Antenatal Care

Dr McLaren offers a comprehensive package of antenatal care, including full-service Obstetrics and access to a team of integrated health professionals, including Midwives, Dieticians and Physiotherapists.

The Bloom Pregnancy Package

The Bloom Pregnancy Package by Dr McLaren has been established to provide a unique experience of integrated, comprehensive care focussed on helping women achieve their best health and pregnancy.

On top of comprehensive Obstetric services, Dr McLaren has assembled a team of trusted health professionals working together to provide the best care for women. As a new standard in care, Dr McLaren’s Bloom Pregnancy package is a unique program supporting all aspects of a healthy pregnancy. The Package includes:

All obstetric appointments booked with your specialist Obstetrician
Access to ultrasound and 3D imaging within consultations
Your Obstetrician attending your birth in 97% of deliveries
Phone support 24-hours
Our Dietician will help you eat well during pregnancy, and help you recover after birth
Our Physiotherapist will help you adapt to the physical body changes during pregnancy, exercise safely and recover after birth
Your personal exercise program on a smartphone App
Prepare for birth with your personal Midwife consultations in third Trimester
Support from your Personal Midwife / Lactation Consultant to help you look after your new baby

The Bloom Pregnancy Package is included in your pregnancy management with Dr McLaren.

Antenatal Education

We encourage first time parents to attend antenatal classes to help you on your journey to becoming parents.

As part of your Bloom Pregnancy package, you will have access to both our midwife and physiotherapy antenatal education. Our midwives and physiotherapists have worked together with Dr McLaren to develop an exclusive program of personalised and integrated care. This includes antenatal and postnatal education, breastfeeding support and looking after your physical changes during pregnancy and recovery.

General public classes are also available, including in-person or online classes, through both private organisations and through the Mater Mothers’ Hospital.

Staying Healthy During Pregnancy

Healthy Low GI diet

It is important to have a healthy, balanced diet in pregnancy to provide nutrition to you and your growing baby. A low GI diet is best, and it is important to eat food from all the food groups. Healthy eating in pregnancy ensures your weight gain is in the normal range and gives your baby the best nutritional start in life.

Read more about foods to avoid during pregnancy from Queensland Health.

Read more about healthy eating in pregnancy, supplements and foods to avoid from Better Health.

Exercise in Pregnancy

Regular exercise is important for general health and wellbeing during pregnancy. The physical changes experienced during pregnancy need to be taken into consideration when planning an exercise routine.

With the increased weight gain and change in body shape, a pregnant woman’s sense of balance and coordination are affected. The hormone Relaxin makes joints and ligaments looser, potentially increasing the risk of injury. In addition, the heart rate, breathing rate and the core body temperature is increased in pregnancy.

Maintaining healthy exercise in pregnancy, while allowing for the changes that occur is important. Talk with our physiotherapist for your personalised exercise program that adapts to your changing needs.

Infections, Immunisations and Medications during Pregnancy

There are a variety of infections and illnesses that if acquired during pregnancy, can cause serious concerns for the mother or baby. Many of these can be prevented with standard immunisations for the mother.

Top tips during pregnancy:

Ensure that your immunisations are up to date as part of your planning for pregnancy
If you are exposed to an infectious disease during your pregnancy, contact your Obstetrician
Talk with your Obstetrician about all the medications and supplements you are taking to ensure that they are safe for your pregnancy

Work & Pregnancy

Most women stop working at around 34 weeks. If you are feeling well, and your pregnancy is progressing normally, you may wish to work a few weeks longer to maximise your maternity leave. We will be happy to write a letter for your employer at this time if it is safe for you to continue working.

Estimate Date of Confinement (EDC) letter

Most employers need a letter confirming your due date to apply for maternity leave. We are happy to provide this for you and usually do so early in your second trimester once we are certain all is progressing normally.

Carers leave

We are happy to provide a letter for partners, grandparents and carers who need time off work to assist you to recover from the birth in those all-important first few weeks at home. Please feel free to ask our friendly staff at your appointment if you need a carer’s leave letter.

Read more about work and leave entitlements when pregnant.

Read more about Australian paid parental leave.

Multiple Pregnancy

If you are expecting more than one baby, you will need to be seen more frequently and have more scans to monitor your babies’ growth. A multiple pregnancy brings lots of joy and immense reward; however, may also involve additional risks for both the mother and babies.

Women carrying a multiple pregnancy are more at risk of miscarriage in the first trimester, and premature labour in the second and third trimester. In addition, there are other risks that need to be screened including genetic risk, gestational diabetes and pregnancy induced hypertension.

Delivery will occur earlier depending on the progress of the pregnancy and may need to be by caesarean section, depending on the gestational age and position of your babies.

Read more information and support from the Multiple Birth Association support group.

Cord Blood Collection

The collection and storage of cord blood stem cells provides an opportunity to use these stem cells should they be required at some stage later in life. There are two ways to store cord stem cells, altruistically or via the dedicated private cord blood banking services.

The Mater Mothers’ Hospital is one of 11 hospitals in Australia which contribute to Auscord – the free cord blood banking service. Cord blood can be collected from the placenta following delivery throughout the week and there is no cost to parents. The banked stem cells are stored and can be used by anyone.

Alternatively, you may prefer to pay privately for a dedicated cord blood collection for your child to use their stem cells later in life.

Read more about cord blood collection from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Read more about private cord blood collection from Cell Care.

General Health Information

Pregnancy is a great time to review your diet, exercise and overall health to ensure that you and your family are as healthy as possible before your baby arrives.
Below are a number of useful websites:

Health Insite: http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/

Pregnancy Birth and Baby: http://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/

ABC: http://www.abc.net.au/health/

Women’s Health Queensland Wide: http://www.womhealth.org.au/