Obstetrics

Obstetrics

WOMEN’S OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY SPECIALISTS

Having a baby with WOGS

At WOGS, we consider it a privilege to accompany families on their pregnancy journey. Placing our patients at the centre of care, we use our expertise and experience to support them to make informed choices and achieve a safe and healthy delivery.

Patients can access one of our specialist obstetricians 24 hours a day throughout their pregnancy and up until their six-week postnatal visit. Although patients will mainly see their dedicated primary obstetrician, they will also meet all the WOGS obstetricians. This ensures that they will always be cared for by someone who is familiar to them.

All our patients are delivered at Frances Perry House, the private hospital co-located above the Royal Women’s Hospital. This is also where our rooms are conveniently situated.

WOMEN’S OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY SPECIALISTS

Having a baby with WOGS

At WOGS, we consider it a privilege to accompany families on their pregnancy journey. Placing our patients at the centre of care, we use our expertise and experience to support them to make informed choices and achieve a safe and healthy delivery.

Patients can access one of our specialist obstetricians 24 hours a day throughout their pregnancy and up until their six-week postnatal visit. Although patients will mainly see their dedicated primary obstetrician, they will also meet all the WOGS obstetricians. This ensures that they will always be cared for by someone who is familiar to them.

All our patients are delivered at Frances Perry House, the private hospital co-located above the Royal Women’s Hospital. This is also where our rooms are conveniently situated.

Making your first appointment

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Pregnancy is a tremendously exciting time, and we consider it a privilege to have been chosen to accompany you on your journey. We understand that it can also feel challenging at times, and WOGS will be with you every step of the way to help you feel supported, make informed choices and achieve a safe and healthy delivery.

As our specialist doctors take on a limited number of patients each month, please contact us as soon as possible to book your first appointment. Your first appointment will be at approximately 10 weeks; however, if you experience any issues before this, such as bleeding or pain, please contact us.

When you phone us to make your first appointment, please have the following information ready:
THE DATE OF THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR LAST MENSTRUAL PERIOD
YOUR MEDICARE CARD
YOUR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE DETAILS
YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

All our patients are delivered at Frances Perry House, so please make sure you have the necessary private health insurance for obstetrics and have fulfilled any waiting period.

You will need a referral from a GP for each pregnancy to claim a Medicare rebate, and to allow us to communicate with your family doctor if necessary. Please note that a referral from another specialist (such as an IVF doctor) is only valid for three months.

Pregnancy supplements
In the meantime, we advise pregnant women to take 500mcg folate and 150mcg iodine daily. This can be as part of a pregnancy-specific multivitamin, or as a separate supplement, e.g. ifolate. Folate is important in your diet leading up to pregnancy and for the first three months of pregnancy as it reduces the baby’s risk of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida). Iodine is important for healthy brain development.

Making your first appointment

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Pregnancy is a tremendously exciting time, and we consider it a privilege to have been chosen to accompany you on your journey. We understand that it can also feel challenging at times, and WOGS will be with you every step of the way to help you feel supported, make informed choices and achieve a safe and healthy delivery.

As our specialist doctors take on a limited number of patients each month, please contact us as soon as possible to book your first appointment. Your first appointment will be at approximately 10 weeks; however, if you experience any issues before this, such as bleeding or pain, please contact us.

When you phone us to make your first appointment, please have the following information ready:
THE DATE OF THE FIRST DAY OF YOUR LAST MENSTRUAL PERIOD
YOUR MEDICARE CARD
YOUR PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE DETAILS
YOUR CONTACT DETAILS

All our patients are delivered at Frances Perry House, so please make sure you have the necessary private health insurance for obstetrics and have fulfilled any waiting period.

You will need a referral from a GP for each pregnancy to claim a Medicare rebate, and to allow us to communicate with your family doctor if necessary. Please note that a referral from another specialist (such as an IVF doctor) is only valid for three months.

Pregnancy supplements
In the meantime, we advise pregnant women to take 500mcg folate and 150mcg iodine daily. This can be as part of a pregnancy-specific multivitamin, or as a separate supplement, e.g. ifolate. Folate is important in your diet leading up to pregnancy and for the first three months of pregnancy as it reduces the baby’s risk of neural tube defects (such as spina bifida). Iodine is important for healthy brain development.

