Confused about your birthing options on the Central Coast? We spoke with a local obstetrician to better understand what private care at Gosford Hospital looks like.
If you’ve spent any time in local mum groups lately, you’ve probably noticed a growing trend – more and more Central Coast families are heading to Sydney to have their babies.
For anyone who's ever had a fast labour – or even just sat in M1 traffic – the idea of making that trip while in labour feels... less than ideal.
But honestly, we get why this is happening. Since the closure of maternity services at Gosford Private Hospital last year, there’s been a lot of confusion about what options now exist for Central Coast families hoping to go private.
This week marks 12 months since Gosford Private's maternity services closed their doors, so we thought it was a good time to take a closer look at what’s now available for women who want to birth privately on the Central Coast.
We sat down with Dr Peta Skilbeck – a local obstetrician who cares for both public and private patients at Gosford Hospital (and clinical director of Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology) – to get some clear, practical answers.
We asked the questions we know local mums want clarity on – what are your options for birthing locally (and privately)? What facilities does Gosford Hospital actually offer? And what kind of support can women access locally during their pregnancy, birth and those early weeks at home? We covered a lot – from imaging and appointments to special care nurseries and postnatal care.
If you’re pregnant, hoping to be, or supporting someone who is, this is a really worthwhile read.
Here's what Dr Skilbeck told us.
Playing in Puddles:
Since the closure of Gosford Private's maternity services, we're hearing that more and more Central Coast families are now heading to Sydney to have their babies. Is it really necessary to be going to Sydney?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Many families understandably assume that travelling to Sydney automatically means a higher level of care. In reality, that simply isn’t the case for the vast majority of women.
There is no clinical reason for most Central Coast women to be travelling to Sydney for obstetric care. By birthing locally, women are not labouring in cars on the expressway, they remain close to their homes, their families and their support networks, without compromising on safety or expertise.
The risk posed by the travel distance to a Sydney hospital is an unnecessary risk for anyone during a pregnancy when we have such an amazing hospital right here on the coast.
Playing in Puddles:
What does Gosford Hospital offer that families might not realise?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Gosford Hospital is a strong choice for maternity care because it combines modern facilities, experienced clinicians and comprehensive on-site support.
Importantly, Gosford Hospital has a Level 3 Special Care Nursery. That means if a baby needs additional support after birth, it is available immediately in the same building – there's no delay and no risky transfers required. That level of capability is just not available in many private hospitals.
Playing in Puddles:
So this is really about having everything in one place if something unexpected happens. Tell us about that – how important is it to have doctors available on-site around the clock?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Having doctors available on site around the clock during labour and birth is extremely important. While the majority of births are straightforward, obstetrics is one of those areas of medicine where situations can change quickly and without warning.
When something unexpected happens, minutes matter.
At Gosford Hospital there is 24-hour on-site access to obstetric, anaesthetic and paediatric teams, as well as immediate access to theatre. That means if an urgent caesarean or intervention is required, it can happen without delay.
Women are assessed as soon as they arrive in labour, and care begins immediately. Their obstetrician is contacted by the midwives in order to make a management plan, but in the meantime there is a skilled medical team, including Obstetric Registrars, already present and on site in the event of any major emergency (while the private obstetrician makes their way in).
This is something that’s not always available in a private hospital – particularly if you arrive in the middle of the night.
At Gosford Hospital, that level of continuous medical presence provides a significant layer of safety and reassurance. It allows us to combine the continuity of private obstetric care with the infrastructure and backup of a major public hospital.
Beyond infrastructure, the strength of Gosford Hospital lies in its people. The midwives are highly experienced and have managed every type of birth and postnatal situation. That breadth of experience brings calm, confidence and clinical skill to the environment.
Playing in Puddles:
You chose to birth your own son at Gosford Hospital. What influenced that decision?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Yes, I did. I chose to birth my own children at the John Hunter Hospital (18 years ago) and Gosford Hospital (11 years ago). One of those babies finished high school last year, so today’s Gosford Hospital is even more state of the art than when I chose it as my preferred option!
As an obstetrician, I understand firsthand the potential risks involved in childbirth. We always plan for birth to be a smooth, straightforward event. But babies and bodies sometimes have their own plans.
In those rare but stressful moments, environment matters. I would always choose to be in a hospital that is designed to care for every woman, in every scenario. A hospital with immediate access to theatre, specialist obstetric and anaesthetic teams, paediatric support and a Level 3 Special Care Nursery on site.
That level of infrastructure provides reassurance you simply cannot replicate elsewhere, particularly not in a private hospital environment.
When it came to my own family, I chose the setting that offered comprehensive backup alongside experienced clinicians.
Playing in Puddles:
Some women assume that choosing private obstetric care means they have to give birth in a private hospital. How does private care at Gosford Hospital actually work?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
There is a very common misconception that choosing private obstetric care automatically means giving birth in a private hospital. That isn’t the case.
It’s important for families to understand that private care is about your relationship with your obstetrician and the continuity of that care. It does not require you to give birth in a standalone private hospital to receive high-quality, personalised obstetric management.
At Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology, our patients birth at Gosford Hospital as private patients under the care of their chosen obstetrician, Kelly, Jini or I. This model allows women to access the comprehensive facilities of a major public hospital (a much higher category of clinical care capability than a private hospital) while still receiving continuity of care from their own doctor.
Playing in Puddles:
So it’s not an either/or – you can have your own private obstetrician and still give birth in a public hospital. That's great for Central Coast women to know.
I know for many women, one of the biggest comforts in going with a private obstetrician is knowing their doctor before labour begins. Why do you think that helps?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Labour is one of the most physically and emotionally vulnerable moments in a woman’s life. Walking into that experience already knowing and trusting your doctor makes a significant difference.
