Antenatal Care in Point Cook

Regular check-ups through pregnancy help pick up problems early and leave time to plan for the birth. Antenatal care is offered at Juniper Avenue Medical Centre, close to home in Point Cook.

What check-ups are looking for

Most pregnancies go smoothly, but routine visits can catch raised blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, anaemia and gestational diabetes before they cause harm. Visits are spaced out in the early months and become more frequent towards the end. Early blood tests include your blood group, and anyone who is Rh D negative is offered anti-D injections later in pregnancy to protect future babies.

Everyday discomforts worth mentioning

  • Heartburn and constipation
  • Back or pelvic pain
  • Leg cramps and trouble sleeping
  • Itchy skin, especially on the palms and soles, which is worth a blood test
  • Mild ankle swelling late in the day, which is different from sudden swelling
  • Tiredness that does not lift, which can be a sign of low iron

A typical antenatal care visit

  • Blood pressure and a urine check
  • Measuring the growth of the belly and listening to the baby’s heartbeat
  • Arranging recommended blood tests, and ultrasounds such as the morphology scan at around 20 weeks
  • A glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes, usually between 24 and 28 weeks
  • Influenza, whooping cough and RSV vaccines at the recommended times

GP shared care with a public hospital

Many Victorian public hospitals offer GP shared care, where some visits happen with a GP and the rest at the hospital. It depends on the hospital and on your pregnancy being low risk, and if closer monitoring becomes necessary, more of the care moves to the hospital. Call reception to ask whether shared care is possible with the hospital you are booked into.

For the blood tests along the way, Dorevitch Pathology has collection at the clinic.

Making each visit count

  • Keep a running list of things to ask
  • Bring your pregnancy record and any results or letters
  • Mention new medicines, symptoms or worries
  • Ask about feeding, sleep and recovery after the birth
  • Ask for an interpreter, onsite if booked ahead or by telephone, if you would prefer another language

Mood and mental health in pregnancy

Anxiety and low mood during pregnancy are more common than many people expect. Questions about mood are a routine part of antenatal care in Australia, and honest answers help the doctor offer the right support or referral. Partners can experience depression and anxiety around the birth too, and are welcome to raise it. More information is on the Mental Health Services page.

Planning for the birth and the first weeks home

Later visits are the time to talk about birth preferences, pain relief, feeding and getting to the hospital. Many hospitals also run childbirth and parenting classes. Think ahead about help with meals, other children and rest.

Postnatal support continues after the birth, including checks on your recovery, feeding and sleep concerns, and your baby’s childhood vaccines.

Warning signs that cannot wait

  • Vaginal bleeding or fluid leaking
  • Severe headache, blurred vision or sudden swelling of the face, hands or feet
  • Strong or ongoing abdominal pain, or a fever
  • A baby moving less than usual: report it the same day, and do not rely on a home heart rate monitor
  • For any of these, contact your hospital’s maternity service straight away, and call 000 in an emergency

Fees and bulk billing

Out-of-pocket fees apply to most consultations, and each practitioner sets their own fees. Bulk billing is available with all our doctors for Veterans’ Affairs patients, pensioners over 65, childhood and adult immunisations and GP care plans. See our fees page or call reception before you book.

Other services