutthebabiesumbilicalcord,butdonothavetoiftheydon’twishto.Fathersmayfindthat

they have the job of photographer also.

It is hard work being a support person. We offer meals and snacks while in the Birth Suites

or on the day of a caesarean birth. When you move from the birthing suite to a postnatal

roomFathersareabletostayovernightiftheywishasafoldout/trundlebedandpotentially

a double bed, linen and meals are provided and it is expected that Fathers will assist in the

care of your baby.

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Food servicesOur menu has been designed to cater to your taste and preferences. The food service staff will be

happy to discuss any special dietary needs you may have.

Meals will be provided for partners who are rooming-in over night. If partners are not rooming-in

additional meals can be made available to your partner for a nominal price.

Meal Times

Breakfast 7.45am

Lunch 12.00pm

Dinner 5.00pm

Celebration Platter

To celebrate your family’s new addition, our Food Services Staff will prepare a complimentary

antipasto platter, including a bottle of sparkling wine, for you and your partner. You need to order

this at least 24 hours before it is required to ensure the kitchen have all the freshest ingredients

available for you to enjoy. You may wish to consider not ordering an evening meal as often people

findtheplattersufficient.

Ongoing support• DomiciliaryServices–organisedpriortodischargefromhospitalasrequired

• SupportPackagesareavailableforwomenwhochoosetogohomeearlyfromhospital

• CalvaryHealthCareTasmania–24houradayphoneadvice

• BreastfeedingClinic

• FamilyandChildHealth–areferralismadeforallinfantspriortodischargefromhospital,

you will be contacted and followed up at home

• CU@HomeProgram–FamilyandChildHealthforwomenaged15to19

• GoodBeginnings–canbecontactedon(02)92116767

• ParentingCentreNewTown,Ph:(03)62781610OR1800808178

• Obstetrician–usual6weekcheck

• Paediatrician–usual6weekcheck

• GeneralPractitioner–asrequired

• MultipleBirthAssociation–Ph:(03)62294841

Visiting hoursMonday–Sunday

11:00am–1:00pm

1:00pm–3:00pmRESTTIME

3:00pm–8:00pm

We ask that you make your friends and family aware when you would like them to visit and for

how long. We do provide signs to help you regulate your visitors as you may wish to rest or spend

time with your baby as a family.

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Pre-admission appointment

Date:

Time:

Notes

Parent Education appointment

Date:

Time:

C A L V A R Y M A T E R N I T Y U N I T

our future

49 Augusta Road

Lenah Valley TASMANIA 7008

www.calvarycare.org.au

Phone: 03 6278 5328

Fax: 03 6278 5541

Email: maternity@calvarycare.org.au

Photography by: Sarah McGregor and Alastair Bett

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