Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Guidelines
Show all
Maternity
Antenatal corticosteroids
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Antenatal corticosteroids (PDF, 198kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Antenatal corticosteroids (PDF, 242kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Antenatal cortocosteroids (PDF, 100kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Steroids in pregnancy (PDF, 650kB)
COVID-19 guidance for maternity services (Updated 28 April 2022)
Guideline
Flowchart and posters
- FAQ (frequently asked questions): Screening and testing for GDM during COVID-19 (PDF, 72kB)
- Flowchart: Screening and testing for GDM during COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 76kB)
- Flowchart: Care of SCOVID or COVID-19 woman(PDF,134kB)
- Flowchart: Neonate of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 mother(PDF, 90kB)
- Flowchart: Recommended nitrous oxide circuits(PDF, 181kB)
- Flowchart: Set-up for initial neonatal resuscitation during COVID-19 pandemic(PDF, 108kB)
- Flowchart: Modified schedule for low-risk women during COVID-19 (PDF, 99kB)
Education
- Presentation: COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy (PDF, 464kB) (updated Jan 2022)
Consumer information
- COVID-19 and pregnancy (PDF, 434kB);(updated 05 Jan 2022)
- COVID-19 and breastfeeding (PDF, 302kB)
- COVID-19 vaccination and pregnancy
- COVID-19 vaccination: shared decision making guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy (Australian Department of Health resource)
Consumer information in other languages
- COVID-19 vaccination, pregnancy and breastfeeding (Australian Department of Health resource)
Early Pregnancy Loss (Updated Oct 2022)
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Early pregnancy loss (PDF, 738kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Early pregnancy loss (PDF, 329kB)
Flowcharts
Education
Consumer information
- Ectopic pregnancy (PDF, 406kB)
- Pain and bleeding in pregnancy (PDF, 513kB)
- Methotrexate for ectopic pregnancy (PDF, 503kB)
- Having a a miscarriage (PDF, 492kB)
- RhD negative blood type in pregnancy (PDF, 394kB)
Early onset Group B Streptococcal disease (Updated Aug 2022)
Guideline
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Maternal management of EOGBSD (PDF, 59kB)
- Flowchart: Neonatal management of EOGBSD (PDF, 78kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy (PDF, 382kB)
Fetal movements (Updated July 2023)
ShortGUIDES
- ShortGuide: Fetal movements (PDF, 154kB)
- ShortGuide Supplement: Fetal movements (PDF, 242kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Altered fetal movements (PDF, 74kB)
Additional resources
- Safer Baby Bundle and ImPROVE—eLearning guide for healthcare providers (Stillbirth CRE)
- Your baby's movements matter—Parent information (Stillbirth CRE - also available via WINC order)
Gestational diabetes mellitus
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Gestational diabetes mellitus (PDF, 602kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Gestational diabetes mellitus (PDF, 339kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Screening and diagnosis during COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 77kb)
- FAQ: GDM screening and diagnosis during COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 72kB)
- Flowchart: Screening and diagnosis (PDF, 74kB)
- Flowchart: Intrapartum management for GDM requiring insulin and/or metformin (PDF, 57kB)
- Flowchart: Postpartum care (PDF, 73kB)
- Poster: Antenatal schedule of care (PDF, 100kB)
Education
Consumer information
- What is gestational diabetes(PDF, 611kB)
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus booklet (PDF,945kB)
- Gestational Diabetes Mellitus - Important postnatal information(PDF, 707kB)
- Health Eating for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (PDF, 2.84MB)
- Commencing Insulin therapy (PDF, 800kB) (Under review)
- Metformin information (PDF, 540kB) (Under review)
Consumer information is available from the National Diabetes Support Scheme
The following consumer information was developed by the Statewide Diabetes Clinical Network, Queensland Health
Additional resources
Hypertension and pregnancy
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Hypertension and pregnancy (PDF, 618kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Hypertension and pregnancy (PDF, 268kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Management of eclampsia (PDF,72kB)
- Flowchart: Management of hypertension in pregnancy (PDF, 74kB)
Education
Consumer information
- High blood pressure (hypertension) in pregnancy (PDF, 648kB)
Induction of labour (Updated June 2023)
Guideline
- Guideline: Induction of labour (PDF389kB)
- Supplement: Induction of labour (PDF, 186kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Methods of induction of labour (IOL) (PDF, 119kB)
- Flowchart: Balloon catheter (PDF, 117kB)
- Flowchart: Prostaglandin E2 (Dinoprostone) (PDF, 107kB)
- Flowchart: Artificial rupture of membranes (PDF, 106kB)
- Flowchart: Oxytocin (PDF, 106kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Induction of labour (PDF, 532kB)
