Inpatient Care
At Armadale Hospital, we birth 2,400 babies a year and provide ongoing care and support for low-to-medium risk obstetric patients.
Our maternity unit has six birth suites including one with a birthing pool, plus 23 beds and bassinets for mothers and babies, and a six-bed antenatal assessment unit for women with pregnancy-related concerns.
Location
We are on the first floor of the hospital, so enter through the main entrance, take the lift to the first floor and look for the Maud Bellas Maternity Unit.
If you arrive between 9pm and 5pm, enter via the Emergency Department.
Labour pains
Before coming to hospital, phone the midwife on 9391 2947.
They will do a complete phone assessment and provide personalised advice.
On arrival at hospital, the following will happen:
- If you are in early labour, you will be discharged home with advice on when to return.
- If you are in labour and more than 35 weeks pregnant, you will be admitted and transferred into one of our birthing suites.
- If you are in labour before 35 weeks, you may be transferred to a specialist hospital.
Length of stay
Your length of stay in hospital depends on your individual clinical needs and recovery following birth.
- Women who have a vaginal birth may be discharged as early as six hours after birth, with most women returning home within 24 hours, provided both mother and baby are well. A Visiting Midwife Service can visit mother and baby in the home daily for up to seven days.
- Women who have a caesarean birth are typically discharged 48 to 72 hours after the birth of their baby, depending on their recovery and clinical assessment.
Visiting hours are 8am to 8pm for immediate family, and 3pm to 8pm for other visitors, with only two visitors at any one time.Visiting hours
Pack lightly as storage space is limited. Only bring essential items and leave valuables at home.
During Labour
Please consider bringing the following items for your comfort during labour and immediately after birth:
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Comfortable clothing such as pyjamas, a loose T-shirt, underwear, socks and a tracksuit or comfortable outfit for after labour
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Massage oil or lotion
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Water bottle
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Toiletries including soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, and hair ties
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Light snacks and energy drinks for labour
- Lip balm
- Camera (optional)
- Current medications
- Medcare card
- Private health insurance card (if applicable)
Postnatal Stay
For your stay after birth, please pack:
- Loose, comfortable daytime clothing
- Easy-access tops and breastfeeding bras if planning to breastfeed
- Pyjamas, dressing gown, and slippers
- One box of breast pads
- Two packets of maternity sanitary pads
- Toiletries (hair ties, soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste and hairbrush)
- Mobile phone and charger
For Baby
Please bring the following items for your baby:
- Newborn nappies
- Baby wipes
- Baby soap or gentle cleanser
- Baby clothing in size 0000 (newborn) or newborn size
- A wrap and blanket for discharge home
- Sterilised baby bottles and newborn formula if you are planning to formula feed
Reminder
Where possible, label all items with your name. If you have any questions about what to bring, please discuss them with your maternity care team prior to admission.
Labour pains?
If you think you are in labour, phone the hospital on 9391 2947. Speak with a midwife BEFORE coming to hospital. Over the phone, the midwife will undertake a complete assessment and provide personalised advice. If you are asked to attend the hospital's Antenatal Assessment Unit, go to the Maud Bellas Unit on the first floor and report to the ward clerk who will check you in. You will be asked to go to the Triage desk in the Antenatal Assessment Unit where the midwife will conduct an initial assessment and discuss a plan of care with you. Next step If you are only in early labour, you may be discharged home with advice of when to return. If you are in active labour from 35 weeks onwards, you will be admitted and transferred to one of our birthing suites. If you are in labour before 35 weeks, you may be transferred to another specialist hospital (organised by the midwife). When we are delivering too many babies If you phone us at a peak time, we may complete a phone or in-person assessment in hospital and then organise the transfer to another maternity unit in metropolitan Perth.
The Antenatal Assessment Unit has six beds for women experiencing pregnancy-related concerns and may require fetal heart rate monitoring, maternity assessment or induction of labour.
Before Attending
First, phone 9391 2947 and speak with the midwife who will complete a comprehensive assessment and provide individualised advice and recommendations. Following this assessment, you will be advised whether attendance at the AAU is required.
Arriving at the hospital
If you are ask to attend the Antenatal Assessment Unit:
- Report to the Ward Clerk on the First Floor, Maud Bellas Ward upon arrival at the hospital.
- Once your attendance has been registered, you will be directed to the AAU Triage Desk.
- A midwife will confirm your arrival, undertake any necessary assessment, and allocate the appropriate triage category based on your presenting concern.
Triage Process
Women presenting to the Antenatal Assessment Unit are prioritised according to clinical need. Triage allocation is based on the nature and urgency of the presenting concern to ensure timely and appropriate care.
Visitors and Support Persons
To support a safe and comfortable environment for all women receiving care, one support person only may accompany a woman in the Antenatal Assessment Unit. Visitors are not permitted to stay overnight in the Antenatal Assessment Unit.
For urgent concerns, please contact the Antenatal Assessment Unit on 9391 2947 for assessment and advice before attending.
