Sydney Adventist Hospital maternity guide

Sydney Adventist Hospital, known as the San, is a private, not-for-profit hospital in Wahroonga, run by Adventist HealthCare. Its maternity service, San Maternity, is on the top two levels of Clark Tower, and the hospital says it welcomes around 1,700 babies each year. You see a private obstetrician who works at the San for your pregnancy care. From 20 weeks, call the Birthing Unit on (02) 9480 4161, day or night, before you come in for the birth or if you have warning signs. For bookings, call (02) 9480 9903.

San Maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Private, not-for-profit hospital
• Run by: Adventist HealthCare
• In labour: Call the Birthing Unit on (02) 9480 4161 before you come in
• Pregnancy care options: Private obstetrician who works at the San
• Birthing Unit: Nine birthing suites, two with pools for water births
• Nursery: Special Care Nursery, an accredited high dependency neonatal unit
• Typical stay: 3 to 4 nights (vaginal birth), 5 nights (caesarean)

Where is San Maternity, and how do I contact it?

• Address: San Maternity, Clark Tower, Sydney Adventist Hospital, 185 Fox Valley Road, Wahroonga NSW 2076
• Where in the hospital: the maternity ward is on Level 10 and the Birthing Unit is on Level 11 of Clark Tower
• Birthing Unit: (02) 9480 4161, day or night
• Maternity bookings: (02) 9480 9903 or maternitybookings@sah.org.au
• Maternity enquiries: (02) 9480 4154
• Hospital switchboard: (02) 9480 9111
• In labour: phone the Birthing Unit before you leave. The midwives will tell you the best way to get to the Birthing Unit and where to park. After hours, come in through Emergency Care, or follow what the midwife tells you.
• Before 20 weeks: if you are worried, contact your obstetrician or GP straight away, or go to the San's Emergency Care Unit.

When should I call the San Birthing Unit?

From 20 weeks of pregnancy, the San asks you to call straight away, day or night, if your waters break or fluid keeps leaking, you have any bleeding or coloured discharge, you feel dizzy or have a severe headache, problems with your vision, nausea or vomiting, your baby moves less than usual, or you have regular contractions or signs of early labour.

Where do I park at the San for the birth?

Enter the hospital at the traffic lights on Fox Valley Road (Entry 1, White Road) and take a ticket at the boom gate. A quick pick-up and drop-off zone is next to the multi-deck car park (P1). Go to Level 2 of the car park, follow the signs to Clark Tower and take the lifts to Level 10 or Level 11. After hours, use an intercom near the main entry doors on Level 2 or Level 4 of the car park to get in. When you call the Birthing Unit, staff will tell you where to park.

How do I book in at the San to have my baby?

The San is a private hospital, so an obstetrician who works there leads your care. NSW Health suggests asking your GP for a referral early in your pregnancy, or contacting a private obstetrician directly.

1. Choose a San obstetrician. The San says the first step is to see one of its obstetricians. Look through the hospital's obstetrician profiles, and ask your GP for a referral.
2. Check your health fund. Confirm your obstetric cover with your health fund. If you do not have insurance, ask about the San's self-funded maternity packages.
3. See your obstetrician. After your first appointment, your obstetrician gives you a referral letter for the San.
4. Complete your admission online. Fill in the online admission forms to book your stay, and read the Pre-Admission Guide.
5. Book a tour and classes. The San suggests a facility tour and prenatal education, which can be online video, Zoom or face-to-face sessions.

What classes and tours does San Maternity offer?

• Choices in Childbirth. Labour and birth education, with free online modules and paid face-to-face classes.
• Calmbirth. Run by accredited educators at the San on Sundays.
• Caesarean section class. On Zoom, for parents expecting a caesarean birth.
• Breastfeeding and BabyCare classes. Breastfeeding classes with lactation consultants on Zoom or in person, and BabyCare sessions on Zoom covering newborn behaviour, settling and safe sleep.
• Tours. The San runs free in-person tours of the maternity unit and birthing suites, booked online with a ticket to manage group numbers. The Choices in Childbirth program also includes a virtual tour of the maternity unit.

To compare public and private care, read NSW Health's Pregnancy care options in NSW.

What is the San Birthing Unit like?

The Birthing Unit has nine birthing suites. Every suite has an ensuite with a shower and a bath, and two suites have pools designed for water births. The beds are electronic, so they can support you in different birthing positions, and you can use birth chairs and birth balls. San Maternity has been caring for babies for more than 100 years.

Does the San have a special care nursery?

Yes. The Special Care Nursery is an accredited high dependency neonatal unit with highly trained staff. It cares for babies who need extra attention, for example because they were born early, and parents are encouraged to help with their baby's care. You can call the nursery on (02) 9480 4162.

What is the San maternity ward like, and how long will I stay?

The maternity unit has forty private rooms. Each has its own ensuite and a double bed or day bed so your partner can stay overnight, and the rooms have views over local bushland. The average stay is 3 to 4 nights after a vaginal birth and 5 nights after a caesarean. On the day you go home, discharge is between 8.30am and 10am, so be ready to leave your room in that time.

What are the San maternity visiting hours?

Visiting hours end at 8pm. Please ask visitors not to come during the rest period, from 1pm to 3pm each day. You can have up to two support people with you in the maternity unit.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Lactation consultations: you can book an outpatient appointment with a San lactation consultant for up to 6 weeks after the birth, on (02) 9480 4071.
• Physiotherapy: the San's physiotherapists can be reached on (02) 9480 9350, and postnatal fitness videos are available online.
• Breastfeeding Helpline: 1800 686 268, 24 hours a day.
• Karitane Careline: 1300 227 464, and Tresillian Parents Help Line: 1300 272 736, for parenting support.
• PANDA Helpline: 1300 726 306, for emotional health in pregnancy and after birth.
• healthdirect: 24 hour health advice on 1800 022 222. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

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

Other maternity hospitals near Wahroonga

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

See all New South Wales birthing hospitals.

San Maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against Sydney Adventist Hospital (Adventist HealthCare) 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.