High-Risk Obstetrician Sydney

What is a High-Risk obstetrician?

A High-Risk Obstetrician (there really should be a better term) is an obstetrician with specific training and experience in caring for women with pre-existing medical conditions, reproductive problems or specific pregnancy complications. In general, a High-Risk Obstetrician will be 100 percent dedicated to pregnancy care – in other words it is unlikely they will also be a fertility or gynaecology specialist – as it is an all-consuming speciality. In Rob’s case on top of his general O and G training (in Auckland and the UK) he trained in High-Risk maternity care at National Women’s Hospital in Auckland and Guys and St Thomas’ Hospitals in London. As a specialist, he worked as part of National Women’s Hospital High-Risk pregnancy service (also known as “The Blue Team”) and then spent many years as part of the High-Risk pregnancy service at The Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick.

Rob now has more than 25 years of experience as an Obstetrician dedicated to High-Risk Pregnancy care. He limits his patient numbers in order to provide a very personalised service. First visits with Rob are one hour long so we have plenty of time to assess you and make an appropriate plan for you. Subsequent visits are as long as they need to be in order to meet your needs.

Notwithstanding all of the above, High-Risk maternity care is a team sport. Rob works with many other professionals, many of whom will have a critical part to play in your care. These fabulous people include midwives, physiotherapists, medical specialists, ultrasound specialists, maternal fetal medicine specialists, anaesthetists and paediatricians and even mental health specialists including counsellors, psychologists and psychiatrists. Rob is very fortunate to work with a fantastic team of experienced clinicians and he will make referrals to these professionals depending upon your specific circumstances.

The services that Rob, as a High-Risk Obstetrician, provides include:

• Pre-pregnancy visits – This is often an invaluable opportunity to go through your history and make a plan for your forthcoming pregnancy. Referrals to other specialists such as geneticists or physicians can be made at this time.
• Antenatal Care – This involves checking on the welfare of both Mum and baby and – critically – planning ahead to anticipate potential problems and plan for the birth. In Rob’s case (and not all obstetricians do this) these visits include an ultrasound scan to check on your baby’s growth and welfare. In addition, appropriate referrals will be made (foe example some women need to see an anaesthetist prior to giving birth. The schedule of visits will be crafted to your individual wishes and needs (for example sometimes Rob may see a woman weekly – or at times even more often – throughout her pregnancy).
• Labour and Birth – When your day comes it is your day; office visits will be rescheduled (sorry about that) so that Rob can be at the hospital to dedicate himself to your care during your baby’s birth, however it might occur.
• Postnatal Care – Rob will see you at least daily in hospital after your birth. Again, he will be watching for complications and making sure you are doing well. We conduct an early postnatal visit roughly a week after you have gone home at the office or, if needed, at your home (the overwhelming majority of obstetricians don’t do this) as well as your routine six-week check. However, we vary this schedule entirely according to your needs; to take one example sometimes we are checking a woman’s blood pressure at least weekly as she recovers from preeclampsia.

You will have Rob’s mobile phone number so you can contact him 24/7 if you have any concerns about yourself or your baby.