Royal North Shore Hospital maternity guide

Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH) is a public hospital in St Leonards, run by Northern Sydney Local Health District. Northern Sydney Local Health District describes its maternity unit as a Level 6 maternity service with Level 5 neonatal services, for women choosing public care who live in the Lower North Shore and Ryde council areas. If you are in labour, the Birth Unit takes calls 24 hours a day on (02) 9463 2100. For antenatal clinic appointments, call Women's Health Ambulatory Care on (02) 9463 2377, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm.

Royal North Shore Hospital maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Public, Level 6 maternity service
• Run by: Northern Sydney Local Health District
• In labour: Birth Unit, (02) 9463 2100, 24 hours
• Pregnancy care options: MGP, MAPS, GP shared care, hospital clinics, private obstetrician
• Antenatal clinic: Level 3, Clinical Services Building
• Birth Unit: Level 4, Clinical Services Building, private rooms with ensuites
• Nursery: Newborn Care Centre with neonatal intensive care
• Typical stay: 1 to 2 nights (vaginal birth), 2 to 3 nights (caesarean)

Where is the Royal North Shore Hospital maternity unit, and how do I contact it?

• Address: Royal North Shore Hospital, 1 Reserve Road, St Leonards NSW 2065. Maternity services are in the Clinical Services Building.
• Birth Unit: (02) 9463 2100, 24 hours, Level 4
• Antenatal clinic (Women's Health Ambulatory Care): (02) 9463 2377, Monday to Friday, 8am to 4.30pm
• Maternity bookings: (02) 9463 2378 (you may need to leave a message)
• Hospital switchboard: (02) 9926 7111
• Getting there: the P1 car park is reached from Westbourne Street only. St Leonards Station is about a 5 minute walk away.

How do I book in at Royal North Shore Hospital maternity?

Public care at RNSH starts with a GP referral, so see your GP early.

1. See your GP. Your GP sends an eReferral to the hospital with your pregnancy dates. Tell your GP if you would like GP shared care.
2. Check your area. RNSH public maternity care is for people who live in the Lower North Shore and Ryde council areas. In border postcodes such as Roseville (2069), your council area decides.
3. Call to book in. Phone the RNSH maternity bookings line on (02) 9463 2378 a few weeks before you are 14 weeks pregnant. You may need to leave a message, and calls back from the hospital come from a private number. Your booking-in visit is at around 13 to 14 weeks.
4. Bring your results. At your first visit, bring your referral, all your pregnancy blood tests (including NIPT if you had it) and all your ultrasound reports.
5. Book a class. The Childbirth and Early Parenting Education unit runs face-to-face and online classes, including hypnobirthing, breastfeeding and baby CPR. Some are in Korean and Mandarin.

What pregnancy care options does Royal North Shore Hospital offer?

• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). A named midwife cares for you through pregnancy, birth and after the birth.
• Maternity Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS). A named MAPS midwife gives your pregnancy care.
• GP shared care. An affiliated GP shares your pregnancy care with the hospital, and you give birth at RNSH.
• Midwifery antenatal clinics. Midwife-led clinics at the hospital and at outreach sites.
• Medical antenatal clinics. Led by obstetric staff specialists, for pregnancies with higher risks.
• Specialist care. Specialist obstetric clinics and the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, by referral, for health conditions or pregnancy complications.
• Private obstetrician. To use private health insurance, you see a private obstetrician. Some have admitting rights at RNSH.

Which option suits you depends on your health and your pregnancy. NSW Health explains each option on its Pregnancy care options in NSW page.

Where is the Royal North Shore antenatal clinic?

The hospital antenatal clinic, Women's Health Ambulatory Care, is on Level 3 of the Clinical Services Building. The Early Pregnancy Assessment Service ((02) 9463 2350, weekdays 8am to 2pm, by GP referral) and the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit are on the same level. Some midwife clinics are held at outreach sites:

• Chatswood Child Family Health Centre: 57 Hercules Street, Chatswood, with free parking on site.
• Ryde Hospital: Denistone Road, Eastwood, in the outpatients clinic on Level 1, above the Emergency Department.

Expect about 10 antenatal visits in a first pregnancy, and about eight in later pregnancies.

What is the Royal North Shore Birth Unit like?

The Birth Unit is on Level 4 of the Clinical Services Building. In labour you have your own room with an ensuite. Some rooms have a bath you can use in labour or for the birth, so ask your Birth Unit midwife. Rooms have birth balls, bean bags, mats and light dimmers, and you can bring things from home, such as a pillow or photos. If you are more than 20 weeks pregnant, NSLHD says you should be reviewed in the Birth Unit rather than the Early Pregnancy Assessment Service.

See inside: watch the Royal North Shore Maternity virtual tour of the birth rooms (video by Northern Sydney Local Health District).

Does Royal North Shore Hospital have a NICU?

Yes. Babies who need extra care are looked after in the Newborn Care Centre, which provides neonatal intensive care. The NSW Government says the Clinical Services Building project delivered 32 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit cots. Social workers support families with a baby in the Newborn Care Centre.

How long will I stay on the Royal North Shore maternity ward?

Most women stay 1 to 2 nights after a vaginal birth and 2 to 3 nights after a caesarean. If you and your baby are well, you may be able to go home from the Birth Unit a few hours after the birth. Single rooms are not guaranteed and are given out based on clinical need. If you have a single room with a fold-out couch, your partner can stay overnight. Maternity visiting hours are 10am to 1pm and 3pm to 8pm, and partners are welcome at any time.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Midwifery in the Home: midwives support you for up to 14 days after the birth, with home visits, telehealth or both.
• Child and Family Health: you are referred to your local Child and Family Health service when you leave hospital. After 14 days, your care moves to them and your GP.
• Feeding help: midwives and lactation consultants support you in hospital.
• Mental health: for urgent help, call the Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511, 24 hours a day.
• Parenting helplines: Karitane Careline 1300 227 464 and Tresillian Parents Help Line 1300 272 736. For health advice at any hour, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

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

Other maternity hospitals near St Leonards

• North Shore Private Hospital Private
• Mater Hospital North Sydney Private
• Sydney Adventist Hospital Private
• Northern Beaches Hospital Public
• Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Public
• Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Public

See all New South Wales birthing hospitals.

Royal North Shore Hospital maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against Northern Sydney Local Health District 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.