The Maternity Hospital in the Home program, launched in December last year, provides midwifery care to mothers in the comfort of their own home.

The program provides a safe alternative to hospital based care for medically stable women who wish to go home between six and 24 hours of their baby being born.

One such beneficiary was Laxmi Thapa, who not more than six hours after delivering her daughter Liana at Northern Hospital, was back at her home in Lalor as part of the Maternity Hospital in the Home program.

Says Laxmi, “I was feeling good after my delivery and I was keen to go home instead of staying at the hospital.”

“I am more comfortable at home, and my midwife was very approachable and did everything for me,” she adds.

Natalie Mckell, Clinical Coordinator Domiciliary and Lactation, says, “Families are providing positive feedback about the program as it allows them to be at home, surrounded by family and friends, while still having midwifery care.”

Laxmi says she would highly recommend the program to others. “I have my family with me at home, in my case my husband and my in-laws, to help me look after Liana,” says Laxmi.

Debra Bourne, Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer, says, “The Maternity Hospital in the Home program is about providing safe and supported options for women after they have given birth.  Each woman and their family have individual needs and, for some, going home back to an environment that they are comfortable is extremely important. Maternity in the Home provides that option, by providing home visits by experienced and highly skilled midwives.”