Choosing an obstetrician is one of the most important decisions you’ll make during pregnancy. While every woman’s priorities are different, understanding what to look for can help you choose a care provider who aligns with your medical needs, birth preferences, and expectations for pregnancy care.
A good place to start is confirming that your obstetrician is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (FRANZCOG), is credentialled at your preferred Melbourne hospital, has experience managing pregnancies like yours, and can provide continuity of care throughout your pregnancy and birth.
In this guide, we’ll explain the key factors to consider when choosing an obstetrician, how Melbourne’s public and private maternity systems differ, the questions to ask at your first appointment, and the costs you may need to consider. We’ll also explore why continuity of care can make a meaningful difference to your pregnancy, birth, and postnatal experience.
How to Choose an Obstetrician in Melbourne
Start with your GP
Your GP is the best place to begin. A referral from your GP is more than a Medicare requirement—it helps ensure you’re matched with an obstetrician who is well suited to your medical history, pregnancy, and individual needs. Because your GP understands both your health and the local maternity landscape, they can recommend a provider whose expertise aligns with your circumstances.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, a history of pregnancy loss, or are expecting twins or higher-order multiples, your GP may refer you directly to a Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) specialist rather than a general obstetrician.
Do your own research
If you’d like to explore your options before seeing your GP, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) maintains a public directory of accredited obstetricians that you can search by location. You can also verify an obstetrician’s registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Ask for recommendations
Personal recommendations are often one of the most valuable ways to find an obstetrician. Friends, family members, your GP, midwives, or other healthcare professionals can provide insights based on first-hand experience.
Online reviews can also be helpful, particularly for understanding how a practice communicates, manages appointments, and supports patients throughout pregnancy. While reviews shouldn’t be your only deciding factor, they can provide useful context before your first consultation.
Consider your preferred hospital
If you’ve already decided where you’d like to give birth, start your search there. Private hospitals in Melbourne have their own credentialled obstetricians who are approved to deliver at that facility. Contacting your preferred hospital for a list of affiliated obstetricians is an excellent way to narrow your options and ensure your chosen doctor has admitting rights there.
7 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Obstetrician
1. Check Their Qualifications
An obstetrician’s qualifications are the first and arguably the most important thing to consider.
In Australia, all practising specialist obstetricians should hold FRANZCOG (Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists). This is not an optional credential; it is the recognised standard for specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology.
Achieving FRANZCOG requires more than 13 years of education and clinical training, including medical school, internship, and at least six years of specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology. Fellows must also participate in ongoing professional development to maintain their registration and ensure their knowledge remains current. You can verify an obstetrician’s registration through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
If your pregnancy is considered high risk or has unique medical considerations, it’s also worth asking about additional areas of expertise. Depending on your circumstances, relevant experience may include:
- Maternal–Fetal Medicine (MFM): Specialist expertise in managing high-risk pregnancies, fetal abnormalities, and complex maternal medical conditions such as diabetes, lupus, or heart disease.
- Complex obstetric surgery: Particularly important if you’ve had a previous caesarean birth, are at increased risk of placenta praevia or placenta accreta spectrum, or may require a more complex surgical delivery.
- Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC): Not all obstetricians offer or support VBAC. If this is important to you, ask about their experience, approach, and the hospital’s ability to provide appropriate monitoring and emergency surgical care if required.
At Create Health, every obstetrician is a FRANZCOG Fellow and is committed to providing evidence-based maternity care. We also believe that every pregnancy is different, which is why we’re happy to discuss each obstetrician’s areas of expertise and experience to help you choose the doctor who best meets your individual needs.
2. Choose an Obstetrician with Relevant Experience
Your obstetrician’s experience should match your pregnancy. A straightforward first pregnancy requires different expertise from a twin pregnancy, previous caesarean, recurrent miscarriage, or complex medical condition. Discuss your history openly with your GP so you’re referred to the most appropriate specialist.
3. Check Their Hospital Affiliation
Obstetricians can only deliver at hospitals where they have admitting rights. If you’re at higher risk of complications or preterm birth, choose a hospital with an appropriate Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Higher-level NICUs, such as those at the Royal Women’s Hospital and Monash Medical Centre, provide care for the most premature and critically ill newborns.
4. Understand Their Cover Arrangements
Ask whether your obstetrician works independently or as part of a group practice. While solo practitioners offer greater continuity, group practices provide reassurance that a familiar clinician is available if your obstetrician is away when you go into labour.
5. Make Sure Your Birth Preferences Align
Choose an obstetrician who listens to your preferences and explains their approach. Ask about topics such as induction, VBAC, caesarean birth, and other aspects of care that matter to you. Their answers will give you a good sense of their communication style and clinical philosophy.
6. Consider Communication and Support
Find out how the practice manages questions between appointments. Knowing who to contact, and how quickly you can expect a response, can provide valuable reassurance throughout your pregnancy, especially in the final weeks.
7. Involve Your Partner or Support Person
If you have a partner or support person, invite them to your first appointment. Meeting the obstetrician, asking questions, and understanding the birth plan together helps everyone feel informed, prepared, and confident.
When Should You Book an Obstetrician?
