Established while Australia was still just a colony, Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women has a long and distinguished history. Today, it is one of the country’s most prestigious hospitals for providing health care services to women and their babies. It is seen as a leader and innovator in the maternal health field, particularly for obstetrics, education and medical research.

The history of obstetrics at Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women

Throughout its storied history the Royal Hospital for Women has been a leader in improving the health and wellbeing of the women in the country since its inception. It began its career as a health care provider established by the Benevolent Society in 1820, specifically targeted at offering obstetric, gynaecological and neonatological services to poor married women during their pregnancy, labour and after the birth of their child. 

Since then it has continued to be an innovator in the field, becoming New South Wales’ first ‘lying-in’ hospital for women in 1866, and over time became the principal teaching hospital for the University of NSW in fields related to women’s reproductive health. 

Finally, in 1992 the management of the hospital was conferred from the Benevolent Society of New South Wales to the Eastern Sydney Area Health Service, and in 1997 it officially relocated its facilities from Paddington to Randwick to occupy a new $40 million purpose built hospital in the area. 

Since then it has continued to be one of the best hospitals in Sydney for supporting women’s health, leading the way in the field of obstetrics and playing a vital role in educating the next generation of healthcare providers in Sydney.

Some of the amazing milestones that the Royal Hospital for Women has achieved over the decades in the fields of obstetrics and maternal health include:

The Royal Hospital for Women today

Today the Royal Hospital for Women has continued to improve and grow their services for women in New South Wales. The primary areas of specialisation in the hospital include gynaecology, gynaecological oncology, maternity, maternal fetal medicine, menopause, newborn intensive care and reproductive medicine. 

The Royal Hospital of Women is dedicated to providing high quality obstetric and maternal services to women, delivering more than 4,000 babies every year, including taking care of 600 premature babies and performing more than 600 gynaecological procedures annually. This makes it one of the largest and most experienced maternal hospitals in the country.

The Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick, affectionately known as The Royal, is open to all women from across the state, providing expert support for mothers and their babies when they need it most.

Non-invasive prenatal testing or NIPT is a screening test designed to determine the likelihood of a child developing certain genetic abnormalities. During pregnancy a child’s DNA mixes with the mother’s in her bloodstream, allowing doctors to perform a simple blood test to examine the genetic material and find particular issues early.   

What does non-invasive prenatal testing screen for?

Non-invasive prenatal testing is a highly sensitive prenatal screening test that can help mothers understand the risk of their child developing certain genetic abnormalities during pregnancy. The test is done in the first trimester and screens for:

While all of these genetic abnormalities are very rare, screening for them allows the mother and their families to properly prepare for all eventualities and make informed medical decisions based on the findings of the tests.

Who should consider non-invasive prenatal testing?

Non-invasive prenatal testing is not a standard test in the first trimester, and is only offered in particular specialist clinics, however, it can be an extremely useful test for mothers who:

What are the benefits of non-invasive prenatal testing?

Non-invasive prenatal testing has had such an impact on prenatal screening because of its major benefits:

What are some considerations you should be aware of?

Non-invasive prenatal testing is highly accurate, however, it is still a screening rather than diagnostic test. This means that while it can help assess the likelihood of a baby being affected, it can not give parents a definitive answer, which will require a diagnostic test like CVS. It can however allow mothers make better informed decisions about how to prepare and whether to take a more invasive test to get a definitive diagnosis. 

Sydney summers are a time for the outdoors, spending time with the family and doing some physical activity. When you’re pregnant, however, it can be a little difficult to deal with the forty degree days and heavy humidity. This can also come with the added stress and health hazards of bushfire season, which can pose a risk to both the mother and her child. Take a look below for some simple pregnancy care tips for staying healthy and cool in a Sydney summer.

Make sure you plan for the heat

Most mothers will attest to the fact that being pregnant will also often come with generally feeling hotter throughout the day than they normally would. Combine this with the already overwhelming heat of peak summer days and you could begin to feel very uncomfortable. A good way to stay on top of this is to be aware of heat alerts and plan accordingly. If you know it is going to be a hot day, plan to do something cool or indoors such as shopping, going to the pool or watching a movie.

Continue to exercise

While it might be the last thing you want to do, it is important to continue some kind of exercise regime even in summer. The highest priority however is to stay safe so make sure that you exercise either outside of peak heat hours, such as taking a walk in the morning or evening when it is cooler, or finding a cool place to stay fit such as a gym or Pilates studio. This will help keep you healthy and active, however, make sure you avoid any kind of overheating or exhaustion, with low impact exercises a good choice.

