Flinders Medical Centre maternity guide

Flinders Medical Centre is a public teaching hospital in Bedford Park, run by the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN). Its Neonatal Unit is one of only two neonatal intensive care units in South Australia. In labour, if your waters break or if you are worried, call the hospital switchboard on (08) 8204 5511 at any time and ask for the Birthing and Assessment Suite before you come in. For antenatal clinic appointments, call the Women's Health Clinic on (08) 8204 5197, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Flinders Medical Centre maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Public teaching hospital
• Run by: Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
• In labour: Call (08) 8204 5511 and ask for the Birthing and Assessment Suite
• Pregnancy care options: Doctor or midwife clinics, SMGP, GP shared care, Aboriginal Health Unit
• Antenatal clinic: Women's Health Clinic, Level 1, or Noarlunga Health Service
• Birth suite: Birthing and Assessment Suite, Level 3
• Nursery: Neonatal Unit with intensive care and special care, 50 cots
• Typical stay: About 24 hours, or about 48 hours after a caesarean

Where is Flinders Medical Centre maternity, and how do I contact it?

• Address: Flinders Medical Centre, Flinders Drive, Bedford Park SA 5042
• Birthing and Assessment Suite: call the switchboard on (08) 8204 5511 (24 hours) and ask for the suite. It is on Level 3.
• Women's Health Clinic (antenatal clinic): (08) 8204 5197, Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm, Level 1. The hospital's pregnancy booklet suggests phoning between 10am and 4pm.
• Southern Midwifery Group Practice: (08) 8204 3130
• Postnatal Ward (4C): (08) 8204 4216
• Neonatal Unit: (08) 8204 5477, Level 3
• Getting there: during building works, the Northern Entrance is the main entrance, with a pick up and drop off zone. Allow extra travel time.
• In labour: phone first, and the midwife will tell you whether and where to come in. The hospital's pregnancy booklet (reviewed March 2025) asks women being admitted to the Birthing and Assessment Suite or the Southern Midwifery Group Practice to come in through the Emergency Department.

How do I book in to have my baby at Flinders Medical Centre?

SA Health suggests you have your first pregnancy appointment by 10 weeks, with your GP or a private midwife or obstetrician.

1. See your GP early. Your GP can refer you to the Women's Health Clinic at Flinders Medical Centre.
2. Or call the Pregnancy SA Infoline. Call 1300 368 820, weekdays 9am to 4pm (not public holidays). It links you to your closest public maternity service to make your first appointment.
3. Go to your booking appointment. Staff talk with you about which model of care suits you. Take your orange South Australian Pregnancy Record to every visit.
4. Book your classes early. Childbirth and breastfeeding classes fill up, so call the Women's Health Clinic, ideally before 20 weeks.

What pregnancy care options does Flinders Medical Centre offer?

• Doctor-led obstetric care. Usually for women with a medical or pregnancy history that needs more complex care.
• Midwives clinics. For low risk pregnancies, including women who want every pain relief option or have had a caesarean.
• Southern Midwifery Group Practice (SMGP). Midwife care for women with no medical or complicating pregnancy history who hope to use little or no pain relief. You usually go home 4 to 24 hours after the birth.
• GP shared care. Most visits are with an accredited GP, with visits at Flinders Medical Centre late in pregnancy.
• Karpa Ngawattendi (Aboriginal Health Unit). A free service for Aboriginal women in southern Adelaide who plan to give birth here. Call (08) 8204 6359.

SA Health describes each public and private option on its Choices for pregnancy care page.

Where is the Flinders Medical Centre antenatal clinic?

Antenatal appointments take place in the Women's Health Clinic on Level 1 (ground floor) of Flinders Medical Centre, or in the Maternity Care clinic in outpatients at Noarlunga Health Service. For Noarlunga, call the Maternity Care Clinics on (08) 8384 9454.

For problems in pregnancy or the 6 weeks after birth, such as bleeding, pain, fewer baby movements or leaking waters, the Women's Assessment Service on Level 4 is open 7am to 8pm, 7 days. Call the switchboard and ask for the Birthing and Assessment service, and a midwife will tell you where to go. If you are under 14 weeks and need urgent care out of hours, go to the Emergency Department.

What is the Birthing and Assessment Suite at Flinders like?

The Birthing and Assessment Suite is on Level 3. A midwife supports you through labour and talks with you about your birth preferences. Up to two support people can be in the room at once, and others can swap in from the waiting room. Pain relief includes moving, hot packs, a shower or bath, nitrous oxide gas, TENS, a fentanyl injection and an epidural. To use the bath, you sign a consent form at the antenatal clinic beforehand. If you are with SMGP, call your own midwife when labour starts.

Does Flinders Medical Centre have a NICU or special care nursery?

Yes. The Neonatal Unit on Level 3 is one of only two neonatal intensive care units in South Australia. It has 50 cots: 16 intensive care beds and a 34 bed special care nursery. Babies born as young as 23 weeks are cared for in intensive care. There are family rooms and space for parents to stay overnight. Parents and brothers and sisters can visit at any time, two at the cot at once, and other visitors from 4pm to 8pm. A neonatal outreach team visits families within 25 kilometres after discharge.

How long will I stay in hospital after giving birth at Flinders?

Most women stay about 24 hours after the birth, and at least 4 hours if you want to go home sooner. After a caesarean, expect about 48 hours. You stay on postnatal ward 4C or 4SMG, in a single or shared room, with your baby in your room. If you have a single room, your partner may be able to stay overnight on a fold-out chair bed, but not always. Discharge is usually at 10am.

What are the Flinders Medical Centre maternity visiting hours?

The hospital's maternity booklets give visiting hours of 3pm to 8pm (the newer booklet, reviewed March 2025, calls these recommended hours). Your partner can be with you outside these hours, and the postnatal booklet says your other children are welcome at any time too. SA Health's visiting page for the hospital sets a limit of 2 support people or visitors on the birthing and postnatal wards. Anyone who is unwell should stay away. To check, call the Postnatal Ward on (08) 8204 4216.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Maternity Outreach: in the hospital's catchment, a midwife phones 1 to 2 days after you go home and visits if needed. Call (08) 8204 5189.
• Postnatal day service: free help with feeding or settling for Medicare-eligible women. Book through the Postnatal Ward on (08) 8204 4216.
• Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS): appointments on 1300 733 606, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.
• Parent Helpline: 1300 364 100, 7.15am to 9.15pm, for parents of children from birth to five years. After hours, calls go to healthdirect.
• healthdirect: 1800 022 222, 24 hours, 7 days.

For sleep, follow the Red Nose safe sleep recommendations from your first night at home.

Other maternity hospitals in Adelaide

• Ashford Hospital Private
• Women's and Children's Hospital Public
• Calvary North Adelaide Hospital Private
• Lyell McEwin Hospital Public

See all South Australia birthing hospitals.

Flinders Medical Centre maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against SA Health and the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network on 21 October 2026. Services and contact details can change, so confirm with the hospital before you go. This page is general information and is not medical advice.