Maternity support services

Cabrini’s highly-skilled and experienced obstetricians will support you during your pregnancy, throughout your labour and birth. They will also provide you with important postnatal care after the birth of your baby. Your obstetrician is key in assisting you to make the right choices for care during and after your pregnancy.

Find an obstetrician

Cabrini has a very experienced team of paediatricians who provide medical care to babies after birth. Your obstetrician may arrange for your baby to be seen by a paediatrician while you are in hospital, as well as for follow-up once you leave hospital.

If you have a caesarean section, a paediatrician is required to be present for the birth which will be arranged by your obstetrician.

Your baby might also see a paediatrician if your obstetrician wants a specialist opinion about your baby’s health and/or thinks your baby needs specialised care and treatment.

General medicine paediatric specialists

• Dr Lisa Barrow
• Dr Daryl Cheng
• Dr Daniel Golshevsky
• Dr Deborah Kipen
• Dr Barry Kras
• Dr Gideon Lurie
• Dr Christopher Pappas
• Dr Simona Sabau

Neonatology paediatric specialists

• Dr Jennifer Gregor

For a full list of our paediatric specialists, please visit the Find a Doctor online directory.

Women’s Ultrasound Malvern, located within the Mother and Baby Centre on Level 2 at Cabrini Malvern offers a full range of high quality ultrasound examinations to women of all ages.

Using state-of-the-art technology, our male and female obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound specialists offer a range of services, including:

• Specialist obstetrical ultrasound
• Screening and diagnostic testing
• Gynaecological ultrasound
• Endometriosis assessment and tubal patency testing

Obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound specialists

• Dr Dina Rubinfeld
• Dr Davina Tai
• Dr Mark Teoh
• Dr Mark Teoh
• Dr Lufee Wong

For appointments, please call (03) 9509 8811.

Managing maternal medical conditions and risks, before, during and after pregnancy is increasingly recognised to have an immediate and lifelong impact on mother and baby. Our obstetric medicine physicians work collaboratively with obstetricians, and in partnership with women and midwives, to provide a specific physician skillset in medically complex or high risk pregnancies.

Obstetric medicine services

• Pre-pregnancy counselling, clarification and optimisation
• Management of medical disorders and complications during pregnancy and post-partum
• Clarification of common but concerning pregnancy symptoms such as headache, palpitations and low blood pressure
• Referral to, and liaison with, other specialties and allied health team members to provide continuity of integrated care in complex pregnancy
• Post-partum follow-up of medical disorders and complications, with subsequent transfer of care to general practice and, where appropriate, to sub-specialty care
• Inpatient consultation as required

Obstetric medicine physicians

Our qualified and experienced obstetric medicine physicians will see women in the Cabrini Mother and Baby Centre, upon referral from obstetrics, general practice, or other specialties. Our physicians will coordinate and case manage medical care from preconception to post-partum, ensuring optimal outcomes for mother and baby, at delivery and across a lifetime.

• Dr Irena Idel
• Dr Catherine Brumby

For appointments, please call (03) 9508 6000 or visit the Melbourne Obstetrics Medicine website at www.melbourneobsmed.com.au.

Dr Anita Bearzatto

Anita combines her roles as a general practitioner and lactation consultant to work with families experiencing complicated lactation (breastfeeding) issues with all aspects of maternal and child health. She is passionate about helping women work through their lactation difficulties to achieve their personal breastfeeding goals.

Anita is a professional member of the Australian Breastfeeding Association and the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She provides education to healthcare professionals and the community on breastfeeding issues.

For appointments, please call (03) 9508 6015.

Learn more

Emotional health, such as postnatal depression, can have profound effects on all. Fortunately, maternal mental health issues can be prevented and treated through early detection, effective treatment and holistic care.

We are very pleased to be able to offer a perinatal emotional health service at Cabrini Malvern. This service is led by two highly skilled specialists: Dr Adaobi Udechuku, Perinatal Psychiatrist and Ms Meaghan Jones, Perinatal Psychologist from the Glow Clinic. Both Adaobi and Meaghan have extensive expertise in ensuring the emotional health and wellbeing of mother, father and infants/children from pre-conception to pregnancy and post pregnancy.

Dr Adaobi Udechuku – Perinatal Psychiatrist

I am passionate about supporting mothers to optimise their emotional health and wellbeing during the perinatal period. I manage all emotional health concerns, including: antenatal and postnatal depression or anxiety, pregnancy loss, adjustment to parenthood, impaired bonding, as well as serious mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Postpartum Psychosis.

