Phone
(03) 9416 2802
Fax
(03) 9495 6491
Address
Suite 207, 320 Victoria Parade
East Melbourne, VIC 3002
My private consulting rooms are located on the ground floor of the Epworth Freemasons Day Procedure and Maternity Centre in East Melbourne.
Getting There
Underground parking is available for a fee. There is also limited on-street metered parking in the area.
The number 12 and 109 trams stop right outside the building, and the number 11 and 30 tram stop is a 5 minute walk away.
The number buses also stop right outside the building.
Train access is via Parliament station, which is a 10 minute walk away
MBBS, FRANZCOG, CMFM, DDU
If you have any questions or enquiries please feel free to contact us on the following details provided below or alternatively you can complete our online enquiry form also located below and we will get back to you as soon as possible...
You have probably heard the term “high risk pregnancy,” but are you aware of why some pregnancies are identified as such? We are likely to identify a pregnancy as a high risk one when the mother, baby, or both have a higher-than-average risk of developing complications. The risk factor may be a maternal issue such as a chronic medical condition or it may be related to the foetus – for example, exposure to an infectious disease. Also, some complications in prior pregnancies warrant concern in current and future pregnancies. Finally, some pregnancies start out as low risk but become high risk when prenatal screening tests reveal a problem or when worrisome symptoms appear.
Although no one likes hearing that their pregnancy is high risk, it’s important to remember that most of these pregnancies have happy outcomes with the medical care of a high risk pregnancy specialist in the Melbourne CBD, Footscray, Williamstown, or Yarraville.
Conditions that May Complicate a Pregnancy
There are certain conditions that may complicate a pregnancy. If the mother is younger than 18 or older than 35, she is considered higher risk than a woman who falls between these ages. Being significantly overweight or underweight at the start of pregnancy is another risk factor, and you should talk to your high risk pregnancy specialist in Footscray, Williamstown, Yarraville, or the Melbourne CBD about how much weight gain is appropriate for you.
When the mother has a history of pregnancy complications, heightened concern for her current pregnancy may be warranted. These conditions include preterm labour, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth, to name a few. Pregnancy may also be considered high risk if the mother has a history of certain gynecologic conditions such as uterine or cervical surgery. Also, certain diseases may raise pregnancy concerns, such as cancer, diabetes, asthma, heart disease, or thyroid disease.
Other conditions that may put a foetus at risk include exposure to a maternal infection such as HIV, viral hepatitis, or herpes simplex; exposure to certain medications such as lithium, anticonvulsants, or tetracycline; and exposure to addictive substances including alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin.
Finally, if a woman experiences symptoms such as bleeding, severe nausea, and vomiting, elevated blood pressure or blood sugar, or placenta previa, she is likely to require the care of a high risk pregnancy specialist in Williamstown, Yarraville, Footscray, or the Melbourne CBD.
If you have a high risk pregnancy, it’s important to establish ongoing prenatal care with a high risk pregnancy specialist in Yarraville, Williamstown, Footscray, or the Melbourne CBD. Dr. Stephen Cole is located in East Melbourne and makes it his priority to provide excellent, patient-centred care to women with high risk as well as low risk pregnancies. A maternal-foetal medicine (MFM) specialist, Dr. Cole has completed the education and training needed to manage even the most complex pregnancies. Make a healthy choice for you and your baby and call for an appointment today.