Specialist Obstetrician Sole care

• Unless you have a high risk pregnancy, there may not be a medical reason why you need specialist sole care.
• Having sole specialist care provides you with complete peace of mind through your entire pregnancy – the ultimate in continuity of care.
• Midwives are a profession dedicated to preparing you for the journey from early pregnancy until the birth of your baby and just beyond. As part of you care package, you will have access to 10 midwife appointments should you feel you need them in addition to your specialist appointments.
• With a specialist obstetrician constantly available for you, you and your baby’s needs will be monitored and addressed throughout your entire pregnancy.

You can choose us at Vestrum:

• From the moment you are pregnant
• To have an early pregnancy scan with us at 8 weeks
• Or visit our midwife from 13 weeks gestation

By 20 weeks we would hope that you will be confident and well informed enough to make that decision. This is because Bunbury Hospital would like antenatal patients booked by 20 weeks. If you have just moved into the area or had difficulty deciding we will always do our best for you.

Sole care is the most expensive care option offered at Vestrum. Although once the pregnancy management fee has been paid at 28 weeks, you will be bulk billed for the remainder of your care, no matter how much you need.

Most uncomplicated deliveries at Bunbury Hospital are undertaken by the excellent midwifery team on the birth suite. Your specialist will oversee your labour, aim to be present at the birth and will intervene if specialist help is required.

As a specialist obstetric practice this is certainly something that we can offer you. An elective Caesarean section is arranged for 38-39 weeks depending on the indication for surgery. Emergency Caesarean sections are also carried out by our specialist.

• A Vestrum obstetric specialist will be directly responsible for you throughout your pregnancy, helping to provide specialist insight when needed.
• Vestrum was started by Dr Liddiard and is co-located with Vestrum Ultrasound for Women – a service that aims to provide a high level of diagnostic ultrasound reports for obstetrics and gynaecology patients. Having both ultrasound and antenatal care on site allows seamless continuity of care.
• Our aim is to provide you and your growing baby with well managed care; having a strong influence over all the parts of your care allows us to do so. We endeavour to empower you with the knowledge and confidence that will allow you to make the correct decisions for you.
• When it comes to the time of your baby’s birth, a specialist will be available to assist if necessary – once again, allowing seamless continuity of care.

All midwives, GP Obstetricians and Specialist Obstetricians are able to provide antenatal care. A select group of midwives and GP obstetricians can book you into your chosen hospital for delivery of your baby – you will need to check. Specialists also have admitting rights to the hospitals and with GP Obstetricians, take part in an emergency on-call service. Most specialists are also practising gynaecological surgeons.

Midwives look after low risk pregnancies and GP Obstetricians look after low and some higher risk pregnancies. Specialist obstetricians are able to care for both low and high risk pregnancies and can manage all eventualities during your delivery – although it is worth noting that the cut off for delivery of babies in Bunbury is 34 weeks. Effective management of your pregnancy and these difficulties during birth can influence things such as the health of your baby and how quickly you recover from the birthing process.

Due to their more extensive scope of practice, specialist obstetric care is generally the most expensive model of care.

Private patients – both shared-care and sole-care – can have up to 10 midwife appointments included in the pregnancy management fee.
Midwife appointments can be a great opportunity to discuss questions about pregnancy and birth, monitor your health and gain reassurance. We urge you to make additional appointments if you feel anxious or worried about your pregnancy.