After the birth of your baby, our GP or Gynaecologist will carry out your 6 week postnatal check, and give you breastfeeding advice and further support as your body adapts to life after birth.  Your Doctor is here if you have any concerns about postnatal bleeding, uterus health, pelvic floor control, postnatal incontinence or breast pain.  You will receive advice about your weight and we are here to help if you are feeling blue, having difficulties bonding with your baby or are concerned about postnatal depression.  Physiotherapy will also be useful if you have reduced pelvic floor control or you are experiencing urinary leakage (urinary stress incontinence).  For your baby our Paediatrician, Dr Annie Claudel, offers developmental assessments, health checks and immunisations.

We will support for you throughout your pregnancy.  Consultant Obstetrician, Dr Etienne Horner, offers a full pregnancy + delivery package.  Tests in pregnancy ensure that you and your baby are staying well and enable us to target treatment or recommend preventative measures if there are any causes for concern.  Dr Horner will provide advice and investigation if you have problems such as pelvic pain, morning sickness, back pain or raised blood pressure.  He is also supported by experts in ultrasound scans.   Common concerns or issues include

• Advice On Birth  Including vaginal birth following caesarean (VBAC) and preparation for caesarean birth.
• Bleeding In Early Pregnancy  Spotting in early pregnancy can occur without any risk to baby or mother, but any bleeding should be investigated and, if appropriate, an ultrasound scan carried out.
• Developmental Assessment With Ultrasound  Early pregnancy scanning using transvaginal ultrasound and the 12-13 week pregnancy scan to check development and detect markers for Downs Syndrome (nuchal scan).
• High Risk Pregnancy  You will need expert Obstetric care when pregnancy is not straightforward, such as being diabetic and pregnant, overweight and pregnant, congenital uterine abnormalities and pregnant and, of course, twins.
• Pelvic Pain In Pregnancy  Advice for reducing pelvic discomfort and an assessment to rule out any underlying problems.

Your health affects your chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.  And it affects your baby's development in the womb.  A PreConception HealthCheck with our GP or a Gynaecologist includes screens for infection, blood analysis, hormone checks and a nutritional review.  Further support from our Ultrasound Specialists includes menstrual cycle monitoring and uterine scans, and you may value counselling or psychotherapy if you are worried or feel anxious.  A female PreConception HealthCheck can, if you wish, be complemented by a male check, involving male hormone analysis and a sperm test, which measures quantity and motility.

If you are embarrassed by urinary leakage when you sneeze, run or laugh (a condition known as stress incontinence), you will be reassured to know that it is very common and can often be easily resolved.  Other common symptoms include burning on passing urine or pain connected with a bladder infection.  Here, you can see Dr Judy McGonigal GP or our Consultant Urogynaecologist, Ms Claudine Domoney.  Physiotherapy is particularly helpful for improving pelvic floor control and minimising incontinence and vaginal laxity.  Some women respond well to hormone treatment.  Specialist care for vaginal prolapse is available if needed.