Thank you for booking your maternity care with Portiuncula. When your GP refers you for care you will initially receive an appointment to attend for a dating ultrasound scan. You will then receive an onward appointment for a virtual (video) ‘Attend Anywhere’ clinic where a midwife takes your history. This is then followed by an appointment in the hospital where you are seen by a consultant.

All women are stratified for antenatal care at this point into the Supported Pathway of care (Midwifery-led), assisted or specialised care (Obstetrician-led).

Most women have shared care with their GP. Some women also choose to avail of private care with a named consultant.

Phone: 090 96 48372

The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) is a dedicated specialist unit that manages issues that can arise for women in early pregnancy, including most commonly vaginal bleeding or pain.

The unit runs Monday to Friday and is supported by a midwife, sonographers and the obstetric team.

Referrals are from the emergency Department or your GP.

The Fetal Assessment Unit is located on the second floor of Portiuncula university hospital.

Once we have received the referral from your Gp, you will receive an appointment for your dating scan.

Phone: 090 96 25128

Midwifery care is based on promoting good health and taking preventative steps to avoid or minimise issues arising.

Here in PUH following your initial hospital booking and early pregnancy date scan if you and your pregnancy are assessed to be low rise seeing a midwife at the midwifery clinics will be considered the most appropriate pathway for your ongoing pregnancy.

Your Midwife will provide lots of information about labour, childbirth and looking after your new-born baby.

The Midwives clinic aims to provide women with centred, holistic care where dignity, privacy and individuality are respected.

The ante care is flexible and can be arranged according to your needs.

Our MLC are based here in PUH, we also have outreach clinics in Loughrea PCCC and Athlone PCCC Clonbrusk.

The clinic midwives will aim to return your call in a timely manner. In the case of urgent concerns contact the Labour Ward.

Phone: 086 040 4690

This service is provided by a committed, highly skilled physiotherapy team, in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. Referrals are received from your GP and the Obstetric Team.

Phone: 090 96 48279

We have a dedicated Bereavement Support Midwife who, along with the whole team, cares for and supports women and families when they lose a baby. Pastoral care are also part of the bereavement support team in Portiuncula.

Phone: 090 96 25174

The Young Parents Support Programme is a support service for young mothers, young fathers and their families. The provides a range of supports to young people who become parents when they are 19 and under.

These supports are available from TPSP during pregnancy and up until your child is 2 years of age.

The service is available in both city and County Galway.

The service is free and confidential and is available to all young parents, of any nationality, background or culture, living in Galway City and County.

Our focus is to promote and enhance the well-being of young parents and their children.

Please refer to our website if you require a referral or for further information

Galway: https://youngparents.ie/projects/galway-ypsp/

Westmeath: https://youngparents.ie/projects/westmeath-ypsp/

Phone: 0852773139

This service, led by the Social Work Department, provides a woman-centered, non-directive, non-judgemental counselling service where all options are discussed.

Email: ballinasloecps@hse.ie

Phone: 1800 200 600

Approximately 40% of women having their first baby will give birth by Caesarean Birth.  For most, this will have been an emergency caesarean birth. 90% of women who had a previous baby by caesarean will be considered suitable to plan for a vaginal birth for their next baby.

Many women may decide that they would like to be supported to have a vaginal birth for their next baby (VBAC), others would opt for a planned caesarean birth.  Regardless of their preference evidence tells us that women value being informed, and actively involved, in decision making within maternity care, having a more positive maternity care experience.  Both options are safe overall in a well-resourced maternity care system, each conferring different benefits and risks, the significance of each being very individual to each pregnant women, and support persons.

To support active decision making in pregnancy Portiuncula University Hospital offers a Birth After Caesarean clinic for all women who have one previous caesarean birth. The aim of this clinic is to support a fuller discussion on your previous birth, decision-making and the individual factors that may influence both your options and your birth outcomes.

After your booking appointment, you will be referred to the BAC clinics, facilitated by a senior midwife, for your antenatal care between 20 and 30 weeks gestation, for two appointments, returning to your consultant clinic from 32 weeks on.  You have the option to return to BAC clinic later in your pregnancy, if you wish to discuss any issues, or care planning, as the birth becomes closer.

The Birth Reflections Clinic offers a non-judgmental and confidential service, supported by an experienced Midwife, which provides the opportunity for you to discuss Your experience and share your feelings, and reflections, on your care and gain clarity, understanding and hopefully resolve any unanswered questions This opportunity to discuss your experience can help considerably to obtain a greater understanding of events, why possible intervention was deemed necessary, and the potential implications for your future births.

This service is available to all women who have ever attended, birthed or are currently pregnant and planning to birth in Portiuncula University Hospital.  If you are currently pregnant and feel this service would be of value to you please ask your midwife, or obstetrician, to refer you to the clinic. Following the birth of your baby, you can self-refer for an appointment, anytime from six weeks postnatal, by contacting BirthReflections.PUH@hse.ie and the birth reflection midwife will return your email to discuss what might work best for you.

Email: birthreflections.puh@hse.ie

Babies admitted to the SCBU receive specialised care from the caring and competent team of nurses and neonatal team. Babies born before 32 weeks will be transferred to a tertiary unit for care.

Phone: 090 96 48283

In October 2023, we commenced a new service here in PUH, our Enhanced postnatal service.

This service works together with your GP and PHN, in the time after the birth of your baby.

Our midwives meets all the women and their babies prior to discharge from hospital. You will be given an appointment for a postnatal clinic, at a postnatal hub that is convenient for you and your family. This is a flexible service and will be arranged according to your needs.

At each visit your midwife will provide a full assessment of you and your baby, to ensure you are recovering well from the birth, both physically and emotionally. Also assessing your babys feeding and general wellbeing. 

This visit will give you an opportunity to address any issues or concerns you may have following the birth, as you embark on this wonderful journey into parenthood.

The location of the Post natal hubs include:

Ballinasloe: Poolboy Hub H53RP82

Athlone: Clonbrusk PCCC

Loughrea PCCC (St Brendans home)

Phone: 087 488 4575