Postnatal Care program

All our obstetric patients that deliver from 1 March 2024 receive exclusive access to our postnatal care program in collaboration with Maternal and Infant Wellbeing Melbourne, a boutique women’s health and perinatal clinic aimed at nurturing women and babies throughout the perinatal period.
Patients can choose from a variety of care packages including:
  • A 7 hour stay in a luxurious purpose built space with all feeds supervised by a lactation consultant
  • A relaxing spa treatment
    Lunch, snacks and beverages
  • Small group discussions to increase confidence in early parenting
  • Mothers helped throughout the day
  • The ultimate support to help new mums build confidence with breast feeding and early parenting
  • New mums can relax in a beautiful day spa while their little one is cared for by a Mother’s Helper
  • This is then followed by a 30mins infant massage
  • This nourishing, sensory experience will not only give you tools to manage your little one’s sensory needs at home, but is also a beautiful bonding experience
  • Experience relief from sleep deprivation and the challenges of an unsettled baby with MIWM’s gentle sleep and settling methods, overseen by an Early Parent and Sleep and Settling Consultant.
  • This approach prioritises individual parenting ideals and values, fostering rich sensory engagement, close physical and emotional connection, and consistent evidence-based advice.
  • With practitioners aligned with Neuro-protective Developmental Care (Possums) who tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of each family, ensuring a nurturing and effective solution for your little one’s sleep and settling concerns.
  • Experience revitalisation and specialised support with a private postnatal mum and bub Pilates class.
  • With a physiotherapist with expertise in women’s health, pregnancy, and the postpartum period, you will be lead through exercises designed to rebuild strength, improve flexibility, and enhance overall well-being alongside your little one.
  • Additionally, you will be provided with exercises you can take home from the class to continue your progress ongoing.
  • Benefit from expert guidance in safe and comfortable babywearing with our 60-minute Baby Carrying Consultation, led by a Paediatric Physiotherapist.
  • Have your own carrier fitted, or try different styles and gain confidence in your babywearing skills while enhancing the bond with your little one.

Postnatal Care program

All our obstetric patients that deliver from 1 March 2024 receive exclusive access to our postnatal care program in collaboration with Maternal and Infant Wellbeing Melbourne, a boutique women’s health and perinatal clinic aimed at nurturing women and babies throughout the perinatal period.
Patients can choose from a variety of care packages including:
  • A 7 hour stay in a luxurious purpose built space with all feeds supervised by a lactation consultant
  • A relaxing spa treatment
    Lunch, snacks and beverages
  • Small group discussions to increase confidence in early parenting
  • Mothers helped throughout the day
  • The ultimate support to help new mums build confidence with breast feeding and early parenting
  • New mums can relax in a beautiful day spa while their little one is cared for by a Mother’s Helper
  • This is then followed by a 30mins infant massage
  • This nourishing, sensory experience will not only give you tools to manage your little one’s sensory needs at home, but is also a beautiful bonding experience
  • Experience relief from sleep deprivation and the challenges of an unsettled baby with MIWM’s gentle sleep and settling methods, overseen by an Early Parent and Sleep and Settling Consultant.
  • This approach prioritises individual parenting ideals and values, fostering rich sensory engagement, close physical and emotional connection, and consistent evidence-based advice.
  • With practitioners aligned with Neuro-protective Developmental Care (Possums) who tailor their approach to meet the unique needs of each family, ensuring a nurturing and effective solution for your little one’s sleep and settling concerns.
  • Experience revitalisation and specialised support with a private postnatal mum and bub Pilates class.
  • With a physiotherapist with expertise in women’s health, pregnancy, and the postpartum period, you will be lead through exercises designed to rebuild strength, improve flexibility, and enhance overall well-being alongside your little one.
  • Additionally, you will be provided with exercises you can take home from the class to continue your progress ongoing.
  • Benefit from expert guidance in safe and comfortable babywearing with our 60-minute Baby Carrying Consultation, led by a Paediatric Physiotherapist.
  • Have your own carrier fitted, or try different styles and gain confidence in your babywearing skills while enhancing the bond with your little one.

The benefits of private obstetric care

We are often asked about the benefits of being a private patient versus using the public system. This is up to the individual, but the following is a summary of what we believe are the main benefits.

As a private patient, you can rest assured that any such complications will be managed by your obstetrician. Our doctors will always be there when you need us to guide you through your pregnancy, be with you during labour and deliver your baby.

Women with pre-existing medical conditions (such as hypertension or diabetes), complex pregnancies such as twin pregnancies or those who have experienced recurrent miscarriages, usually require an obstetrician to manage their pregnancy and optimise both their own health and that of their baby.

You are able to access one of our specialist obstetricians 24 hours a day. You will meet with all the obstetricians in the WOGS team, so if you need assistance outside your specialist obstetrician’s consulting hours, you’ll always have someone to contact directly, and be cared for by someone who’s familiar to you.

Private patients generally experience shorter wait times for appointments.

You will be able to have your own private hospital room and your partner or support person can stay there with you.

