Dr Melissa McKenzie

23/12/2025

I think I have delivered my last beautiful baby for the year! Time to pack up my Christmas lobster scrubs until next year.

28/11/2025

Like a lot of my colleagues, I am on-line and enjoying the Global Obstetric Update conference run by the Mercy in Melbourne.

It’s great to have a bit of downtime from consulting to hear some of the latest evidence to help guide our obstetric care. Current session is on some of the hottest journal papers of 2025

23/09/2025

The Trump administration has made highly controversial claims about the causes of autism and ADHD, asserting that paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) use during pregnancy increases the risk of children being diagnosed as neurodivergent.

RANZCOG joins leading clinicians and scientists worldwide in rejecting these claims. Scientific evidence shows no link between paracetamol use in pregnancy and autism or ADHD during childhood, with several large and reliable studies directly contradicting the administration’s statement.

The causes of neurodivergence are incompletely understood and remain complex, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Earlier studies raising concerns about paracetamol could not determine whether the medicine itself was responsible, or whether other factors explained the association.

A much larger and stronger study, published in 2024 by Ahlqvist and colleagues, looked at 2.5 million children in Sweden. When they accounted for important factors like family history of autism/ADHD and sibling comparisons, they found no link between paracetamol use during pregnancy and children developing autism or ADHD.

The use of medications during pregnancy should always balance the potential benefits against any potential harms - both of the medication and of the condition being treated - to the mother and the fetus. The Ahlqvist study provides conclusive evidence that paracetamol use during pregnancy does not increase the chance of neurodivergence in the offspring and therefore should be considered safe to use in pregnancy where there is a clear reason to do so.

People who are uncertain about medication use in pregnancy should discuss this with their doctor or midwife.

Learn more in a statement on the College’s website: https://ranzcog.edu.au/news/paracetamol-use-in-pregnancy/

22/08/2025

As book week comes to a close, I hope that you’ve all been able to enjoy some beautiful books (and costumes) this week. I don’t know a lot of the CBCA winning books, but I absolutely love ‘How to move a zoo’ which was one of the Early Childhood Honour book winners. Such a beautiful and gently written and illustrated book.

My big win for book week was that my youngest, Harriet, was happy to wear the costume that I spent hours making for her big sister last year!!!

27/07/2025

It’s has been a very busy week at Greenslopes Maternity so lots of families to see on my ward rounds this weekend. Great to have a lull in babies on the weekend to enjoy some sunshine with my fur baby.
July was projected to be the busiest month for births at Greenslopes, so let’s see who and what the last few days of the month deliver!

27/06/2025

Rolling in to the weekend, and a holiday, with my Friday fun scrubs. Scrubs are courtesy of a beautiful family who had their 2nd baby with me recently. They make me smile and feel like I’m on holidays already!

Thanks Dr Bryan Kenny for caring for my patients whilst I’m away.

26/06/2025

New recommendations for the diagnosis and classification of gestational diabetes have been released this week by ADIPS (Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society).

Their last consensus guidelines for diagnosis were released in 2014.

Their new guidelines have now raised the diagnostic threshold for diagnosing GDM, and have clarified the approach to early testing for patients with risk factors.

Please talk to your healthcare professional if you have questions

11/05/2025

Happy Mother’s Day!

I hope that you’ve been able to spend the day with people you love.

And Mums, I hope that you’ve had a bit of spoiling today! I loved my beautiful haul from Harri’s wonderful prep class Mother’s Day

04/05/2025

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Today, on Termination for Medical Reason Awareness Day, we acknowledge the parents who have had to make the heartbreaking decision to say goodbye to their baby due to medical reasons.

No one should have to face this journey alone. If you or someone you know has experienced this loss, support is available. 💜

Visit rednosegriefandloss.org.au to find resources and connect with others who understand.

02/05/2025

Influenza cases have been at a record high this year.

If you haven’t had it already, now is the time to get your flu vaccine!

If you are pregnant, this vaccine is recommended in every pregnancy and at any stage of pregnancy to help protect you and your baby.

18/04/2025

We have such a great team at GOG! Our wonderful Vic put on a daily Easter game for staff this week.

Thanks to dramiehanlon for donating your (closest guess for the win) beads to entertain my girls. Surely 1700 odd beads provides 4 days of entertainment..

Happy Easter! ❤️

09/03/2025

If you have an appointment over the next few days and can not safely make it in, please call up and we can easily either reschedule it or change it to a telehealth appointment