Maternity
We look forward to welcoming you to Knox Private Hospital for the birth of your baby. The maternity team at Knox Private Hospital, comprising of nursing staff, health professionals and accredited private specialists, is committed to individualised, holistic care. We provide you and your family with knowledge and skills that you will need for a positive transition to your new or extended parenting role.
If you wish to request a copy of the list of obstetricians at Knox Private Hospital, please complete the
Contact Us section of this website. Upon receipt of your request, personnel from the maternity unit will send you the full list of obstericians.
Having your baby at Knox Private Hospital
At Knox Private Hospital, we recognise that each of our expectant mothers have different needs and that you want the best type of care to suit your individual requirements. Our maternity team, comprising of nursing staff, health professionals and accredited private specialists, is dedicated to providing you with a personalised experience while contributing to the provision of a full range of maternity services to support you while you are pregnant, during the birth and after the birth.
Everyone at Knox Private Hospital is here to ensure that you have a safe and memorable experience with us.
Why choose us?
Pregnancy, labour, birth and early parenting are significant events in the life of every mother. Every birth is unique and each childbearing woman brings her own expectations to the experience. To help ensure that your expectations are met, our caring and highly skilled team, comprising of nursing staff, health professionals and accredited private specialists, will help you achieve those goals by contributing to the provision of the best possible care for you, your baby and your family.
We can provide support in so many ways – some you’ve probably never even thought about or expected from a health care facility:
- Personalised booking
- Tours of the Maternity Unit
- Preparation for parenthood classes
- Parent education
- Experienced, caring midwives and clinical staff
- Modern surroundings
- Luxury birthing suites
- Air-conditioned comfort
- Lounge area
- Private rooms that your partner can share with you and your new baby
- Personal TV
- Accredited private paediatricians are available upon consultation with your obstetrician
- A fully-equipped special care nursery at hand for emergencies
- Nursing staff & experienced neonatal nurses
Come in and meet us and tour our facilities
We encourage you to come in and meet our friendly and experienced midwives to see first hand what Knox Private Hospital Maternity Unit has to offer. Tours of our Maternity Unit (including the birthing suites) are available, while our midwives welcome the chance to sit down and have a relaxed discussion about the pre-admission process.
This also provides you with the opportunity to discuss relevant medical/obstetric history and any topics or areas of concern you may have regarding your pregnancy, birth and postnatal care.
Contact 03 9210 7260 to make an appointment.
Important health fund information
It might not be at the top of your ‘to do’ list, but it’s important to consider how your current health insurance situation may change with the arrival of your baby. Our hospital has contracts with all major health funds, which help minimise out-of-pocket expenses for members. Provided you have health fund coverage – other than basic health insurance – you will be covered for accommodation and the birth of your baby, apart from optional excess and/or co-payments. Make sure your health insurance covers both you and the baby. If you only have single cover, you will need to upgrade to family cover well before your baby is due.
Most health funds do not automatically cover your baby if there is a problem requiring neonatal care, unless family insurance has been in place for a minimum of three months. Also, it is important to discuss with your health insurer your coverage in the event that your baby is born prematurely. It’s best to review your health insurance policy as soon as possible. This will ensure you can obtain maximum funds from your health insurance after the delivery of your baby. We know you won’t have any problem putting those extra few dollars to work!
If you are not insured and would like to have your baby at Knox Private Hospital, please phone our Pre-admission Department on 03 9210 7260 between the hours of 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday to discuss fees.
How do I book?
Please phone 03 9210 7260 to book a pre-admission consultation with a midwife.
After your consultation, please phone and talk to our front office staff about your admission and private health insurance details.
Childbirth & Parenting Education Classes
Education classes at Knox Private Hospital help to prepare you to make informed choices and decisions about your care and effectively communicate those decisions to the appropriate nursing staff, health professionals and accredited private specialists who will be on hand during your stay. The classes are also a great opportunity to help you and your partner understand and trust the natural process of birth and parenting.
Evening prenatal classes, refresher classes and weekend workshops are also available. It is important to book your preference for these classes early to ensure sufficient time is allowed prior to 36 weeks gestation. Class bookings can be made at your pre-admission consultation.
