Although not many, there are birth centres throughout Melbourne where you are able to have your baby in a more natural, low intervention setting. Unfortunately, however the Mornington Peninsula (Victoria, Australia) is lacking in this area since Hillview, the birthing centre at Rosebud Hospital closed. Those in the Frankston & Mornington Peninsula areas can use the TEAM midwives at Frankston Hospital for a very similar experience. Frankston Hospital is an accredited ‘baby friendly’ hospital. The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) creates an environment where the health and well being of mothers and babies is promoted through breastfeeding.

To be able to use a birth centre you must be in a low-risk category and have a virtually complication-free pregnancy. Run by very experienced midwives who view birth as something normal rather than a medical procedure, there is a strong focus on natural childbirth. 

You will usually be able to use a birthing pool for your labour or the actual birth but if this is something you are interested in, make sure you enquire upon booking.

Some private hospitals offer a birthing centre as an alternative but you will usually be a public patint with a two night stay after the birth in the centre itself, or you may be transferred to the midwifery unit if the birth centre is attached to a public hospital.

A birth centre environment is considered to be somewhere between home and hospital as it is less sterile or medical than a conventional hospital but gives you the confidence of having the same medical equipment or emergency care available if needed.

Care

During your pregnancy you will visit the midwives at the birth centre, some obstetricians are able to deliver at some birth centres (check before booking) or you may choose to have shared care with the midwives at the birth centre and your GP. 

Most birth centres will have the same midwife care for you for the duration of your labour and birth and provide excellent care of you and your baby after delivery.

Pain Relief Options

The natural focus also means you may not have access to the full range of drugs for pain relief.  Midwives are trained in and promote natural methods of pain relief including

• Massage
• Water – bath or shower
• Relaxation and breathing techniques
• Active labour –moving to different positions as required, using things like the fit ball, shower or bath, birth stool & walking
• Tens Machine