Dr Scott Shemer

My Practice

I believe in individualising every woman’s pregnancy journey. From normal to high-risk, I encourage women and couples to be involved in the decision making process. I endeavour to provide evidence-based guidance that ultimately allows my patients to make informed choices throughout the entire pregnancy and birth.

My areas of interest include:

Cervical insufficiency and preterm birth prevention

I work in the preterm labour clinic at the Royal Women’s Hospital, and run a parallel service in my private practice for women wanting access to this care in the private sector. I have experience in managing women with pregnancies at high risk of delivering preterm (prior to 37 weeks gestation), including insertion of both early and rescue cervical cerclages.
Indeed, I suggest women with any of the following risk factors seek further specialist care:

1. At least one prior preterm birth or mid trimester delivery

2. Prior cervical surgery (cone biopsy or at least 2 LLETZ/LEEP procedures)

3. Uterine anomalies (including bicornuate, didelphys, septate uterus)

4. Multiple cervical dilatations (at least 3 curettes)

5. Obstetric cervical trauma

Multiple pregnancy

I work in the multiple pregnancy clinic at the Royal Women’s Hospital, where I care for women with twin (both monochorionic [identical] and dichorionic [non-identical]), triplet and quadruplet pregnancies.

Maternal medical conditions

I am able to care for pregnant women with complex medical histories, including those with:

1. Endocrine disease, including diabetes (type 1 or 2) and thyroid disease

2. Autoimmune disease, including lupus, arthritis, Sjogren’s disease and antiphospholipid syndrome

3. Renal disease

4. Cardiorespiratory disease, including pre-existing hypertension and asthma

5. Gastrointestinal disease, including inflammatory bowel disease

6. Neurological disease, such as epilepsy

7. Psychiatric conditions, including depression and anxiety

Recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy loss

VBAC (vaginal birth after Caesarean section)

Complex operative obstetrics 

I also provide comprehensive pre-pregnancy counselling (PPC). This allows for optimisation of maternal and fetal well-being once conception occurs, by discussing factors such as:

• Folate intake
• Vaccinations, including rubella and varicella
• Genetic screening for conditions including cystic fibrosis, spinal muscular atrophy and Fragile X syndrome
• Optimisation of pre-existing medical conditions
• Rationalisation of medications, ensuring that medications that may be harmful in pregnancy have been ceased and switched to safer alternative

I provide assessment and initial management of couples with infertility, and subsequent management of women who have conceived using assisted reproductive technologies such as ovulation induction and IVF.

My private practice is based at Frances Perry House, where my rooms are located onsite. I hold a public position as a consultant obstetrician at the Royal Women’s Hospital where I am also actively involved in the education and training of junior doctors and medical students.

Education and Experience
I completed my medical degree at the University of Melbourne in 2008 with first class honours, graduating as the second top student in my class. In addition, I received awards for the most outstanding performance in the areas of obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, medicine, surgery and psychiatry.

Subsequent clinical training was undertaken at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, before I commenced training in obstetrics and gynaecology, primarily based at the Royal Women’s Hospital. There, I completed advanced training in high-risk obstetrics, affirming my particular interest in this field.

During my fellowship years I held the role of Principal Registrar at the Royal Women’s Hospital and then Sunshine Hospital, consolidating my interest in medical education and mentorship of obstetricians-in-training.

 Dr Scott Shemer is on Facebook and Instagram @drscottshemer