Are midwifery services covered by Medicare?

Most of the services Hello Baby! Midwifery provide attract a Medicare rebate. There will be a gap payable at the time of each visit, unless you make prior arrangements to bulkbill.

Some private insurers will provide rebates for education sessions for Medicare-eligible women. For women who are not Australian residents or do not have access to Medicare, please check with your insurer for your level of cover. Alternatively, send us an enquiry and we can help you navigate this with your insurance provider.

Why should I work with a midwife?

In Australia midwives are regulated by the government and trained to be the specialists in everything normal around pregnancy, birth, baby and recovery for mum. We are also trained to identify when there are risks factors present or developing for both mum and baby.

A midwife will focus on what is normal for you and encourage you in a wellness model of care, while being mindful of your safety. If you do present with risk factors, we can still work with you to ‘normalise’ your pregnancy, to make it the best experience it can be, while the obstetrician focuses on the risk factor.

I’m going private for my birth – can I still access midwifery services?

Yes! You can still make use of midwifery services even if you are seeing a private obstetrician. You can access midwifery services for individual education sessions, for example breastfeeding, preparation for labour and birth, or newborn care, with all the convenience of home appointments without the rush of a clinical setting. You can schedule some or most pregnancy visits with your midwife and then some with your obstetrician. You can also choose to access midwifery home visits after your baby’s birth.

What is the difference between you and the midwives at the hospital or at my obstetrician’s rooms?

All midwives should do their best to provide a woman-focused service, but care in hospitals is often limited by time, budget, or managerial ‘key performance indicators’. Midwives employed at obstetrician’s rooms may also feel pressure to provide care based on the doctor’s preferences rather than centring care around you. At Hello Baby! Midwifery we strive to provide you with the information you need to make the decision that’s right for you.

What kind of training does a midwife have?

Midwives in Australia may have been trained in many different ways. Midwives may have studied midwifery at university, or they could have completed their general nursing registration first and then completed midwifery as a second degree, either at a hospital or at university.. All endorsed midwives – those endorsed by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA) to be eligible for Medicare rebates and able to prescribe medications – have undergone additional training and scrutiny in order for them to provide care in private practice.

Do you do home or hospital births?

Our services do not include care during labour or birth. I am happy to refer you to other midwives or obstetricians who provide these services.

When should I start working with a midwife?

It is never too early or too late! Hello Baby! Midwifery offers introductory meetings that may be pre-conception or early in pregnancy to help you negotiate the health care system and decide what’s right for you. Care can be provided after baby is born up until six completed weeks of age and in some cases longer, if your baby has been born prematurely. We can tailor appointments to suit your personal and clinical needs.

I’m terrified of giving birth. Can a midwife help?

Feelings of fear or anxiety around birth, or any ‘unknown’ situation are not uncommon. Getting to know your midwife and getting to ‘know’ what may or may not happen can help relieve some of these feelings. If these feelings have been sitting with you for quite some time, you may want to consider the ‘3-Step Rewind’ service. This process can help you to find a healthier place to store these feelings without triggering your flight or fight response.

There can be a lot of myths or negative stories around pregnancy, birthing and new parenthood so a midwife can help demystify the journey. We are here to help you build confidence in your body and in your ability to birth and parent in the way that suits you best.

I’ve had my baby and I’m struggling. Do midwives offer any help after the baby comes?

Yes! It is our privilege to welcome new little ones into their family and work with you as you learn how to care for babe and negotiate the transition to parenthood. We provide a reassuring familiar face with lots of hints and tips for those early days and weeks. Medicare rebates apply for visits up to seven weeks after baby is born. We can also put you in touch with other health care professionals and community support networks to help you find your feet.

How can I be sure of confidentiality and privacy?

Your privacy is so important to us. You can download a full copy of our privacy statement here to learn more.