Melbourne Mothers FAQ
Have questions about pregnancy care, birth planning or gynaecology?
Browse by topic to find practical information and links to the pages that explain each area in more detail.
Melbourne Mothers | Obstetrics & Gynaecology
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Obstetrician Melbourne
Obstetrics and pregnancy care
Melbourne Mothers provides obstetric care from early pregnancy through to birth and postnatal care. This includes antenatal appointments, pregnancy scans and tests, birth planning, delivery care and support after your baby is born.
Your care also includes time to talk through birth options such as VBAC, repeat c-section, elective c-section and vaginal birth. Depending on your pregnancy, this may also include closer monitoring for breech presentation, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, preeclampsia or cervical weakness.
Melbourne Mothers also provides pregnancy care for women over 35, athletes and women balancing pregnancy with busy careers. If you have a history of endometriosis, PCOS, fertility treatment, pelvic surgery or previous pregnancy complications, these details are important and should be part of your pregnancy care plan.
Many patients are first seen around 8 weeks of pregnancy. An early appointment with an obstetrician can help organise a dating scan, routine blood tests and an initial care plan.
It is also a good time to talk through your medical history, previous pregnancies and any concerns you may already have. If you are looking for pregnancy care in Melbourne, this early appointment helps set things up clearly from the start.
Yes. Melbourne Mothers is associated with St Vincent’s Private Hospital in Fitzroy and Werribee. If you are planning private maternity care, your obstetrician can talk with you about whether St Vincent’s is a suitable option for your pregnancy, preferences and health needs.
St Vincent’s Private offers maternity care, birth suites, a special care nursery and postnatal accommodation options for eligible families. Your choice of hospital may also depend on your private health insurance, hospital availability and any medical considerations during pregnancy.
Melbourne Mothers is also associated with Frances Perry House and Epworth Freemasons for private maternity care.
Each hospital has different facilities, locations and postnatal care options. During pregnancy planning, your obstetrician can help you understand how these options may fit with your preferences, private health insurance and pregnancy care needs.
Antenatal care includes regular pregnancy appointments, routine tests, ultrasounds and conversations about your health, your baby’s development and your birth preferences.
At Melbourne Mothers, antenatal care also gives you time to ask questions about symptoms, baby movements, scans, vaccinations and what to expect as your pregnancy progresses. If you are looking for pregnancy care in Melbourne, these appointments help you feel informed and supported from the early weeks through to birth.
Connected maternity care allows some pregnancy measurements to be recorded from home, including foetal heart rate monitoring using a small device and connected app. Melbourne Mothers offers connected maternity care for suitable obstetric patients. This may include at-home foetal heart rate monitoring and, depending on your needs, tracking of blood pressure, weight, glucose levels or sleep.
No. Connected maternity care does not replace scheduled antenatal appointments or urgent medical care. It may support monitoring from home, but you should still contact your maternity care team if you are worried about reduced baby movements, bleeding, pain, headaches, swelling or any sudden change.
Melbourne Mothers takes a supportive and open-minded approach to birth planning. Some women feel strongly about vaginal birth, some want to understand elective c-section, and others may need to consider repeat c-section, emergency c-section or VBAC depending on their pregnancy history.
Your Melbourne Mothers obstetrician will listen to your preferences, explain your options clearly and talk through any risks or medical factors that may affect the safest plan for you and your baby. The focus is on informed decision-making, your wellbeing and your baby’s safety.
Yes. If you have had a previous c-section, you can discuss VBAC and repeat c-section options with Melbourne Mothers. This conversation may include why the earlier c-section was needed, how your current pregnancy is progressing and whether there are any factors that could affect your birth plan.
Postnatal care at Melbourne Mothers focuses on your recovery, your baby’s early weeks and your emotional wellbeing after birth. This may include recovery checks, breastfeeding guidance, support after vaginal birth or c-section, wound or tear review, pelvic floor discussion and planning for future contraception or pregnancies.
You should also ask for postnatal help if you have heavy bleeding, worsening pain, fever, concerns about a wound or tear, breastfeeding difficulties, low mood, anxiety or a feeling that something is not right. Sudden or severe symptoms should be assessed promptly.
Melbourne Mothers discusses pregnancy care for women who are pregnant over 35, as well as women balancing pregnancy with busy careers or sport. The focus is on your individual health, pregnancy history, lifestyle and monitoring needs.
Shared pregnancy care may involve antenatal appointments with Melbourne Mothers while planning to give birth in a public hospital. It is offered in select circumstances and can give some patients access to private antenatal care while still delivering through the public system.