- Part 1 Induction of labour: cervical ripening (PDF, 514kB)
- Part 2 Induction of labour: breaking your waters and oxytocin (PDF, 260kB)
Intrapartum pain management (Updated February 2023)
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Intrapartum pain management (PDF, 395kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Intrapartum pain management (PDF, 271kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Intrapartum pain management (PDF, 100kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Intrapartum pain management (PDF, 650kB)
Instrumental vaginal birth (Review date extended)
Guideline
- ShortGUIDE: Instrumental vaginal birth (PDF, 167kB)
- Supplement: Instrumental vaginal birth (PDF, 211kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Instrumental vaginal birth (PDF, 858kB)
Intrapartum fetal surveillance
Guideline
- Guideline: Intrapartum fetal surveillance (PDF, 491kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Intrapartum fetal surveillance (PDF, 205kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Abnormal fetal heart rate (PDF, 121kB)
- Reference chart: Interpretation of CTG (PDF, 106kB)
- Flowchart: Mode of fetal heart rate monitoring (PDF, 121kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Fetal monitoring in labour (PDF, 497kB)
Iron deficiency and anaemia
Guidance
Education
Consumer information
- A guide to taking iron tablets (PDF, 261kB)
Additional resources
- Lifeblood (Australian Red Cross) Maternity: Toolkit for Maternity Blood Management;- Clinical guidance, clinician education, audit, and consumer information resources.
Normal birth (Updated July 2023)
See also Analgesia in labour
Guideline
- Guideline: Normal birth (PDF, 542kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Normal birth (PDF, 196kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Initial assessment (PDF, 104kB)
- Flowchart: First stage (PDF, 117kB)
- Flowchart: Second stage (PDF, 106kB)
- Flowchart: Third and fourth stages (PDF, 105kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Early labour (PDF, 275kB)
Additional resources
Obesity and pregnancy
Guideline
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Consumer information
Perinatal substance use: maternal
Guideline
- Perinatal substance use: maternal (PDF, 384kB)
- Supplement: Perinatal substance use: maternal (PDF, 232kB)
Flowcharts and Posters
- Flowchart: Perinatal substance use management (PDF, 43kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Substance use in pregnancy (PDF,356kB)
Perineal care (Review date extended)
Guideline
- Guideline: Perineal care (PDF, 683kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Perineal care (PDF, 465kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Antenatal and intrapartum perineal care (PDF, 88kB)
- Flowchart: Perineal assessment and repair (PDF, 82kB)
Education
- Presentation: Perineal care (PDF, 673kB)
- Knowledge assessment: Perineal care
- Video: Hands on or hands off? (5 min, 17MB)(New Dec 2018)
Consumer information
- Perineal tears (PDF, 676kB) (Updated Aug 2018)
- Third and fourth degree perineal tears (PDF, 811kB) (Updated Aug 2018)
Prelabour rupture of membranes - Preterm (PPROM) (Updated April 2022)
Guideline
Education
- Education Presentation: Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) (PDF, 361kB) (updated April 2022)
- Knowledge assessment: Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes
Consumer information
- Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (PPROM) (PDF, 820kB)
Prelabour rupture of membranes - Term (PROM)
ShortGUIDE
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Term prelabour rupture of membranes (PDF, 104kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Term prelabour rupture of membranes (Term PROM) (PDF, 748kB)
Preterm labour and birth (Updated Dec 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Preterm labour and birth (PDF, 407kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Preterm labour and birth (PDF, 230kB)
Flowcharts
Education
Consumer information
- Preterm labour and birth (PDF, 264kB)
- Transferring a sick or unwell baby (PDF, 360kB)
Primary postpartum haemorrhage (Review date extended)
Guideline
- Guideline: Primary postpartum haemorrhage (PDF, 769kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Primary postpartum haemorrhage (PDF, 213kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Initial response to PPH (PDF, 111kB)
- Flowchart: Massive haemorrhage protocol (PDF, 116kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Bleeding after birth (PDF, 525kB)
- Severe bleeding after birth (PDF, 403kB)
Rh D negative woman and pregnancy (New March 2023)
Guideline
- ShortGUIDE: Rh D negative woman and pregnancy (PDF, 189kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Rh D negative woman and pregnancy (PDF, 258kB)
Flowcharts
Education
Consumer information
- Rh D negative woman and pregnancy (PDF, 719kB)
Additional resources
- Rh D Immunoglobulin - BloodSafe eLearning- Clinical guidance and education resource
Rheumatic heart disease and pregnancy (New March 2022)
Guideline
Stillbirth care (Review date extended)
Guideline
