Blog
Latest Posts
Male newborn circumcision
I recently circumcised the newborn son of a patient, at her request. I had a chat with her about how the popularity of male newborn circumcisions has changed over the years. When I started my training to become an obstetrician doctor, male newborn circumcision was...
“Will I have normal delivery?”
Patients often ask me : “Will I have normal delivery?” I had thought, and Suzie had thought, she would have a normal delivery. It was her third pregnancy. She had had vaginal deliveries with the first two. Her second labour was only 2.5 hrs duration. This pregnancy...
Caesarean Section – what to expect
Caesarean section is either an emergency or elective operation. An emergency Caesarean section is done when there is an urgent complication in pregnancy or labour which significantly compromises your or your baby’s wellbeing (or both). This implies that continuing the...
Study hard
My oldest grandchild is doing her HSC trial examinations. She should do well. I have encouraged my grandchildren to study hard, sharing with them my own story. I was brought up in a fibro house with an outside toilet in southwest Sydney. I was the middle of three...
Public hospital would not give high risk patient an initial antenatal clinic appointment
A new uninsured patient attended for her first antenatal visit with me last week. She was 23 weeks pregnant in her third pregnancy. I asked her where she had been attending for her antenatal care to date this pregnancy. She said nowhere. She was seeing her...
Self-funding private pregnancy care
I am finding more pregnant patients are self-funding. They want private pregnancy care with a specialist obstetrician and are either not in health fund or they did not realise that the health fund cover they took out did not include private hospital pregnancy care. To...
“Private pregnancy care was not possible because she was not insured”
My wife Robyn had lunch recently with a couple from church. Jenny told us that their daughter had a baby recently. She wanted to have private pregnancy care. Their daughter and her husband had private health insurance but had unintentionally not included pregnancy...
Cerebral palsy in many cases has a genetic cause
“Birth asphyxia” (lack of oxygen and blood flow to the baby’s brain) is a label and convenient explanation given to parents by paediatricians when a baby is delivered with low Apgar scores, requires resuscitation, or if neonatal fits occur. The second diagnosis that...
Mirena IUCD gives 8 years of contraception
The Mirena IUCD is very popular method of contraception. Most women have no issues with it after insertion, it gives very effective contraception, is cheap, and usually results in no or minimal menstrual loss. When it was introduced by Bayer Pharmaceutical recommended...
A tragic labour and childbirth outcome that was potentially avoidable.
Bec travelled from her home in Central Queensland to see me for consultation in my office in Norwest NSW. The distance was about 1,500 km and it would have taken almost 17hrs if travelling by road without a break according to Google maps. She had found out about me...
Mortgage arrears for Australian homeowners have reached a three-year high
My accountancy firm (Cutcher and Neale) each day email me a general financial news update. A portion of yesterday’s email is below. It is published with Cutcher and Neal's permission. The information very much supports my decision to reintroduce our ‘No Gap Pregnancy...
“I hope you will still be around when I have my next baby”
Erin saw me for her postnatal visit yesterday. She said to me as she was leaving: “I hope you will still be around when I have my next baby” Patients say that comment or similar comments to me often at their postnatal visits. They appreciate my care and want me to be...
Being Overweight And Pregnant
Contents Risks of Being Overweight and Pregnant Pregnancy Labour and Delivery Anaesthetics After Delivery Long Term What Can Be Done About It? Become Aware During Pregnancy Before You Are PregnantManagement of childbirth in the excessively overweight patient was a...
A probable case of pseudocyesis or a false pregnancy
A midwife woke me at 1.30am this morning to tell me that a patient of mine had presented to the birth unit and told the midwife she was 26 weeks pregnancy with twin pregnancy. She went on to say the patient woman had had an ultrasound scan the day before (Saturday)...
Severe hypertension in pregnancy with preeclampsia
I was very pleased to see Amelia (not real name) for management of her 3rd pregnancy. But there were concerns. Amelia has a history of pyelonephritis (kidney infection) in 2014 and chronic hypertension (elevated blood pressure). Her previous two pregnancies were...
The challenges of a having large unborn baby
Jennifer (not real name) booked with me for management of her first pregnancy. She and her husband are a delightful couple, and they were very excited about having a baby. Jennifer was planning to have vaginal delivery. Her baby measured about 1 week larger than her...
Contraception after Pregnancy
When do I need contraception after I have had my baby? Breastfeeding will give some protection, especially while you are fully breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should not be relied on exclusively, as unplanned pregnancies do occur while breastfeeding and even before your...
How long should I wait before having another baby?
Patients ask me at their postnatal visits, from time to time: ”How long should I wait before having another baby?” While there are no set rules, there are considerations that you should think about before trying again. My personal opinion is that about 18 to 24 months...
Can I still breastfeed while I am pregnant?
Newly pregnancy multiparous patients sometimes ask me: "Can I still breastfeed while I am pregnant?” For many women breastfeeding gives them great joy, as well as being a healthy source of nutrition for their infant. The simple answer is: “Yes.” A women can continue...
Experience is important
I recently met a newly appointed young obstetrician at the hospital. I asked her how she was going. She replied: “It is frightening”. She had finished her training four years earlier and now she was having to do things without the umbrella of the training programme...
Book an appointment now
- Monday all day 9.00am to 4.30pm
- Tuesday all day 9.00am to 4.30pm
- Wednesday all day 9.00am to 4.30pm
- Thursday morning 9.00am to 12.30pm
- Thursday alternate afternoons 2.00pm to 4.30pm
- Friday alternate mornings 9.00am to 1.00pm
- Friday afternoon 2.00pm to 4.30pm
- Saturday mornings 9.30am to 12.00 midday*
*Saturday morning appointments are not available for initial antenatal visit.