This model may suit patients who would like private antenatal care while planning delivery in a public hospital.
Private obstetric care may offer continuity with the same obstetrician through pregnancy, birth and postnatal care. When choosing a Melbourne obstetrician, it is helpful to understand how appointments, hospital arrangements, birth planning and after-birth support will work.
It is also important to ask about fees, Medicare rebates, private health insurance and possible out-of-pocket costs, so you have a clear picture before making a decision.
Melbourne Mothers discusses private maternity options including St Vincent’s Private Fitzroy and Werribee, Frances Perry House, and Epworth Freemasons. Hospital choice may depend on your care needs, insurance, preferences and your obstetrician’s arrangements.
Gynaecologist Melbourne
Gynaecology & women's health
Melbourne Mothers provides care for a range of gynaecology concerns, including period pain, heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, fibroids, ovarian cysts, urinary incontinence, cervical screening follow-up, contraception and menopause symptoms.
Yes. Some gynaecology concerns can overlap with fertility and pregnancy planning. These may include PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, heavy periods, pelvic pain, ovarian cysts or previous pelvic surgery. If you are hoping to conceive, it is worth discussing these concerns early, so they can be considered as part of your fertility and pregnancy planning.
Dr Vinay Rane is a laparoscopic surgeon, which is relevant when conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts or blocked fallopian tubes need further investigation or surgical treatment. He is also associated with Thrive Fertility in Epping.
Melbourne Mothers provides colposcopy care for patients who have been referred after an abnormal cervical screening test or other cervical concerns. A colposcopy helps guide the next step, which may be monitoring, treatment or follow-up with your GP.
No. An abnormal cervical screening result does not mean you have cancer. It means there are changes that need closer assessment. A colposcopy can help clarify what is happening and guide the next step.
Endometriosis may cause pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during sex, heavy periods, bowel or bladder symptoms around your period and difficulty conceiving. Symptoms vary, and some people have few or no symptoms.
Melbourne Mothers has experience in assessing and managing endometriosis, including the way it can affect pain, daily life, fertility and pregnancy planning. If endometriosis is suspected, your gynaecologist may discuss your symptoms, imaging, fertility goals and whether laparoscopy should be considered as part of diagnosis or treatment.
It is worth asking about heavy periods if bleeding disrupts your daily life, lasts longer than 7 days, involves large clots, needs very frequent pad or tampon changes, or causes tiredness, pain or concern. Heavy periods can have several possible causes, and Melbourne Mothers can help investigate whether there is an underlying reason that needs attention.
Yes. Heavy periods may be linked with fibroids, adenomyosis, endometriosis, PCOS, polyps, hormonal changes or other causes. If you are also trying to conceive, it is useful to mention this because some causes of heavy bleeding can overlap with fertility planning.
Laparoscopy, sometimes called keyhole surgery, uses small incisions and a camera to look inside the pelvis. It may be used to investigate or manage concerns such as pelvic pain, endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, fertility issues or hysterectomy planning.
Melbourne Mothers provides information about gynaecological laparoscopy, including its role in investigating and managing conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts and some fertility-related concerns. Whether laparoscopy is suitable depends on your symptoms, imaging, fertility goals and medical history.
PCOS may cause irregular periods, acne, increased unwanted hair growth, changes in weight, ovarian cysts and ovulation issues. Some women first learn they may have PCOS when they have difficulty falling pregnant.
Yes. Melbourne Mothers discusses PCOS, ovulation and fertility planning. If pregnancy is your goal, a discussion may include cycle tracking, ovulation, blood tests, ultrasound, lifestyle factors and fertility investigations.
Obstetrics & family practice in Melbourne
Family practice and care approach
Melbourne Mothers is a family-oriented obstetrics and gynaecology practice. We aim to create a warm, personal experience where you feel listened to, informed and respected.
That means taking time to understand your circumstances, whether you are coming in for pregnancy care, birth planning or a gynaecology concern.
Melbourne Mothers encourages patients to involve their partner or support person where appropriate. This can be helpful during pregnancy care, birth planning or when making decisions about gynaecology treatment.
Dr Vinay Rane is an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Melbourne Mothers. His work includes pregnancy care, birth planning, laparoscopic gynaecological surgery, endometriosis care and fertility-related gynaecology.
Dr Christine Sammartino is a nephrologist, general physician and obstetric medicine physician. Her work includes care for women with medical conditions during pregnancy, such as hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease and other internal medicine concerns.