Patient information
Pregnancy & Fertility FAQs
Answers to common questions about seeing Dr Karen Paice for private pregnancy care in Melbourne, including your first obstetric appointment, referrals, hospitals, higher risk pregnancy care, fees and fertility consultations.
Karen consults at 145 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy.
Find your answer
Common questions, clearly explained
The page is organised around the questions patients most often have before booking and during pregnancy.
Pregnancy care
Booking & antenatal appointments
Why choose Karen for private obstetric care?
Karen brings over 15 years of experience caring for women through straightforward and more complex pregnancies. As an experienced obstetrician and a mum herself, Karen understands firsthand that pregnancy can bring excitement, questions and uncertainty. When you choose Karen for private obstetric care, you will see her throughout your pregnancy, giving her time to get to know you, your baby and what matters to you. She takes time to listen, answer your questions and discuss your birth preferences in a warm, non judgemental environment. Karen welcomes patients of all backgrounds, cultures, religions, family structures and sexual orientations, including LGBTQ+ patients. Partners, family members and chosen support people are warmly welcome to be involved throughout your care.
I’m pregnant. When should I book my first obstetric appointment?
For most pregnancies, your first appointment with Karen will be at around 7 to 9 weeks. If you have a medical condition, a previous pregnancy complication or another reason for closer monitoring, Karen may recommend seeing you earlier, around 6 to 7 weeks. Karen accepts a limited number of pregnancy bookings each month so she can give every patient the time and attention they need. Please contact her rooms early if you would like her to care for you during your pregnancy.
Do I need a GP referral to see Dr Karen Paice?
Yes. Karen’s rooms require a current referral when booking. Please arrange for your GP or referring doctor to send the referral and any relevant results before your appointment. A valid referral is also needed for eligible Medicare rebates for specialist consultations.
What happens at my first pregnancy appointment?
Your first appointment is usually around 60 minutes. Karen will review your medical and pregnancy history, talk through any questions or concerns, and discuss what may be recommended next. The appointment may include a physical examination where appropriate and an ultrasound of your baby. Your partner or support person is very welcome to attend.
What should I bring to my first pregnancy appointment?
Please bring your Medicare details and private health insurance information if applicable, along with any ultrasound reports, blood test results and other relevant investigations that have not already been sent to the rooms. It is also helpful to have a current list of medications, any known medication allergies and relevant operation reports from previous surgery.
How often will I see Karen during pregnancy?
Karen will see you at your antenatal appointments throughout your pregnancy. For an uncomplicated pregnancy, she generally sees you:
- Every 4 weeks until 28 weeks
- Every 2 weeks until 36 weeks
- Weekly until your baby is born
If you need closer monitoring, Karen will discuss a more frequent appointment schedule with you based on your individual circumstances.
Does Karen provide care for higher risk pregnancies?
Yes. Karen is an experienced obstetrician who cares for women with both straightforward and higher risk pregnancies. She has extensive experience supporting women whose medical history, previous pregnancies or current pregnancy may call for additional monitoring and planning. Karen will take time to understand your concerns, explain the options and work with you to plan care that considers your individual circumstances and preferences.
Can Karen care for me if I’m new to Australia or unfamiliar with the Australian maternity system?
Yes. Karen cares for women and families who are having a baby in Australia for the first time. She can help you understand private pregnancy care, screening options, what to expect in hospital and how your family can be involved. You are welcome to bring your questions and discuss any cultural or family traditions that are important to you. Karen also accepts patients with international health insurance and patients who are paying for their own care.
Can I bring a partner or support person to my appointments?
Yes. You are welcome to bring your partner, support person, mother or mother-in-law to your appointments with Karen. They are welcome to be part of the discussion and involved in your appointments.
Can Karen respect my religious or cultural practices?
Yes. Please let Karen know what is important to you, including any preferences around food, privacy, prayer, who is present during your care or postnatal recovery. Karen will work with you to respect and accommodate these preferences wherever clinically appropriate and possible within the hospital setting.
I’m vegetarian or have other dietary requirements. Is that a problem?
No, being vegetarian is not a problem. Please let Karen know about your diet at your first appointment so she can discuss nutrition during pregnancy with you and whether checks such as iron or vitamin B12 levels may be appropriate for your individual circumstances.
Pregnancy & birth
Hospitals, birth options & continuity of care
At which hospitals does Karen deliver babies?
Karen provides private obstetric care for patients delivering at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Fitzroy, and Epworth Freemasons Maternity, East Melbourne. Karen’s consulting rooms are at 145 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy.
