Coming to hospital for your birth I St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Toowoomba

Maternity Home

When to contact the birth suite

If you are relaxed and comfortable at home, it is best to remain in your own environment while you are in early labour. Please contact us:

When your contractions are occurring at regular intervals and/or causing distress
If you have had a previous caesarean section or operation on your uterus, telephone the birth suite early in your labour
If you think your waters may have broken – this may be a gush or constant trickle of fluid from the vagina. If your waters break, use the acronym C.O.A.T, note the Colour, any Odour, Amount and Time of rupture
If you have fresh blood loss from your vagina, more than a teaspoon and not mixed with vaginal mucous
If you have sudden and severe swelling of your face, feet and/or hands
If your baby’s movements have changed from their normal pattern of movements

Ready to come in?

Please telephone the birthing suite on (07) 4690 4125 before you leave home. If your doctor tells you to come to the hospital, please remember to telephone the birthing suite before leaving.

After-hours access

To keep our patients safe, Entrance 1 is secured after 8pm. If you arrive at hospital after 8pm, enter via our Emergency Department, Entrance 6, on Herries Street. You will be directed to the Dorothea Devine Maternity Unit.

There is a special parking bay for maternity patients at the Emergency Department entrance. Once you are safely in the Dorothea Devine Maternity Unit, your lift-giver must move the car from the Emergency parking bay so that other patients can use the after-hours access.

Support people

Please discuss with your doctor and midwife if you wish to have support people or children in the birthing suite. They will need to be informed of your arrangements and be prepared to attend to your needs during delivery.

There may be times during your labour and birth when people other than your primary support person may be asked to leave the room for safety reasons. Any other family members are asked to wait either in your room or in the waiting room near maternity reception.

Please note, during the COVID-19 pandemic only partners and one other support person are permitted in the birthing suite.

Worried? Call us!

If at any time during your pregnancy you have concerns, please feel free to contact the birthing suite if your doctor is unavailable. St Vincent’s has 24 hour-a-day contact with your obstetrician.

Contact your doctor or the birthing suite if you experience:

Decreased or increased baby movement
Broken waters or a continuous leakage of fluid (with or without contractions)
Vaginal bleeding
Regular contractions
Constant abdominal pain
Trauma to your abdomen (e.g. car accident, assault or fall)
Excessive swelling of your ankles, legs, feet and/or hands
Persistent itchy skin
Pain or burning when passing urine.

Recognising premature labour

You are in premature labour if you have not reached week 37 of your pregnancy and you are experiencing:

Contractions every 10 minutes or more, for more than one hour
Any pain
Any bleeding

If you have any concerns at all, please phone us on (07) 4690 4125.

Coming to Hospital

Coming to hospital

Maternity Home