Hi, I’m Andrew
I've been working in women's health for over 25 years, and became a specialist in 2005. I've undertaken broad training in general obstetrics and gynaecology, with additional training in minimally invasive gynaecological surgery (sometimes called "Keyhole Surgery") and infertility, attaining the additional qualification of Masters of Reproductive Medicine (UNSW).
One of the most satisfying aspects of my practice is being able to care for you throughout your reproductive journey from conception to baby.
Being in my job for a while, I’m now also seeing lots of previous pregnancy patients for other gynaecological concerns.
Gynaecology, fertility, and pregnancy care are the main focus of my practice, along with minimally invasive surgery, recurrent miscarriage, management of PCOS and management of menopausal symptoms.
Pregnancy Care
Fertility
Gynaecology
Endometriosis
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Abnormal bleeding
Hysterectomy
I specialise in…
Hysteroscopic surgery
Ovarian cysts
Contraception
Menstrual disorders
Abnormal pap smears and colposcopy
Menopause
In my practice…
I like to have a relaxed consulting and communication style. You won't see me wearing a tie, and I prefer to be called Andrew, not Dr Zuschmann. I want you to feel comfortable, and I encourage you to ask me any questions you may have about your condition.
If you want to get to know me more please check out my Instagram.
Beyond clinical medicine…
Medicine and Healthcare in general need direction, involvement and thought leaders in order to ensure quality healthcare access, availability, and sustainability for now and future generations.
In order to stay at the forefront of Medical Practice, and to help set directions in how healthcare is delivered in Australia and internationally, I have gotten involved in healthcare beyond Clinical Practice.
Sustainability in healthcare, especially workforce sustainability, is a key consideration in the future of medicine, and this drives my passion for teaching and training the next generation of doctors and specialists. I am a Conjoint Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, and have been extensively involved with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (the training and accreditation body of all Specialist Obstetricians & Gynaecologists in Australia and NZ), as immediate past Chair of the NSW Training Accreditation Committee.
Keeping the health conversation at the forefront of government thinking is also critical for sustainability in healthcare, and I feel privileged to be have been a board member and Vice President of Australian Medical Association (NSW), Australia's peak medico-political organisation.
Caring for the shire
At the local level, I work towards sustainability of public health as the Clinical Director, Obstetrics & Gynaecology at The Sutherland Hospital. It’s a privilege being the head of the maternity unit where I was born!
Some of my other professional activities, outside of looking after patients, include:
Facilitating lectures and training sessions locally, nationally, and internationally for a range of health professionals
Teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate Doctors, Medical Students, Nurses and Midwives
Training and mentoring of young doctors
Investigating, developing, and planning different models of care for Maternity Services
The use of computers in healthcare and e-health
Participation in and development of quality assurance projects
Regular attendances as a speaker/delegate at conferences and scientific meetings, ensuring you receive the best, up-to-the-minute, evidence based care
When I'm not at work...
I have been a lifelong Sutherland Shire resident, and love immersing in our surrounding natural beauty. At home, I'm kept busy by my wife and three young daughters, and am an enthusiastic amateur cook. I wish my golf game didn't suck!
PREGNANCY CARE
As an Obstetrician, I’ve been fortunate enough to help welcome approaching 4,000 babies into the world. As a person, there’s nothing that makes me happier than to see the smile on your face when you meet your little one for the first time.
The coming months are a very special time for both you and your partner. I’ve written the following words to help you get a better idea about who I am and my approach to helping you over the very important coming months. You’ll find more information about me and my practice style on Instagram
If you have any further questions, please phone the office on 02 9526 7477 to arrange an appointment.
It’s your pregnancy and birth!
Every pregnancy is different, so your pregnancy care should be tailored to you, based on both what you want and need, as well as what’s best for your baby. Throughout your pregnancy we will regularly talk about your wishes and goals, and work together towards these goals. I believe in ‘informed choice’, and I will always provide you with the information you need, in language that makes sense, and is easy to understand.
This is really important as you’ll be fully informed about benefits, risks and likely outcomes of any given course of action, which will help you make decisions confidently. And so you’ll receive this personalised care, the number of pregnant patients I care for each month is limited.
