About Us

The Perinatal Advice Referral and Liaison Service (PEARLS) provides both advice and referrals for pregnant women experiencing a complicated pregnancy. Sometimes women have a medical condition which requires our expert care and at other times it is the unborn baby that requires our expert care. We understand experiencing a complicated pregnancy can be a stressful and challenging time and our PEARLS team will assist you by coordinating the services that will support you and your baby’s health. PEARLS will receive a referral from your health care provider.

Our service to you

Our expert team of specialist midwives, nurses, doctors and surgeons work together to ensure you and your baby receive the best care. The PEARLS are a team of experienced midwives and nurses who will care for you when:

• your baby requires surgery soon after birth
• your baby needs a planned admission to Neonatal Intensive Care
• you have a major medical condition
• you have a complex pregnancy
• you need additional specialist support through your pregnancy and childbirth

 

PEARLS Midwifery Care

In your pregnancy, your PEARLS midwife will provide you a direct mobile phone number to contact for:

• all your questions and concerns
• coordinating your antenatal, birth & postnatal care
• completing your Parent Education program, including breastfeeding your baby
• discussions about keeping your labour and birth normal
• recording your Birth Plan
• offering you orientation to Birth Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care at the Children’s Hospital Westmead, so you become familiar with these places before your baby is born
• if you are travelling from within NSW, interstate or overseas, we will help you arrange to stay close to Westmead Hospital while you await the birth of your baby and, if needed, after your baby is born.

 

Babies and surgery at the Children’s Hospital

Once your baby is born at Westmead Hospital and needs surgery in the first few weeks of life, care will be shared with the Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care at the Children’s Hospital Westmead.

The PEARLS team meet with Maternal and Fetal Medicine Specialists, Neonatal Intensive Care doctors and surgeons, to plan the care for your baby’s birth, and transfer to the Children’s Hospital Westmead. A mobile intensive care unit will be ready at your birth and to move your baby around the two specialist hospitals.

• Learn more about providing breast milk for your baby
• Learn more about choosing where to stay in Westmead
• Parents guide to the Grace Centre for Newborn Intensive Care

Learn about other families' experiences having a:

• complex pregnancy
• baby needing heart surgery

 

Patient stories

Our baby had an abdominal wall defect

My journey was a long one, full of worry and stress but the good did eventually outweigh the tough times we experienced as new parents. Read more...