Pregnancy Shared Care

At Brookside Family Clinic in Mitchelton, we are proud to offer Pregnancy Shared Care services, providing a flexible and convenient way for expectant mothers and new mothers to receive antenatal and postnatal care. GP Shared Care allows you to share your pregnancy care between our experienced General Practitioner, Dr Suzanne Thomason and your chosen hospital or midwifery team. This collaborative model enables you to receive high-quality care both in your community and in a hospital setting when needed.

Our Pregnancy Shared Care service is part of our comprehensive Women’s Health Services, offering personalised support throughout your pregnancy journey and beyond.

GP Shared Care is a coordinated approach to antenatal care where your pregnancy care is shared between your GP and a hospital obstetric team. This arrangement is ideal for healthy women with low-risk pregnancies, allowing most routine care to be managed by your GP, whilst hospital visits are scheduled at key points to ensure everything is progressing smoothly.

At Brookside Family Clinic, Dr Suzanne Thomason, works closely with local hospitals and maternity units to provide seamless care, helping you receive the right level of support throughout your pregnancy.

In a Shared Care arrangement:

This approach allows you to build a trusted relationship with your GP while accessing specialised care at the hospital when needed. If complications arise, such as gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, your GP will promptly refer you to the hospital for specialist care.

During your GP Shared Care appointments, you can expect your GP to:

• Monitor your health: Your GP will regularly check your blood pressure, weight, and general well-being.
• Perform routine tests: This includes blood tests, urine tests, and screenings for conditions such as gestational diabetes, anaemia, and infections.
• Vaccinations: Your GP will provide essential vaccinations, such as the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine between 20 and 32 weeks and the influenza vaccine. These are recommended to protect both you and your baby during pregnancy and after birth.
• Mental health screening: Your GP will conduct regular screenings using tools like the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to assess your mental well-being, offering support or referrals for counselling if needed.
• Discuss your pregnancy progression: Your GP will talk through any concerns, answer questions, and provide advice on nutrition, exercise, and mental health.
• Coordinate hospital care: Your GP will work closely with the hospital team to ensure all important scans, tests, and specialist consultations are booked at the right time.
• Prepare you for birth: As your due date approaches, your GP will help prepare your birth plan, discuss pain relief options, and go over your hospital stay.

For more information about shared care, visit the Raising Children Network.

1. Continuity of Care: You’ll have the benefit of maintaining a strong, continuous relationship with your GP, who is familiar with your medical history and personal preferences.
2. Convenience: Most of your care takes place close to home, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits. This makes it easier to fit your pregnancy care into your routine.
3. Comprehensive Support: You receive the best of both worlds—personalised care from a GP you trust, combined with access to hospital-based services like ultrasounds, specialised testing, and delivery care.
4. Personalised Care Plan: Our GPs will work with you to create a tailored care plan that addresses your health, lifestyle, and birthing preferences, ensuring your pregnancy care is individualised to your needs.

Shared care is an ideal option for women who have low-risk pregnancies. This means that you are in good health, with no pre-existing medical conditions that could complicate the pregnancy, and are not expecting twins or other multiple births. Your GP will assess whether shared care is appropriate for you during your first consultation.

If complications arise during your pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, or other concerns, your GP will refer you to the hospital obstetric team for specialised care. The flexibility of shared care ensures that you always have the support you need, whether from your GP or the hospital.

After birth, the continuity of care continues. Your GP will provide postnatal care, monitoring your recovery and the health of your baby. This includes support with breastfeeding, postnatal mental health, and general well-being in the weeks following delivery.

If you’re considering GP Shared Care for your pregnancy, book an appointment with Dr Suzanne Thomason today. Call us at (07) 3354 1900 or book online to schedule your first consultation.