Types of Birth Care in Adelaide

I still remember walking into the doctor’s office, six weeks pregnant, rocking the heaviest brain fog I’ve ever had.I was so ready to be told exactly where I should give birth, like it was going to be some magical, easy answer.

Instead, I walked out even more confused.
Private? Public? Shared care? What even is that?!

The truth is — back then, I had NO clue about pregnancy, birth, or what path I should take, and really needed something clear and concise when it came to finding information about the different models of care. So here we are! I hope you find this helpful.

A doula (like me!) can support you no matter where you birth — hospital, birth centre, home, you name it. Plus, research shows that women who have a doula as part of their birth team often leave their birth feeling more positive, empowered, and satisfied with their experience.

If you want to know how I can support you more personally, just head to the CONTACT tab and let’s chat!

PRIVATE CARE

Private hospitals in Adelaide:

• Burnside Hospital

• Calvary Hospital

• Ashford Hospital

Sometimes when we think about getting pregnant, we instantly panic and start upgrading our private health cover — without even knowing if private care is the right fit for us.

If you choose to go private, you’ll pick an obstetrician from a list (or maybe you already know one you want) and they’ll look after you throughout your pregnancy and birth. Private care comes with extra costs, because you're paying for services like ultrasounds, birth classes, baby checkups, and your hospital stay — so definitely double-check that your health insurance covers maternity before you lock it in. There is normally a management fee due around 27 weeks, so if you are not vibing with your OB, make sure to swap out before this time.

Private hospitals usually have bigger, fancier rooms (hello, space and privacy!), better food (yes, menus are a thing!), typically have double beds for partners to stay over, and sometimes even baths in the room.

Important to know:
Adelaide private hospitals don’t have NICU (Special Care Units), so if things get complicated, you might be transferred to a public hospital anyway.

You'll mostly see your obstetrician (and sometimes their midwife team) for checkups, and you’ll likely do some birth classes too.

PROS:

• Continuity of care (same obstetrician most of the time)

• Private, spacious rooms

• Better food and comfy vibes

• You won’t feel rushed to leave post-birth

CONS:

• Statistically higher rates of intervention (inductions, cesareans)

• More chance of being induced to suit doctor’s schedules

• You might end up transferred to public if high-risk

• Typically less encouragement for physiological/water birth (although many OBs are becoming more woman centred so just do your due diligance!)

• Higher out-of-pocket costs

PUBLIC CARE

Public hospitals in Adelaide:

• Flinders Medical Centre

• Women’s and Children’s Hospital

• Lyell McEwin Hospital

• Mount Barker District Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital

• Gawler Health Service

The public system is there for a reason — it’s an affordable, accessible way to have your baby with excellent, passionate midwives by your side.

When you go public, you’ll mostly see midwives at your appointments, and whoever’s on duty will look after you during labour (so you might not always see the same faces). Medicare covers almost everything for pregnancy and birth, which is a huge bonus.

I personally chose public for both my births, and while it wasn’t 100% perfect, the midwives and special care staff were amazing.

Things to keep in mind:

The public system can be busy and underfunded, so sometimes you need to advocate for yourself and make sure important info doesn’t slip through the cracks. Public hospitals are typically more supportive of natural births and less likely to offer intervention unless needed. (for example you cannot elect for a caesarean without a medical or mental health reason.)

You’ll have about 4 antenatal appointments for a straightforward pregnancy, and external ultrasounds (partly Medicare-rebated - shop around though as these are getting harder to find!) are standard.

As for the vibe — it's comfy enough, but don't expect hotel luxury! Rooms are simple, sometimes shared with another mumma, and food is… well, it's hospital food.

If all goes smoothly, you might even be discharged within 24 hours after birth.

PROS:

• Almost completely free

• Midwife-led care, statistically less medical intervention

• NICU and special care units nearby if needed

• Access to great support services like lactation consultants

CONS:

• Can feel a bit "lost in the system" at times

• Shared rooms and basic hospital food

• Partners may not always stay overnight

• Busy — you may have to wait to be seen

MIDWIFERY GROUP PRACTICE (MGP)

MGP is basically the unicorn of maternity care. It’s free, you get continuity of care (the same midwife or small team), and it's focused on natural, empowered birth.

Buuut… because it’s so amazing, it books out FAST.
(Like, seriously, call them as soon as you pee on the stick. And keep calling even if you don’t get in! If you show you are serious you might just get a chance)

Public hospitals offering MGP:

• Flinders Medical Centre

• Women’s and Children’s Hospital

• Lyell McEwin Hospital

Appointments are monthly at first, and after 36 weeks, they get more frequent.
Your MGP midwife (or a back up who you will meet) will stay with you through labour, birth, and beyond — with home visits up to 6 weeks postpartum.

Heads up:
This is for "low-risk" pregnancies only, and they generally promote minimal intervention.

PROS:

• Almost free

• True continuity of care

• Midwife-led with a natural focus

• Postnatal care at home (!)

CONS:

• Hard to get into

• Very short hospital stays post-birth which might not be for everyone

• Limited access to heavy pain relief options (which is fine if that is not your preference any way)

PRIVATE MIDWIFE/HOME BIRTH

Five years ago, “home birth” made people think "hippies".
Now? It’s becoming way more mainstream and for good reason!

If you want to birth at home, you can either go through the MGP homebirth program or hire a private midwife (prices around $4,000–$6,000).

Appointments happen at your home, and your midwife will visit you after birth too. Home birth is all about comfort, control, and trust — your midwife will advise if they believe your care is best suited through the hospital system otherwise they will take care of everything.

You do not NEED to have a home birth to utalize a private midwife. They can very much take care of all of your antenatal and postnatal care, you will just birth in the hospital and unfortunately our PMs do not have admitting rights and can only be there to support you as a doula type role.

Important:
Midwives for home births book out fast, and spaces are very limited in SA right now, so get in early! I recommend going through SA Private Midwives to find the right one for you.

PROS:

• Ultimate continuity of care

• Labour and birth in your own space

• Water birth options

• Freedom to move, eat, rest however you want

• Minimal intervention

• Highly trained midwives who know what to look out for

CONS:

• Limited availability

• If complications arise, transfer to hospital needed

GP SHARED CARE

Shared care is a blend of seeing your usual GP for checkups and birthing in a public hospital.If you have a great relationship with your GP, this can feel super familiar and convenient — especially if your GP bulk bills although this is rare these days sadly.

Appointments will stay with your GP until around 36 weeks, then you transfer fully to the hospital.

Note: Not every GP offers shared care, so double-check first!

PROS:

• Continuity if you love your GP

• Closer to home and flexible

• Convenient if you’re busy

CONS:

• Can be more expensive if GP doesn’t bulk bill

• GP may not always know the latest birth policies

• Appointments may sometimes feel rushed
  

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