St George Private Hospital has opened a new early pregnancy clinic to support women as they begin their journey into motherhood.
The clinic opened this month, and is the first of its kind in a southern Sydney private hospital.
It is designed for women who have bleeding and other complications in the early stages of their pregnancy.
The clinic will be walk-in, with no appointment required, and will open two days a week.
Obstetrician Tony Bushati, who will run the clinic, says it will be a useful resource for women and GPs seeking fast answers for their patients.
He says because most miscarriages occur within the first 12 weeks, many women do not realise they are pregnant.
“Women can feel very alone and vulnerable during early pregnancy and this is the time they need help and reassurance the most,” Dr Bushati said.
“This clinic is a one-stop shop that will assist women with any early pregnancy issues from ectopic pregnancy to bleeding, nausea, pain and discomfort.”
One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage.
For mother Almas Kachwala, 31, the crushed hopes and heartache of miscarriage are all too familiar.
She had three miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy in 2014.
“Just going through it again and again was so hard,” she said.
“I kept telling myself not to build my hopes until I crossed a certain point in the pregnancy but it’s very difficult not to since excitement creeps in the moment you know.”
She had her first miscarriage 11 weeks into a pregnancy.
“Then I had Aaliyah and we desperately wanted a brother or sister for her,” she said.
“We kept trying...I was ready to give up, but thanks to early intervention with blood thinners at the first sign of bleeding I am now holding Abbas in my arms.”
The clinic will open 9am-11am on Mondays and Fridays.
Details: Suite 14, level 5, St George Private Hospital.