Antenatal (Pregnancy) Care
Book a Antenatal (Pregnancy) Care with Bluff Road Medical Doctors
Antenatal (Pregnancy) Care
If youāre expecting a baby, itās important to understand the various pregnancy and birth care options available to you. Here are your choices:
- Supplements āĀ Please note you may wish to start taking a pre-conception Folate supplement (usually 500mcg folate) and Iodine supplementation in the month prior to conception, or as soon as you see a positive pregnancy test until the end of pregnancy or as advised by your GP.
- If you eat a balanced diet, you are unlikely to require regular multivitamin supplementation during your pregnancy.
- Genetic Carrier TestsĀ ā You may wish to discuss with your partner and consider having a carrier genetic screening test (preferably done before they get pregnant),Ā and women can organise this themselves via the Victorian Clinical Genetics Service (VCGS).
- Further general and reliable information at the Royal Womenās HospitalĀ Website.
Throughout your pregnancy, most of your appointments will be with us, while some will be at the hospital. Usually around 8-10 appointments are scheduled with your GP, of which 3-4 visits are at the hospital.
- Continuity of care throughout your pregnancy and beyond
- More time to discuss your needs and concerns
- Reduced wait time in a familiar GP environment
- Ongoing postnatal care provided to you, your newborn and the rest of the family.
Your GP will recommend a variety of screenings during your pregnancy to monitor the health of yourself and your baby. These tests may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- An initial blood test:
- Full Blood Count, Iron, Blood Group and Antibody screen
- Screen for infections including HIV, Hep C, Hep B, Syphilis
- Rubella and Varicella immunity status
- Urine test for bacterial or sexually transmitted infections ā based on risk
- Thyroid or Vitamin D ā based on risk
- An Ultrasound to confirm your due date (available from 6 weeks, ideally around 7-8 weeks, and often recommended for women who have experienced bleeding during early pregnancy or those who have a history of miscarriages)
- Genetic Screening tests from 10 weeks onwards, tailored to the individual
- Non Invasive Prenatal Testing ā can be taken anytime from 10 weeks
- First Trimester Screening test
- Blood test between 10 and 11 weeks combined with the ultrasound results at 12-13 weeks
- Ultrasound at 12-13 weeks (recommended even if not doing first trimester screening)
- Complete anatomical ultrasound survey approx. 19-20 weeks
- Blood test at 28 weeks
- Fasting 2 hour ā oral glucose tolerance test checking for Diabetes
- Full blood count, Iron levels and Blood Group Antibody Screen
- Blood pressure checks and abdominal examinations throughout pregnancy
- Foetal heart monitoring after 24 weeks
Weāll refer you for any necessary tests mentioned and discuss the results with you.
Dr Joan San
MBBS, FRACGP, DRANZCOG
Dr Joan San provides advice on fertility issues, prenatal planning and testing, antenatal shared care, travelling while pregnant, postnatal and newborn examinations. Dr Joan spent several years working as a GP obstetrician managing pregnancy and delivering babies at a rural hospital.
Availability:Ā Dr Joan San
Dr Alison Sully
MBBS (Hons), FRACGP, DCH
Dr Alison has a special interest in women’s health pregnancy and is able to manage shared care patients at both Monash or Sandringham Hospitals.
Availability:Ā Dr Alison Sully
Dr Angela Keen
MBBS (Hons), BMBS, FRACGP, DRANZCOG
Dr Angela is another one of our shared care doctors. She has a Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology completed at the Mercy Hospital in 2012.
Availability:Ā Dr Angela Keen
Dr Kate Exon
MBBS (Hons.), FRACGP, DRANZCOG
Dr Kate has a Diploma of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She is interested in all aspects of medicine, especially womenās health and antenatal care.
Availability:Ā Dr Kate Exon