I like to see you in the early stages of your pregnancy to do a dating scan to confirm all is well and to discuss screening tests, which we review at 14 then 20 weeks. After that we’ll catch up more regularly, and every week towards the end. If you’re worried or if we’re monitoring a variance, I’ll see you as often as needed. At each of your appointments, I will check you and your baby’s progress, we’ll perform an ultrasound to check on your baby, and ensure that everything is progressing as it should be.
I birth babies at both Kareena Private Hospital and the Sutherland Hospital.
CHOOSING PRIVATE
I believe in public health - it’s the training ground for the next generation of Specialist Obstetricians and midwives under experienced (but often offsite) medical supervision. This may mean that there is a varying degree of experience in the team looking after you.
The latest Australian stats tell us that a pregnant woman having her first baby has a 1 in 3 chance of giving birth by caesarean, and a 1 in 4 chance of having their baby with the assistance of either vacuum or forceps. That means a 58% chance of significant intervention when giving birth to your first baby.
I have worked in maternity and women’s health for over 25 years. During this time, I’ve cared for a broad spectrum of both normal and complicated pregnancies. Not everyone has the option, but choosing me as your Obstetrician means that you have an experienced practitioner working with you throughout your pregnancy, to help you make decisions and perform any necessary procedures for the safe birth of your baby.
“Continuity of care” means having the same person, or small group of people, looking after you during your healthcare journey.
During your pregnancy, being cared for in a continuity of care model has been shown to be beneficial. Private Obstetric Care is the largest continuity of care model in Australia, with around 1 in 3 women choosing to birth under the care of a Specialist Obstetrician.
In my practice, Continuity of Care means looking after you within a collaborative framework involving:
regular face to face contact with me,
contact as often as you like with Joanne (my practice midwife who is available by phone during office hours);
as well as back up support from the hospital midwives out of hours.
If you need help outside hours, the hospital has a direct line to me if needed.
It’s important for you to know that as a patient of mine you’ll always have 24-hour a day, 7-day a week access to a specialist obstetrician.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE
Private obstetricians are often criticised for high rates of caesarean sections. I’m proud that, in my practice, over 90% of women who choose to birth vaginally end up doing so.
I am a strong advocate of respecting a woman’s choice, and I will do whatever is safe and whatever I can to facilitate and uphold that choice. This includes your choice to birth by caesarean section, which around 7% of the women I care for elect as their preferred option.
My overall caesarean section rate is around 40%. This is a little higher than the state average, as many women who know they want to or need to have a caesar choose me as their obstetrician, which causes this variance. 1 in 5 of these women make an informed choice to give birth by caesarean section. Of the remainder, 1 in 5 attempt vaginal birth, but end up needing an emergency caesarean, and 3 in 5 have a caesarean either because they’ve given birth by caesarean before, or because medical or obstetric factors make a caesarean birth the safest option.
What is a Maternal Assisted Caesarean
I’m very proud to have been the first obstetrician to perform a Maternal Assisted Caesarean Section in the Sutherland Shire, and continue to offer it as a birth choice for my patients.
Clinical practice for a long time has offered and encouraged parents to help reach down and assist bub be born at vaginal births, and now I’m able to offer a similar experience with Maternal Assisted Caesarean Section.
A Maternal Assisted Caesarean Section is surgically the same as any other caesarean, however you wear a sterile gown and gloves. Once I’ve birthed bub’s head and shoulders, I’ll guide your gloved hands into the operating field, and you’ll lift bub onto you chest and have immediate skin to skin contact.
Those who choose Maternal Assisted Caesarean find it a truly empowering experience.
BOOKING YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT
In order to commence a personal approach to your pregnancy, we want to hear from you as soon as you find out you are pregnant. This will enable us to talk to you about everything you need to know, answer any questions you may have and book your first appointment. I like to see you quite early in your pregnancy, ideally between 6-8 weeks, especially if you have had previous medical issues, pregnancy problems, or miscarriages.
At your first appointment
I will review your medical history
check your blood pressure
and perform an ultrasound to confirm how far along your pregnancy is
...and check that your baby is developing well.
Following this we will schedule your next visits and talk about the various standard and optional tests that are available.
This will also be a great opportunity for you to ask any questions that you might have. Please feel free to write a list that we can work through together.
That’s about all for now – I look forward to having a conversation with you soon.