Expected length of stay
After a normal birth, most mothers and babies will be ready to go home on day 5. Following a caesarean section, most mothers and babies are ready to go home on day 6.
Your first days together - Rooming In
We encourage you to keep your baby in your room during those precious first days after the birth. This will help with:
- Enhanced bonding
- Opportunities for learning practical parenting skills
- Establishment of lactation
- Increased confidence
- Decreased risk of cross infection
Midwives will be on hand to help you take the first steps towards caring for your newborn. We also understand that there will be times when you will need sleep. At these times, we offer to care for your baby. Or perhaps, your support person could care for the baby at this time?
Special Care Nursery
We encourage your baby to stay with you at all times, but should your baby require specialised medical assistance the baby will be admitted to the special care nursery.
At Knox Private, we have a Level 2 Special Care Nursery with the latest equipment and staffed with specialised neonatal midwives and accredited or employed private paediatricians so your baby will have the best care possible. If your baby is premature, you may be ready for discharge before your baby. Once your baby is ready for discharge you may be admitted to Knox Private Hospital as a boarder for 24 hours to prepare your family for the baby’s homecoming.
Breast Feeding Support
Here at Knox Private Hospital we are committed to offer to you and your partner comprehensive educational information to help you meet your baby’s nutritional needs. We recognise the importance of informed and individual choice, and will ensure every measure is taken to help you achieve a successful and rewarding breast feeding experience. Our midwives are highly skilled and available to answer any queries you may have regarding breast feeding once you go home.
Mother & Baby Security
Our Maternity Ward is a secure ward. As all doors are locked, visitors must identify themselves in order to gain entry at each entrance. Newborn babies must at all times have two name tags on. They are usually securely attached to each ankle. These bands are placed on the baby immediately followinghis/her birth.
What To Pack
We suggest that you have your bag packed by 36 weeks.
For Mother:
- Old nightgown or t-shirt for the labour
- Nighties and dressing gown (if desired)
- Comfortable casual clothing and footwear
- Your own toiletries
- Super sanitary pads
- Maternity bras and briefs
- One box of nursing pads (optional)
- Money for incidental costs
For your new baby:
- 5 nightgowns or grow suits
- 5 singlets
- Nappy change lotion, bath lotion or pure soap (if desired)
- Mittens and booties (optional)
- Cardigans and hats (optional)
- 2 nappies (to take baby home)
- Approved child restraint - this is required by law.
For your birthing partner:
- Change of clothes
- Pyjamas if staying overnight
- Toiletries
For administration:
- Pregnancy Information Record
- Health fund card
- Medicare card
- Blood Group Card
- Pre Natal information from your obstetrician
Valuables
We strongly advise you not to bring your valuables such as jewellery or large sums of money to the hospital, as the provision for safe custody is limited.
Please contact the hospital on 03 9210 7260 if you have any worries or concerns.
Labour - When to contact the hospital
As soon as you are having contractions it is important to telephone the Maternity Unit. It may be appropriate to stay at home for a short time.
When you decide to come to the hospital telephone the Maternity Unit on 03 9210 7260 so we can prepare for your arrival.
It is essential that you contact the unit promptly (day or night) if any of the following occur:
- Ruptured membranes or continuous leaking of fluid
- Bright bleeding
- Regular contractions
- Premature labour ie. prior to 37 weeks
- Unusual or severe abdominal pain
- Any concerns about baby’s movements (especially if less than 10-12 per day)
- If you have any other concerns
On arrival at the hospital p[lease proceed directly to the Maternity Unit.
Car parking
Car parking is available onsite at Knox Private Hospital.
Look@MyBaby
Look@MyBaby allows you to privately share live video of your new baby in hospital with all your friends and family on their mobile phones and computers, wherever they are around the world. It is a Virtual Baby Visit. Parents with babies in Special Care Nurseries can also access live video during the times they cannot be in the hospital, subject to hospital protocols. No technical knowledge required, you just send an SMS/Email one-click unique access link to the Cot Camera in hospital. To find out more visit www.lookatmybaby.net