Congratulations on your pregnancy
Here at Barwon Heads Family Practice, we aim to support you throughout your 9-month journey. The initial stages of pregnancy can be an extremely exciting and sometimes daunting time and we hope that this document answers some of the questions you might have.
Pregnancy Models of Care:
You have a number of options about who you want to be involved in caring for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy – the most common options are obstetric care with the team of specialists and midwives at Barwon Health, private obstetric care with an obstetrician of your choice or shared care with your GP.
At Barwon Heads Family Practice Dr Jessica Russell is registered to provide a “Shared Care” model and can fulfil the role of your primary care provider throughout your pregnancy in close coordination with the team at Barwon Health.
Find out more about some of your options for care during your pregnancy by accessing this link:
https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/maternity-services/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/types-of-pregnancy-care
Fees
For pregnancy shared consultations the out of pocket fee for Medicare card holders is the same regardless of appointment duration. All pregnancy shared care consultations are 30 min long to provide best quality of care. $71 out of pocket for each consultation
Diet and Lifestyle
Taking care of yourself and your body is important during pregnancy. The following links have some evidence-based advice which is a great place to start:
https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/pregnancy-and-birth/a-healthy-pregnancy/quick-tips/• https://patient.info/pregnancy/diet-and-lifestyle-during-pregnancy
Many women also want to know more about diet and weight gain in pregnancy
https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/consumer/generalissues/pregnancy/pages/default.aspx
https://ranzcog.edu.au/womens-health/patient-information-resources/why-your-weight-matters
At Barwon Heads Family Practice, we are also lucky enough to have an in-house nutritionist, Kaitlin Wapshott. Kaitlin has a special interest and additional training in perinatal and paediatric nutrition, if you would like to book an appointment please talk to the reception.
Genetic Screening in Pregnancy
A lot of people wish to avail of genetic screening tests during pregnancy. These tests are designed to assess baby’s risk of having a chromosomal disorder such as Down Syndrome. The decision about whether to undergo screening for genetic problems is a personal one and something you might want to discuss further with your doctor.
More information on available genetic tests is outlined below:
https://www.vcgs.org.au/tests
Emotional Health
It is extremely important to look after your emotional and psychological well-being throughout your pregnancy. While having a baby is a joyous and exciting experience for many, it can also be a stressful time. Smiling Mind and Beyond Blue have produced a mindfulness meditation app specifically for pregnancy – https://www.mindthebump.org.au
It is important that you feel happy and safe during your pregnancy. If you are concerned about your safety or the safety of those around you, a member of our team is always available at the clinic.