When you’ve seen the same obstetrician throughout your pregnancy, they understand your medical history, your preferences, your concerns, your risk profile, and how you’re progressing at each point in your journey. That means fewer surprises, more informed shared decision-making, and a care plan that genuinely reflects you as an individual. You are not explaining your story to someone new in the middle of contractions. There is already a shared understanding.
That relationship builds trust, and trust reduces anxiety. When women feel safe and heard, labour often progresses more smoothly. Even if birth doesn’t unfold exactly as planned, having a familiar doctor guiding decisions in the moment provides reassurance.
For many families, that relationship is one of the greatest comforts as they approach birth.
Playing in Puddles:
You mention continuity of care. Can you expand on that? What does that look like during pregnancy with a private obstetrician?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Continuity of care with a private obstetrician means you see the same obstetrician, and the same small team of midwives, throughout your pregnancy, birth and early postnatal period.
Continuity of care is not just ‘nice to have’, it improves outcomes and women’s experience of care.
Research published last year in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology showed that continuity of care from an obstetrician significantly reduced the risk of preterm birth and improved a range of maternal and neonatal outcomes compared with standard care models where care is not continuous.
At Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology, your pregnancy journey includes a series of regular appointments. For most people, we commence with visits 4-weekly, progressing to 3-weekly, then fortnightly and, finally, weekly as you near your estimated due date.
Playing in Puddles:
And what about after baby arrives? Many families worry about the transition from hospital to home. Is there any help available in the early weeks with their baby?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
The transition from hospital to home is one of the most vulnerable periods in maternity care. For many families, that’s when the real questions and challenges begin.
Continuity of care should not stop at birth. That’s why at Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology, we’ve introduced ten at-home midwife visits that can be used from the time you get home after your birth up to the six-week postnatal consultation.
These visits provide clinical care for both mother and baby, including recovery checks, feeding support, weight monitoring and newborn assessments, all within the comfort of home. They also allow us to monitor maternal wellbeing during a peak time for mental health challenges and intervene early if support is needed.
To our knowledge, no other private obstetric provider on the Central Coast is offering this level of structured in-home support. We are intentionally evolving the private pregnancy care model locally.
It means women are known before birth, supported during birth and actively cared for once they return home. That full-circle continuity is what modern maternity care should look like.
Playing in Puddles:
For families considering a private obstetrician, can you tell us about any other advantages they might not realise they’ll receive as part of their care?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
Many families understandably focus on the birth itself when considering private obstetric care. What they may not realise is how much additional support and access is built around that experience.
Aside from the at-home midwife service we’ve recently introduced, our patients have access to advanced ultrasound imaging with fast report turnaround, including oversight from our Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, Dr Rajit Narayan. That level of specialist input provides reassurance if any complexities arise.
We bulk-bill dating scans, provide CTG fetal heart monitoring when clinically required, administer Anti-D at 28 and 34 weeks where indicated, and offer a non-diagnostic ultrasound viewing at every appointment. For many families, seeing their baby regularly throughout pregnancy is incredibly meaningful.
There are also practical advantages. We offer free on-site parking and a calm, modern clinic environment away from the hospital setting, with refreshments and a premium, unrushed experience. These details may seem small, but during pregnancy they contribute significantly to feeling cared for.
Following birth, paediatric services are available if and when needed, ensuring continuity extends beyond delivery.
We also provide access to carefully selected products that support maternal wellbeing, including hydration and recovery ranges designed specifically for pregnancy and postpartum.
Private obstetric care is not just about who delivers your baby. It’s about the quality, accessibility and continuity of care that surrounds your entire pregnancy journey.
Playing in Puddles:
If a Central Coast mum is trying to decide where to have her baby, what would you most want her to understand before making that decision?
Dr Peta Skilbeck:
I would want her to understand that she does not need to leave the Central Coast to access safe, high-quality obstetric care.
We are incredibly fortunate to have a modern, well-equipped hospital in Gosford with 24-hour access to theatre, specialist obstetric and anaesthetic teams, paediatric support and a Level 3 Special Care Nursery on site. That level of infrastructure provides reassurance that if something unexpected happens, care is immediate.
At the same time, private obstetric care allows her to build a trusted relationship with her doctor throughout pregnancy and to feel known and supported during birth.
I would encourage her to look beyond assumptions on Facebook group chats and actually come and speak to us about the experience we provide. We want mums to ask practical questions about safety which should be the number one consideration, but sadly, often it’s not. Birth is unpredictable. Planning for it to be smooth is important, but planning for every scenario is wiser.
You deserve to feel safe, informed and supported, and you can have that here, close to home, in the safest hospital in driving distance, surrounded by your community and your support network.
Choosing where to have your baby is one of those decisions that can feel surprisingly overwhelming – especially when there’s so much noise and advice coming from every direction.
If you’re expecting – or even just starting to think about your options – it can be helpful to have a conversation early and understand what care could look like for you.
If you're considering private obstetric care, you can book an initial appointment with Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology to explore your options (call 4321 0500).
If you’re still in the research phase, you can learn more about their approach and what they offer on their website here or scroll down to see the obstetric team.
Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Location: Suite 6, 12 Jarrett St, North Gosford. Free undercover parking is available for patients.
Phone: (02) 4321 0500
Email: [email protected]
Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology's Website
Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology's Facebook page
Intuition Obstetrics and Gynaecology's Instagram page
Written By: KATIE STOKES
Founder & Editor
After working in print and online media for more than a decade, Katie launched Playing in Puddles in 2017. A mum of three young boys and local of the Central Coast, Katie loves discovering and sharing all that’s happening in our region.
