The Royal Women's Hospital provides care and support for pregnant women with ongoing drug and alcohol issues.
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Accessing the service
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Our Women's Alcohol & Drug Service is a voluntary service for pregnant women with ongoing drug and alcohol issues. We also accept referrals for women on court orders and drug diversion programs.
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You can contact the service directly or be referred by your health care worker or community service provider.
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The Women's ADS operates a duty system for all initial enquiries, referrals and pre-pregnancy information. The duty worker will discuss your requirements with you and provide information regarding the options available for your pregnancy care. You may be given an assessment appointment at Women's ADS to further discuss your needs.
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You may be referred to another pregnancy care clinic at the women's hospital or a maternity hospital closer to your home, depending on your needs.
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Pregnancy care and counselling
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When you attend the Women's ADS for ongoing pregnancy care, you are automatically registered as a patient of the Royal Women's Hospital. Inpatient care for yourself and your baby will take place within the Women's.
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We provide an inpatient methadone stabilisation program for women attending either the Women's or another pregnancy service. Inpatient Methadone Stablisation Program (pdf 53kb) is a brochure outlining what is available in this program and group session topics. It is available to download and print.
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If you are attending the Women's ADS, your care will be provided by the same midwife and counsellor for the whole pregnancy. The pathway of care (.pdf) is a guide to your ongoing pregnancy care and clinic visits. This pathway may vary according to your individual needs.
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Drug and alcohol counselling and support is provided during your pregnancy. Counselling provides you with the opportunity to:
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- explore personal issues and make positive changes
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- learn new ways to manage stress
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- develop strategies to reduce or stop using
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- obtain a referral to support services
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- access information about harm minimisation in order to reduce the harm to yourself and your pregnancy
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- obtain advice about parenting skills.
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Pregnancy care is provided by a specialist obstetrician and Women's ADS midwives. Counselling and social support is provided by Women's ADS counsellors. A specialist paediatrician provides a clinic for newborn babies.
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Clinics
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The Women's ADS has outpatients clinics for your pregnancy care. They include antenatal, postnatal and paediatric. All clinics are conducted at the Royal Women's Hospital. Appointments will be made for your attendance.
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Depending on your individual needs, services available through the clinic include nutrition and dietetics, interpreters, psychiatric referral, physiotherapy, child birth education, pharmaceutical advice and housing service.
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After your baby is born
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During your pregnancy, we will assist you to access appropriate services to support you following the birth of your baby. You will be offered an appointment for a 6 week check-up after you have had your baby. You may also attend Choices Clinic for information on contraception and family planning services. You may choose to attend your GP for this check-up and advice.
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Routine follow-up for your baby includes an appointment at 6 weeks and 3 months of age. This may vary according to your baby's individual requirements. You may be referred to a paediatrician closer to your home for these appointments.
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