Planned Caesarean birth
If you require a caesarean birth, your procedure will be performed in one of our operating theatres.
Present to hospital's Same Day Unit at your designated admission time.
You will be checked in by the ward clerks before being directed to the Maternity Unit.
The midwifery team will complete the necessary pre-operative assessments, checks, and preparations, including reviewing your birth plan and discussing any preferences you may have for your birth experience, where clinically appropriate.
Prior to your procedure, you will:
- Meet with your allocated midwife
- Be reviewed by an anaesthetist to discuss your anaesthetic care and address any questions or concerns
- Complete all required pre-operative assessments and preparations in readiness for theatre.
Fasting: Ensure you have followed the fasting instructions provided to you, as failure to comply may result in delays to your procedure.
Support Person
One support person may accompany you into the operating theatre for your caesarean birth, unless clinical circumstances require otherwise.
Our team is committed to providing safe, compassionate, and family-centred care throughout your birth journey.
Birthing Suite
When you are admitted to the Birthing Suite, a member of the midwifery team will welcome you. They will review your birth plan to ensure your preferences, expectations, and individual care needs are discussed and supported wherever clinically appropriate. Support person To provide a safe and supportive birthing environment, a maximum of two support persons may be present in the Birthing Suite at any one time. Children are not permitted. Water birth Subject to availability, one of our birthing suites is equipped with a birthing pool that can be used for water immersion during labour and, where appropriate, for birth. Women must meet specific clinical eligibility criteria. The midwifery team will discuss your suitability for water immersion and provide further information during your admission. More information Please ask our staff any questions. They are committed to providing safe, individualised and family-centred care throughout your labour and birth experience.
Presence of parents
If your baby requires admission to the Special Care Nursery, its care will be provided by the Paediatric Team, in collaboration with the midwifery and nursing teams, and the baby’s parents.
We recognise the importance of early bonding and family involvement in your baby's care.
Our staff actively encourage and support parents to spend as much time as possible with their baby in the Special Care Nursery.
Feeding support
The midwifery team will support your feeding goals during your baby's stay, including:
- Breastfeeding support
- Helping mothers express breast milk if mother and baby are temporarily separated.
- Offering guidance on maintaining milk supply.
- Supporting parents with feeding plans tailored to their baby's individual needs.
Maternal Discharge and Readmission
Depending on your baby's clinical condition and expected length of stay, you may be discharged home from the Maternity Unit while your baby remains in the Special Care Nursery.
Where appropriate, arrangements can be made for mothers to be readmitted to the Maternity Unit when their baby is preparing for discharge. This provides an opportunity for parents to spend time with their baby, establish feeding routines, and receive additional education and support in caring for their newborn before returning home.
Our team is committed to providing compassionate, family-centred care and supporting you throughout your baby's journey in the Special Care Nursery.
Note: Some women will be discharged on the same day their baby is born.
Visiting Hours
Immediate family members: 8am to 8pm.
Other visitors: 3pm to 8pm.
Two visitors at any one time.
Arriving at the Maternity Ward
Visitors need to press the intercom at the entrance and name the patient you are visiting.
If visitors are already present, you may be asked to wait until they have left.
Visitors may also be asked to leave or delay their visit at certain times due to:
- the patient's condition or clinical care requirements
- medical treatments or procedures being undertaken
- the patient's preference for privacy and rest.
While you wait
To maintain a comfortable environment for all patients and families, a maximum of two visitors at a time is permitted at each bedside.
Additional visitors are requested to wait downstairs in the café area.
This helps us provide a safe, supportive, and family-centred environment for mothers, babies, and their families.
Overnight stays for partners
During your admission to the Postnatal Unit, partners and support persons are generally unable to stay overnight.
Exceptions may be considered in specific circumstances, including where there is an identified compassionate need. Approval for an overnight stay is at the discretion of the Midwifery Unit Manager and will be assessed on an individual basis.
Please discuss your circumstances with your midwife during your admission.
We appreciate your understanding as these arrangements help ensure a safe, comfortable, and restful environment for all mothers, babies, and families receiving care.
This service is available to local women who are clinically well and feel confident returning home as early as six hours after giving birth.
Following discharge, an experienced midwife will visit you and your baby at home to provide ongoing postnatal care and support.
- Home visits are generally scheduled on day 1, 2 and 3 after birth, with additional visits on day 5 and up to day 7, depending on individual clinical needs.
During these visits, the midwife will assess the health and wellbeing of both mother and baby, provide feeding support, answer questions, and offer guidance as you transition to caring for your newborn at home.
To ensure the safety of both families and staff, a pre-visit safety assessment will be completed on the day of discharge before home visiting services commence.
Our goal is to provide a seamless transition from hospital to home, ensuring you receive continued support and professional care during the early postnatal period.
Eligibility: Must live within the Armadale Kalamunda Group catchment area and designated postcode boundaries.
Phone: 9391 2169.