What is antenatal and postnatal care?
Antenatal care
Antenatal care is the check-ups you have during your pregnancy to assess, monitor, and manage the health of you and your baby throughout pregnancy.
Even if your pregnancy is going well, it’s important to have antenatal care so that you can identify and manage any risks, to keep you and your baby as safe and healthy as possible.
Antenatal appointments are also a great chance to ask questions about things you’re unsure of and learn more about pregnancy and birth.
Postnatal care
Postnatal care refers to the support provided to a parent and their newborn following birth, typically lasting for at least six weeks, although this can vary depending on individual circumstances. GPs are well placed to provide clinical care, advice, and monitoring during this crucial period, addressing both physical and emotional concerns.
These visits allow for assessments that help identify potential issues and offer guidance and support for ongoing recovery. Additionally, parents have the opportunity to reflect on their birth and pregnancy experiences, ask questions, and discuss any worries they may have.
Postnatal care is important for supporting a safe recovery, preventing or caring for complications like infections or postpartum depression, and helping parents feel more confident in their ability to care for themselves as well as their newborn.
What involvement can my GP have in my care?
Your GP is often the first health professional you see when you fall or suspect you are pregnant. When a pregnancy is confirmed, it’s important to plan your next steps with your GP, which can include scheduling any necessary appointments and planning your antenatal care. Your GP can coordinate the delivery of tests and treatments appropriate to each stage of pregnancy.
Your GP can talk to you about your options for pregnancy care and the birth.
Your doctor can also help you make lifestyle changes that are good for your baby, such as stopping smoking or drinking alcohol.
Your GP will check your overall health and ask you about your medical history. They will want to know about any health issues that could affect you or your baby.
Initially your GP can:
- ask you about any previous pregnancies and your medical history
- recommend certain tests such as checking for anaemia, blood disorders, or diseases that can be dangerous during pregnancy
- refer you to the place where you’d like to give birth or the health professionals you’d like to care for you.
- assess your health
- refer you for an ultrasound to estimate your due date
Shared care arrangement – option for higher GP involvement
What is shared care?
Some GPs can have a higher involvement in antenatal and postnatal care with a ‘shared care arrangement’.
This is an arrangement between your GP and a public birthing facility, in which you see your GP for most of your pregnancy care, with the public birthing facility health care professionals providing care in early and late pregnancy, as well as labour.
Shared care is an option for people with a low-risk pregnancy and can arranged with any of our GPs at Bremer Medical Centre and eligible hospitals. Although, if you face complications during pregnancy, your GP may transfer you to specialist care.
The benefits of shared care can typically include:
- the ability to have your regular GP, who is familiar with you and your medical history, provide care during your pregnancy
- the ability for the same GP who knows your pregnancy history, to continue caring for you after your pregnancy, allowing for a more personalized and informed approach to your postpartum healthcare
- attending appointments closer to home
- having more flexibility in appointment times
Appointments
To make an appointment you may book online or call us on (07) 3381 1800.
