Maternity and Neonatal Clinical Guidelines
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Maternity
Analgesia in labour
Short guides
- Short Guide: Epidural in labour (PDF, 91kB)
- Short Guide: Nitrous oxide and oxygen in labour (PDF, 87kB)
- Short Guide: Opioids in labour (PDF, 89kB)
- Short Guide: Remifentanil via PCA in labour (PDF, 92kB)
COVID-19 guidance for maternity services (Updated 28 Sept 2020)
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Maternity care for mothers and babies during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 745kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Maternity care for mothers and babies during the COVID-19 pandemic (PDF, 223 kB)
- Operational Framework: COVID-19 for maternity and neonatal services (PDF, 357kB)
- Clinical Guidance Note: Perinatal mental health screening in COVID-19 (PDF,304kB)
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: Triage and risk assessment of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 woman (PDF, 107kB)
- Flowchart: Neonate of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 mother (PDF, 90kB)
- Flowchart: Assessment of inpatient woman (PDF, 74kB)
- 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)
Short Video
- Video: COVID-19 and pregnancy (minutes: 1:45)
- Video: Reduce the risk - COVID-19 and pregnancy (minutes: 1:41)
Consumer information
- COVID-19 and pregnancy (PDF, 283kB)
- COVID-19 and breastfeeding (PDF, 302kB)
Early Pregnancy Loss
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)
- RhD negative blood type in pregnancy (PDF, 394kB)
Early onset Group B Streptococcal disease (Updated April 2020)
Guideline
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Maternal management of EOGBSD (PDF, 209kB)
- Flowchart: Neonatal management of EOGBSD (PDF, 78kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in pregnancy (PDF, 278kB)
Fetal movements (Updated Sept 2020)
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)
Gestational diabetes mellitus (Updated Feb 2021)
Guideline
- Clinical Guideline: Gestational diabetes mellitus (PDF, 471kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Gestational diabetes mellitus (PDF, 176kB)
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
- Presentation: Gestational diabetes mellitus (PDF, 244kB)
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)
- Metformin information (PDF, 540kB)
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 (Updated Feb 2021)
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
Guideline
- Guideline: Induction of labour (PDF 389kB)
- 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 (IOL) (PDF, 751kB)
Instrumental vaginal birth (Updated Sept 2020)
ShortGUIDE
- ShortGUIDE: Instrumental vaginal birth (PDF, 167kB)
- Supplement: Instrumental vaginal birth (PDF, 211kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Instrumental vaginal birth (PDF, 858kB)
Intrapartum fetal surveillance (Updated Dec 2019)
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 (Updated August 2020)
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
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)
- Vaginal examination in labour (PDF, 438kB)
Additional resources
Obesity in pregnancy (Under review)
Guideline
- Guideline: Obesity in pregnancy (PDF, 712kB)
- Supplement: Obesity in pregnancy (PDF, 192kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Poster: Obesity in pregnancy (PDF, 409kB)
- Poster: Body Mass Index (BMI) Graph (PDF, 132kB)
- Poster: Nutrient requirements in pregnancy post bariatric surgery (PDF, 93kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Weight management in pregnancy (PDF, 420kB)
Perinatal substance use: maternal (Under review)
See also Perinatal substance use: neonatal
Guideline
- Perinatal substance use: maternal (PDF, 337 kB)
- Supplement: Perinatal substance use: maternal (PDF, 179 kB)
- See also Perinatal substance use: neonatal
Flowcharts and Posters
- Flowchart: Perinatal substance use management (PDF, 81 kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Using drugs in pregnancy (PDF,321kB)
Perineal care (Updated Sept 2020)
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)
ShortGUIDE
Education
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 June 2020)
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 (Updated Sept 2020)
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)
Stillbirth care (Updated Nov 2019)
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 (Updated Feb 2021)
Guideline
- Guideline: Syphilis in pregnancy (PDF, 735kB)
- 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 August 2020)
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 (Updated Sep 2019)
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) (Updated Sept 2020)
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 (Updated August 2020)
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, 303kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Routine newborn assessment (PDF, 161kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Routine newborn assessment (PDF, 95kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Routine newborn assessment (PDF, 911kB)
Breastfeeding - Establishing breastfeeding
Guideline
- Guideline: Establishing breastfeeding (PDF, 336kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Establishing breastfeeding (PDF, 179kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Breastfeeding sleepy baby (PDF, 106kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Breastfeeding your baby (PDF,379kB)
Hypoglycaemia - Newborn (Updated Oct 2019)
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
Guideline
- Guideline: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (PDF, 488kB)
- Supplement: Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (PDF, 231kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Flowchart: Clinical features, investigations and management (PDF, 105kB)
- Flowchart: Criteria for therapeutic hypothermia (cooling) (PDF, 146kB)
- Flowchart: Checklist for therapeutic hypothermia (cooling) (PDF, 223kB)
- Flowchart: Passive cooling (PDF, 257kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (PDF, 337kB)
Jaundice - Neonatal
Guideline
- Guideline: Neonatal jaundice (PDF, 786kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Neonatal jaundice (PDF, 203kB)
Flowcharts
- Flowchart: Management of neonatal jaundice (PDF, 112kB)
- Nomograms: Phototherapy and exchange transfusion graphs (PDF, 554kB)
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 (Updated Sept 2020)
Guideline
Flowcharts and posters
Education
Consumer information
- Babies born very early (PDF, 324kB)
Perinatal substance use: neonatal
See also Perinatal substance use: maternal
Guideline
- Guideline: Perinatal substance use: neonatal (PDF, 800kB)
- Guideline Supplement: Perinatal substance use: neonatal (PDF, 441kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Management of neonatal abstinence syndrome (PDF, 229 kB)
- Morphine dosing and weaning schedule (PDF, 144 kB)
- Phenobarbitone dosing and weaning schedule (PDF, 106 kB)
- Management and follow up of baby of hepatitis C infected woman (PDF, 114 kB)
Education
- Presentation: Perinatal substance use: neonatal (PDF 788kB) (Updated May 2018)
- Knowledge assessment: Perinatal substance use: neonatal
Consumer information
- Neonatal (newborn) abstinence syndrome (NAS) (PDF, 301kB)
Respiratory distress and CPAP (Updated June 2020)
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
Guideline
- Guideline: Neonatal resuscitation (PDF, 720kB)
- Supplement: Neonatal resuscitation (PDF, 202kB)
Flowcharts and posters
- Neonatal resuscitation (PDF, 325kB)
- Neonatal resuscitation reference chart (PDF, 751kB)
- Neonatal resuscitation equipment checklist (PDF, 230kB)
Education
Consumer information
- Newborn resuscitation (PDF, 422kB)
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 (New Feb 2021)
Consensus statement
- Consensus statement: Retinopathy of prematurity (PDF, 142kB)
Seizures - neonatal (Updated Oct 2019)
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
Consumer information
- Seizures in newborn babies (PDF, 479kB)
Stabilisation for retrieval - neonatal
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
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
Guideline
- Guideline: Standard care (PDF, 233kB)
- Supplement: Standard care (PDF, 184kB)
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, 142kB)
- Supplement: Maternity shared care (PDF, 110kB)
COVID-19: For maternity and neonatal services
Non-urgent referral for antenatal care
- Non-urgent referral for antenatal care (PDF, 214kB)
- Supplement: Non-urgent referral for antenatal care (PDF, 187kB)
Rescinded clinical guidelines and previous versions may be made available by request. Contact us for further information. View version history for all guidelines.