what your care looks like
Schedule of care
During your pregnancy we will plan to see each other:
From 14-16 weeks, every 4 weeks until you are 32 weeks pregnant; then
Every 2 weeks until you are 36 weeks pregnant; then
Every week until baby is born.
After baby is born, I will then plan to see you:
For the first three days; then
Day 5, Day 7 and Day 10; then
At 2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks and can be up to 6 weeks if you are still requiring support.
What to expect at each appointment
Each appointment lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour. At each appointment during your pregnancy, with your consent, I will check your baby's growth and heartbeat, and your blood pressure. We will also discuss routine tests, how you are, any concerns, hopes and fears that you may have and generally getting to know one another.
I am able to provide scripts for any pharmaceuticals required during the period of your care with me for pregnancy, labour and birth and early postpartum period.
I can refer you for all routine tests and ultrasounds that you consent to during the period of your care with me. It is not uncommon for me to be up to 30 minutes late for an appointment. I will always text you when I am on my way to you with an ETA. If the delayed time of our appointment no longer suits you please call me to let me know and we can reschedule.
More details about your care
At approximately 28-34 weeks, I will send a referral to your back up hospital (unless there a reason to refer you earlier).
If an appointment is required or desired with an obstetrician, an appointment will be scheduled by your booking hospital.
At 36 weeks, you will have an appointment with your back up midwife. A backup midwife attends as a second midwife at your birth if you are birthing at home.
After baby is born, you will receive a purple child health record book, birth registration papers and medicare/centrelink papers. I will provide you with these if you birth at home.
After our final appointment you and your baby see your GP for a six week postnatal check. Your local child health nurse will also provide follow up.
After our final appointment I will email you a receipt for medicare that you lodge to claim your medicare rebate.
My availability to you
If urgent call me ANYTIME (urgent reasons to call are discussed and highlighted at our first appointment). If I don’t answer, call me a second and third time, and then if no answer (which to reassure you this has never happened) follow the pathway discussed at our first appointment ie call your designated back up midwife and then if no answer call your planned booking hospital. All contact numbers will be written on the front of the pregnancy health record that I give you at your first appt and that I write in at each of your appointments.
Please note text messages are on silent on my phone. If you need me urgently it is important you call me. Please ensure your partner knows this.
If you are contacting me to change an appointment or about results or for anything else non urgent, please only contact me in office hours Mon-Friday. I am happy to be called or texted during these times for non urgent queries. If I don’t answer (and your need is not urgent) I will call you back when I am able to.
Please note that I am “on call” 24/7 and work random and sometimes long hours so it can take up to 72 hours for me to respond to a non urgent query.