Maternity and birthing options

In Queensland, you can give birth at:

• a public hospital
• a private hospital and private care
• birth centres (public)
• a public or private hospital with private midwifery care
• home birth.

Read more about birthing options.

Choosing a hospital - public or private?

Public hospitals

Maternity care options at a public hospital

• Routine care—your care is provided in the hospital and you may be seen by doctors or midwives.
• Midwife care—your care is provided by a midwife or group of midwives in some public hospitals.
• GP shared care—your care is shared between your GP and the local hospital doctors and midwives. 
• Midwifery Group Practice—your care is provided by a midwife during your pregnancy, when have your baby and for up to six weeks after the baby is born. Available to eligible women (e.g. geographically isolated women, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, or women under 18 years). 
• Obstetric care—for high risk pregnancies. Women who have existing medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, high blood pressure, heart disease or develop problems during their pregnancy are provided with a combination of visits from doctors and midwives.
• Private midwifery care—a private midwife or midwife in a team. (You will be responsible for the cost of private midwifery care. Medicare rebates are available.)

Read more about maternity care options.

Benefits of a public hospital

• Free, high-quality care
• Care-givers who may be present at the birth and building a positive relationship with them
• Specialist doctors and services, if required
• Specialist baby care unit, if required.

Private hospitals

If you have health insurance (or can afford to pay the up-front costs), you can choose a private hospital.

Maternity care options at a private hospital

• Private obstetric care—your care is provided by an obstetrician who specialises in caring for women with complicated pregnancies or special circumstances. If you choose to be cared for by a private obstetrician in a private hospital, you will need a referral from a GP.
• Private midwife care—your care is provided by a midwife, or group of midwives, from a private group practice or hospital. You can choose to have your baby in hospital or at home.

Benefits of a private hospital

• You can choose the hospital
• You can choose your obstetrician or midwife
• A private room (your partner may also be able to stay).