ANSC Newsletter June 2019 No Images? Click here Antenatal Shared Care Update Click the buttons below for the latest updates from your affiliate hospital Decreased fetal movements – maternal awareness and acting early Fetal movements are a reliable indicator of fetal wellbeing. Decreased fetal movements (DFM) is widely acknowledged to be associated with various adverse pregnancy outcomes. To support a woman’s awareness of her baby’s movements, GPs should be enquiring about her baby’s pattern of movements at every antenatal visit. Raising awareness amongst women to learn to know their baby’s pattern of movement is an important aspect of antenatal care. Verbal and written information regarding normal fetal movements during the antenatal period should be routinely provided. Maternal perception of DFM is a common reason for women to make contact with their healthcare provider. Maternal concerns regarding their baby’s movement overrides any number of fetal movements¹. Women should be advised that any change in their baby’s movements should be taken seriously and to contact their maternity care provider immediately rather than waiting. GPs should be aware of recommended advice for women which includes:
Resources and references:
- “Your Baby’s Movements Matter” flyer
(including translations to more than 15 languages) ¹ NSW Health – Maternity- Decreased fetal movements in third trimester ² RPAH – Decreased fetal movements guidelines Assisting women to maintain a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy? Did you know that NSW Health’s “Get Healthy in pregnancy” (GHiP) service provides a FREE, confidential telephone based health coaching service to support all women achieve a healthy gestational weight gain during their pregnancy. The service provides support and information around positive behavioural lifestyle changes including healthy eating, physical activity and alcohol abstinence. The service includes:
The service is accessible to ALL women regardless of gestation or BMI and should be offered as part of routine antenatal care. Referrals can be made at a woman’s first antenatal episode of care and reminded of the service at subsequent antenatal visits.
The service complements GP care and with patient consent, GPs will be informed of women’s progress. Resources and further information
Click here to order FREE GHiP program resources for your practice Perinatal mental health: NEW Information Hubs for health professionals & expectant Dads COPE (Centre for Perinatal Excellence) has a new dedicated section to their website for health professionals. These Information Hubs allow easy access to a tailored guideline summary, screening and assessment tools, and fact sheets for specific health professionals and those in their care. These Information Hubs have been tailored for the following professions:
Ready to COPE for Dads COPE has recently developed guides for expectant fathers. Dads can sign up (same way as women) to receive editions of the guides which include an antenatal and postnatal series . Tresillian Postnatal Depression and Circle of Security Parenting Groups - July Tresillian will be facilitating a FREE Sequential Postnatal Depression & Circle of Security Parenting (COS-P) Group designed to support mothers with postnatal depression (PND) and anxiety and their families. The program will run for 12 weeks which include 8 x 2hr core PND group sessions, followed by 4x 4hr COS-P group sessions. Where: Tresillian Canterbury McKenzie St, Belmore When: 8 weeks on Tuesday morning : 23 July - 27 August , Time :11am-1pm 4 weeks with partners Saturday 31 August - 21 September, Time : 10am-2pm Free babysitting is offered on the premises. Referrals include:
For bookings and further information click here Reproductive carrier screening Reproductive carrier screening is used to identify carriers of genetic conditions with an autosomal recessive inheritance or x-linked inheritance pattern. Information about carrier screening should be offered to all women or couples during pre-conception and early in the pregnancy (ie first trimester).
Information on reproductive carrier screening should include the potential benefits of screening, limitations, and associated costs¹. Couples who are considering reproductive carrier screening should be aware that not all tests look for the same genetic conditions and screening does not screen for every genetic condition³. Women wanting more information about carrier screening should be given the opportunity to have a more detailed discussion about carrier screening with an informed clinician¹. GPs requiring further information regarding reproductive carrier screening and available service providers, please contact relevant hospital Clinical Genetics Department below:
References and resources ¹.RANZCOG Statement - Genetic carrier screening (March 2019) GP ANSC educational requirements – have you fulfilled your requirements for 2017-2019? 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.
For feedback or program enquiries please contact Maternal Health Program Officer: |