At WOGS, our midwives are available to answer your questions and to provide antenatal care and support such as fetal monitoring outside your planned appointments.

In the private system, the average post-birth hospital stay is 4-5 days, allowing new mothers to recover in a supportive environment. This also ensures women are supported until they have established their milk supply and are discharged feeling far more confident about  feeding their babies.

The benefits of private obstetric care

We are often asked about the benefits of being a private patient versus using the public system. This is up to the individual, but the following is a summary of what we believe are the main benefits.

As a private patient, you can rest assured that any such complications will be managed by your obstetrician. Our doctors will always be there when you need us to guide you through your pregnancy, be with you during labour and deliver your baby.

Women with pre-existing medical conditions (such as hypertension or diabetes), complex pregnancies such as twin pregnancies or those who have experienced recurrent miscarriages, usually require an obstetrician to manage their pregnancy and optimise both their own health and that of their baby.

You are able to access one of our specialist obstetricians 24 hours a day. You will meet with all the obstetricians in the WOGS team, so if you need assistance outside your specialist obstetrician’s consulting hours, you’ll always have someone to contact directly, and be cared for by someone who’s familiar to you.

Private patients generally experience shorter wait times for appointments.

You will be able to have your own private hospital room and your partner or support person can stay there with you.

At WOGS, our midwives are available to answer your questions and to provide antenatal care and support such as fetal monitoring outside your planned appointments.

In the private system, the average post-birth hospital stay is 4-5 days, allowing new mothers to recover in a supportive environment. This also ensures women are supported until they have established their milk supply and are discharged feeling far more confident about  feeding their babies.

Frances Perry House

We only deliver at Frances Perry House, a private maternity hospital which is co-located with The Royal Women’s Hospital. We believe this provides women with the best possible care for the following reasons:

Frances Perry House runs a comprehensive antenatal education program. This provides women and their partners with information to help them make informed choices about their care. Classes cover topics such as labour and delivery, early parenting, child safety, breastfeeding and twin pregnancies. They also run a dedicated fathers’ only class

FPH has an excellent team of midwives and nurses who have experience working with our doctors. Anaesthetists and paediatricians are available 24 hours a day, so you and your baby have specialist consultant care whenever required.

Being co-located with The Women’s gives us access to their facilities and doctors in any emergency situation. This ensures 24 hour-a-day access to operating theatres and paediatric staff, as well as on-site pathology, radiology and blood bank. We believe this is the safest environment in which to deliver your baby. If unexpected complications do occur and your baby requires a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), The Women’s usually prioritise babies born at Frances Perry House (although this is subject to bed availability).

During your 4–5-night postnatal stay you will have expert help in adjusting to new parenthood with use of the breastfeeding room on the postnatal ward which is open from 7am-10pm daily. This is a fully supported environment that enables new mothers to have a lactation consultant assist with breastfeeding their newborn.

For ongoing support after discharge you may also attend the Maternity Care Centre across the road for further breastfeeding advice from FPH midwives.

During your postnatal stay you will have an opportunity to consult with a women’s health physiotherapist to plan your physical recovery whether after a vaginal delivery or caesarean.

Frances Perry House

We only deliver at Frances Perry House, a private maternity hospital which is co-located with The Royal Women’s Hospital. We believe this provides women with the best possible care for the following reasons:

Frances Perry House runs a comprehensive antenatal education program. This provides women and their partners with information to help them make informed choices about their care. Classes cover topics such as labour and delivery, early parenting, child safety, breastfeeding and twin pregnancies. They also run a dedicated fathers’ only class

FPH has an excellent team of midwives and nurses who have experience working with our doctors. Anaesthetists and paediatricians are available 24 hours a day, so you and your baby have specialist consultant care whenever required.

Being co-located with The Women’s gives us access to their facilities and doctors in any emergency situation. This ensures 24 hour-a-day access to operating theatres and paediatric staff, as well as on-site pathology, radiology and blood bank. We believe this is the safest environment in which to deliver your baby. If unexpected complications do occur and your baby requires a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), The Women’s usually prioritise babies born at Frances Perry House (although this is subject to bed availability).

During your 4–5-night postnatal stay you will have expert help in adjusting to new parenthood with use of the breastfeeding room on the postnatal ward which is open from 7am-10pm daily. This is a fully supported environment that enables new mothers to have a lactation consultant assist with breastfeeding their newborn.

For ongoing support after discharge you may also attend the Maternity Care Centre across the road for further breastfeeding advice from FPH midwives.

During your postnatal stay you will have an opportunity to consult with a women’s health physiotherapist to plan your physical recovery whether after a vaginal delivery or caesarean.