- Guideline: Stillbirth care (PDF, 435kB)
- Guideline supplement: Stillbirth care (PDF, 234kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Summary management (PDF, 94kB)
- Flowchart: PSANZ investigations (PDF, 97kB)
- Flowchart: Reporting (PDF, 122kB)
- Flowchart: Scenario based reporting (PDF, 168kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Autopsy examination of a baby (PDF, 440kB)
- Grief after your baby dies (PDF, 200kB)
- What to expect after your baby dies(PDF, 387kB)
Additional resources
- Clinical practice guideline for the management of women with decreased fetal movements—clinical guideline, parent information and clinician education
- PSANZ Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Alliance—Patient information
Syphilis in pregnancy (Review date extended)
Guideline
- Guideline: Syphilis in pregnancy (PDF, 735kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Syphilis in pregnancy (PDF, 189kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Antenatal care - Syphilis in pregnancy (PDF, 109kB)
- Flowchart: Baby care - Syphilis in pregnancy (PDF, 80kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Syphilis in pregnancy (PDF, 402kB)
- Syphilis in pregnancy and Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR) (PDF, 402kB)
Additional resources
- Young Deadly Free website -Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health resources (Developed by South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute)
Termination of pregnancy (Updated December 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Termination of pregnancy (PDF, 423kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Termination of pregnancy (PDF, 217kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Summary of termination of pregnancy (PDF,78kB)
- Flowchart: Medical termination with MS-2 Step (PDF, 130kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Termination of pregnancy (PDF, 749kB)
Trauma in pregnancy
Guideline
- Guideline: Trauma in pregnancy (PDF, 934kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Trauma in pregnancy (PDF, 228kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Initial assessment and management (PDF, 118kB)
- Flowchart: Secondary assessment and management (PDF, 118kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Seatbelts and pregnancy (PDF, 394kB)
Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC)
Guideline
- Guideline: Vaginal birth after caesarean (PDF, 356kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Vaginal birth after caesarean (PDF, 268kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC) (PDF, 105kB)
- Flowchart: Decision-making framework after previous caesarean (PDF, 44kB)
- Checklist: Counselling for VBAC (PDF, 68kB)
- Checklist: VBAC management plan (PDF, 63kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Vaginal birth after caesarean (PDF, 538kB)
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in pregnancy and the puerperium
Guideline
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Assessment for pregnant and postpartum women (PDF, 145kB)
- Flowchart: Thromboprophylaxis according to risk (PDF, 150kB)
- Flowchart: Thromboprophylaxis if thrombophilia (PDF, 75kB)
Education
Consumer information
- VTE in pregnancy (a blood clot in the vein) (PDF, 277kB)
Neonatal
Assessment - Routine Newborn
Guideline
- Guideline: Routine newborn assessment (PDF, 406kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Routine newborn assessment (PDF, 234kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Routine newborn assessment (PDF, 51kB)
- Flowchart: Pulse oximetry screening (PDF, 77kB)
- Flowchart: Management during pulse oximetry screening (PDF, 74kB)
- Flowchart: Newborn bloodspot screening test (PDF, 120kB)
Education
Breastfeeding - Establishing breastfeeding (Updated June 2023)
Guideline
- Guideline: Establishing breastfeeding (PDF, 401kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Establishing breastfeeding (PDF, 234kB)
Flowcharts
Education
Consumer information
- Breastfeeding your baby (PDF, 388kB)
- Breastfeeding and medicines (PDF, 568kB)
Hypoglycaemia - newborn (Updated June 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Newborn hypoglycaemia (PDF, 1.2MB)
- Guideline Supplement: Newborn hypoglycaemia (PDF, 380kB)
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Consumer information
- Newborn hypoglycaemia (PDF, 452kB)
Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (Updated Nov 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (PDF, 504kB)
- Supplement: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (PDF, 306kB)
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Clinical form
Consumer information
- Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (PDF, 441kB)
Jaundice - neonatal (Updated Dec 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Neonatal jaundice (PDF, 786kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Neonatal jaundice (PDF, 203kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Management of neonatal jaundice (PDF, 112kB)
Nomograms for jaundice, phototherapy and exchange transfusion
- All nomograms updated (V2) April 29 2022
