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An obstetrician is a doctor who cares for you during pregnancy, birth and recovery after birth. They can provide medical treatment and surgery when needed, including caesarean birth.
In Australia, you can receive obstetric care through the public system or choose private care. You do not have to choose a private specialist to receive pregnancy care. Your GP or midwife can explain the local options and help you arrange your first appointment.
Quick answers about obstetric care
What does an obstetrician do?
An obstetrician checks your health and your baby’s health, helps plan your care and treats complications during pregnancy and birth. They can perform a caesarean when needed and provide care after birth.
Can pregnancy care start before my first obstetrician appointment?
Yes. Your first pregnancy appointment can be with a GP or midwife. They can start your care and help arrange a maternity service or obstetrician appointment. You do not need to wait for a private specialist before seeking care.
When should I seek help before a booked appointment?
Contact your doctor or midwife about vaginal bleeding or symptoms that worry you. For very heavy bleeding, strong pain or feeling very unwell, call an ambulance straight away. Do not wait for a booked appointment.
Obstetrician vs gynaecologist, midwife and GP
Obstetrics is the care of pregnancy and birth. Gynaecology is the care of the reproductive organs, including screening and treatment for infections or other conditions. Specialist training covers both fields. If you already see a gynaecologist, ask whether they also provide pregnancy and birth care and which hospitals they work with.
O&G is short for obstetrics and gynaecology. You may also see the term OB-GYN. A specialist obstetrician has completed further training after qualifying as a doctor. A GP obstetrician has extra training in pregnancy and birth care through a different pathway.
A midwife cares for you during pregnancy, labour and after birth. Midwives check your wellbeing, support you through labour and call on doctors when you need medical care. A midwife can deliver your baby during an uncomplicated vaginal birth. If your pregnancy is low risk, you may not need to see an obstetrician. A doula offers physical and emotional support but does not replace a midwife or doctor.
Your GP can begin pregnancy care, review your health and arrange referrals. Some GPs provide shared care with a maternity hospital. In rural areas, a GP obstetrician may also care for you during birth as part of a team with midwives and other doctors.
If you are still planning pregnancy, your GP can review your health and medicines before you start trying. Our guide to taking prenatal vitamins before pregnancy can help you prepare questions about supplements.
Public, private or shared pregnancy care: which should you consider?
Your main carer depends on your needs and the services available where you live. Healthdirect explains that midwives, GPs and obstetricians can work together in pregnancy care. Ask your GP or maternity service which arrangements below are available to you.
| Care arrangement | Who you usually see | What to clarify |
|---|---|---|
| Public maternity team | Hospital midwives and doctors, with an obstetrician involved when needed. | How to book and arrange a referral. You generally cannot choose an individual specialist. |
| Midwifery continuity or group practice | A known midwife or small team, with medical care when needed. | Whether the service is available and suitable for you, and what happens if your needs change. |
| GP shared care | A participating GP for some pregnancy visits, working with a maternity service. | Which appointments happen locally and which happen at the hospital. |
| Private obstetric care | Your chosen obstetrician for planned care, alongside hospital midwives. | The doctor’s availability, birth hospital, covering arrangements and written fees. |
Some obstetricians care for private patients in public hospitals. Check whether you are booking as a public or private patient, because this affects your care and costs. The hospital name alone does not tell you which arrangement applies.
When should you book your first obstetrician appointment?
Contact your GP or a midwifery service once you know you are pregnant. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby advises arranging your first antenatal visit when you are about 6 to 8 weeks pregnant. This first visit can be with a GP or midwife, rather than an obstetrician.
Your care team will ask for the first day of your last period to help work out your pregnancy dates. Our positive pregnancy test guide explains the wider steps to organise after a positive result.
If you want private care, contact the obstetrician’s practice early to ask about availability and what you need to book. Tell them about your pregnancy dates, symptoms and health history so they can advise on the appointment. Keep your GP or midwifery care in place while the booking is arranged.
Do you need a referral to see an obstetrician?
Ask your GP for a referral if you plan to see a private obstetrician. You need a valid referral to claim a Medicare rebate for a specialist consultation. Check the practice’s referral and booking requirements when you call.
Services Australia says a GP referral usually lasts 12 months from your first specialist appointment, unless the GP specifies a different period. The period does not start when the letter is written. A referral covers the condition you were referred for; a new or unrelated condition may need a new referral.
The referral does not have to name a particular specialist, so you can ask about another suitable doctor. You still need to book the appointment. For public maternity care, ask your GP or maternity service how their booking process works.
