A complete guide to Sydney's North Shore birthing options.
Updated: September 2026
You’re having a baby! Congratulations! In the midst of sore boobs and feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck, your mind is probably turning to where you might give birth to your baby.
But before you decide this, it’s important to know the model of care you want. I suggest you read Having a baby? How to choose your model of care in Australia. It will help you understand the options available.
As a birth and postpartum doula, I support mums-to-be on the North Shore in Sydney, and I’ve put together a comprehensive guide on our local hospitals (and private midwife options too) and included the latest statistics (2024) from the NSW Mothers & Babies Report.
It will help you understand what each hospital has to offer, and an idea of how they approach birth based on their statistics, so you can make an informed choice that aligns with your preferences and needs.
As a birth and postpartum doula, I support mums-to-be on the North Shore in Sydney, and I’ve put together a comprehensive guide on your choices when it comes to giving birth in our local area. It will help you understand what's available and make an informed choice that aligns with your preferences and needs.
*Disclaimer: I’ve done my best to research and list the most well-known options in the North Shore. However, this should form part of your overall research and there may be other options available that I’m unaware of and are not listed here.
You can access all the data used in this article from NSW Health.
Where you see n.p = not published
Public Hospitals in the North Shore
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
Level 2, Building 50
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital
Palmerston Rd, Hornsby, 2077, NSW
Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital serves the Upper North Shore area. The hospital provides care for approximately 1,200 births per year and is part of the Northern Sydney Local Health District. It is a small, intimate public hospital compared to Royal North Shore Hospital (the other public hospital in our area). The facility has 25 dedicated maternity beds and offers comprehensive maternity services. It has experienced midwifery and obstetric teams who provide care for low-risk and high-risk pregnancies.
Hornsby Hospital a glance
Comprehensive antenatal care
Labour and birth support across all care models
Water birth facilities for eligible women
Postnatal care and breastfeeding support
Access to social work and support services
Transfer arrangements to Royal North Shore Hospital if needed
Pregnancy, birth and parenting education classes
Models of Care available
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)
Midwifery Care/Clinics
Maternity Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS)
GP Shared Care
Public Obstetric Clinic
Private Obstetrician
Intervention rates and other statistics
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
Royal North Shore Hospital (RNS)
Women's Health Ambulatory Care
Level 3 - Clinical Services Building
Royal North Shore Hospital
1 Westbourne Street
St Leonards, 2065
Royal North Shore Hospital is the major public teaching hospital serving the North Shore area. The hospital provides care for approximately 2,000 births per year and is part of the Northern Sydney Local Health District. The hospital has 9 birthing rooms featuring mats, birth balls, bean bags, and birthing pools, All but one birthing room is equipped for water births. The maternity unit has 40 maternity beds in single and shared rooms, all with ensuites. It has a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with 32 cots.
Royal North Shore a glance
As a level 6 maternity capability hospital, RNS is highly equipped to provide a comprehensive array of services.
Extensive early pregnancy support
Specialist care for high-risk pregnancies
Labour and birth support across all care models
Water birth facilities for eligible women
Postnatal care and breastfeeding support
Access to social work and support services
Pregnancy, birth and parenting education classes
Models of Care available
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP)
Midwifery Care/Clinics
Maternity Antenatal Postnatal Service (MAPS)
GP Shared Care
Public Obstetric Clinic
Private Obstetrician
Intervention rates and other statistics
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
Northern Beaches Hospital
105 Frenchs Forest Rd W,
Frenchs Forest , NSW 2086
Northern Beaches Hospital (NBH) is a hospital that serves both public and private patients and provides care for approximately 1,600 births per year. The hospital has 10 birthing suites, three of which have birthing pools. Until June 2027, private services will continue to be offered. If you have private health insurance, you can choose your obstetrician and access the facilities of a private experience. If you book in as a public patient, you can choose from the hospital’s range of care models including midwifery-led care and GP shared care. They also offer the private experience for mums without private health insurance who wish to pay to stay.
