Women's and Children's Hospital maternity guide

The Women's and Children's Hospital (WCH) in North Adelaide is South Australia's specialist maternity hospital. It is a public hospital run by the Women's and Children's Health Network, and about 5,000 babies are born there each year. If you are in labour or have an urgent pregnancy problem, call the Women's Assessment Service on (08) 8161 7530. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Women's and Children's Hospital maternity at a glance

• Hospital type: Public, specialist maternity hospital
• Run by: Women's and Children's Health Network
• In labour: Call the Women's Assessment Service on (08) 8161 7530
• Pregnancy care options: Midwives clinic, doctors' clinic, MGP, GP Shared Care, Aboriginal Family Birthing Program, private obstetrician
• Antenatal clinic: Women's Outpatient Department, 1st Floor, Queen Victoria Building
• Delivery Suite: 16 single rooms, 3rd Floor, Queen Victoria Building
• Nursery: Level 6 Neonatal Intensive Care and Neonatal Special Care
• Typical stay: 4 to 24 hours (vaginal birth), 24 to 48 hours (caesarean)

Where is the Women's and Children's Hospital, and how do I contact maternity?

• Address: Women's and Children's Hospital, 72 King William Road, North Adelaide SA 5006
• Women's Assessment Service: (08) 8161 7530 or (08) 8161 7535, 24 hours, 7 days. No appointment needed.
• Women's Outpatient Department (antenatal appointments): (08) 8161 7592, Monday to Friday
• Postnatal Ward: (08) 8161 7958
• Hospital switchboard: (08) 8161 7000, 24 hours
• In labour: phone the Women's Assessment Service first if you can. It is on the ground floor, with access from Kermode Street, Sir Edwin Smith Avenue and Brougham Place. If you are in Midwifery Group Practice, call the switchboard and ask for your midwife to be paged.

Looking ahead, a new Women's and Children's Hospital is being built near the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and SA Health says construction is scheduled to finish in 2031. For now, you give birth at the current hospital in North Adelaide.

How do I book in to have my baby at the Women's and Children's Hospital?

Public care starts with a call to Pregnancy SA or a GP referral.

1. Call Pregnancy SA or see your GP. The Pregnancy SA Infoline, 1300 368 820 (weekdays, 9am to 4pm), directs you to the right clinic. Any GP can also refer you.
2. Think about your care type. If you want GP Shared Care, your GP must be accredited by the WCH and the referral must be made before 20 weeks.
3. Go to your first visit. It is usually at around 12 to 14 weeks, and most women see a midwife first. Ask about Midwifery Group Practice at this visit if you are interested.
4. Book your classes. The WCH runs free antenatal classes for Medicare-eligible women. Aim to book from 32 weeks, as classes fill early. You need your WCH hospital record number to book.

What pregnancy care options does the Women's and Children's Hospital offer?

• Midwives clinic. You see the same midwife for most visits, and a doctor when needed.
• Obstetrician antenatal care. Doctors and midwives care for you if you or your pregnancy need extra medical care.
• Midwifery Group Practice (MGP). One primary midwife, backed by a small team, cares for you in pregnancy, birth and the early weeks at home. Planned home birth is possible. Places are limited.
• GP Shared Care. Most visits are with your accredited GP, with hospital visits at about 36 and 40 weeks.
• Ngangkita Ngartu (Aboriginal Family Birthing Program). Culturally safe care with Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care workers, midwives and doctors, in a purpose-built unit.
• Private obstetrician. You see your obstetrician in their rooms, and they attend the birth at the WCH.

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

Where is the WCH antenatal clinic?

Public antenatal appointments are in the Women's Outpatient Department, on the 1st Floor of the Queen Victoria Building (Zone F). Call (08) 8161 7592 on weekdays about appointments, and allow 2 to 3 hours for each visit. If you are healthy, you may be able to see WCH staff at a community clinic instead, in Hillcrest, Thebarton, Enfield, Taperoo, Angle Park or Cowandilla. Call (08) 8161 7590 to book a community appointment.

What is the WCH Delivery Suite like?

The Delivery Suite is on the 3rd Floor of the Queen Victoria Building and is staffed 24 hours a day. It has 16 single rooms that are all equipped the same, so you do not need to change rooms if your situation changes. It is also a high dependency unit for women with complications. Your partner or support person is encouraged to stay with you through labour and birth, but there is little space for other family members.

Does the Women's and Children's Hospital have a NICU or special care nursery?

Yes. The Neonatal Service is on Level 3, Zone F of the Queen Victoria Building and runs 24 hours a day. Neonatal Intensive Care is an 18-bed Level 6 unit for babies who are very sick or premature. Neonatal Special Care has 49 beds for babies who need monitoring, feeding support or time to grow. Up to 3 people can be at the cot side at once. When babies are ready, the unit encourages a transfer to a hospital closer to home.

How long will I stay after giving birth at the WCH?

If you are well and had a low-risk vaginal birth, you usually go home 4 to 24 hours after the birth. You must stay at least four hours. After a caesarean, most women go home 24 to 48 hours after the birth. The Postnatal Unit is on the 4th Floor and has single and shared rooms. Single rooms go first to women with the greatest medical need. Partners and family cannot usually stay overnight.

What are the WCH maternity visiting hours?

On the Postnatal Unit, partners and your other children can visit from 8.30am to 9pm. Other visitors can come from 1pm to 8pm, but the hospital keeps 1pm to 2pm as a rest period when visitors are not let in. No more than three visitors can be at the bedside at one time. Visiting can change with patient needs, so call the ward on (08) 8161 7958 before you visit.

What support is there after I take my baby home?

• Postnatal Midwifery Home Visiting: if you live within the WCH area, a midwife visits you at home, usually one to three times. If you live further away, you are referred to another home care service.
• Neonatal Outreach: home visits for babies who leave the Neonatal Service, if you live in the WCH area.
• Women's Assessment Service: for urgent problems up to six weeks after the birth, such as heavy bleeding or mastitis.
• Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS): free checks for your baby. Book on 1300 733 606 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4.30pm). The Parent Helpline is 1300 364 100, 7.15am to 9.15pm.
• GP checks: see your GP when your baby is 2 weeks and 6 weeks old.
• healthdirect: 1800 022 222, 24 hours, 7 days

From the first night at home, follow the Red Nose safe sleep recommendations.

Other maternity hospitals near North Adelaide

• Calvary North Adelaide Hospital Private
• Ashford Hospital Private
• Flinders Medical Centre Public
• Lyell McEwin Hospital Public

See all South Australia birthing hospitals.

Women's and Children's Hospital maternity FAQs

Hospital details checked against the Women's and Children's Hospital and SA Health 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.