Care begins even before becoming pregnant
Pre-pregnancy Counselling
Preparing for pregnancy is ideal in order to achieve the best outcomes for you and your baby. I recommend that every person planning to conceive in the next 6–12 months seeks advice from an obstetrician before starting to try for a baby. The session involves me taking a detailed history to enable a thorough assessment of the possible risks you may face during pregnancy. I will then be able to create a detailed, individualised plan that optimises fertility and pregnancy outcomes (this will include future pregnancy recommendations based on your particular needs, with strategies to reduce the risk of complications such as preterm birth, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes and fetal growth restriction). This session is even more crucial for those with a poor obstetric history, gynaecological issues such as long, irregular cycles or PCOS, and/or underlying medical conditions.
The following will be discussed and explored:
Review of your obstetric and gynaecological history
Review of your medical history, with an assessment of current medications to ensure they are safe for pregnancy or changed to more suitable alternatives
Review and optimisation of your mental health
An extended discussion about family history and consideration of genetic carrier screening
Evaluation of your lifestyle factors
Commencement of appropriate dietary supplementation and multivitamins
Ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date
Identifying and tracking your fertile window, which will help you to conceive as quickly as possible
This is also a great opportunity to meet me and make sure I feel like the right fit for you and your family at this incredibly special time in your lives.
Of note, any patient that has seen me for pre-pregnancy counselling will automatically qualify to see me for pregnancy care, even if we have already met our strict monthly cap for maternity bookings.
