Maternal and child health

​

At Gympie Road Medical Centre, we provide health care and support for you and your babies to give them the best possible start in life.

​

General practitioners play a very important role in your family’s health care. They are usually the first health professional to see if you have any concerns about your child’s health.

​

The team of general practitioners have specialist interest in maternal and children’s health and can assist you with your concerns.

​

Our services include:

​

• Pregnancy counselling and planning :

 

It is important to be prepared for one the most exciting journeys of your life. It is recommended to visit your doctor at least 3 months prior to trying to get pregnant. During this visit, a general health check would be conducted to ensure a pregnancy with no preventable complication. A blood test might also be required to check for any anaemia, iron deficiency, Vitamin deficiency, thyroid issue and to check immunity levels to diseases such as Varicella (Chickenpox) and Rubella (German measles) . Immunisation before pregnancy can provide the best protection for mother and baby against common infectious diseases.

​

For more information go to:

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation/immunisation-throughout-life/immunisation-for-pregnancy

​

​

• Antenatal care and GP Shared care :

 

When you become pregnant, you will require scheduling regular healthcare appointments throughout each stage of your pregnancy. During these visits, your doctor will check your health and the health of your baby. We provide a Shared Care program with the hospitals for women going into Queensland Public hospitals.

​

A schedule of visits may involve seeing your doctor:

​

• Every month in the first six months of your pregnancy

• Every two weeks in the seventh and eighth months of your pregnancy

• Every week during your ninth month of pregnancy

 

Visits may include:

​

• Taking routine tests and screenings, such as a blood test

• Monitoring your blood pressure

• Measuring your weight gain

• Monitoring the baby’s growth and heart rate

• Talking about special diet and exercise

• Monitoring your mental health wellbeing during pregnancy

• Later visits may also include checking the baby’s position and noting changes in your body as you prepare for birth.

• Immunisation during the pregnancy such as Whopping cough and influenza vaccination towards the end of your pregnancy

 

​​

• Post-natal care:

 

While most attention to pregnancy care focuses on the nine months of pregnancy, postpartum care is important, too. The postpartum period lasts six to eight weeks, beginning right after the baby is born.

​

During this period, the mother goes through many physical and emotional changes while learning to care for her newborn. Postpartum care involves getting proper rest, nutrition, and support.

​

It is important to stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy and during the postpartum period. Stay on top of all of your healthcare appointments and follow your doctor’s instructions for the health and safety of you and your baby.

​

 

• Post- natal depression :  

 

All parents go through a period of adjustment as they try to handle the huge changes a baby brings. For most people, this time of adjustment will be temporary and will not be overly distressing. Many women experience the ‘baby blues ‘in the first few days after having a baby.

​

The baby blues usually only last 2 to 3 days and you might feel teary, anxious and moody during that time. The support of your partner, family and friends is usually enough to help you get through it.

​

When these feelings last beyond these early days and continue to get worse, it may be a sign of developing depression.

​

If you feel that above-mentioned feelings are lasting longer than usual, it is recommended to make an appointment with your doctor.

​

In the practice, the doctors and psychologists who will be able to provide initial assessment, support and appropriate treatment for this condition.

​

• Child health check and Immunisation:

 

At Gympie Road Medical Centre, we offer a comprehensive health check and immunisation service to your children. Unlike some other organisations such as child nurse clinics and government vaccination clinics, which mainly focus on immunisation, we perform a full health check including physical examination as well as baby’s growth milestones.  As a result, we recommend seeing your GP for the scheduled vaccinations. Our team of health professionals are proudly regarded in the Pine River community for their skill in child health checks and administering vaccinations.

​

Full details can be found on about immunisation cab be found via below link of the Department of Health and Ageing.

​

https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/immunisation

​

Or alternatively, Please have a chat with one of our friendly nurses about immunisation and your concerns . Our nurses are up to date with the latest changes in national immunisation program.

​

After having your vaccination, for safety reasons we ask that you remain within the clinic area for at least 15 minutes to make sure there is no reaction to immunisation . Please ensure that you have enough time for this in your day’s schedule.

​

After 4 years of age, vaccinations are given at school clinics but can be arranged through our clinic if requested.

​

• Early feeding and nutritional information:

 

The doctors and nurses are very experienced with children, their nutritional and health needs. They are enthusiastic to provide education and support regarding your child’s feeding.

​

Key recommendations:

​

• Breastfeeding is recommended for at least 6 months and for as long as mother and infant wish to continue. There is enough evidence that breastfeeding provides many benefits to mother and infant.

• Breastfeeding during the period that solid foods are first introduced to infants from around 6 months may help reduce the risk of the infant developing allergies.

• If breastfeeding is not possible, a standard cow’s milk based formula can be given. There is no evidence that soy or goat’s milk formula reduce the risk of allergic disease when used in preference to standard cow’s milk based formula.

• When your infant is ready, at around 6 months, but not before 4 months, start to introduce a variety of solid foods, starting with iron rich foods, while continuing breastfeeding.

• Based on a recently published review of studies, there is no consistent convincing evidence to support a protective role for partially hydrolysed formulas (usually labelled ‘HA’ or Hypoallergenic) or extensively hydrolysed formulas for the prevention of eczema, food allergy, asthma or allergic rhinitis in infants or children.

• Regular cow’s, goat’s milk (or other mammal derived milks), soymilk, nut and cereal beverages are not recommended for infants as the main source of milk before 12 months of age.

• All infants should be given allergenic solid foods including peanut butter, cooked egg, dairy and wheat products in the first year of life. This includes infants at high risk of allergy.

• Hydrolysed (partially and extensively) infant formula are not recommended for prevention of allergic disease.

• Mothers recommended having healthy balanced diet, rich in fibre, vegetables and fruit. This provides many health benefits to the mother and infant during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Exclusion of any particular foods (including foods considered to be highly allergenic) from the maternal diet during pregnancy or breastfeeding is not recommended, as this has not been shown to prevent allergies.

• Up to three serves of oily fish per week may be beneficial, as there is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids (found in oily fish) during pregnancy and breastfeeding may help prevent eczema in early life.

• Whilst there is moderate evidence that probiotics during pregnancy and breastfeeding may help prevent eczema in early life, recommendations about probiotic supplements cannot currently be made because the optimal species and dose of probiotics that might have an effect is unclear. More research is required in this area before clear and specific recommendations can be made.

​

​

Developmental and behavioural issue :

​

If you have any concerns regarding your child's behaviour or development or if any concerns have been raised by day care or school, please talk to the health professionals at GRMC . We are privileged to have a team of occupational therapist, speech pathologist and physiotherapist on board that can assist the general practitioners in a holistic approach to the issue . Having a team under the same roof , makes it easier for parents , doctors and allied health to communicate directly and face to face via case conferencing  to discuss issues and concerns .