Postnatal Unit

The WCH Postnatal Unit has single and shared rooms for women and their babies. In allocating single rooms, priority is given to people with the highest medical need. The unit is staffed by midwives who will support you with feeding and caring for your new baby and aid your recovery after birth.

The postnatal midwives will make sure that you and your baby are healthy and meet all the discharge criteria before you go home. When you go home from hospital we have a midwifery home visiting support service (Postnatal Midwifery Home Visiting Service) for mothers and babies living within a set boundary from the WCH. If you live outside of the boundary a referral will be made to the Metropolitan Referral Unit for ongoing care and education at home. An experienced midwife will visit after the birth of your baby, after which the Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS) is available.

We would like you to feel at home in the Postnatal Unit. When you arrive, the midwife caring for you will show you the kitchen and patient lounge. Kitchen facilities are available for use by patients only.

All beds have a telephone (charges apply) and televisions are available for hire.

Unfortunately, the Postnatal Unit does not routinely provide overnight accommodation for partners or family members.

We encourage you to wear comfortable clothing. A list of what to bring to hospital is detailed on our Coming to Hospital – for Women page.

Location

4th Floor – Queen Victoria Building

Hours

We provide a 24 hour service.

Visiting Hours

Our visiting hours are between 1.00pm – 8.00pm. Please consider the new mothers, their babies and the staff who are giving the best possible care to all, in the limited time.

Partners and siblings of the new baby may visit between 8.30am – 9.00pm. Please ensure siblings are under adult supervision at all times.

For more information, please view the Having Your Baby at the WCH section of this site.

Breastfeeding education and information is provided during your stay in the Postnatal Unit and continues at home.

Women who have a vaginal birth, are low risk and well, are usually discharged between 4 to 24 hours after the birth, and receive ongoing postnatal support in the home from our Midwifery Home Visiting midwives. Women who have had a caesarean birth usually discharge home between 24 to 48 hours after the birth. Women who have had a caesarean birth follow an enhanced recovery pathway to ensure they are offered the best opportunity for recovery. Follow-up care after discharge is provided by the midwifery home visiting team.

Midwifery Unit Manager

Julie Alderson

Phone

(08) 8161 7958

Fax

(08) 8161 5957

Email

julie.alderson@sa.gov.au

Mailing Address

Post Natal Ward
Women's and Children's Hospital
72 King William Road
North Adelaide
South Australia 5006

The WCH has an ongoing commitment to research and evidence-based practice. Many research activities are conducted on the ward with support from Postnatal staff.