Skip to main content
The Women's Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Medicines Guide

About us

The Royal Women’s Hospital (the Women’s) is Australia’s first and largest specialist hospital dedicated to advancing the health and wellbeing of all women and newborns. As a major teaching hospital, we are internationally recognised for our leadership in medical research and clinical excellence.

For more than 170 years, we have championed innovative approaches to women’s health, acknowledging the unique challenges women face throughout their lives. Our services span from health promotion to specialised clinical care, with expertise in maternity, gynaecology, women’s cancer services, and the care of newborns.

Renowned for managing complex and high-risk pregnancies, we provide comprehensive treatment and support for some of the most significant health concerns affecting women, including pregnancy and motherhood. Committed to caring for all women, the Women’s has developed tailored programs for some of Victoria’s most vulnerable populations, including women experiencing drug and alcohol dependencies.

Our Pharmacy department plays a vital role in supporting quality use of medicines across the Women’s specialty areas such as maternity, gynaecology, and neonatal care, by delivering evidence-based information and best practice guidance to health professionals.

The Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Medicines Guide is produced by the Pharmacy department at the Women’s, in collaboration with a panel of expert reviewers.

The Editors

Yuan C Loke
Senior Medicines Information Pharmacist
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC

Hao Vo-Tran
Senior Publications Pharmacist
Senior Medicines Information Pharmacist
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC

Advisory Panel

Associate Professor Lisa Amir
General Practitioner/Lactation Consultant
Judith Lumley Centre
La Trobe University
Medical Officer for Lactation Services
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC

Dr Andrew Buettner
Director of Anaesthesia
The Royal Women's Hospital, VIC

Associate Professor Paul J. Champion de Crespigny
Consultant Physician
The Royal Women's Hospital, VIC

Dr Wanda Cui
Medical Oncologist
Peter MacCallum Cancer Cancer
University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Andrew J Daley
Head of the Department of Microbiology and Infection Control
The Royal Women's Hospital, VIC
The Royal Children's Hospital, VIC

Professor Suzanne Garland
Director of Microbiological Research and Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
The Royal Women's Hospital, VIC
Senior Consultant Microbiology,
The Royal Children's Hospital, VIC
Honorary Research Fellow, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute

Associate Professor Anne Hamilton
Medical Oncologist
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, VIC

Dr Darren Hutchinson
Fetal and Paediatric Cardiologist
Head, Fetal Cardiology Unit
The Royal Women's Hospital, VIC

Associate Professor Cecilie Lander
Neurologist
Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, QLD

Dr George McGillivray
Consultant Clinical Geneticist
Victorian Clinical Genetics Services
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC

Ms Anita Moorhead
Midwife, Lactation Consultant
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC

Associate Professor Alison Nankervis
Endocrinologist; Clinical Head, Diabetes
Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology
The Royal Melbourne Hospital, VIC

Dr Tram Nguyen
Consultant Psychiatrist
The Royal Women's Hospital, VIC

Dr Helen Savoia
Consultant Haematologist
The Royal Women’s Hospital, VIC

Professor Mark Umstad
Chair, Consultative Council on Obstetric and Paediatric Mortality and Morbidity
Safer Care Victoria

Acknowledgements

Current contributors:
Thu Hoang
Vi Pham
Angelica Politis
Megan Smith

Past contributors:
Dr Amanda Gwee
Molika In
Wirawan Jeong
Charis Lau
Dr Ian McCahon
Noni Oborne
Tricia Taylor
Lisa Wolke
 

The review process

We use a clearly defined and robust review process for all updates and additions to the Therapeutic Groups and Medicines section of the gruide. Each update begins with our editors carefully assessing the evidence from primary and secondary literature sources. The proposed changes are then reviewed by subject-matter experts on the Advisory Panel, before undergoing a final quality check by the Editorial Team to ensure accuracy, consistency, and trustworthiness.

Stay informed with the latest PBMG news and updates by subscribing to our bi-monthly newsletter.
.