Labour and birth in Western Sydney

About labour and birthing your baby

The birth of your baby is an important and exciting life event. Every birth experience is unique, with women and their families having individual needs and expectations.

Whether you have a vaginal or Caesarean birth, staying informed helps you make the best decisions for yourself and your baby. We understand that you want to be well prepared for this life-changing experience and that you need to have people around you to provide positive support.

In this section we have provided helpful information and resources to help you prepare for labour and birth and what to expect after your baby is born.

For emergencies and urgent matters

For any urgent pregnancy-related concerns, please contact your hospital's Birth Unit, which is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

If you are experiencing heavy bleeding (soaking a pad or more per hour) or severe abdominal pain, please go straight to your nearest hospital Emergency Department (ED) or call 000 for an ambulance.

Note: The Birth Unit numbers are for urgent pregnancy matters only, please do not call for appointments. 

Auburn Hospital birth unit

Phone: (02) 8759 5353 or (02) 8759 3533

Note: For emergencies and if under or less than 20 weeks' gestation, please go to our ED or call our Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic at (02) 8759 3278

Blacktown Hospital birth unit

Phone: (02) 8670 8318 

Note: For emergencies and if under or less than 20 weeks' gestation, please go to our ED or call our Early Pregnancy Assessment Clinic at (02) 8670 5376

Westmead Hospital birth unit

Phone: (02) 8890 6663 or (02) 8890 7395 (more than 20 weeks' gestation)

Note: For emergencies and if under or less than 20 weeks' gestation, please go to our ED or call (02) 8890 5555

Preparing for the birth

As your due date gets nearer, it is natural to think about preparing for labour and birth

Preparing for birth and the time afterwards can help you feel ready for your new baby. Use the information from the links and resources provided in this section to help you prepare. Learn more about preparing for the birth

Your birth choices

• Pregnancy choices
• Making a birth plan
• Choosing where to give birth
• Pregnancy care options in NSW
• My birth choices birth plan factsheet (PDF 859.23KB)
• Role of the support person during labour and birth factsheet (PDF 431.85KB)

Labour and birth

These links and resources help you learn what to expect during labour, options for managing labour pains and the different ways of birthing your baby. 

Labour

• Induction of labour factsheet (PDF 691.58KB)
• Managing your labour factsheet (PDF 418.55KB)
• How to know you're in labour factsheet (PDF 640.59KB)
• Natural ways to bring on labour factsheet (PDF 454.62KB)
• Fear of childbirth factsheet (PDF 4.09MB)

Vaginal birth

• Giving birth - what you need to know factsheet (PDF 625.67KB)
• Active birth factsheet (PDF 259.31KB)
• Waterbirth factsheet (PDF 579.95KB)
• Birth of your placenta factsheet (PDF 505.34KB)
• Skin-to-skin factsheet (PDF 923.29KB)

Assisted birth

• Caesarean birth factsheet (PDF 222.08KB)
• Caesarean birth at Westmead Hospital factsheet (PDF 9.19MB)
• Assisted vaginal birth factsheet (PDF 289.06KB)
• Management of third- and fourth-degree tears
• Next birth after Caesarean (NBAC) factsheet (PDF 519.3KB)
• Your next birth after caesarean (multiple languages)
• Care and recovery after caesarean section factsheet (PDF 345.28KB)

After your baby's birth

The time after your baby is born is called the postnatal stage. The postnatal stage is just as important as your pregnancy and labour and lasts for about 6-8 weeks. 

Learn more about: 

• what to expect after giving birth
• newborn baby care and newborn intensive care.