Follow heat safety guidelines

Diligently following heat guidelines should be a top priority. These include sun safety recommendations such as putting on sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, wearing a hat and seeking shade where you can. It also means that you should hydrate regularly, which helps keep the body cool and decreases water retention, which can make Sydney summer days more bearable.

Take precautions against bushfire smokepregnancy nutrition

Bushfires are a real health risk in summer and can cause serious issues such as difficulty breathing and asthma attacks, as well as milder symptoms such as burning eyes or throat irritation. Some of the best ways to protect yourself are:

Choosing a good hospital in which to have your child can be a difficult and confusing decision. However, if you pick a good service it can make a big difference, not just during the childbirth itself but also in patient care and postnatal services.

Amongst the options of obstetrics and maternity services in Sydney, the Prince of Wales Private Hospital is the standout choice, providing modern, private hospital care, a step above the other options in the city. Some of the reasons why the Prince of Wales Private Hospital is one of Sydney’s leaders in obstetrics is:

Focus on private patient carepregnancy diet plan

Perhaps the most important factor in choosing the Prince of Wales Private Hospital is their focus on private maternity care for their patients. While most other hospitals offer some form of private care the Prince of Wales is entirely centred on providing a personalised experienced that fulfils your needs and expectations.  From an experienced maternity team to modern, cutting edge facilities there isn’t a better private obstetrics program in Sydney.

A variety of birthing equipment

Most mothers would prefer to have some kind of control over the birthing process, and that is where the Prince of Wales Hospital shines, providing a variety of birthing equipment to help facilitate your labour preferences. These include a host of resources including water immersion, birth balls, mats and stools.

More operating theatres

Another massive advantage for the Prince of Wales obstetrics program is the amount of operating theatres they have available if there are complications during the birth. Outfitted with the best equipment the hospital is ready to support emergency caesarean sections if needed and are happy to provide elective caesarean sections if the mother chooses to undergo the operation.

Support 24 hours a day

The hospital offers 24-hour support for mothers before and after birth, including a night nursery where the newborn can be taken care of at night while the mother rests and gets some much needed sleep.

Little Luxuries program

Opening again in late 2020 is the option of the Little Luxuries program. Which is a 4.5 star private hotel on Coogee Beach which offers post-natal support for mothers who gave birth in the Prince of Wales Private Hospital. Along with the beachfront views and 24-hour medical support, the Little Luxuries program is also covered by most private health insurance schemes.

Access for partners and overnight stay

One of the best parts of choosing the Prince of Wales Private Hospital for your obstetric needs is the fact that they are very accommodating to partners. Partners are welcome to stay overnight at the hospital and are provided with either a double bed or sofa bed in the room so that they can be a part of the experience.

Postnatal care

Postnatal care is a big focus for the Prince of Wales Hospital with spacious postnatal accommodation including freshly cooked meals, air-conditioning, a bar fridge, television, Wi-Fi, ensuite bathroom and a lounge area for the ward. Nursing assistance is available on-call, providing support whenever it is needed.

Seeing your baby for the first time can be a heart warming moment, and no doubt you don’t want to wait a whole 9 months to be able to do so, which is why many parents start thinking about a 3D ultrasound. However, before you book anything you should know a little more about what a 3D ultrasound is used for, when it is recommended and whether it is safe for you and your baby.

What is the difference between 2D and 3D ultrasounds?

Many people have undergone an ultrasound sometime in their lives, and this is particularly true of women who have passed their 8th week of pregnancy. A 2D ultrasound can be performed in most practitioner’s offices or at the local hospital and provides an exciting first glimpse of your child.

When you are undergoing a 2D ultrasound you will be asked to lie on your back and expose your belly. The practitioner will then rub a gel on your abdomen to help the transmission of sound waves into your body. Once the gel is applied they will use a hand held device called a transducer and rub it against your belly, allowing sound waves from the device to enter your body and bounce off the various structures inside, including your growing child! These sounds are then converted into electrical signals and translated to pictures on a screen.

If the ultrasound is very early on in your pregnancy then an abdominal ultrasound may not be possible. In that case it would be performed by a vaginal probe, rather than hand held transducer.

A 3D ultrasound is similar to a 2D ultrasound, except multiple two-dimensional images are taken at different angles, and then pieced together to provide a three-dimensional image of the child.