What happens at your first obstetrician appointment?
Your obstetrician will ask about your health, medicines and previous pregnancies. You can talk about a difficult birth experience, concerns about examinations or anything you would like explained before care begins. Your preferences matter, and you can bring your partner or another support person.
Depending on your pregnancy stage and the results you already have, your care team may offer blood pressure checks, urine tests and blood tests for your blood group, anaemia or infections. They can also discuss screening and ultrasound. Your first visit helps plan what is needed, rather than promising every test on the day.
If your clinician has ordered blood hCG tests, bring the results with their collection dates. Our guide to blood hCG results in pregnancy explains the terms you may hear. Blood testing measures the amount of hCG, while a home urine test checks whether it is present.
Bring your referral, Medicare details and any relevant insurance information. Keep existing blood test and ultrasound reports together, along with fertility clinic records and details of previous operations. It can help to write down your last period date, positive test date and the questions you most want answered.
Make a list of medicines and supplements, including doses, and bring the packets or photographs of their labels. The prenatal vitamin label checker can help you prepare information to discuss with your GP or pharmacist. Your care team will ask about medicines, including those bought without a prescription.
You can ask how long to allow for the appointment and whether any planned tests need preparation. For an ultrasound, follow the instructions from the clinic when you book. Do not assume every appointment includes a scan.
You have the right to understand a test or examination before agreeing to it. Ask what it can tell you, its benefits and risks, and what your other choices are. You can request an interpreter, bring a support person or ask for an explanation in different words.
Before leaving, confirm how results will reach you and who will explain them. If several services are involved, ask who will send each report to your GP, maternity team or private obstetrician.
Your doctor or midwife will give you an appointment plan at your first antenatal visit. The number of visits depends on your pregnancy history and whether you need extra care. Ask which visits will be with your obstetrician and which will be with other members of your maternity team.
When does pregnancy need closer obstetric monitoring?
A higher risk pregnancy means there is a greater chance of complications, not that a problem will definitely happen. Diabetes, high blood pressure, previous pregnancy complications, concerns about your baby’s growth or a multiple pregnancy can mean you need closer care. Our twin pregnancy guide covers questions to discuss if you are expecting twins.
Ask what the identified risk means for you. You may need extra appointments or tests, a different birth plan or a hospital with particular staff and equipment. Your care team can explain which changes apply to your pregnancy and why.
Some pregnancies need a maternal fetal medicine specialist, often called an MFM specialist. These doctors have further training in medical, surgical and pregnancy complications. Your care team can explain whether you need this type of specialist.
How much does an obstetrician cost in Australia?
There is no single national fee for private obstetric care. Specialists set their own fees, and the amount you pay depends on your care, Medicare eligibility and insurance. Your out-of-pocket cost is the amount left after any Medicare or insurer payments.
Public care and Medicare
If you are enrolled in Medicare and treated as a public patient in a public hospital, there are no out-of-pocket costs for that hospital treatment. Private consultations, tests or scans outside that arrangement may have separate fees. Ask whether each service is bulk billed or has a gap. A referral alone does not make an appointment free.
Compare private fees using the same checklist
Ask for a written estimate before choosing private care. Check the obstetrician’s fees separately from hospital and other doctors’ charges. Not every practice bills in the same way, so the questions below help you compare what is included.
| Part of care | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Consultations | What are the first and follow-up fees? How are extra visits charged? |
| Pregnancy management | Is there a separate management fee? What does it cover, and when is it due? |
| Birth and other doctors | Is birth care included? Could an anaesthetist, paediatrician or covering doctor send a separate bill? |
| Hospital admission | What are the hospital charges, insurance excess and any co-payments? |
| Tests and postnatal care | Which scans, pathology services and follow-up visits are included? Which need separate estimates? |
Ask for the Medicare item numbers, expected rebates and payment dates. Confirm your benefits with Medicare or your insurer as appropriate, then compare the total you expect to pay. The government’s Medical Costs Finder guide to fees and costs explains the questions to ask. Its figures are a guide, not a personal quote.
Hospital cover does not cover every antenatal expense
The Department of Health says private insurers cannot cover most Medicare-funded medical services provided outside hospital. This means an appointment in your obstetrician’s rooms can have a gap even when your policy covers the hospital birth.
The maximum hospital insurance waiting period for pregnancy and birth is 12 months. You must serve the waiting period before admission to claim the relevant benefits. Check maternity cover, restrictions and the steps for adding your baby with your insurer. Taking out or increasing cover after becoming pregnant may be too late for that birth.
