Antenatal and Shared Care Bentleigh East

Pre-pregnancy Planning

Planning a pregnancy is a crucial time to maintain optimum health. Our GPs are trained to provide pre-pregnancy counselling to assist woman and couples to best manage a future pregnancy.

Our GPs at Mackie Road can screen for relevant medical conditions, susceptibility to certain infections and nutrient deficiencies to then recommend treatment to optimize an impending pregnancy.

They offer advice on pre-pregnancy folic acid and iodine, alcohol intake, optimal diet/exercise/weight, timing of intercourse and vaccinations.

Shared Care

Shared pregnancy care means that you are able to see the same GP throughout your pregnancy as well as some visits at the hospital. Your chosen GP and hospital will be responsible for ‘sharing your care’. Some advantages of shared care are:

• Continuity of care thus establishing a trusting relationship with your GP
• Enabling you to see a doctor who is familiar with your medical history
• Fewer hospital visits and waiting times at Hospital Outpatient Clinics
• Majority of your care at a central, convenient location
• Follow up care of you and your new baby when you return heome

Dr Timothy Foo is an experienced GP who is accredited to provide shared pregnancy care with the Royal Women’s Hospital (Sandringham) and Monash Medical Centre (Clayton).

A shared antenatal record is completed by the GP and hospital thus it is important to bring this to each visit. It is also important to inform reception staff that you are booking a shared antenatal consultation when booking your appointment.

Women are seen monthly until week 30, then fortnightly to 36 weeks then weekly thereafter. Hospital visits usually occur for an initial assessment at 12-16 weeks and then at week 28, 36 and 41. The initial GP appointment is 30 minutes and then 15-30 minutes thereafter.

Postnatal Care

Six weeks after birth, please arrange an appointment with your GP for both you and your baby to have a six week postnatal check, in addition to an appointment with our practice nurse for your baby’s six week immunisations. Please advise reception staff of this visit so a 30 minute appointment for yourself then a 15 minute appointment for baby can be booked (either consecutively or separately). Please bring your baby’s Health and Development Book to these important appointments.