What are 2D and 3D ultrasounds used for during pregnancy?

2D ultrasounds are a regular part of the prenatal tests performed during pregnancy. They are normally performed once in the first and once in the second trimester. The first trimester ultrasound is used to pick up the heart rate and see the umbilical cord, size and placenta. The second trimester ultrasound is used to observe the placenta and different features of the foetus including the head, face, spine heart and abdomen. The main reason for these tests is to look for physical abnormalities in the development of the child.

3D ultrasounds are only recommended by the doctor if they suspect a foetal abnormality such as a cleft lip and are not a regular part of prenatal exams. Parents on the other hand sometimes wish to perform a 3D ultrasound for the sake of creating a keepsake of their child, a 3D image that they can show to their friends.

Are 3D ultrasounds safe for the mother and child during pregnancy?

There are many ‘prenatal portrait centres’ that offer 3D ultrasound pictures of your child, however, the safety of these sessions is uncertain. It is recommended by doctors that while ultrasound technology for the most part is considered safe, it should only be used by a trained practitioner and only if it is medically necessary, such as to examine foetal abnormalities.

3D ultrasounds use sound waves which can warm up the tissue a little, which can sometimes create pockets of gas. While there are no known risks with ultrasound technology, the long term consequence of this effect are unknown, so it is always best to be safe.

Therefore, experts discourage the idea of using 3D ultrasounds for creating a keepsake or just to have a portrait of the child. Instead they counsel that they be used only for medical purposes, by a trained professional and only if it is recommended by trained medical staff.

Anyone who has had a baby or even those that have begun thinking about it knows that an obstetrician is a key part of the pregnancy and birth process. An obstetrician is a highly qualified doctor that specialises in providing medical care and advice before during and after birth, to ensure that mothers experience a healthy and uneventful pregnancy.

However, because people only really encounter an obstetrician when they are looking to have a child many might still be confused by what exactly it is that they do and what their qualifications are for such an important job in the medical field.

What is the role of an obstetrician?

As mentioned earlier the role of an obstetrician is to provide medical advice and care from pregnancy to childbirth. This involves:

At these three stages of the birth cycle an obstetrician must perform a variety of roles including prescribing medication, determining the need for surgery, monitoring the health of the mother and child, treating complications, providing advice on family planning, and providing advice on nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

What are the qualifications of an obstetrician?

As we can see the role of an obstetrician is extremely important and requires a high degree of training to perform the vital function of providing medical care before, during and after pregnancy. In order to become an obstetrician one must:

These are the four key qualifications that an obstetrician must undergo, and in addition needs to be registered as a doctor in Australia and continue to undergo training and development throughout their entire career to stay up to date with the newest developments in the field.

Scans during pregnancy are extremely important for screening the health and wellbeing of the baby, screening for abnormalities and providing useful information on the development of the foetus. There are a number of scans that can be performed and might be used for a number of different purposes.

What are scans used for during pregnancy?

Dr Rahul Sen - 3d scan service

Some of the reasons why scans might be performed during pregnancy include:

What are the regular scans recommended during pregnancy?

There are several scans that are generally recommended during the pregnancy period:

While these are the regular tests performed throughout the pregnancy if the pregnancy is high risk or involves multiple births such as twins then other scans might be recommended.

What to expect when ultrasound scans are performed

Ultrasound scans are a simple and safe procedure that is used to visualise internal structures within the body. When having your ultrasound scan during pregnancy the doctor or medical professional will apply a gel to the stomach and then use a device that produces soundwaves to reflect off the baby and provide a picture of what is going on inside your body. In some cases very early on in the pregnancy if there is a need to do an ultrasound scan it might be necessary to do it transvaginally, which means that the ultrasound device is gently inserted into the vagina to provide images rather than over the abdomen. It is completely painless and safe for the baby in addition to being extremely useful for understanding how the pregnancy is developing.

Gynaecology and obstetrics have become a fundamental part of women’s health in the contemporary field of health. While the two fields overlap and work closely together the optimise the health and wellbeing of women in modern society they have distinct roles in the medical profession. However, the differences between the two can often be confusing for people who haven’t had need for a gynaecologist or obstetrician in their everyday life.

In short obstetrics deals with the care of women and their baby during pregnancy, birth and the immediate days or weeks after their child is born. Gynaecology on the other hand specialises in understanding and treating women’s reproductive systems. This article will attempt to clarify what both of these professions do and how to decide which one is the right doctor for your needs.

