Dr. Katrina Erskine is an extremely experienced Obstetrician with a particular specialism in the management of high risk pregnancies and pre-term deliveries. She will ensure that you and your baby receive the safest level of care throughout your pregnancy, delivery, and postnatal care. All of Dr. Erskine's patients deliver at The Portland Hospital. 

 

The benefit of consultant-led delivery is the continuity of care. Dr. Erskine will be familiar with your history and over the course of your pregnancy, you will develop a trusting relationship with her. Her expertise will ease any concerns you may have leading up to and including the birth and beyond.

 

Dr. Erskine has worked for many years with Dr. Pat O’Brien and Dr. Claire Mellon, who are both very experienced obstetricians. In the unlikely event that she is unavailable, one of these consultants would be available. She also has one weekend off every three weeks, when one of her colleagues cover for her: during the course of your pregnancy, she will ensure that you meet both of these doctors.

 

Dr. Erskine offers a range of services from one-off consultations to complete packages of pregnancy care. Details of Fees can be found here :

 

 

​

 

Your Pregnancy Pathway

 

Early pregnancy

 

Dr. Erskine likes to see you at approximately 6 - 7 weeks from the first day of your last period. We usually organise an ultrasound scan to confirm the pregnancy's viability and how far your pregnancy has progressed. She will also give you general advice about nutrition, exercise, and other common anxieties.

 

After the first appointment, we will arrange a second scan between 11 and 14 weeks when you can have a combined test if you want – this helps predict a number of problems such as chromoscomal problems (including Down Syndrome), cardiac abnormalities, spina bifida and also late pregnancy problems such as pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure) and poor placental function.  You can also have a non-invasive prenatal test (the Harmony test) from 10+ weeks which is a way of identifying a baby with major chromosomal problems such as Down Syndrome with an accuracy of 1:10,000.  This is done via a blood test from the mother.

 

Antenatal care

 

Dr. Erskine usually sees women every 4 weeks until 28 weeks, every 2 weeks until 36 weeks and then every week until delivery.  She will then see you 6 weeks after the delivery.  She usually recommends a scan at 20 weeks to check the baby’s anatomy, and then growth scans at 30 and 36 weeks. 

 

The flu jab and whooping cough jab are recommended and can be organised by Dr. Erskine or your GP.  It is likely that a Covid booster will also be recommended.

 

Booking blood tests, which include a full blood count, blood group, random glucose, haemoglobin electrophoresis, and an infection screen are usually done at approximately 12 weeks.  Further blood tests are done at 28 and 36 weeks, and further tests as appropriate including possibly a glucose tolerance test if indicated at 26 weeks. Some women may require more intensive monitoring and further blood tests. This is something that Dr. Erskine will discuss with you if necessary.

 

Delivery

 

When you go into labour, you will be cared for on the 7th Floor of the Portland Hospital.  A midwife will be with you constantly, with Dr. Erskine performing all examinations, and delivering your baby.  

 

Dr. Erskine is experienced in all types of vaginal birth, including water births and helping women who have had a previous caesarean section.  If a caesarean section is required, facilities are always available.  There are excellent neonatal facilities if there were to be any problems with your baby, and there is an emergency theatre which is fully staffed 24/7, with a consultant obstetric anaesthetist on site in the hospital 24/7.

 

If for whatever reason you have a planned caesarean section, you would come into hospital approximately 2 hours prior to the delivery with your birth partner, and we usually recommend a 3 night stay.