Pregnancy is a very exciting time for you and your family. Thank you for allowing us to share this very important occasion with you.

Before Your First Antenatal Visit with Us

I encourage you contact us as soon as your pregnancy is confirmed so we can work out with you a suitable appointment time and office for this visit. This visit can be at my rooms in either Hornsby or Castle Hill, whichever is more convenient.

If you have any concerns or problems before this first visit, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Your First Antenatal Visit

The first antenatal visit is an exciting time when you start to get to know me and I start to get to know you.

It is good if your husband/partner can also attend at this visit.

You will need to bring with you the referral letter from your general practitioner and any relevant past medical (including pregnancy) history information. Also please bring any pathology and scan results that may be relevant. We will also need to know your Medicare and health fund details (if you are in a fund) and your bank account details (if you wish to take advantage of our Medicare-on-line services (see fees).

If you are a visitor from overseas you may not have Medicare cover. In that event you will not need a referral from a general practitioner. If you have overseas heath fund cover can you please bring details with you.
 
My secretary will be the first person you meet at our office. She will explain our pregnancy care procedure, our fee program in detail and will give you a folder to keep containing extensive pregnancy care information.
 
At this visit I will spend time getting to know you and your expectations. I allow plenty of time for this visit and certainly don't want you to feel rushed. I will take a full medical (including past pregnancy) history and conduct a physical examination. This examination usually includes a pelvic examination and a Pap smear (if a Pap smear is due). Please bring a list of any questions, concerns or special requests. I want to provide you with personalised care and satisfy of your concerns and requests.

I have just purchased a state of the art Sonoscape S8 4D (3D with movement) ultrasound machine. I will be able to scan your baby at this visit if suitable and at subsequent visits as indicated. It is portable so I can use it are both rooms. While it has a large screen I will be connecting it to a plasma scree monitor also for your convenience.

I will give you a referral for pathology tests for Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology. My routine pregnancy tests are for anaemia, iron stores, blood group, red cell antibodies, Rubella immunity, Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, iodine and urinary infection. I will also give you a referral for a nuchal translucency scan or early pregnancy scan as appropriate at the San Ultrasound for Women or the  Hills Ultrasound for Women and a letter of introduction to the hospital you plan to attend for your confinement. You should arrange your booking at the hospital before your second antenatal visit.
 
Maternity bookings for the San can be arranged by phoning 9487 9908, and for Norwest Private by phoning 8882 8882.

Subsequent Antenatal Visits

Antenatal visits are requested regularly throughout your pregnancy. You will usually need to attend monthly until 28 weeks, and then fortnightly until 36 weeks, and weekly until your baby is born. If there are any issues you may be asked to attend more frequently.

These visits are usually straightforward visits. They are necessary to check your progress in pregnancy, your well being and the well being of your baby, to identify problems, to address any queries or concerns you may have and to start planning your delivery.

As we consider a holistic approach is important, it is not unusual to have discussion on other concerns that patients may have and may wish to share. These concerns may not be specifically about their own physical well being or their baby's well being. If it is a problem for you and you wish to discuss it with us then we would like to hear - our goal is your overall well being. We allow plenty of time for these visits and certainly don't want you to feel rushed.

Usually only an abdominal physical examination is required at these visits. You will need to bring a urine specimen with you. We will give you a container for your urine specimen.
 
The following checks will be made at each subsequent antenatal visit: 

• Your blood pressure
• Abdomen palpation (to check the size and position of baby)
• Fetal heart rate (after about 14 weeks)
• Urine testing for protein (toxaemia or kidney disease) and sugar (diabetes)
• Your weight
• 4D ultrasound scan of your baby as appropriate