The Royal Children’s Hospital has launched a new service for pregnant women called Mothersafe.
Mothersafe is a clinical teratology service provided by the Paediatric Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit and is based on the model developed by the Motherisk Program at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada and Sydney’s Royal Hospital for Women Mothersafe Service.
As the only teratology service in Victoria, Mothersafe aims to:
- Provide a consultative counselling service for pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and women planning pregnancies who may have concerns regarding drug exposure (prescription medications, over the counter preparations and complimentary and alternative medications).
- Determine any possible risk, exposure may have during pregnancy and/or lactation to the mother and child.
- Offer short term and long-term follow-up of infants for minor and major malformation and neuropsychological development.
- Provide a resource and education program to community health care professionals, medical, pharmacology and nursing undergraduates, graduates and postgraduates.
- Promote research activities and contribute to the collection of information on the use of drugs in pregnancy and lactation and their safety.
‘Through the service we aim to strengthen our association with international teratogenic information services and contribute to their extensive databases on the safety or risk of drugs and chemicals in pregnancy and lactation,’ said Associate Professor Noel Cranswick, Director of the Paediatric Pharmacology Research Unit at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Guidelines for referring patients.
- Physician referral
- Exposure to known or suspected teratogen
- Chronic illness
- Women requesting a clinic visit
- Exposure to new drugs
- Exposure to complimentary and alternative medicines.
The Mothersafe Clinic will be run from 4pm to 7pm every Tuesday. GPs requiring further information about the service should contact Associate Professor Noel Cranswick on 9345 6987 or Tria Williams on 9345 4702, Monday to Friday.
For Media enquires, please contact Annessa Conquest, Public Affairs, Royal Children’s Hospital, tel: (03) 9345 5138
5 comments for “Mothersafe – a new service at The Royal Children’s Hospital”
Tithee Sareen
I am 18 weeks pregnant and have been having reddish brown slimy discharge . Also I have been having severe pain in the lower abdomen (in the middle) every 3-4 mins that lasts for about 10-12 secs since the last 3 days. Should I be going for another scan to check if everything is alright ?
Also any painkillers I could take to ease the pain ?
Michael Tan
To our dear partners at Mothersafe,
Back in early years between 2002-2004, I remember Tricia and her colleagues came to have training with us at Motherisk, Canada. Unfortuantely, our program here in Canada is in danger of being closed down. Can you please kindly support us by signing the petition to keep it open? Thank you for your support.
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-ca/297/380/367/keep-the-legacy-of-motherisk-going-at-the-hospital-for-sick-children/
Yours truly,
Mike
Michael Tan
Sorry I meant Heather since Tricia I believe was connected with NSW team.
Jacqui
Can I use deep heat or any topical cream intended to ease muscle pain?
Corporate Communications
Hi, thank you for your message. Our social media sites are managed by our media team, so we’re unable to provide medical advice through this channel. If you would like to enquire about becoming a patient at the RCH, or be put in touch with a specific department, please call our central information desk on (03) 9345 5522 between 7:30am – 5:30pm weekdays or between 10:00am – 2:00pm Saturday so they can assist you further.
If you require further advice please follow up with your GP, contact the afterhours GP helpline on 1800 022 222 or dial 000 for urgent medical attention
Thank you, and all the best.