Book your obstetrician as early as possible, ideally before 10 weeks of pregnancy. In Melbourne, many private obstetricians, particularly those delivering at popular hospitals, fill their books quickly.
If you’re already past 12 weeks, don’t panic. Contact practices directly, as many will do their best to accommodate you.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition, a history of pregnancy complications, or are planning an IVF pregnancy, it’s worth speaking with an obstetrician before conception or as soon as you receive a positive pregnancy test.
Ideally, your obstetric care should be established before your first-trimester combined screening (nuchal translucency ultrasound and blood test), which is usually performed between 11 and 13 weeks. This allows your obstetrician to review the results and plan your care from the outset.
Public vs. Private Obstetric Care in Melbourne
Both public and private maternity care in Melbourne provide excellent clinical care. The main differences are continuity, choice, and cost.
Public Care
Melbourne’s public hospitals provide highly skilled antenatal and maternity care, supported by experienced midwives, doctors, and specialist teams when needed. Care is covered by Medicare, making it an excellent option for many women.
The main difference is continuity. You will usually see different clinicians throughout your pregnancy, and the doctor present at your birth may not be someone you have met before. For many women this works well; for others, particularly those with complex pregnancies or birth anxiety, having a known obstetrician is important.
Private Care
Private obstetric care allows you to choose your obstetrician, attend their clinic throughout pregnancy, and generally have them deliver your baby (unless an emergency or unexpected circumstance arises).
When choosing private care, ask about the doctor’s cover arrangements and whether you will meet the covering obstetricians before your due date.
Your obstetrician’s hospital affiliation is also important. Check that the hospital has the appropriate facilities for your pregnancy, including the right level of neonatal care if there is any risk of premature birth.
Choosing an obstetrician who works close to your preferred hospital can also be practical, reducing travel time if you need urgent assessment or admission.
Questions to Ask Your Obstetrician
Think of your first appointment as a two-way conversation. It is an opportunity to understand whether the obstetrician’s approach, communication style, and care model are right for you.
Useful questions to ask include:
- Which hospital will I deliver at, and what level of neonatal care does it provide?
- Who provides cover if you are unavailable, and will I meet them before my due date?
- How do you approach birth preferences, induction, caesarean birth, and VBAC?
- How do you support patients with concerns between appointments?
- Can I receive a full written fee schedule before deciding to proceed?
Can You Change Obstetricians During Pregnancy?
Yes, and it happens more often than most people expect. You are never locked into a care relationship that is not working for you.
Common reasons women change obstetricians mid-pregnancy include feeling dismissed or not listened to, a change in their risk profile requiring more specialist expertise, a move within Melbourne, or simply realising the communication style is not a good fit.
The process is straightforward: ask your GP for a new referral, contact your preferred new provider, and your clinical notes will be transferred.
A good new obstetrician will review your full history thoroughly and pick up your care seamlessly. Do not let worry about disruption keep you in a care arrangement that does not feel right. Your comfort and confidence genuinely affect your experience of pregnancy and birth.
Obstetric Care at Create Health, Melbourne
Create Health is a Melbourne-based obstetrics and gynaecology practice offering comprehensive private obstetric care for women at all stages of their pregnancy journey, from pre-conception planning through to postnatal follow-up.
Our obstetricians are FRANZCOG-accredited and work within a collaborative team model, meaning you will know every clinician involved in your care before your due date. We have specific experience managing high-risk pregnancies, complex obstetric histories, and women who have had difficult previous birth experiences and want to approach a new pregnancy with a clear plan in place.
We offer initial consultations for women who want to meet our team before committing to ongoing care. We strongly encourage this, because the fit between patient and clinician matters and you should feel confident before you say yes.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to speak with our team or explore whether Create Health is the right choice for your pregnancy, please contact us directly. We are always happy to have that conversation.
Do I need a GP referral to see an obstetrician in Melbourne?
Yes. A GP referral is required to access Medicare rebates for specialist obstetric care in Australia. Your GP can refer you to a specific obstetrician or recommend one based on your medical history and pregnancy needs.
What is the difference between an obstetrician and a gynaecologist?
A gynaecologist manages women’s reproductive health, including issues such as periods, fertility, endometriosis, and menopause. An obstetrician specialises in pregnancy, labour, and birth. Most Australian obstetricians are trained in both fields and are known as OB-GYNs or FRANZCOG specialists.
What is the difference between an obstetrician and a midwife?
Midwives provide expert care and support throughout pregnancy, labour, and birth, particularly for uncomplicated pregnancies. Obstetricians are specialist doctors who manage medical complications and provide surgical care when required. In many maternity models, they work together to provide comprehensive care.
How many antenatal appointments will I have?
For a low-risk pregnancy, visits are usually scheduled every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, then more frequently as you approach your due date. Your obstetrician will personalise your appointment schedule based on your health, pregnancy, and any risk factors.
The Right Obstetrician Changes Everything
Your obstetrician will be your guide through one of the most important experiences of your life. Beyond clinical expertise, finding someone you trust, feel comfortable with, and can communicate openly with can make a significant difference throughout your pregnancy journey.
If you would like to learn more about whether Create Health is the right fit for your care, we welcome you to get in touch. An initial conversation is a simple way to explore your options and ask any questions you may have.
