Event details:
Title: Modern Obstetrics: evolving standards of obstetric care
Date: Tuesday 9 September 2025
Time: 6.00pm – 9.15pm
Where: Postmaster Hotel Stamps Room, 186 High St, Kew VIC 3101 (kindly note that access to the event room is via stairs only)
Program: Presentation and Q&A
Catering: 3 course dinner and beverages provided
Topics/ Presenters:
Moderator: Dr Scott Shemer, Obstetrician
TOPIC 1: Perinatal mental health care, preterm birth prevention & optimising caesarean section wound healing
Presented by Dr Scott Schemer, Obstetrician
Overview
A. Perinatal mental health care:
- Incidence of perinatal mental health concerns
- Antenatal screening for mental health concerns
- Importance of access to a perinatal psychologist +/- psychiatrist and their role in care
- Current evidence about use of anxiolytic and anti-depressant medications
B. Preterm birth prevention
- Incidence of PTB
- Spontaneous versus iatrogenic preterm birth
- Risk factors for spontaneous PTB
- Management strategies to reduce the incidence of PTB
C. PICO: optimising caesarean section wound healing
- What is PICO?
- Technical aspects of PICO application and dressing management
- Discuss benefits of PICO usage
TOPIC 2: Gestational Diabetes, Targeted Anti-D Prophylaxis & Carrier Screening in Preconception and Early Pregnancy Care
Presented by Dr Rachel Annetta, Obstetrician
Overview
A. Gestational Diabetes in 2025: What GPs Need to Know About the New ADIPS Guidelines
- Outline the key changes in the 2025 ADIPS Consensus Recommendations for screening, diagnosis, and classification of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).
- Explore the rationale behind revised glucose thresholds and early testing strategies for high-risk populations.
B. Targeted Anti-D Prophylaxis: Using NIPT to Determine Fetal RhD Status in Maternity Care
- Explore the role of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) in identifying fetal RhD status in RhD-negative pregnant women, enabling more precise use of anti-D immunoglobulin.
- Cover current guidelines, test logistics, and implications for GP-led antenatal care.
C. Early Pregnancy Care
- Introduce Expanded Carrier Screening as a tool to identify carrier status for hundreds of genetic conditions.
- Explore how ECS complements routine antenatal care, the logistics of offering it in practice, and how results can guide reproductive decision-making.
TOPIC 3: Empowering women to have positive a pregnancy and birth experience - a physiotherapy perspective
Presented by Zoe Shaw, Physiotherapist
Overview
Role and timing of pelvic floor physiotherapy (e.g. after 1st trimester, birth & labour prep, for any PFM dysfunction UI/POP/FI and postpartum at 6 weeks etc)
- Importance of safe exercise prescription in pregnancy (e.g. strength, cardio and maternal/foetal benefits of both etc)
- Role of physiotherapy in managing musculoskeletal conditions related to pregnancy (e.g. PGP, back pain, rib pain etc)
- Rehabilitation of the pelvic floor and abdominal wall in the early postpartum period (e.g. strength, tone, coordination scar tissue mob etc).
- Importance of safe exercise prescription and progression in achieving patient goals (e.g. first 6 weeks, 6-12 weeks and long term goals)
RACGP
- 2.0 Hrs CPD - 1.0 hr Educational Activities / 1.0 Hr Reviewing Performance
Event Registration
To register, please provide the following details and a confirmation will be sent to your email (if you do not receive a link to your inbox, we suggest checking your spam folder, or contact Epworth GP Liaison).
- Email address for event communications
- First name and surname
- RACGP number
- Practice name
- Practice suburb and postcode
- Email address
- Occupation
Please direct your enquiries to [email protected]