Your pregnancy journey with Dr Saadie
Dr Saadie’s experience in private obstetrics spans 20 years and includes normal and high-risk obstetrics (caesarean, etc.)
Dr Saadie consults from his rooms in Castle Hill, Eastwood and Bella Vista; and has admitting rights to Sydney Adventist Hospital (Wahroonga), Norwest Private Hospital (Bella Vista) and Ryde Hospital (Eastwood).
The early weeks
You’re pregnant – congratulations! Visit your GP, who can provide you with a referral to see Dr Saadie. Make an appointment with Dr Saadie, scheduled for when you’re 10 weeks gestation.
These early weeks are especially critical to your baby’s development; it is recommended that you take a pregnancy multivitamin, or at the very least folic acid, which is crucial in the prevention of neural tube defects.
10 weeks
During your first antenatal consultation, Dr Saadie will go through the process that will be followed during your pregnancy. His team will:
- Provide you with hospital forms
- Assess your weight
- Take your blood pressure
- Make as many of your antenatal appointments as possible
- Organise blood test and ultrasounds if required and answer any questions etc
- Basic ultrasounds will be offered at each visit as required, in Dr Saadie’s rooms
Early in your pregnancy (usually following your first visit with Dr Saadie), tests will be arranged to check for anaemia, thyroid function, blood group, red cell antibodies, German measles immunity, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, syphilis, HIV, Chicken pox immunity and urine infection. If these tests have already been completed by your GP, please bring a copy of the results. You may also require a Pap smear.
12 weeks
You will be sent for an ultrasound at 12 weeks gestation; this is called the nuchal translucency scan. The purpose of this scan is to check for Trisomy 21 (Down’s syndrome), Trisomy 18 (Edwards’ Syndrome) and Trisomy 13 (Patau’s Syndrome). A blood test to check certain hormone levels is also offered to increase the accuracy of the screening. There is also a new blood test that can also screen for the above abnormalities and is sent to the USA for processing.
Dr Saadie utilises the following ultrasound centres:
Hills Ultrasound for Women (Norwest)
SAN Ultrasound for Women (Wahroonga)
The Sydney ultrasound for women and others such as PRP.
14 weeks
Your second antenatal consultation will take place four weeks after your first antenatal consultation – you will need to see Dr Saadie every four weeks until you’ve reached 26-28 weeks gestation.
Having reached your second trimester, hopefully you have put the sometimes challenging symptoms of early pregnancy behind you, such as nausea.
18 weeks
Your routine antenatal consultation at 18 weeks will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
At 18-20 weeks, you will be sent for an ultrasound called the foetal morphology scan, to exclude foetal abnormalities and other problems that could complicate your pregnancy.
22 weeks
Your routine antenatal consultation at 22 weeks will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
At this point you will be gaining weight steadily and your breasts may even start to produce colostrum. You may notice increased vaginal discharge and a more frequent need for urination.
26 weeks
Your routine antenatal consultation at 26 weeks will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
Blood tests will be arranged around this time to check for anaemia, red cell antibodies (if your blood group is Rhesus negative) and diabetes. Routine antenatal consultations will increase in frequency to every two weeks, until you reach 34-36 weeks gestation.
Dr Saadie will be vigilant about pre-eclampsia from this point forward, giving particular attention to symptoms of the condition such as high blood pressure and protein in your urine. However, if you notice severe headaches, blurred vision and swollen hands and feet, contact Dr Saadie’s team immediately on (02) 9894 9225.
30 weeks
Your routine antenatal consultation at 30 weeks will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
Now in your third trimester, your baby will be gaining weight fast; and you may be experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions.
32 weeks
There is also a swab check for Group B Streptococcus if a vaginal delivery is planned.
You may be starting to think about your birth plan and preferences for the delivery of your baby. You may be sent for an ultrasound at 32- 36 weeks, called the foetal growth and wellbeing scan, which checks your baby’s size and position. Feel free to discuss any thoughts or concerns with Dr Saadie.
34 weeks
Your routine antenatal consultation at 34 weeks will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
36 weeks
By the end of your 36th week, your pregnancy will be considered full term. Babies born before 37 weeks are premature or pre-term, and those born after 42 weeks are post-mature or post-term. Your routine antenatal consultation at 36 weeks will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have.
From this point forward you will see Dr Saadie for weekly appointments, until your delivery.
37 weeks
Even if your baby is in a breech position (bottom-down), if this is your first pregnancy there is a good chance the baby will turn to a head-down position prior to birth. When labour begins, 96 percent of babies are lying head-down in the uterus.
38-42 weeks
Your weekly antenatal consultations from 38 weeks until your delivery will allow Dr Saadie to check your progress and allow you to discuss any issues or concerns you may have. As you’re now on the countdown to your labour, you may have particular questions relating to pain relief during labour.
Delivery
Having booked into the hospital of your choice, you will be aware of the specific numbers to call when your labour commences:
Sydney Adventist Hospital (Wahroonga): 02 9487 9111 (ask for the delivery suite)
Norwest Private Hospital (Bella Vista): 02 8882 8591
6 weeks post-delivery
As soon as possible after your baby is born, contact Dr Saadie’s rooms on (02) 9894 9225 to arrange your six-week postnatal check. This will be Dr Saadie’s chance to check that everything is fine with you; and for you to discuss any issues or concerns you have. Also to discuss contraception etc.