Pregnancy brings significant change in a short time, and it’s normal to want steady, trustworthy guidance. Antenatal shared care is a model many Australians use, where your GP supports you during pregnancy while working alongside your hospital or maternity service.
At One Health Clinics, our role is to help you feel heard, informed and supported at each stage. We focus on clear explanations, sensible checks and early action when needed. This article explains what shared care is, what GPs monitor, and how the care team stays aligned so you feel confident through pregnancy.
What Is Antenatal Shared Care
Antenatal shared care is a partnership model where pregnancy care is shared between your GP and a public hospital or maternity service. You’ll have routine pregnancy reviews with your GP, while specific scans, tests and milestone reviews are coordinated through the hospital system. The aim is coordinated support with clear communication between providers, not care in two separate lanes.
Shared care is often chosen because it’s more convenient and continuous. Your GP already knows your health history, medications and what affects your wellbeing. That relationship makes it easier to discuss symptoms, mental health, family concerns and practical support. Your GP can also help explain results and next steps in plain language.
Who Antenatal Shared Care Can Suit
Shared care may suit many people with a low-risk pregnancy, depending on local program criteria and hospital policies. Some pregnancies need closer specialist monitoring from the start, and your GP can help you understand which pathway fits your needs.
It can also suit people who value flexibility and regular check-ins close to home. Pregnancy care isn’t only about tests, it’s also about the questions that come up between milestones: fatigue, nausea, pelvic pain, mood changes, sleep issues and the many “Is this normal?” moments. Having a GP who can review symptoms and guide you calmly can reduce stress and help you act sooner when needed.
How GPs And Hospitals Work Together
In shared care, the hospital or maternity service usually sets the schedule for scans and key milestones, and your GP completes regular pregnancy reviews in between. Information is recorded in your maternity record and shared so everyone stays aligned. The goal is to avoid duplication, missed checks or mixed messages.
A good shared care experience depends on clear handover. Your GP helps coordinate referrals, follows up results and flags anything needing earlier review. If something changes, your GP can liaise with the maternity team so you get the right level of care at the right time.
What GPs Monitor In Early Pregnancy
Early pregnancy reviews focus on confirming key details, checking overall health and setting a clear plan. Your GP will typically review your medical history, past pregnancies (if relevant), family history and any current health concerns. Baseline checks may include blood pressure, weight and screening tests that assess pregnancy health.
Your GP may also discuss common early symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, tiredness and dizziness. While many symptoms are normal, support can make a real difference. This is also an important time to discuss mental wellbeing, especially if you have a history of anxiety, depression or high stress.
What GPs Monitor In Mid Pregnancy
Mid pregnancy is when early symptoms often settle, but new concerns can appear reflux, constipation, pelvic discomfort, back pain or sleep disruption. Your GP reviews how you’re tracking, checks blood pressure and monitors general wellbeing. If you have results from scans or tests, your GP can explain what they mean and what happens next.
This stage is also a good time to talk about day-to-day health habits without pressure. Topics may include nutrition, movement, work adjustments and how you’re coping emotionally. Pregnancy care should feel like supportive guidance that fits real life, not a long list of rules.
What GPs Monitor In Late Pregnancy
In late pregnancy, the focus shifts toward preparing for birth and monitoring for signs that need timely action. Your GP continues to check blood pressure, symptoms and overall wellbeing. You may also discuss baby movements, sleep, swelling and how you’re feeling physically and emotionally as the due date approaches.
This is also a time when people want clearer guidance: What happens if you go past your due date? What symptoms should prompt urgent contact? Your GP can help you understand your maternity team’s plan and ensure you feel confident about when and how to seek support.
Tests And Checks In Shared Care
Shared care usually includes a mix of GP checks and hospital-organised scans and screening. Your GP often supports the planning and follow-up, helping you understand timing and results. Common checks include blood pressure monitoring, urine checks, routine blood tests and standard ultrasound scans arranged through the maternity service.
Tests are part of a bigger picture, not something to fear. They monitor how pregnancy is progressing and pick up issues early. If a result is outside the expected range, it often means “let us look closer” rather than something being wrong. Your GP can explain what a result means in simple terms and what actions, if any, are recommended.
When GPs Escalate Care
A key strength of shared care is having another clinician watching for changes. Your GP will take symptoms seriously and act early when something doesn’t feel right. Examples include persistent severe headaches, vision changes, significant swelling, reduced baby movements, bleeding, severe abdominal pain, chest pain or signs of infection. These may require urgent contact with your maternity service or emergency care.
Not every concern is an emergency, but it’s always reasonable to seek advice if something feels different or worrying. Your GP can help you decide whether symptoms can be monitored, reviewed soon or need same-day escalation.
How To Prepare For Shared Care Visits
Shared care works best when you feel comfortable speaking up. Write down your top questions before your visit. Many people forget half their questions once they’re in the room. Notes help you stay on track and ensure main concerns are covered.
Bring your maternity record and any recent results. If you’ve noticed new symptoms, tracking basic details can help: when it started, what makes it better or worse, and how it affects sleep or daily function. This gives your GP clearer information so they can give you clearer advice.
The Benefits Of Antenatal Shared Care
One of the biggest benefits is continuity. Seeing the same GP over time can make care feel more personal and less stressful. It’s easier to discuss sensitive topics, mental wellbeing and family dynamics when you feel known and respected. That sense of trust often improves confidence, which matters in pregnancy when so much can feel uncertain.
Shared care can also be more practical. GP reviews may fit more easily around work and family, and your GP can help coordinate follow-up so you don’t feel like you’re managing everything alone.
A Steady Year Ahead With Support You Can Trust
Pregnancy can be both joyful and demanding, and it’s normal to have questions at every stage. Antenatal shared care aims to make that journey clearer by combining GP continuity with hospital maternity support. When communication is strong, shared care can feel calm, structured and reassuring.
If you’re considering shared care, a helpful first step is a GP review to discuss your health history, your pregnancy pathway and what you want from your care team. At One Health Clinics, we focus on patient-centered care, plain language and practical next steps so you feel informed and supported throughout pregnancy.
