Frequently asked questions
Obstetrics
When should I book?
Ideally at about 8 weeks of pregnancy
What is the usual schedule of visits?
Prior to 20 weeks:
- at booking (7-8 weeks)
- 16 weeks
- 20 weeks.
After 20 weeks:
- 4 weekly until 30 weeks
- then 2 weekly until 36 weeks
- weekly thereafter.
Does Dr. Natalie “share care”?
Yes, for patient’s outside the metropolitan catchment area (north of Palm Cove, south of Gordonvale and West of Kuranda). This would be “modified” shared care, and decided on a case-by-case basis.
How much will it cost?
This varies greatly depending on your health fund and medicare entiltlement. Please contact the rooms to discuss your individual circumstances and come in for a quotation.
Does Dr. Kiesey-Calding charge a Pregnancy Management Fee (PMF)?
Yes. Details of this should be obtained by contacting reception staff, as this will vary depending on your circumstances and entitilements.
Broadly speaking however, after the PMF has been paid, then all visits are bulk billed. This includes scanning for growth and well-being or surveillance, CTG's and antenatal visits.
If you are Medicare eligible, then you will be entitled to a rebate. No Health Fund will cover antenatal care, they will only cover any hospital admissions antenatally and the delivery. Your rebate will depend on your out of pocket costs for the Medicare "year" (January to January). Once this has reached a certain limit, you are entitled to a higher rebate for out of pocket expenses. Most obstetric patients will reach their safety net during a pregnancy. Contact Medicare directly for more information regarding this, including how close to the safety net you are.
Out of pocket costs for antenatal care can also be claimed back at tax time - keep all your receipts and discuss this with your accountant.
At your second visit, a portion of the PMF is due as a "booking fee" and will be held as a deposit against the total amount of the PMF. This cannot be paid until after 20 weeks. This deposit is non-refundable in the event that you seek care elsewhere and will cover the management of the pregnancy up to 20 weeks gestation.
Where can I deliver my baby?
Either at the Cairns Private Hospital or the Cairns Base Hospital as a private patient.
Why do I need a paediatrician?
After baby is born, a
specialist baby doctor (the paediatrician) checks that baby is healthy. A
similar check is performed prior to baby going home, and the
paediatrician will also visit every day of your admission in hospital.
This will occur at both hospitals. After your discharge from hospital,
your baby will be checked at 6 weeks of age by their paediatrician. You
will need to check with that particular paediatrician regarding an
appointment, usually through their secretaries at their private rooms.
Please see the “contacts” page for paediatricians telephone numbers and
details. Unless you had a preference, you will be allocated to the
paediatrician taking their turn to be the “paediatrician of the day”.
What ultrasound scans do I need?
“None” is the easy answer, as every ultrasound in pregnancy has to be referred by a doctor – there are no “standard” scans. However, most people require a dating scan at 7-8 weeks, then a nuchal translucency at about 12 weeks, followed by a morhphology scan at about 20 weeks. After this, scans for the growth and well-being of the baby are done on the basis of clinical need.
But don't I need an ultrasound at every visit? How will I know that everything is going okay?
This is in accordance of the first principles of ultrasound; "use the least amount of ultrasound energy and only when clinically necessary". There have also been large studies done on the outcomes for babies who have been "routinely" scanned - these don't show any better outcomes for these babies, but does show an increase in unnecessary intervention in pregnancies. Finally, there have also been studies done showing that senior midwives and obstetricians are as effective as "routine" scanning in picking up babies that are either small or large for their dates.
Your baby will be assessed clinically by Dr. Kiesey-Calding at your antenatal visits, and you will be offered ultrasound scanning if it is deemed clinically necessary.
I've received a bill for pathology - why ?
Pathology services are offered through private companies – namely Sullivan and Nicolaides Pathology (SNP) and Queensland Medical Pathology (QML). The government has stopped giving rebates to these companies for the pathology services that they provide to private patients. Out of pocket costs should be small and capped in the case of multiple tests. Any questions on this should be addressed to either SNP (1300 732 030) or QML (1800 350 046) directly, as Dr. Kiesey-Calding has nothing to do with this billing.
Gynaecology
I’ve got my period – what should I do?
If in doubt,
please call the rooms, as depending on what you’re having done will
depend on whether the appointment can take place as planned or not. For
example, if you are booking for a hysteroscopy D&C , then it is very
important not to be bleeding at the time, as the view obtained by the
camera will just be blood.
Does Dr. Natalie generally bulk bill?
No, the service offered at Cairns Obstetrics and Gynaecology cannot accommodate the Medicare scheduled fee as the only payment. It is just not financially viable.
Ultrasound
Do I need to drink a lot of water prior to an ultrasound examination?
NO – we would like you to be comfortable. When you arrive have some water if you are in the first 14 weeks of your pregnancy or a gynaecology patient, but not if you are later in pregnancy. If you need to go to the toilet prior to ultrasound, try to leave something in your bladder. Subsequently, we can either send you to the toilet after we have had a look on the ultrasound, or give you some more to drink.
Lactation and Maternity Bra Service
Do I need a referral from my family doctor?
No, this service does not attract an item number through Medicare, therefore no referral is necessary.
Do I need to make an appointment?
Yes, this is ESSENTIAL. Patients of Dr. Kiesey-Calding will have their fitting appointments amalgated into their care schedules for their pregnancies, so don’t need to contact the rooms especially as it should have already been attended to.
Is there a cost for fitting my maternity bra?
Our service is free for Dr. Kiesey-Calding’s patients. It is also free for outside patients provided they buy 2 or more bras.
Fitting for outside patients will be done as required. Please contact reception staff to arrange your appointment when convenient for you and for us.
Who will fit my bra?
Our experienced midwives.
Are there any other products available?
We also fit and supply maternity nightwear and underwear, maternity belts for symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD) and general pregnancy support belts.
General
How do I get there
By car – there is free undercover parking for two hours. Just follow Pier Point Road around and turn in where the Parking sign indicates. Take a ticket and park your car. When you leave, if you are under two hours, then just scan your ticket at the exit – there is no need to validate it at the machine by the stairwell. If you have been in the carpark for over two hours, then you will need to validate the ticket at the stairwell machine BEFORE you try to exit. This is essential, otherwise it can be very difficult to reverse out of the “exit” lane. If your car is too “tall” for the underground carpark, then there is an above ground carpark opposite the Pier where you can pay by the hour.
Once you have parked the car, take the stairs into the Centre. At the top of the stairs, turn right and either take the stairs or the lift to the Mezzainine level. Come out of the lift and turn left. The rooms are the third door along the Mezzainine walkway, next to the Reef Orthopaedic Clinic.
With a pram – park in the underground carpark and take the SHANGRI-LA LIFT up into the Shangri-La Hotel to the GROUND FLOOR NOT THE MEZZAININE. Then exit and walk around to your left within the Pier. Find the gym, and enter the liftwell opposite. Take this lift to the Mezzanine level and turn left. The rooms are situated on the right, three doors down, next to the Reef Orthopaedic Clinic. There is signage to follow within the Pier at the Marina Shopping Centre.
By taxi – head down Pier Point Road to the main entrance fronting the outside carpark next to the entrance of the underground carpark. Walk across the zebra crossing into the complex and head for the gym. Stairs and the liftwell are opposite this to take you to the Mezzanine level. Follow the signs to Cairns Obstetrics and Gynaecology (under the umbrella of NKC Medical Pty. Ltd.)