Services

Neonatal/Newborn medicine

I will see your newborn baby when a referral is made by your attending Obstetrician at Epworth Freemasons Hospital or St Vincents and Mercy Private Hospital. This will usually occur in the days after the birth of your newborn child.

A referral to see your baby may occur for a number reasons, including:

  • A routine newborn examination
  • Prematurity
  • Jaundice
  • Respiratory difficulties
  • The possibility of newborn infection, including fever
  • Newborn feeding difficulties
  • Parental request
  • Attendance at an elective/emergency caesarean section or a high risk delivery, eg a delivery by forceps or Ventouse

When I am asked to see your newborn child, I will generally ask you some questions regarding your pregnancy and delivery history that may be relevant. I will then fully examine your child and manage any issues that may arise, as above. Often, these issues can be managed simply on the postnatal ward. Sometimes, these issues may require your child to be admitted to the Special Care Nursery for closer monitoring and more specialized management, such as the administration of intravenous antibiotics, supplemental oxygen, or nasogastric feeding.

When I am asked to consult your baby, I will endeavour to see your child each day, unless you are transferred to the Park Hyatt Hotel. If this occurs, then I will only attend if there are any other additional issues that I need to follow-up, or if new issues arise as noted by the midwives.

Consulting rooms

As a general paediatrician, Brendan sees children of all ages up to 17 years of age. He sees a variety of conditions, including (but not limited to):

  • Irritable and unsettled infants
  • Constipation
  • Asthma
  • Delays in milestone development, eg motor or speech delay
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder assessments and ongoing care
  • Seizures and epilepsy