How to find and choose an obstetrician
Ask your GP for suitable options, or ask your preferred hospital which obstetricians provide care there. RANZCOG also links to a women’s health doctor finder. Check the doctor’s availability and hospital arrangements with the practice.
You can check a doctor’s registration through Ahpra’s national register, linked from the government’s guide to doctors and specialists in Australia. A practice biography or online review is not a substitute for checking registration.
FRANZCOG means Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It shows that a doctor has completed the College’s specialist training or had overseas training assessed as equivalent. An obstetric registrar is a qualified doctor undertaking specialist training under supervision.
At a consultation, ask about the doctor’s experience with your health or pregnancy history. Discuss how you would make decisions about induction or caesarean birth, and what would happen if you or your baby needed care at another hospital. It is fine to arrive with questions rather than a finished birth plan.
You can ask for more time to think, another explanation or a second opinion. Notice whether you feel comfortable asking questions and whether the answers make sense to you.
Think about the trip to the consulting rooms as well as the birth hospital, because you will return for regular appointments. If you prefer a doctor of a particular gender or someone who speaks your first language, ask about that when booking.
If you are looking for help getting pregnant, our separate guide to choosing a fertility specialist or IVF clinic addresses that decision.
Your obstetrician’s role during labour and after birth
Midwives usually provide ongoing labour care. An obstetrician can assess complications and provide medical or surgical treatment when needed. Your obstetrician may visit during labour without staying beside you throughout it. Seeing an obstetrician does not mean you will automatically have a caesarean.
Arrange your postnatal check with your GP, midwife or obstetrician according to your care plan. It is commonly around six weeks after birth and can cover healing, bleeding, bladder or bowel concerns, emotional wellbeing, contraception and questions about the birth. You need your own assessment even if your baby is checked at the same visit.
Ask for medical advice earlier if you have heavy bleeding, fever, problems with your stitches or feel unable to cope. You do not need to wait for the routine check to ask for help.
Getting medical help between appointments
Contact your doctor, midwife or maternity unit straight away for vaginal bleeding, leaking fluid, fever, severe vomiting, a bad headache that does not settle or changes in your vision. Go to hospital immediately if your baby has stopped moving or is moving less than usual.
Seek urgent assessment at an emergency department if you are pregnant or could be pregnant and have abdominal pain, shoulder tip pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, dizziness or fainting. These can be symptoms of an ectopic pregnancy. You do not need to have all of them. Do not wait for a referral or another home test.
Call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance if you have very heavy bleeding, strong pain or feel very unwell.
For non-emergency advice when you are unsure where to turn, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 to speak with a registered nurse.
Frequently Asked Questions about obstetricians in Australia
Can I see an obstetrician before I am pregnant?
Yes. Obstetricians can provide care before pregnancy. Ask your GP whether this would be useful for your health or pregnancy history. If getting pregnant is your main concern, our guide explains when to see a fertility specialist.
Will my chosen obstetrician definitely attend the birth?
Not necessarily. Ask who provides cover when your doctor is unavailable, whether you can meet that doctor and how your history and birth preferences will be shared.
Will my obstetrician perform every ultrasound scan?
Not necessarily. Some obstetricians perform ultrasound scans, but a sonographer may do your scan at an imaging clinic or hospital. Ask where to attend, how to prepare and who will explain the report.
Can I change obstetricians during pregnancy?
Yes, you can seek another obstetrician if your current care does not suit you. Before changing, check that the new practice can accept you and ask how to transfer your records, arrange any referral and check hospital or fee changes.
What if I live in rural or regional Australia?
Your care may involve local midwives, a GP or GP obstetrician and a specialist elsewhere. Ask which visits can happen locally, where you should give birth and how any travel or transfer would be arranged.
Do I need another home pregnancy test before my appointment?
Follow your clinician’s testing plan. Home pregnancy tests check whether hCG is present in urine; line darkness does not measure the amount. If a result is invalid, follow the instructions for your device. Our pregnancy test strip instructions explain what to do when using Fertility2Family strips.
Next Steps in Australia
Before ending your booking call, ask when you should hear back and whom to contact if you do not. Keep your next appointment and maternity contact number somewhere easy to find, so you know what happens next and where to turn with concerns.
General information: This article is for Australian consumer education and does not replace individual pregnancy care or medical advice. Individual care decisions should be discussed with a qualified health professional when needed.
