General & Surgical information

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RANZCOG produced a useful and comprehensive guidance for pregnant women on various concerns and practices during pregnancy. It covers topics such as fetal movements, sleeping positions, exercise, pain relief, smoking, vaccinations, air travel, sex, swimming, seatbelts, nutrition including weight gain, alcohol, caffeine, fish consumption, foods to avoid, as well as skin and hair care including the use of fake tan, hair dyes, manicures, pedicures, Botox, dermal fillers, and waxing. To read more, click here.

Many pregnant patients have asked me if it is safe to travel during pregnancy. The simple answer is yes, it is safe but I generally recommend that patients avoid long-distance air travel in the first trimester (radiation dosage for a 3-4 hours flight is 0.035mSv, about 1/3 the radiation dosage from a chest X-ray). I also advise patients to consider their choice of destination especially if there are endemic diseases and if there is ready access to high-quality healthcare facilities, in case issues develop during your travels. Always have comprehensive travel insurance. RANZCOG produced this useful (but somewhat basic) patient information pamphlet, Travelling During Pregnancy.

Every baby has a small chance of having a chromosomal or genetic condition. Prenatal screening for some chromosomal and genetic conditions is recommended during pregnancy to provide the woman with more information about her unborn baby but this is by no means compulsory. The screening test with the best accuracy are cell-free DNA tests such as Percept ($425, VCGS) or Harmony ($430, Australian Clinical Labs)To learn more, RANZCOG has this useful guide for your perusal.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious and important complication of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia complicates 3-5% of pregnancies, and is responsible for 25% of fetal growth restriction, 33% of preterm births and 20% of NICU admissions. Screening for pre-eclampsia can be risk factor based but adding biochemical and ultrasound markers to calculations improves pre-eclampsia prediction. The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital produced a very informative pamphlet. To read more, click here.

This fact sheet produced by the Royal Women’s Hospital in 2018 outlines key information regarding total laparoscopic hysterectomy, a minimally invasive surgical procedure for the removal of the uterus. It covers the reasons for surgery, preparation steps, the procedure itself, recovery expectations, potential risks, and benefits.  The goal is to equip patients with essential knowledge to make informed decisions and understand the post-operative healing process. To read more, click here.