What is an obstetrician?

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Diabetes - pregnancy diet plan

As mentioned above obstetricians are specialists in the field of medicine which are concerned with the care of women during pregnancy, labour and birth. Their primary function is to ensure the wellbeing of women and their children during this critical period in their lives.

What is a gynaecologist?pregnancy diet plan

While it is very common that an obstetrician is also a gynaecologist, gynaecology is a field of medicine that focuses on a different side of women’s health and these professionals are involved for a much longer period of a woman’s life, which ranges from puberty all the way through to menopause.

Gynaecologists focus on the health of a woman’s reproductive health which can include the reproductive system such as the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries as well as their genitals and breasts. Gynaecologists perform routine checks such as Pap tests and examinations for sexually transmitted diseases, and can provide medical treatment for issues such as infections, diseases or other irregularities. They may also perform or advise on particular surgical procedures such as hysterectomies or the removal of precancerous cells within a woman’s reproductive system.

Aside from medical conditions, gynaecologists also concern themselves with a woman’s fertility and can advise on fertility treatments, advice on conception and the proper use of contraception.

Pregnancy is a beautiful time for many as they watch their child grow and develop. It can be an exciting mix of emotions but can also be filled with doubt and questions as families try to do their best for the growing baby.

That’s why a good prenatal doctor is vital to the process. An obstetrician can be there to answer questions, perform routine checks and ensure that the mother and baby remain healthy throughout the pregnancy and birth.

Complications do happen however, and when they do having an obstetrician on your side can make a significant difference. An obstetrician is a highly qualified medical professional, trained in helping women through complicated pregnancies and experts in facilitating successful births.

What is a complicated pregnancy?pregnancy nutrition

A complicated or high-risk pregnancy is a complication during the nine month period that might affect the health of the mother or child. High risk pregnancies can develop for a number of reasons including:

The good news is that a complicated pregnancy doesn’t necessarily have to be more difficult than a pregnancy that is low-risk and in a lot of cases can be managed successfully through a combination of the right prenatal care and the attention of an obstetrician.

What is an obstetrician?

An obstetrician is a medical professional that provides expert care and advice before, during and after birth. They perform a number of important functions including:

What is the role of an obstetrician during complicated pregnancies?

There are a number of factors that make an obstetrician important during high risk pregnancies.

First and foremost they are the health care provider that has been there with the mother and baby since the beginning of the journey. They understand the medical history of the mother and how the child has developed over the nine months. This makes them uniquely qualified to know what treatments and procedures are best to ensure a successful birth.

As an expert in their field they will play a vital role in adjusting prenatal (pre-birth) care and will have an active role in the delivery of the child. They will be able to advise on whether a natural birth or c-section and help facilitate a healthy birth.

Midwives have been at the core of childbirth medical care for a very long time. A midwife is a health care professional that provides assistance to women during pregnancy, childbirth and for up to six weeks after the baby is born. Their role is to encourage a healthy pregnancy and provide the medical care and advice you need to have a natural birth.

Midwives are trained and authorised to provide medical care under their own authority, meaning that they only need to refer to doctors when necessary or there are complications in the pregnancy or birthing process. They often work in conjunction with an obstetrician to ensure that you have the care and support you need to give birth to a happy and healthy child.

What do midwives do?

While most people assume that midwives only provide care during the birth of the child, to be most effective it is recommended that a midwife is present before and after the pregnancy as well. This is called continuity of care and means that you will have someone present to give you advice when you need it and be aware of the details and peculiarities of your case, a role which is vital to the success of your pregnancy and labour.

Midwife care during pregnancy

Midwife care during pregnancy and before the birth is focused on monitoring the health of you and your baby and helping guide you in your physical health and psychological needs. A midwife’s role might include:

Midwife care during and after labour

If your pregnancy is expected to be natural and without complications then a midwife might be the only support you need, however, if there are complications in the birth then they should be working closely with an obstetrician to provide the medical care necessary for you to have a successful delivery.

During labour a midwife will:

After your baby is born your midwife will:

Midwives work in a variety of settings from hospitals to birthing centres and obstetrician clinics. They are often able to visit you at home and play a key role in providing you with advice and care on an ongoing basis from conception to around 6 weeks after birth, meaning that if you don’t already have one you should contact a clinic today.