North Beaches Hospital at a glance
Private and public options available
Pregnancy and birth education classes
Water birth facilities for eligible women
Experienced midwives who can support holistic birth such as hypnobirthing
Postnatal care for up to fourteen days in some models of care
Models of Care available:
Private Obstetrician
Midwifery Group Practice (MGP) for low-risk pregnancies
Standard midwifery-led care
GP shared care
Hybrid public-private packages
Intervention rates and other statistics
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
Private Hospitals in the North Shore
North Shore Private Hospital
3 Westbourne St,
St Leonards, NSW 2065
North Shore Private has a collaborative team of obstetricians, paediatricians, midwives, social workers and lactation experts that support you through your pregnancy and birth. The hospital has 7 birthing suites and provides care for around 2,500 births per year. It is co-located with the public Royal North Shore hospital providing access to tertiary care facilities, including the NICU if needed. You have a private room and your partner can usually stay overnight. You can choose your Obstetrician who will provide your ongoing care. If you do not have private health insurance, the hospital offers a pay and stay option.
North Shore Private at a glance
Luxury birthing suites with hotel-style amenities and comfort
Comprehensive maternity and postnatal education programs
No water birth facilities
Access to extra support up to when your baby is 12 months old
Access to emotional wellbeing support from a Gidget Foundation Psychologist
Models of Care available:
Private Obstetrician
Pay to Stay
Intervention rates and other statistics
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
Mater Hospital North Sydney
25 Rocklands Rd,
Wollstonecraft, NSW 2065
The Mater offers integrated collaborative care combining obstetricians, midwives, and support staff with Catholic healthcare values. The hospital combines medical expertise with holistic care principles, often incorporating spiritual and emotional support alongside clinical care. It provides care for around 2,000 births per year and has six dedicated birthing suites, including three that are equipped with a freestanding bath for water immersion during labor. you have a private room and your partner can usually stay overnight. You can choose your Obstetrician who will provide your ongoing care. If you do not have private health insurance, the hospital offers a pay to stay option.
Mater Hospital at a glance
Collaborative care model combining medical and midwifery expertise
Childbirth, breastfeeding, parenting and postnatal education
No water birth facilities
On-site paediatric services and Level 4 Special Care Unit (SCU) for immediate baby care if needed
Access to additional support services including social work and pastoral care
Models of Care available:
Private Obstetrician
Pay to Stay
Intervention rates and other statistics
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
Sydney Adventist Hospital (The San)
185 Fox Valley Road,
Wahroonga, NSW 2076
Sydney Adventist Hospital is a private hospital that operates as a not-for-profit organisation under the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A multidisciplinary team of obstetricians, midwives, mothercraft nurses and paediatricians work together to provide care for around 1,700 babies per year. The San’s maternity unit has nine birthing suites, two of which are equipped for water births. There are 40 private rooms that include ensuites, breastfeeding chairs, and purpose-built baths. Some rooms have double beds while others have day beds for partners or support persons to use overnight. You can choose your Obstetrician who will provide your ongoing care.
Sydney Adventist Hospital at a glance
Comprehensive maternity and postnatal education programs
Access to on-site special care nursery with transfer to the Royal North Shore Hospital, The Children's Hospital at Westmead NICU if required.
Spiritual care and pastoral services available
Skilled team of educators, lactation consultants and highly experienced nursing staff
Models of Care available:
Private Obstetrician
Pay to stay
Intervention rates and other statistics
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
Public & Private Hospital birth statistics.
So you can compare intervention rates and other statistics more easily, I’ve compiled them into the following tables.
Onset and augmentation of labour
Type of birth
Pain relief
Perineal status
n.p. = not published
Home Birth Options.
Home birth is a growing option for low-risk pregnancies that is supported by substantial research evidence. Currently, 97% of births in Australia occur in hospitals.
Home birth involves giving birth in your own home with the support of registered midwives experienced in home birth care. Your midwife will visit you throughout pregnancy for antenatal appointments, be on-call for labour, attend you throughout labour and birth at home, and provide postnatal care for several weeks. Your home is prepared with birth supplies, and you create the environment you want - dim lighting, your own music, familiar surroundings, and unlimited support people.
