Obstetrics

 

ANTENATAL VISITS

 

Your first antenatal visit is ideally when you are 8-10 weeks into your pregnancy.  This allows sufficient time for us to organise any antenatal screening that may be necessary. It is preferable for you to have your GP forward a referral to Hobart Womens Specialists PRIOR to you booking your first antenatal appointment. This is to allow admin staff adequate time to prepare your patient file before first contact and to ensure that the timing of your first appointment is ideal.

 

After your first visit, appointments will occur every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then weekly until delivery.  These visits not only allow me to monitor the progress of your pregnancy, but also present the opportunity for you to ask any questions that you may have.

 

CONTACT

 

If you have any pregnancy related problems or concerns during office hours, please feel free to contact the surgery.  Early in pregnancy the best place to ring is my rooms. My reception staff or pratice nurse will discuss with me the problem and we will then advise you as to how to proceed. Later in the pregnancy, in the majority of cases, the best place to ring is the maternity unit of the hospital that you are planning to deliver at. If you have vaginal bleeding, think you may have broken your waters, have reduced movements of the baby - any issue - ring the maternity unit at your nominated hospital. In the majority of cases the midwife will ask you to attend the hospital and they will assess you.

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I have a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/DrWarrenKennedy) on which I post. There is some limited information about the practice on that page. Most of the posts are humorous and related to womens health, parenting and kids. Some are more informative "serious" posts.

 

The rooms has a website - www.hobartwomensspecialists.com.au - on which there is information about myself and the other specialists who practice at the rooms.

 

ANTENATAL CLASSES

 

If this is your first pregnancy you might like to participate in childbirth preparation classes.  These are usually held in the last 3 months of your pregnancy.  Your best point of contact is the Maternity Unit at your nominated hospital. I strongly recommend these classes for first time Mums AND their partners.

 

For husbands I also strongly recommend Beer and Bubs - an informal one-night session at a pub where expectant Dads learn how to support their partner during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond

 

PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY

 

I recommend that you see a pelvic floor physiotherapist at least once, 6 weeks after the birth of your baby.

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Regardless of which way your baby is born - cesarean section, normal vaginal delivery, Ventouse (suction cup on the baby's head) or forceps - your baby has been pushing down on your pelvic floor for the last 9 months.

 

It has been shown that pelvic floor rehabilitation, particularly when started soon after birth, decreases your chances of long term bowel and bladder problems as a result of your pregnancy.

 

There is also evidence that commencing work with a pelvic floor physiotherapist antenatally (before the birth) may be of additional benefit.

 

LABOUR

 

I no longer deliver babies and am not involved in labour and delivery care.

 

FEES

 

There is a fee for each of your antenatal visits to my rooms.

 

Ultrasound and pathology tests are also charged separately and these accounts will be billed directly to you at the time of service by other providers.

 

If you have any questions regarding your pregnancy or the information contained in this section, please do not hesitate to contact the surgery during office hours.