Sessions set to help prepare for pregnancy

12 Jul 2021

The sessions are run by the hospital’s parent education team, including Midwife Georgi Wardrop, and are designed to guide people through early maternity care options.

“For many expecting parents, the health system can seem confusing and often the first time they start considering their options is when they are already pregnant and attending an appointment with their GP,” Georgi said.

“Many parents don’t realise there is a 12 month waiting period for most private health insurance or that they actually have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting the right care provider for them.

“Attendees don’t need to have selected St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital as their provider to attend a session, we hope the information is general enough to help empower them to make decisions about their future or ongoing pregnancy care.”

Women experience a lot of changes to their body throughout their pregnancy and the session also aims to provide a general overview of health and wellness in the first few months.

“The first 12 weeks can be quite isolating for a lot of women as they may not be feeling well and don’t want to share their pregnancy news until after the first trimester," said Georgi.   

“People are often surprised what is normal in pregnancy and our health and wellness section provides some reassurance about the things they may be experiencing.

“It is rewarding to see the relief on their faces when they realise certain symptoms are completely normal and they leave with a better understanding of what to expect in the early weeks, what appointments to book and what vitamins to take.

“And don’t worry, midwives can keep a secret!”

The preconception and early pregnancy information session will be held at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital every six-weeks until the end of the year. Find out more information and book your spot today!