Obstetrics
Obstetric Care Centred on You and Your Baby
I have extensive experience in obstetrics, having delivered over 7,500 babies, and supervised the delivery of over 10,000 babies. My expert skills and care, together with an array of experience of all nature and complexity of obstetric patients, translates into the best outcome for mum and baby and the highest patient satisfaction.
I acknowledge my patients' autonomy as an essential principle and strive for honest communication as the best way to build shared trust.
As a parent myself, I understand the need to ensure the wellbeing of your child, as well as the nerves that accompany the momentous occasion that is birth.
Pregnancy and Delivery
Special Interests
High Risk Pregnancy
Pre-Term Delivery
Breech Delivery
Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)
IVF/Donor Egg Pregnancy
Natural Childbirth
Most women have an uncomplicated pregnancy and a normal delivery. Complications may arise, and interventions may be needed in order to achieve a safe and healthy result for all.
Caesarean Delivery
A caesarean section may be planned or indicated in certain circumstances. I perform a gentle caesarean section through a low cosmetic bikini line incision.
Your Memorable Obstetric Journey
Pre-Pregnancy & Ante-Natal Care
Your pregnancy journey and outcome can be greatly enhanced by observing good pre-pregnancy and ante-natal practices. Important considerations include your general health, fitness and diet, intake of folic acid supplements, alcohol consumption, smoking habit (if any), status of your immunity to chicken pox and rubella, and an up-to-date smear test.
Step by Step
Weeks 4 Contact our team, click here.
Weeks 6-9 Early viability ultrasound scan. This scan checks for a heartbeat, the presence of twins, gestation and the due date.
Week 9 Harmony and Panorama testing available.
Weeks 10-14 Booking visit. This includes a comprehensive patient history, examination, ultrasound scan of baby and blood tests. Any concerns that you may have relating to the pregnancy and birth can be openly and confidentially discussed with me.
Week 16 Visit. This may include a cervical length scan.
Week 20 Anatomy Scan. This is a very high resolution scan showing clear and exciting images of your baby. This visit may also include a further cervical length scan.
Weeks 20 -40 Visits are customised to suit your care and become at least weekly as delivery approaches. Each visit will include a blood pressure check, urine analysis and ultrasound scan of the baby.
Labour and Delivery For a planned delivery, please arrive at the Coombe Hospital as scheduled. Otherwise, if at any time you have regular contractions, your “waters “ break, you have abdominal pain, feel less movement or you see blood, please contact the Coombe Hospital. You will be assessed and transferred to the delivery suite. Once in established labour your baby will be monitored. We will be with you every step of the way.
Post Natal Visit This visit offers an important opportunity to look back on your birthing experience and to reach out on other issues, such as vaginal/pelvic floor health and/or mental health, that may have arisen since the delivery.
Birthing Plan
Happy mum, happy partner, healthy baby and a pleasant experience, that is the goal. Together we will develop the best birthing plan and tailor it to your needs, wishes and concerns. Pain relief may be part of this plan and all forms of pain relief can be incorporated from a TENS machine (hired from your local pharmacy) to an epidural, a magical solution which quickly removes virtually all labour pain.
Post-Natal and Post-Partum Care
The Coombe Hospital has an excellent post-natal care program. You may wish to spend a few days on the post-natal ward where you will receive advice on caring for your baby, breast feeding, and physiotherapy, as well as a general helping hand.
Emergency
If during your pregnancy you are concerned for any reason, for example, you have abdominal pain, feel less movement, see blood, please contact me or the Coombe Hospital.