Dr Abel has an interest in high-risk obstetrics. In addition to her private practice, she has an appointment at the Mercy Hospital for Women, consulting in the general pregnancy and perinatal medicine clinics (maternal-fetal medicine, recurrent miscarriage and diabetes clinics), early pregnancy assessment clinic (including ultrasound) and also in the endosurgery gynaecology units. She has frequent obstetric and gynaecology operating lists, ultrasound sessions and manages the tertiary-level birth suite on a regular basis.

Dr Abel was the Chief Registrar at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Parkville and Fellow of the Placental Adhesive Disorders team. She undertook the majority of her training at the Royal Women’s Hospital, with additional training at Monash Health and at various rural and regional hospitals.

Dr Abel completed her medical degree (MD) at The University of Melbourne with Distinction (First Class Honours), in the top 5% of the graduating class. She commenced her clinical training at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Mercy Hospital for Women, before completing her specialty training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, based primarily at the Royal Women’s Hospital.

Philosophy & Approach

• She is passionate about providing exceptional pregnancy care that is both personalised and evidence-based. She strongly believes in informed decision-making.
• She is highly-skilled and experienced in both high-risk obstetrics and low-risk (normal) pregnancies.
• She has significant experience in managing diabetes in pregnancy and patients with complex medical conditions.
• She offers vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC)
• She has expertise in managing cervical insufficiency and patients with pregnancies at high risk of pre-term birth. This includes significant experience with insertion of elective and emergency cervical cerclages.
• She has significant experience in managing multiple pregnancies (in particular DCDA and MCDA twin pregnancies).

If you wish to attempt a vaginal birth, every effort will be made to support you in achieving this. Similarly, if your preference is for an elective caesarean section, Dr Abel will also support this.

• Dr Abel has extensive experience and a special interest in complex caesarean sections and challenging instrumental vaginal births.
• She has professional experience in, and deep personal understanding of, the challenges of IVF pregnancies.
• She is inclusive of all patients and families wishing to have a baby, including single parents, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, heterosexual couples and gestational surrogates and the intended parents.

Special Interests:

• General / low-risk obstetrics
• High-risk obstetrics (including diabetes, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, multiple pregnancy, placenta praevia, fetal growth restriction, advanced maternal age, and complex maternal medical conditions)
• Early pregnancy assessment and management of early pregnancy problems
• Pre-pregnancy counselling
• In-clinic colposcopy: investigate abnormal cervical screening test / pap smear results
• In-clinic gynaecology: contraception services, minor procedures
• Gynaecological surgery and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery