Early Pregnancy Midwifery Care - Telehealth
Early Pregnancy Midwifery Care
You shouldn’t have to wait until 20 weeks to receive the care and support you need.
Early pregnancy telehealth consultations for women on the Sunshine Coast planning to birth at Gympie Hospital or Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Pregnancy care should not begin at 20 weeks simply because that is when your hospital booking appointment is scheduled.
For many women, accessing early pregnancy care can be challenging. Not everyone has an established GP, can secure an appointment when they need one, or knows where to turn for advice, investigations and referrals during those important first weeks of pregnancy.
This can leave women navigating early pregnancy largely on their own, with important health considerations, screening decisions and potential risk factors not always identified or addressed as early as they could be.
Benefiting Birth and Beyond aims to bridge this gap.
I offer direct access to an experienced midwife through early pregnancy telehealth consultations, providing individualised assessment, clinical guidance and care coordination from the beginning of your pregnancy.
You do not need to have a GP or obtain a GP referral to access this service.
I can arrange appropriate pathology investigations, ultrasound referrals and other clinical referrals within my scope of practice, helping ensure your pregnancy care gets underway without unnecessary delays. Where additional medical or specialist input is required, I can facilitate early referral to the appropriate hospital maternity service.
My aim is simple: to make sure women don’t fall through the gaps in early pregnancy care and that their individual needs are identified, understood and appropriately addressed as early as possible.
Why early pregnancy care matters
The first 20 weeks of pregnancy are an important period for both maternal health and pregnancy development.
There are investigations to consider, health conditions to identify, nutritional requirements to assess and decisions to make about screening and maternity care.
Yet many women find themselves in a position where they have been given a list of blood tests or ultrasound requests without having the opportunity to understand what they are for, what their options are or what the results might mean for them.
Others may have concerns about their health or previous pregnancy experiences but struggle to access someone who has the time to properly explore these with them.
Early access to a midwife provides an opportunity to address these needs before they become missed opportunities or delayed referrals.
You deserve more than a collection of pathology requests. You deserve someone who takes the time to understand your circumstances, explain your options and help coordinate the care you need.
What can I help you with?
Individualised early pregnancy assessment
A comprehensive discussion of your health, medical history, previous pregnancies and births, medications, current wellbeing and any factors that may influence your pregnancy care.
Blood tests and investigations
Understand which antenatal blood tests are recommended, why they are offered, what they can identify and what your options are. I can arrange appropriate pathology investigations and help interpret results within my scope of practice.
Ultrasound and screening choices
Explore your options for early pregnancy ultrasound, dating scans, first trimester screening, NIPT and morphology ultrasound. Understand the differences between screening and diagnostic testing so you can make informed decisions.
Nutrition, supplementation and medication
Review your nutritional needs, existing supplementation and medications. Identify potential deficiencies or health concerns that may warrant investigation, supplementation, medication review or further medical input.
Early identification of risk factors
Identify medical, obstetric and pregnancy-related factors that may require additional monitoring, investigation or specialist involvement. Where appropriate, I can facilitate early referrals to hospital maternity services rather than waiting until your routine hospital booking appointment.
Accessing the right maternity care
Understand the maternity care options available through Gympie Hospital and Sunshine Coast University Hospital. Explore continuity of midwifery care, Midwifery Group Practice, standard antenatal care and obstetric-led pathways where appropriate.
If you have additional needs or circumstances that warrant earlier hospital involvement, I can facilitate referral to the appropriate service so that your care pathway can be established as early as possible.
You don’t need a GP to get started
One of the biggest barriers women can experience in early pregnancy is simply accessing care.
You may:
Not have an established GP.
Be unable to secure a timely GP appointment.
Be new to the Sunshine Coast and unsure where to access pregnancy care.
Be waiting for your hospital booking appointment at around 20 weeks.
Have previous pregnancy or medical complications that you would like assessed early.
Want someone to help you understand and coordinate your pregnancy care.
With Benefiting Birth and Beyond, you can access a midwife directly.
I can undertake an individualised early pregnancy assessment, arrange appropriate pathology and ultrasound investigations, facilitate relevant referrals and help coordinate the next steps in your care.
Where your circumstances indicate a need for medical review or specialist maternity care, I can facilitate referral to the appropriate hospital service.
You don’t have to wait until 20 weeks to have your needs recognised or your care coordinated.
Helping you find the right model of maternity care
Your maternity care options are worth exploring early.
Many women are unaware that different models of maternity care may be available to them, or that some pathways have eligibility requirements and referral processes that are best explored sooner rather than later.
During your consultation, we can discuss the options available at Gympie Hospital and Sunshine Coast University Hospital, including continuity of midwifery care, Midwifery Group Practice, standard hospital antenatal care and obstetric-led care.
If you have particular preferences or additional care needs, we can discuss the most appropriate pathway and facilitate referrals as early as possible.
My role is to help you understand your options, navigate the maternity system and make informed decisions about the care that is right for you.
How does it work?
Book directly: No GP referral or existing GP relationship is required to access this service.
Meet with a midwife: Attend your individualised early pregnancy telehealth consultation from home.
Develop your care plan: Discuss your health, investigations, screening choices, supplementation and maternity care preferences.
Coordinate your care: Appropriate pathology, ultrasound requests and referrals can be arranged within my scope of practice.
Identify the next steps: If additional medical or hospital input is needed, appropriate referrals can be facilitated early.
Pregnancy care should not have to wait.
Every woman deserves timely access to appropriate pregnancy care, the opportunity to make informed decisions and support in navigating the maternity system.
Whether you are newly pregnant, don’t have a GP, are waiting for your hospital booking appointment or simply want more time with a midwife to understand your options, Benefiting Birth and Beyond is here to help.
Let’s make sure you and your pregnancy receive the attention and care you need, from the very beginning.
Book your early pregnancy telehealth consultation
For women on the Sunshine Coast planning to birth at Gympie Hospital or Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Early pregnancy consultations provide individualised midwifery assessment, education and care coordination and are intended to complement ongoing maternity care. A GP is not a prerequisite for accessing this service. Clinical investigations, prescriptions and referrals are arranged within the midwife’s scope of practice and applicable referral and prescribing requirements. Where medical or specialist care is required, appropriate referral will be facilitated. This service does not replace emergency assessment or guarantee acceptance into a particular hospital or maternity care model.