Online maternity tour – Mercy Hospital for Women
Learn more about coronavirus-specific information regarding restrictions and changes to maternity services.
We hope you enjoy this online tour of our facilities This tour should answer many of your questions. You can find more information at Having a baby at Mercy Hospital for Women.
Visitor information: visiting hours and COVID-19 visitor restrictions
Parking and access
You can find us at 163 Studley Road, Heidelberg 3084.
Our main entrance is via the forecourt of the Austin Hospital tower. Access to the forecourt is from Studley Road, near the Bell-Banksia link intersection. Drop-off/pick-up zones are available, parking restrictions apply. The public car park located beneath the hospital, can be accessed from either the forecourt or Studley Road or Burgundy Street, Heidelberg.
Pay stations
Parking pay stations are found at:
Level 1 – hospital foyer
Car park – level B1 and B3
Parking costs are listed at pay stations and car park entrance.
After hours access
Please use the intercom for after hours access to the main entrance.
When inside, report to Mercy Hospital for Women, Emergency Department reception.
What you will find on level 1
– Main Reception
– Birthing Services
– Emergency Department
– Day surgery / Operating Theatre
– Admission and Discharge desks
– Cashier
What you will find on level 2
– Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery
– Special Care Nursery
– Pharmacy
– Pastoral Care
– Multi Faith Chapel
– Breastfeeding Support
– Mercy at Home
- Outpatient Department
- Physiotherapy
- Austin Pathology
- Diabetes Educators
- Parent Education
- Dietitians
- Fetal Monitoring
- Social Work
- Medical Imaging
- Interpreters
- Perinatal Unit
- African Liaison
- Genetics Department
- Aboriginal Liaison
- Health Information Services
Outpatient clinics
Pregnancy appointments are in the Outpatient Clinic on level 3.
Your appointment may be:
– face-to-face
– over the phone
– a video call through Direct Health
We will let you know prior to each appointment.
If you are unable to come to your outpatient appointment:
Call 8458 4111
9.00am – 4.00pm
Monday to Friday
Parent Education
We are happy to announce the recommencement of face to face and online education
These resources provide information you can use throughout pregnancy, for birth preparation, recovery after birth, for feeding and early care of your baby.
Emergency Department
Available 24 hours a day
Located on level 1, next to Birthing Services
For any concerns during your pregnancy a midwife is available 24/7.
Common concerns include:
– different or less than usual baby movements. Click here for more information
– vaginal bleeding
– abdominal pain, tightness or contractions
– unsure if waters have broken
– feeling unwell, headache, severe swelling or itching
– abdominal trauma or fall
Locate on level 3, this unit provides:
- Blood pressure assessment
- Fetal heart rate monitoring
- Some ultrasound scanning of your baby to check their well being
Fetal monitoring is open:
- 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday
- Saturdays by appointment
Please bring your maternity record and check visitor restrictions on our website before coming in. Our Emergency Department can help you if you need screening or assessment on a Sunday or public holiday.
When your labour starts call Mercy Hospital for Women, Birthing Services on 8458 4058, available 24/7. Signs of labour are:
- Contractions: regular abdominal pains that come and go
- Waters break: the watery fluid that surrounds baby is passed via the vagina
Please call if you experience one or both of these signs.
All birth rooms are single with private toilet and shower. To keep active in labour we offer fit ball, peanut ball, bean bag, gym mat, chairs and stool.
Bring your own or hired TENS unit if you would like this for labour. You are also welcome to bring essential oils with your own electric burner.
Fetal Heart Monitor (CTG) and resuscitation equipment is in each room. Midwives will support you as you progress in labour. If required, we can offer pain relief options that may include gas, water injections, morphine and epidural.
You may choose to list your preferences for labour and birth. Discuss these with your midwife or doctor at a pregnancy health check.
Following birth we encourage skin-to-skin contact for as long as possible. Baby will require a feed within the first hour after birth. Early skin contact is ideal to keep baby warm and calm. You will enjoy watching your baby explore, learn and adapt to their new world.
We will support as you welcome and feed you baby. We will also weigh, measure, check and baby will be offered Hepatitis B and Vitamin K injections. Click here for more information.