Can I discuss vaginal birth and caesarean birth with Karen?
Yes. Karen discusses birth options with you, including vaginal birth and caesarean birth, and explains the relevant benefits, risks and clinical considerations. Your preferences are part of the discussion, while recommendations are tailored to your pregnancy and individual circumstances.
What happens if Karen is unavailable when I need obstetric care?
Karen works within a covering arrangement with other experienced female obstetricians. If Karen is unavailable because of leave or illness, a covering obstetrician is always available to provide expert care. Everyone needs a little rest occasionally, so if Karen has planned leave that may affect your pregnancy care, she will work with you to plan for this in advance.
Does Karen offer shared maternity care with a public hospital?
For eligible lower risk pregnancies, Karen offers shared care arrangements with The Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, and Mercy Hospital for Women, Heidelberg. Your antenatal care is shared between Karen and the hospital; labour, birth and immediate hospital care are managed by the hospital team rather than Karen.
Get to know Karen
Hear about Karen’s approach to obstetric care
If you are considering private pregnancy care, this short video is another way to get a feel for Karen’s approach before your first appointment.
Before your appointment
Fees, location & practical information
Where does Karen consult?
Karen consults at 145 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC 3065, near Australian Catholic University and between Napier and George Streets. This is Karen’s private consulting location for pregnancy, pre-pregnancy and fertility appointments.
Does private health insurance cover consultations in Karen’s rooms?
Private health insurance does not cover specialist consultations provided outside hospital. Eligible patients will receive a Medicare rebate for specialist consultations when referral requirements are met. Private hospital cover is separate and depends on your policy, so you should confirm your pregnancy and hospital cover directly with your health insurer.
Can I have private pregnancy care if I do not have Medicare or Australian private health insurance?
Private pregnancy care may still be available if you do not have Australian private health insurance, including if you do not have Medicare. Fees, Medicare rebates (if applicable) and any other insurance reimbursement depend on your circumstances, and hospital fees are separate from Karen’s fees. Please contact the rooms for the current fee schedule that applies to you and contact your chosen hospital directly about hospital charges.
How can I find out Karen’s current fees and payment options?
Please contact the rooms for the current fee schedule that applies to your Medicare and insurance status. The practice prefers payment by card and does not accept Diners Club or American Express. Hospital fees, pathology, radiology and fees charged by other doctors involved in your care are separate.
How do I contact the rooms, and what should I do if I need urgent advice after hours?
For bookings, referrals and general enquiries, call Karen’s rooms on 03 9419 5757 during business hours. If you are an existing obstetric patient and need urgent advice after hours, call 03 9387 1000. If you think you may be in labour, your waters have broken or you are unsure what is happening, contact your hospital labour ward or Karen’s rooms/after-hours service. In a medical emergency, call 000. See the after-hours and hospital contacts section on Karen’s Contact page for the details.
Will my medical information be kept private and confidential?
Yes. Your medical information is handled in accordance with privacy and confidentiality requirements. Information from your medical record is not released to third parties without appropriate authority or consent, except where disclosure is required or permitted by law.
Fees can change. For the most current information, please request the fee schedule that matches your Medicare and private health insurance status from Karen’s rooms.
Fertility care
Fertility appointment FAQs
Karen also provides fertility assessment and treatment planning, with continuity into private pregnancy care where appropriate.
How do I arrange a fertility appointment with Karen?
Please ask your GP to send a referral to Karen’s rooms for triage. Once the referral has been reviewed, reception will contact you about the next steps and appointment availability.
What should I send before my fertility appointment?
Please send any relevant investigations already available, including ultrasound reports and blood test results. If you have a partner, please ensure their name and date of birth are included on the referral and, where relevant and available, provide semen analysis results. Partner information is not required if you are booking specifically to discuss egg freezing.
What happens at my first fertility consultation?
Karen will review your medical and fertility history, menstrual cycle, previous investigations and any previous fertility treatment. She will explain whether further investigation, monitoring or treatment planning may be appropriate and discuss the next steps with you.
If I become pregnant after fertility treatment, can Karen continue my pregnancy care?
Yes. Karen also provides private obstetric care, so if you become pregnant after fertility treatment, including treatment through another fertility clinic, she can provide pregnancy care from early pregnancy through to birth if you are planning private maternity care.
Still have a question?
For bookings, referrals, fee information or general enquiries, contact Karen’s rooms.
