GP Antenatal Shared Care
About your options for healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth
Once your pregnancy is confirmed, you’ll need to schedule some appointments for your ongoing care during your pregnancy. These are called antenatal appointments, and they’re essential in helping you and your baby stay well.
You can have antenatal appointments with:
- a GP
- a midwife at your chosen birthing place (e.g. hospital, birth-centre or home)
- an obstetrician (a specialist doctor)
In some cases, you can have a GP as your main care provider in a ‘shared care’ arrangement with a midwife or an obstetrician. This is called GP Antenatal Shared Care.
What is GP Antenatal Shared Care?
GP Antenatal Shared Care is where your antenatal care is shared between the maternity unit of your local public hospital and a qualified GP. It ensures high quality care from a multidisciplinary team at a low cost to you.
It’s suitable for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. If your pregnancy is — or becomes — complicated, you will need hospital-based obstetrics care prior to delivery.
Venus Women’s Clinics offer quality antenatal care that involves:
- initial confirmation of pregnancy
- arranging blood tests and ultrasound scans
- arranging referrals
- monthly appointments after confirmation of pregnancy, increasing to fortnightly and then weekly as your pregnancy progresses.
You will also visit the hospital maternity unit at regular intervals.
What happens during antenatal appointments?
In general, you can expect comprehensive care that involves:
- Finding out when your baby is due, what trimester you are in and what this means for you and your baby.
- Discussing your medical history (including medication you are taking), general health and any previous pregnancies.
- Getting up to date with cervical screening if needed.
- Checking on your mental health, and getting support if you have or develop depression or anxiety.
- Finding out about healthy eating in pregnancy and lifestyle changes.
- Feeling and measuring your tummy, and listening to the baby’s heartbeat.
- Questions around your home environment, work and what support you have. If you are experiencing family violence, this is a good opportunity for you to discuss it.
- Telling your GP about any physical symptoms that may be bothering you.
- Developing your birth plan.
- Discussing options if things don’t go to according to plan during the birth.
- Information about antenatal classes taking your baby home, feeding them and other care.
I’m pregnant and interested in my antenatal care options. What should I do?
If you’re pregnant and looking for quality antenatal care, Venus Women’s Clinics can help. We offer expert evidence-backed management of pregnancy. Put your health, and your baby’s health, first with the caring and compassionate health professionals at Venus Women’s Clinics.
NOTE: While it is reviewed for clinical accuracy, the content on the Venus Women’s Clinic website does not replace professional advice. This information should not be used as an alternative to professional healthcare. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a doctor or a specialist.