Some babies may need to be born in the operating theatre. Your partner or support person will remain with you for a caesarean birth unless there is an emergency. A neonatologist or neonatal nurse may be present at the birth of your baby along with the many other staff required to keep mother and baby safe during a caesarean birth. If you and your baby are well, we will keep you together, skin to skin in the recovery room and provide support with breastfeeding. You will be closely monitored before going to the postnatal ward.
Your hospital stay for pregnancy and birth
Our team of doctors and midwives will be there to discuss your care and keep you informed. We welcome any questions and feedback you have, to make sure we are partners in your care.
Some mothers with special pregnancy needs may require them to stay in hospital. We offer a range of services to ensure your stay is as comfortable as possible. The goal is for you to feel at home and welcome to ask for whatever you need to feel cared for, well informed, and safe.
During your postnatal stay
During your stay our midwives will provide help and support as you learn how to care for your baby.
Our postnatal ward is on level 5 for public and private patients. All single and shared rooms have a bathroom with shower, toilet and hand basin. Each room has a baby bath and change mat. You may hire a bedside telephone and television. All meals are provided so please make us aware of dietary requirements and allergies.
When your baby may need additional care
At Mercy Hospital for Women, our combined Nurseries care for babies who are born unwell or too early (prematurely), as well as those babies born in regional Victoria who need intensive care.
We offer a range of support services throughout pregnancy and birth and after baby is born:
- social workers
- physiotherapists
- breastfeeding consultants
- mental health specialists
When you return home from hospital our Mercy@Home team will make contact with public patients and arrange a visit within 48 hours. If you are a private patient and would like a home visit, please speak with your midwife to discuss further. We will notify your Maternal and Child Health Nurse that you have given birth to your baby. Click here for further information.
What to bring to hospital
A list of what to pack for the hospital stay.
Helping you prepare for what you’ll need during your hospital stay and other information you’ll need on the day.
Contacts
Contacts at this hospital
Main Reception
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Phone numbers:
Main Reception
03 8458 4444
Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.
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Address:
Level 1
163 Studley Road
Heidelberg Victoria 3084
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About:
Main reception number with options to be transferred to a department, patient or staff member.
Other places to get help
Raising Children Network - Pregnancy and birth
- Website: raisingchildren.net.au/pregnancy/
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About:
Raising Children Network is the complete resource for Australian parents, beginning with pregnancy and birth.
This evidence based website provides information for your pregnancy presented as articles, videos and parenting in pictures, including Week by week, Dad’s guide to pregnancy, Health and wellbeing and Preparing for your baby.
Raising Children Network - Labour and birth
- Website: raisingchildren.net.au/pregnancy/labour-birth/vaginal-caesarean-birth/birth-overview
-
About:
Raising Children Network is the complete resource for Australian parents, beginning with pregnancy and birth.
Raising Children Network
- Website: raisingchildren.net.au
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About:
Raising Children Network is the complete resource for Australian parents, taking you from pregnancy to newborns to teenagers. We offer evidence-based content you can trust on hundreds of topics about raising children and looking after yourself as a parent.
At the Raising Children Network website, we believe that all children and families are individual and different. Our scientifically validated content is translated into everyday language to help parents and carers make decisions that work for them in their individual family circumstances.
Raising Children Network - Babies
- Website: raisingchildren.net.au/babies/
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About:
Raising Children Network is the complete resource for Australian parents with babies.
This evidence based website provides information for parents of newborns presented as articles, videos and parenting in pictures, including Development, Behaviour, Connecting and communicating, Breastfeeding and Sleep.
Raising Children Network - Safe sleeping 0-12 months
- Website: Safe sleeping - 0-12 months
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About:
When a baby dies unexpectedly and for no obvious reason, it’s called sudden unexpected death in infancy (SUDI). Learn more about the simple steps can cut SUDI risk, starting with putting babies to sleep on their backs.
Australian Breastfeeding Association
- Website: www.breastfeeding.asn.au
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About:
As Australia’s leading authority on breastfeeding, we support, educate and advocate for a breastfeeding inclusive society.