Currently, none of the hospitals in the North Shore offer a Publicly Funded Home Birth (PFHB). You can find a list of the hospitals that are part of the current consortium here.
If you would like to explore homebirth, you will need to hire a Privately Practising Midwife (PPM). You should speak to several midwives to determine whether a homebirth with a PPM in attendance is an option for you, as they all have different acceptance criteria.
PPMs & Homebirthing Centres in the North Shore
Serving the Northern Beaches and surrounding suburbs
Offering woman-centred/family-centred holistic midwifery care, they offer home-birthing, continuity of care, childbirth education, perinatal support and infant massage, to assist you and your family through this ever-changing chapter in life.
Serving North Sydney
Offering pregnancy, labour and birth, and postnatal support through a practice that is grounded in the belief that childbirth is a powerful and transformative experience.
Serving Greater Sydney
Blooming Hearts provides women and their families in the Greater Sydney area with private midwifery services.
ibirth
Serving Northern Beaches, Upper North Shore/ Hornsby Shire & Sydney
Forming relationships with women and their families and providing a continuation care model enables trust, communication, respect, education, support and care.
Find more privately practising midwives at Homebirth NSW
Choosing a Private Midwife:
Verify registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Check professional indemnity insurance coverage
Ask about their experience, philosophy, and approach to care
Understand their backup arrangements and transfer protocols
Confirm their birth attendance locations and hospital privileges
Discuss their collaboration with other healthcare providers
Review their emergency procedures and equipment.
Additional Support Options.
Doula Support
While not a medical care provider, doulas offer continuous emotional and physical support during labour and birth. They work alongside your chosen model of care to enhance your birth experience.
What Doulas Provide:
Emotional support and advocacy
Physical comfort measures
Birth preparation and education
Support for partners
Immediate postnatal assistance
Costs: Varies from doula to doula but expect to pay between $2,000-$4,000
Learn more about my birth and postpartum services.
Private Midwife Home Visits
Specialist service that gives you extra confidence and care in the comfort of your home. They offer support and advice for anything and everything to do with pregnancy, birth and baby. These midwives don’t replace the care from your usual care team, but are available to supplement it with valuable care when you need it.
Costs:
Home visit with a Medicare card: $250 travel fee applies (the appointment itself is bulk-billed)
Home visit without a Medicare card: $400 ($150 appointment fee and $250 travel fee)
Telehealth via phone or Zoom with a medicare card: Free (the appointment is bulk-billed).
Making your decision.
There’s a lot to think about when choosing where to give birth. The below considerations can help you as you make your decision.
Your birth preferences: Different care models, and therefore the locations in which you access them, have differing levels of intervention. Think about what’s most important to you.
Location: If you decide to use the public system, you will be allocated to your nearest local hospital. Sometimes, but not always, there are ways you can transfer to a different public hospital, but this should be discussed with your local service.
Your risk level: If you have pre-existing medical conditions, you’ll be allocated specialist obstetric care under the public system. Or, if you would prefer to choose your obstetrician, you can do this through the private system.
Budget: Consider both upfront costs and potential gap fees. Public options are pretty much totally free, while private care involves significant costs, even with private health insurance.
Postpartum support: Public options will usually include a shorter stay in hospital, but home visits from midwives for up to 10 days post birth. Private options usually include a longer stay, but no home visits.
Next steps
Whether you choose to give birth in a private hospital, a public one, or at home, it’s important to do your research, ask lots of questions, and carefully consider the things that are most important to you.
If you’d like to chat through your options, I offer a free 20 minute no-obligation consultation where you can ask questions about birthing options and doula support. Get in touch here>
This guide provides general information about some of the birthing options on Sydney's North Shore. It should form part of your research, but it is advised you undertake additional research as well. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalised advice based on your individual circumstances and medical history.
Contact Kelly
If you have any questions or would like more info, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch by clicking the button below and completing the contact form.
About Kelly Allen
My name is Kelly, and I’m a certified birth and postpartum doula who trained at the Doula Training Academy. I service women and birthing people in the North Shore of Sydney, helping you enter and emerge from birth and the fourth trimester feeling physically and emotionally well.