- Nomogram: Baby greater than 38 weeks (PDF, 563kB)
- Nomogram: Baby 35 to 37+6 weeks (PDF, 533kB)
- Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and more than 1999 grams (PDF, 500kB)
- Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and 1500-1999 grams (PDF, 507kB)
- Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and 1000-1499 grams (PDF, 496kB)
- Nomogram: Baby less than 35 weeks and less than 1000 grams (PDF, 409kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Jaundice in newborn babies (PDF, 611kB)
Medicines - Neonatal
NeoMedQ - Queensland Neonatal Medicines formulary
Guideline
- Guideline: Neonatal medicines (PDF, 322kB)
- Supplement: Neonatal medicines (PDF, 223kB)
Education
Perinatal care of the extremely preterm baby
Guideline
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Consumer information
- Babies born very early (PDF, 324kB)
Perinatal substance use: neonatal
Guideline
- Guideline: Perinatal substance use: neonatal (PDF, 512kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Perinatal substance use: neonatal (PDF, 233kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Management of neonatal abstinence syndrome (PDF, 229 kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Neonatal (newborn) abstinence syndrome (NAS) (PDF, 531kB)
- Antidepressants and your baby (PDF, 444kB)
Respiratory distress and CPAP
Guideline
- Guideline: Respiratory distress and CPAP (PDF, 446kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Respiratory distress and CPAP (PDF, 232kB)
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Additional Resources
- Clinical skills workshops - Further information about workshops and the accompanying clinical learn resource
Resuscitation - neonatal (Updated Oct 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Neonatal resuscitation (PDF, 720kB)
- Supplement: Neonatal resuscitation (PDF, 202kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Neonatal resuscitation (PDF, 325kB)
- Neonatal resuscitation reference chart (PDF, 751kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Newborn resuscitation (PDF, 422kB)
Clinical forms
- Neonatal resuscitation equipment checklist (PDF, 230kB) (updated Nov 2022)
Additional resources
- NeoResus Training Program—Online courses:
- Baby CPR video for parents (Updated Sep 2019)—Video for parents and carers about how to resuscitate a baby. Developed by CPR Kids.
Retinopathy of prematurity
Consensus statement
- Consensus statement: Retinopathy of prematurity (PDF, 142kB)
Safer infant sleep (New July 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Safer infant sleep (PDF, 728kB)
- Supplement: Safer infant sleep (PDF, 244kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Summary: Safer infant sleep (PDF, 63kB)
Education
Seizures - neonatal (Updated Dec 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Neonatal seizures (PDF, 525kB)
- Supplement: Neonatal seizures (PDF, 192kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Assessment and management (PDF, 129kB)
- Flowchart: Investigations (PDF, 130kB)
- Flowchart: Abnormal movements in newborn babies (PDF, 167kB)
Education
Clinical form
Consumer information
- Seizures in newborn babies (PDF, 479kB)
Stabilisation for retrieval - neonatal (Review date extended)
Guideline
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Antenatal transfer or retrieval (PDF, 98kB)
- Flowchart: Postnatal stabilisation and retrieval (PDF, 98kB)
- Checklist: Preparation for neonatal retrieval (PDF, 102kB)
- Flowchart: Respiratory distress (PDF, 80kB) (updated Jul 2018)
Education
- Presentation: Neonatal stabilisation for retrieval (PDF, 483kB) (Updated Jul 2018)
- Knowledge assessment: Neonatal stabilisation for retrieval
Consumer information
- Baby needing transfer (PDF, 694kB) (Updated May 2018)
Additional resources
Term small for gestational age baby (Updated March 2022 )
Guideline
- Term small for gestational age baby (PDF, 1.8MB)
- Supplement: Term small for gestational age baby (PDF, 175kB)
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Consumer information
- Small for gestational age baby (PDF, 842kB)
Standard care
Standard care (Updated Nov 2022)
Guideline
- Guideline: Standard care (PDF, 383kB)
- Supplement: Standard care (PDF, 269kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Standard care: summary flowchart (PDF, 39.8kB)
Additional resources
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Branch - Guidelines for health professionals including effective and culturally appropriate communication, and resources for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and consumers
Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care
Queensland Health Informed Consent
- Partnering with the woman who declines recommended maternity care clinical guideline, information for women (consumers), and clinical forms.
Operational frameworks
Maternity shared care
- Maternity shared care (PDF, 275kB)
- Supplement: Maternity shared care (PDF, 213kB)
ACM midwifery guidelines for consultation and referral
Rescinded clinical guidelines and previous versions may be made available by request. Contact us for further information. View version history for all guidelines.