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General Practitioners (GPs) are usually the first health professional to see a woman who thinks or knows she is pregnant.

The 'GPaskthequestion' project aims to highlight the importance of asking all pregnant women irrespective of age, socio-economic status or ethnicity about their alcohol use.
Don’t assume that women are aware of the risks of drinking alcohol during pregnancy.

Three videos have been produced and you will hear women say "just ask us about alcohol": Click here to view videos and further information. 

As important as 'asking' is the need to 'assess and record' this information using a validated tool such as the AUDIT-C. It is critical to know about alcohol consumption before and after confirmation of pregnancy.

Further resources and information to help health professionals discuss alcohol and pregnancy with women:

• Department of Health (DoH) : Alcohol during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Department of Health (DoH) : Women want to know 

The miscarriage support network Pink Elephants has created a new video to increase awareness and empathy around the grief that women experience after miscarriage and early pregnancy loss. Did you know that 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in loss and up to 75% of women are not receiving the emotional support they need.

Click here to view the video.

Timing of pertussis vaccination
The range of timing of pertussis vaccination for pregnant women has been recently expanded from 28-32 weeks to 20-32 weeks gestation. These recent changes are expected to benefit pregnant women at risk of pre-term delivery by increasing their opportunities to receive the vaccines. 

Vaccinating at 28 weeks
It has been acknowledged that this may be disruptive to established protocols to vaccinate at the 28 week visit, potentially reducing effectiveness of the current programmatic approach. Therefore, pregnant women should continue to routinely receive their pertussis vaccination at their 28 week visit.

Vaccination at 20 weeks
Women identified as being at high risk of preterm birth, or unlikely to attend a 28 week visit for any reason, should receive their pertussis vaccination at 20 weeks or as soon as possible after this time.

Vaccination after 32 weeks
Women who do not receive the vaccine before 32 weeks should still receive the vaccination as soon as possible, at any time up until delivery.

Protection for infant
Vaccination during pregnancy provides the infant with protection against the disease by the transfer of antibodies through the placenta, and protects the infant during the first weeks of life before they can receive their own vaccinations from six weeks of age.

Pertussis vaccine is provided free under the National Immunisation Program for pregnant women during each pregnancy.

GPs undertaking antenatal shared care are expected to maintain affiliation/recognition as an ANSC GP provider and be familiar with ANSC guidelines and protocols. Maintaining GP ANSC affiliation/recognition involves the accrual of at least 12 Cat 2 points in either antenatal or postnatal specific educational activities over each RACGP triennium. The end of 2019 concludes this current triennium.

These educational activities can be completed as face-to-face (CESPHN or external) or on-line activities.

Click here to view 2019 CESPHN Maternal Health events

Click here to view relevant on-line activities

Please note, CESPHN does not have access to individual GPs RACGP CPD statement, therefore confirmation of any external or on-line activities need to be forwarded to CESPHN for our records. Please contact Lauren Thomas, Maternal Health CPD Officer to clarify your CPD point status and/or to forward copies of completion certificates or your RACGP CPD credit statement.