Antenatal and Postnatal Care
Pregnancy, Antenatal and Postnatal Care
Discus planning for pregnancy with your GP. Good care starts well before you fall pregnant.
The birth of your baby will be one of the most exciting events in your life.
Our team of professionals is experienced in obstetric care and dedicated to providing the highest quality care for you and your baby from the moment you are pregnant.
We have qualified GP’s who work in collaboration with the Obstetricians of Taree for Antenatal Shared Care.
You can be seen by the Shared Care GP every month for the first six months and as advised. They will arrange all necessary blood tests, ultrasounds, hospital visits etc. during this time.
This way, both your chosen specialist and your GP share your care. And both are kept fully informed of your progress i.e. they "share" the care of you.
The benefits of this include:
- your Shared Care GP usually being available at shorter notice,
- with appointments available during lunch time or after work,
- follow-up care of both you and your new baby when you get home (including vaccinations)
- ongoing care beyond the pregnancy which builds a trusting relationship to develop between you, your child and your G.P.
We can assist with post-natal advice, with breast or bottle-feeding issues, worries about your newborn, 6 week check-ups for you and baby, baby’s first immunisations and your contraception choices.
POST NATAL DEPRESSION
Many women experience mood swings after the birth of a baby. Post natal depression is different from the baby blues that are common during the first week after childbirth.
Postnatal depression describes the more severe or prolonged symptoms of depression that last more than a week or two and interfere with the ability to function on a daily basis with normal routines including caring for a baby.
For around one in seven women the stresses and emotional changes that accompany their postnatal experiences can be intense and include strong depressive mood swings, anxiety, social withdrawal, irritability and loss of enjoyment in usual activities. Postnatal disorders can interfere with the developing relationship between a mother and her baby after birth (bonding and attachment) and impose strains upon the relationship between the parents as well as causing distress for women themselves.
Post natal depression require treatment and it is very important to tell your doctor or midwife about current symptoms of distress as well as any past history or medication use.