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Antenatal Shared Care

All of the General Practitioners practicing at GHFP provide Antenatal Shared Care. Dr Victoria Whelan, Dr Catherine Woolley, Dr Marita Jones and Dr Tim Jones have a particular interest in antenatal care. Dr Tim Jones and Dr Frances Rose consult at and work closely with the Mother Baby Unit.

GP Shared Care is one of the options of care during pregnancy in which your General Practitioner is the primary care provider, in consultation with hospital doctors and midwives. Some private obstetricians also do GP Shared Care.

Some situations may exclude you from GP Shared Care, including high BMI, twins, some medical health conditions or previous pregnancy problems. Talk to your GP about whether you are suitable for GP Shared Care.

Antenatal appointments can be booked online or by phoning the practice on 6169 0000.

Shared Care Guide

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Your GP and support team look forward to caring for you during your pregnancy and beyond. This guide will give you an idea of what check ups to expect over the coming months.

‘Shared care’ means that throughout your pregnancy your GP will be your primary point of contact. You will also have visits to the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH) with the midwives and doctors, or to your private Obstetrician. You will have your regular GP for routine antenatal visits and pregnancy related problems. You may need to see an alternative GP at the practice in an emergency, depending on your regular GP's availability.

What is involved in a routine visit? 

We will do a few checks including your blood pressure, fundal height (uterus size), baby’s position and heart sounds. We can discuss any concerns and plan for the next step in your pregnancy.

What is a normal pregnancy timeline?

A normal pregnancy is between 38-42 weeks long. We calculate your due date either from the first day of your last period, or from an ultrasound scan. Your routine visits will be around every 4 weeks until you reach 32 weeks, thereafter you will be seen every 1-2 weeks until delivery.

Your first RHH visit (the 'Booking In' visit) will be at around 14-20 weeks. Other hospital visits will at be around 28 weeks, 36 weeks and 40 weeks. There will also be antenatal classes and tours available. 

Important check ups:

First Visit:

  • Background health check and blood tests
  • Confirm pregnancy and due date
  • Discuss healthy diet in pregnancy, supplements and other things to keep you and baby healthy
  • Offer influenza vaccination

Second Visit:

  • Check blood results
  • Optional: 1st trimester screening for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Neural Tube Defects between 10-13 weeks, Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT)
  • Referral to the Hospital for your ‘booking in’

10-14 weeks:

  • RHH Antenatal clinic booking in visit
  • Review screening tests

20 weeks:

  • Morphology ultrasound scan: checks on babies development (and gender if you wish)

26 weeks:

  • Blood test for gestational diabetes (2 hours oral glucose tolerance test)
  • Blood test for iron levels and blood group

28 weeks:

  • Blood test results
  • Anti D for Rhesus D negative women
  • RHH visit with doctors and midwives for check-up and education

34 weeks:

  • 2nd dose of Anti-D for rhesus D negative women
  • Pertussis vaccination for mother offered

36 weeks:

  • RHH check up with midwives and doctors and to plan for delivery

40 weeks:

  • RHH visit to discuss induction of labour and delivery

6 weeks after birth:

  • Discuss labour, delivery and any concerns
  • Check up on emotional well being
  • Discuss contraception and family planning
  • Organise repeat blood tests or cervical screen if needed
  • Baby check up 

Your GP can help you with all your pregnancy related concerns including:

  • Blood tests and immunisations
  • Advice on keeping health in pregnancy
  • Dietary and supplement advice
  • Assistance with common pregnancy problems (e.g. nausea, fatigue, musculoskeletal problems)
  • Psychological support
  • Education on labour and delivery
  • Assessment of any complications if they arise
  • Preparing for a new baby
  • Feeding and settling support once baby arrives

Communication is important between the RHH and your GP, we will send each other letters. Please remember: if you have any tests done to have a copy sent to your GP and to the RHH.

Fees:

Private fees apply to antenatal care appointments. The Fee and Medicare Rebate is dependent on the length and complexity of your consultation.

Important contact details:

Glebe Hill Family Practice: 6169 0000

GHFP Nurture: 6169 0005

Health Direct: 1800 022 222 

24/7 GP Phone Helpline

Royal Hobart Hospital:. 6166 8308

  • General enquiries

WACS (Women and Children’s Services) RHH Clinic: 6166 0000

  • Appointments
  • Birthing and parenting classes
  • Lactation Consultants: 6166 7929
  • Pregnancy Assessment Centre: 6166 8352 (all hours)
  • Speak to a midwife at anytime (after 20 weeks)
  • Assessment in early labour

Useful pregnancy resources:

Maternity Information Package (Royal Hobart Hospital): Your guide to pregnancy, birth and early parenting 

https://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/128271/MIP_updated_for_2019_mk2.pdf

The Royal Women’s Hospital Victoria: https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/pregnancy-and-birth/

  • Information on pregnancy, labour and birth
  • Information on common problems in pregnancy

Queensland Centre for Mothers & Babies: http://www.havingababy.org.au

  • Information on labour and birth

The Baby Centre: http://www.babycenter.com.au 

  • General pregnancy information

Useful child health resources:

The Australian Breastfeeding Association: Phone 1800 686 268, https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/

Raising Children Network: http://raisingchildren.net.au

  • For all manner of helpful parenting resources and tips

Purple Crying: http://www.purplecrying.info

  • Advice for parents with unsettled or colicky babies

Parent Line (Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services): 1300 808 178

  • The Parent Line is available at any time to assist parents, of children 0-5 years, with parenting issues or concerns.

Child Health & Parenting Services (CHaPS): http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/children/child_health

  • Information on all available parenting services in Tasmania (including parenting drop in centres, bedwetting and child therapy services)

Royal Children’s Hospital Fact Sheets: http://www.rch.org.au/kidsinfo/

  • For all medical problems in childhood

What to expect: The First Year: book and website: https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/ 

  • A complete guide to development, milestones, feeding, sleep and common questions in the first year

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