General Pregnancy Information

When you should contact Manning hospital

Please phone Manning Hospital Birth Suite 02 6592 9369 immediately for advice if any of these occur:

• Your baby stops moving or there is an obvious reduction in your baby’s movements at any time during your pregnancy
• Trauma to the abdomen, assault, serious fall or car accident
• Vaginal bleeding at any time
• Sharp pains in the abdomen with or without vaginal bleeding
• Your waters break or if you have a constant clear watery vaginal discharge
• Fever or chills, temperature over 37.8 degrees
• Severe nausea and persistent vomiting
• Recurring and persistent headaches
• Blurred vision or spots before your eyes
• Pain or burning on passing urine
• Contractions at any time before 37 weeks
• Sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
• Persistently itchy skin, especially hands and feet
• Labour has started and you feel it is time to come to hospital
• Booked Caesarean birth and labour commences

Antenatal clinic general information

The first Booking-in antenatal visit and Booking into Hospital

All women (including those who are doing ‘Shared Care’) will have their first visit with a midwife at either Manning Hospital or the Foster Community Clinic. This is a comprehensive visit where we will discuss your previous medical history, family medical history, and your general well-being. This is to determine ways we can provide you with appropriate care and support throughout your pregnancy and to ensure your pregnancy care meets your needs.

You can expect your first appointment to take about one and a half hours. Your partner or support person is always welcome at your visits, but due to the length and personal nature of your first visit, we ask that you attend this appointment alone where possible. Your next appointment will be booked before you leave your first visit.

All hospital inpatients must complete admission procedures, including details of Medicare card, any health insurance, next of kin, etc. As pregnant women know they will be inpatients at some time in the near future, it is suggested that these are completed well ahead of the baby’s due birth date.

Once you have been allocated to a model of pregnancy care (see pages 10-12), we ask that wherever possible, you ensure your appointments remain on your allocated day with your allocated doctor or midwife. This will help you receive the best care possible.

Specialty obstetric care

We have a range of specialist services for women with broader issues that may affect their well-being during the pregnancy, including women with physical or intellectual disability, or concerns with substance use. This is in the form of a High Risk clinic which operates twice per week. There are also specialist clinics for women with conditions such as diabetes or other medical conditions that may impact on the pregnancy or the baby’s well-being.

These services have staff with expertise in social support, mental wellbeing, counselling, diet, physiotherapy, peer support.
If you need support from specialist services, it will be arranged by the midwife completing your booking visit or by the team providing your pregnancy care. Referral may be required to another specialist services outside of this local area, such as John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle and will be determined on a case by case assessment.

Waiting times

The Antenatal Clinic at Manning Hospital is often very busy. While we make every effort to keep appointment times, the clinic does sometimes run late. We ask for your patience during these times and will endeavour to keep you well informed.

Ultrasound and pathology results

Routine antenatal care involves blood and urine tests, and ultrasounds examinations. These test results are made available to you at your next antenatal visit appointment. All abnormal results that require follow up will be communicated to you by your care provider. We ask that, where possible, that you do not phone for test results.

Students at Manning

The Manning Hospital is a teaching hospital, providing important training opportunities for a wide range of health care professionals. Students are always under the direct supervision of an experienced practitioner. You will be asked permission before a student observes or participates in your care and you have the right to say no. Your wishes will be respected at all times and this will not affect your care.

Our future midwives, the midwifery students are available to share your pregnancy journey with you, and can provide a familiar face throughout your pregnancy, birth and postnatal experience. Speak to your midwife if you would like to be part of this special program.

Research participation

You may be invited to participate in research projects taking place at the Hospital. These projects are designed to increase our knowledge about pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, so that we may improve our services for your care and for women in the future. Participation in research is completely voluntary. The standard of care you receive will not be affected in any way if you choose not to take part.

Overseas Visitors or those who don’t have a Medicare card

The Manning Hospital is a public health care facility. All patients must have a Medicare card. Women not eligible for Medicare benefits will be asked to pay a fee at each visit; this may be reimbursed later by their own Health Insurance Fund.

Antenatal Admission​

Some women will require admission to hospital during their pregnancy for their health or the health of their unborn baby.
In the Maternity Unit, we aim to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Our team of midwives will care for you throughout your stay. Our team of staff doctors will visit you daily and develop a plan of care for you.

The circumstances that led you to the admission may cause you some stress; for example, you may be facing a long stay due to difficulties with your pregnancy. Please discuss these issues with your midwife. We have additional staff who may offer you support to meet your needs.

Located on the wall at each bedside you will find a patient care board which is a useful communication tool between you or your family and your care providers. Here you can write down questions, your midwife can write down what is happening for that day or perhaps you can write down reminders for questions to discuss with your doctor.

We encourage expectant mothers to have a rest period between 1pm and 3pm each day. You may like to communicate this to your friends and family.

The midwife will be available to offer education and discuss a range of topics with you during your stay. There are a range of educational resources available to support your learning. Talk to your midwife or use your patient care board as a reminder to staff.

General information for maternity inpatients

What to bring to hospital when having your baby

Please bring all you need for yourself and your baby for one day in 1-2 small overnight bags, as space is limited in the hospital.