Learn more

Ms Meaghan Jones – Perinatal Psychologist

I have over 15 years’ experience in enhancing the wellbeing of women, parents, infants and children. I support individuals and families from pre-conception to preschool age with the full range of perinatal emotional health challenges including: pregnancy, perinatal loss, antenatal depression and anxiety, birth trauma, premature birth, postnatal depression and anxiety, adjustment issues, and parent and infant attachment. I have an eclectic approach to therapy drawing on my extensive experience with a wide range of cognitive behavioural, mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapies.

For appointments, please call (03) 9769 5606.

Physiotherapy services for our pregnant & new mothers are provided by our experienced specialised post-graduate trained Physiotherapy team here at Cabrini.

Our team can help manage back & pelvic pain, incontinence & pelvic floor muscle education, musculoskeletal aches & pains, advice on exercise & breast conditions such as engorgement & mastitis.

Our team can see you:

• As an outpatient during your pregnancy & after the birth of your baby
• n our exercise classes & childbirth education classes (face to face & Telehealth) during your pregnancy & after the birth of your baby
• Routinely on the ward after you have had your baby. Our team visits every new mother.

To enquire about exercise classes or outpatient services, please call (03) 9508 1400 or email access@cabrini.com.au

To enquire about Physiotherapy Child-birth Education, please call (03) 9508 1700

If you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes, our educators and dietitians will work with you to help you manage this condition. Our highly experienced healthcare professionals will provide education, support and advice during your pregnancy and after the birth of your baby.

Did you know:

• Gestational diabetes is usually diagnosed between the 24th and 28th week of pregnancy
• It is diagnosed when there are higher than normal sugar levels in your blood
• Three to eight per cent of pregnant women will develop gestational diabetes

In the rare cases where gestational diabetes is not well managed, it may cause problems such as:

• A large baby
• Pregnancy loss
• Premature delivery
• The need for your baby to be looked after in special care until the baby’s sugar level stabilises after delivery

Your blood sugar levels should return to normal after the birth of your baby but there is an increased risk of you developing type 2 diabetes.

For appointments, please call (03) 9508 1700.

Should your baby need it, Cabrini Speech Pathology offers a specialised service for paediatric feeding. Cabrini speech pathologists are trained in assessing and managing common feeding problems in babies and children.

Feeding problems

• Your baby or child may experience difficulty receiving adequate nutrition and hydration at birth and as they grow. This can be due to poor sucking, swallowing, drinking, chewing or eating.
• Feeding problems can cause growth faltering, weight loss or difficulties gaining weight.
• Feeding problems may seem like difficulty coordinating breathing and swallowing. Your baby may have a weak suck and swallow coordination, have poor endurance during feeding, reduced oral control, excessive gagging, or unexplained food refusal.

Cabrini speech pathologists can assist with breast and bottle feeding skills and transitioning to solid foods. They will work with you and your doctor and other allied health professionals to help your child develop oral skills and reach significant developmental feeding milestones.

For appointments, please call (03) 9508 1700.

Prenatal and postnatal massage services are provided by Nurtured Birth at Cabrini’s Mother and Baby Centre.

Nurtured Birth, founded by Sarah Goldberg, specialises in supporting women through all stages of pregnancy. Research shows that regular prenatal massage, as well as induction massage and postnatal massage, bring a multitude of benefits to both mother and baby, including less pain, a shorter labour and fewer complications.

Benefits of Prenatal Massage

• Improves mood and relaxation by stimulating natural feel good hormones and decreasing stress hormones (adrenalin and cortisol)
• Decreases aches, pains and muscular tension (back, shoulders, neck, hips, joints)
• Promotes easier breathing and sleeping
• Reduces swelling (oedema) in hands and feet and promotes better circulation to mother and baby
• Helps with posture, range of movement and flexibility

Benefits of Induction Massage

• A gentle, non-invasive way to facilitate the onset of labour
• Releases tension in the lower back and pelvis area to help the baby move down
• Supports the mother to relax mentally and physically as she waits for the onset of labour
• Builds confidence to birth

Benefits of Postnatal Massage

After your baby is born, and as your body changes and heals, massage will support your return to a balanced healthy emotional and physical state by:

• Relaxing muscular tension, stiffness and soreness associated with looking after a newborn (for example in the neck, shoulders and back)
• Increased energy levels
• Encourages healing of body and mind
• Toning of muscles and overstretched skin
• Reduces the risk of postnatal depression

Contact Us

To make an appointment call 0401 083 778 or email nurtured@nurturedbirth.com.au