Obstetric FAQs
If you would like to speak with Dr Shammas, you can phone the practice at Wetherill Park on (02) 9756 2788 or Gledswood Hills on (02) 8105 0590.
If Dr Shammas can’t answer your call at that time, she will return it as soon as possible. You can also email: info@drshammas.com.au
If you need to contact Dr Shammas after hours or in an emergency, please phone the Maternity Unit at The George Centre on (02) 9129 2062 or Sydney Southwest Private Hospital on (02) 9600 4000 and ask to speak to the midwife on duty.
Dr Shammas has a “No Gap” arrangement with most Private Health Funds for deliveries and obstetric hospital admissions.
This means we will bill directly to your private health insurance, so there is no out-of-pocket fees for your hospital admissions during your pregnancy and delivery – regardless of whether you have a vaginal delivery or a caesarean section.
You can also elect to self-insure if you do not have private health insurance.
It is not essential for you to have private health insurance to see Dr Shammas for management of your pregnancy.
If you don’t have private health insurance you can ask for a fee estimate from Sydney Southwest Private Hospital or The George Centre to self-insure.
As every private health fund has slightly different terms, it is important to check your level of cover and inclusions with your health fund. Most health funds have waiting periods for obstetrics.
Some types of cover (e.g. singles cover), may not include your baby if he or she needs admission to the hospital after birth. Family cover should cover your baby, but it is best to check with your insurer.
Dr Shammas will do her best to attend all deliveries, but there may be times when she may not be able to deliver your baby, such as:
- Your labour and delivery progress too quickly for her to attend
- She is on leave or attending a conference
- She is performing an operation
If your birth progresses too quickly for Dr Shammas to arrive there on time, there will be hospital midwives ready to assist. If obstetrician input is needed and Dr Shammas is not available, one of the obstetricians within the ‘on call’ group will be contacted.
This group of obstetricians and Dr Shammas have a joint arrangement to support one another. This arrangement helps us to continue to provide high-quality care for our patients (and it prevents us from becoming overtired or overworked).
Please note: the pregnancy care management fee is not refundable, whether or not Dr Shammas is personally available to deliver your baby
No, you won’t need to pay any additional obstetric fees if another obstetrician delivers your baby.
It’s very important to contact the Sydney Southwest Private Hospital Maternity Unit or The George Centre if:
- Your labour starts
- Your waters break
- You suspect your waters may have broken
- You have any bleeding
- You are concerned about your baby’s movement
We understand you may hesitate to contact us as you do not want to overreact – but we want you to feel comfortable contacting the practice or the private hospital where you are scheduled to deliver your baby whenever you have a question or are feeling unsure or anxious.
As your private obstetrician, Dr Shammas is here to help, and she believes it’s always best to err on the side of caution and follow your instinct. If ever in doubt, please phone the Clinic in business hours or your private hospital after hours.
Dr Shammas will typically see you when you’re around 8-10 weeks pregnant. Then she will see you every 4 weeks until you reach 28 weeks pregnant.
From 28 to 36 weeks, Dr Shammas will see you every 2 weeks, and then will see you weekly until your baby arrives.
We will also schedule a postnatal appointment around 6 weeks after the birth of your baby.
On average, you will need to have around 13 appointments with Dr Shammas.
NB: If you pregnancy is complicated or high-risk, we may need to adjust this schedule and have more frequent appointments.
Dr Shammas attends deliveries at The George Centre and Sydney Southwest Private Hospital.
Dr Shammas sees antenatal patients at about 8 -10 weeks gestation as an initial antenatal visit. If you are unusre how to calculate this, please call our team to discuss.
Yes, Dr Shammas will require a referral letter from your GP, antenatal serology blood test and a dating ultrasound prior to an initial visit.
Private antenatal patients are seen every 4 weeks until 28 weeks by Dr Shammas, then fortnightly until 35 weeks then weekly until delivery of the baby and 6 weeks after your delivery.