For the mother

• Antenatal Record
• You are encouraged to wear your own clothes during labour and birth. A comfortable cotton nightshirt or long T-shirt or sarongs are suitable (you may need more than one if you wish to be covered while in the shower or bath)
• Extra sarong or long scarf to hold heat pack in place as a comfort aid during labour
• Comfortable underwear
• Sanitary adhesive pads
• Maternity bras or “crop top,” breast (nursing) pads (disposable or cloth, not plastic lined)
• Comfortable clothing, suitable when breastfeeding: T-shirts, shorts/trousers or leggings for day wear, pyjamas, nightshirts,
  dressing gown
• Non slip footwear
• Toiletries, tissues, etc
• Massage oil
• Your favourite food and drink to keep up your energy levels, preferably these should be nonperishable; special foods that require cooling or heating must be carried and stored following Safe Food Handling Guidelines
• MP3 or iPod, with selection of music, relaxation and/or affirmations for different stages of labour; some speakers available, but you may bring your own, labelled (all optional but may be helpful)
• Mobile phone
• Camera or smart phone (still photos only)
• Note pad/ book and pen
• Please leave all valuables at home – there is nowhere to secure them safely in the hospital

For the Support person

• Wear ‘closed’ shoes for WH&S safety in the Birthing Service
• Change of clothes/board shorts if assisting mother in shower or bath
• Jacket or warm clothing for cool air conditioning
• Snacks and drinks (following Safe Food Handling Guidelines)
• Toothbrush & paste

For baby

• If you are choosing to feed or supplement feeds with formula during your stay in hospital, please bring a tin of your choice of newborn infant formula, and also at least 2 bottles, teats, & a bottle brush for your use. We no longer provide bottles, teats or formula for well babies.
• One packet of cotton buds (for ‘cord’ care)
• Cloth nappies will be supplied during your hospital stay
• An approved baby restraint as required by law should be fitted to your car; it is strongly suggested that you do this when you are about 34-36 weeks pregnant. If you need help with this, check the Transport NSW website for fitting stations located near you.

We can provide cloth nappies, singlet's and baby hospital gowns for you during your stay in hospital. You can use these or provide your own clothes as described below.

• At least three singlet's
• At least three sets of clothing (every day clothes, not good ones!)
• At least three bunny rugs/baby wraps (suggest brushed cotton if cold weather, fine cotton or muslin type if warm weather)

Mother and Baby Care Boards

Near each bed you will notice a Mother and Baby Care Board. We use these boards in all ward areas across the hospital to communicate the daily and anticipated plan for care between the woman, the family and carer and healthcare team.

Ward staff will update the board each shift, and you or your family or carer can write comments and questions on it at any time. If you have any questions regarding your care board, please ask one of our staff members. For your safety, we want to work together to plan your care and know what is important to you.

PLEASE INFORM US WHEN YOU LEAVE THE WARD

We need to check if there is anything we should do for you before you go, and confirm what time you plan to return.

REACH: Recognise, Engage, Act, Call, Help

If you or a family member becomes concerned about your condition while in hospital:

• Have you spoken to your midwife or doctor?
• Have your concerns been answered?
• Are you still concerned?

If so, ask your midwife for a ‘Clinical Review’, or you can dial (02) 65929014 to call an emergency response.

A REACH poster will be displayed beside your bed with this information.

Clinical handover

At Manning Hospital we aim to provide excellent healthcare for every woman, every time. An important part of this commitment is staff performing a clinical handover at the bedside every shift.

At the handover, the midwife who has been caring for you provides information regarding your care and reason for your admission to the midwife who will be looking after you during the next shift.

The staff will involve you in this process, which will allow you to participate in the planning of your care and ensure that the information that is exchanged is accurate. You will also have an opportunity at this time to ask any questions regarding your care.

Hand Hygiene

To help prevent infection the following rules are for all visitors for the John Hunter Hospital:

• Gel hands on entering unit
• Gel hands on entering patient’s rooms
• Gel hands on exit from patient’s room
• Inform staff if you are unwell

Providing a safe environment for clients and staff

Creating a safe environment for patients, visitors to our hospital and our staff is our priority. Any behavior which compromises the safety of mothers and babies will not be tolerated. Any behavior which disrupts the ability of our staff to fulfil their duty of care will also not be tolerated.

Should any person display such behavior they may be asked to leave.

Security

The hospital has a lock down period between 8pm and 6am. During these hours, entrance and exit to Birthing and Maternity Unit is via the Emergency Department only.

Security cameras are located in most areas throughout the hospital.

Belongings and Valuables

To minimise the chance of misplacing your belongings it is helpful if your items are marked with an identifying label, especially valuables such as glasses and phone chargers.

We do our best to ensure all private items are returned to you if misplaced but we cannot take responsibility for lost items. Valuable items are best left at home for safekeeping. There is no secure environment on the wards to store valuable items.

Car Parking

Car parking is available at Manning Hospital at no cost. Street parking is also available around the hospital, please be aware of time restrictions in some of these areas.

Easy car parking is available at our Foster Community Clinic venue.

Visiting Hours

Manning Hospital has an open visiting policy. We acknowledge that new mothers need rest and so we encourage a rest period on the wards between 1pm and 3pm each day.

The majority of our beds are in two-bed rooms, and one four bed room, so when visiting we ask that you are mindful of this quiet period for your family member and for other women and babies on the ward.

We also request that visitors are up-to-date with the whooping cough vaccination when visiting new babies, and if feeling unwell with colds and flu-like illness, please avoid visiting new mothers and babies

Smoke Free Health Service

Manning Hospital are smoke-free health services. Smoking is not permitted in the hospital or on hospital grounds. The midwife caring for you will assist you with smoking cessation support if required.

Televisions

Televisions are available for your use at each ward bed for a small cost.  The television service includes all major television channels.

Other Services Available

Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
Chaplains and Pastoral Carers are available to all patients and visitors. Please ask one of our friendly staff to contact the service if required.  A Quiet room available for use for devotional or reflective purposes and is located near the main entrance and is open at all times.

Places to eat
Hospital Cafeteria located on level 2.

The Pink Ladies Kiosk is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and is located at the main entrance of Manning Hospital.