✓ Medically reviewed by Evan Kurzyp, RNLast reviewed Next review October 2027
References24 sources
Fertility2Family articles are researched using Australian Government health guidance, professional clinical recommendations and peer-reviewed medical literature. The references below were used to research and medically review this article on 15 October 2026 and provide additional reading for readers who want to read the evidence in more detail.
You can read how we research, write and check our health information in our editorial and medical review policy, and see who reviews our articles and their clinical credentials.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Obstetricians – what do they do? Explains obstetric care during pregnancy, birth and recovery, including public and private services, specialist appointments, referrals and questions about expected fees.
- Healthdirect Australia Maternity care in Australia Outlines public and private maternity services, midwifery continuity and GP shared care, with information about choosing a birth setting and potential costs.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Your first antenatal visit Describes the timing and purpose of the first antenatal appointment, including health history, pregnancy dating, care options and tests that may be offered.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Bleeding during pregnancy Describes pregnancy bleeding, when to contact a doctor or midwife, and severe symptoms such as very heavy bleeding or strong pain requiring emergency help.
- Better Health Channel Obstetrician-gynaecologist Describes the combined specialty of obstetrics and gynaecology, how to find a doctor, and questions about care preferences, hospital arrangements and fees.
- Better Health Channel Who’s who during pregnancy, birth and newborn care Explains the roles of GPs, GP obstetricians, midwives, specialist doctors and doulas, including how they contribute to pregnancy, labour and postnatal care.
- Healthdirect Australia Planning for your pregnancy Covers preconception medical review, personal and family health history, medicines and supplements, and when difficulty becoming pregnant should be discussed with a doctor.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Antenatal care during your pregnancy Describes antenatal health checks, tests, medicine discussions and birth preparation, including how the number of appointments changes according to individual pregnancy needs.
- Services Australia Referrals for specialist treatment Services Australia guidance for health professionals on referrals, patient choice and when a GP referral period starts.
- Healthdirect Australia hCG test Explains how home urine tests detect hCG and how blood tests measure its amount, with advice about test results and follow-up.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby Ultrasound scans during pregnancy Explains pregnancy ultrasound, who performs scans, how to prepare, consent, costs and discussing results with your doctor or midwife.
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Making informed choices (Informed consent) Explains voluntary informed consent, benefits, risks and alternatives, and ways patients can request explanations, an interpreter, a support person or a second opinion.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby What is a high risk pregnancy? Explains factors that increase the chance of pregnancy complications, reasons for additional appointments or scans, and how clinical needs affect birth-setting decisions.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Guide to fees and costs Explains medical fees, rebates and out-of-pocket costs, with questions for specialists, insurers and hospitals about written estimates, additional services and payment arrangements.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Private health insurance policies and inclusions you can offer Government guidance for insurers on cover for Medicare services outside hospital and hospital waiting periods.
- PrivateHealth.gov.au Waiting periods Explains hospital insurance waiting periods, pregnancy and birth benefits, restricted maternity cover and the need to arrange appropriate cover for a newborn baby.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing Medical doctors and specialists in Australia Describes medical practitioner registration and regulation in Australia and directs readers to the national register to check whether a doctor is registered.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby 6-week postnatal check Describes postnatal assessment of recovery and emotional wellbeing, bladder and bowel concerns, contraception, and symptoms that warrant medical attention before the routine review.
- Healthdirect Australia Warning signs during pregnancy Explains pregnancy symptoms requiring immediate medical contact, including bleeding, severe vomiting, fluid leakage, fever, persistent headache, visual changes and reduced baby movements.
- Healthdirect Australia Ectopic pregnancy Explains ectopic pregnancy symptoms, urgent assessment and diagnosis using clinical examination, hormone tests and ultrasound, including abdominal pain, bleeding, shoulder-tip pain and faintness.
- Healthdirect Australia Contact us Lists the Healthdirect nurse advice number and explains how to contact emergency help or request support with a call.
- Healthdirect Australia The role of a gynaecologist Explains that gynaecologists train in obstetrics and gynaecology and may practise in one or both fields.
- Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Who is Your O&G Doctor? Explains specialist and registrar roles, FRANZCOG qualifications and recognised subspecialties, including maternal fetal medicine for complex pregnancies and reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
- St John of God Health Care Finding the right obstetrician for you Obstetrician Dr Anne Hotchin discusses choosing a doctor, including hospital arrangements, practice location, language and personal preferences.
