River City Obstetric Group

Formed in 2003, the River City Obstetric Group is Brisbane’s most experienced group of female Obstetricians. We are dedicated to providing high quality, women focused Obstetric care, giving women support throughout pregnancy and labour.

Obstetrics is often unpredictable with deliveries occurring throughout the day and night.  It is not physically possible for one Doctor to be working 24 hours a day, seven days a week and therefore we have a dedicated team approach providing care for each other’s patients.

This allows us all to dedicate time to patient appointments ,operating lists, lectures, conference leave and holiday cover.Our roster allows time to catch up on sleep after being at the hospital all night and have some weekends off, which ensures that your Obstetrician is not too tired when it matters most during your delivery.

Dr Brenda Biggs, Dr Josephine Cheung, Dr Fiona Dalzell, Dr Melissa Luckensmeyer and Dr Glenda McLaren work closely together ,around the clock, to provide you with high quality care during your labour and delivery.

The River City Obstetric Group chooses to deliver exclusively at the Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital in Brisbane. We work closely with the experienced and caring team of nursing and medical staff at the Mater Mothers' to ensure the best outcome for you and your baby.

We offer the opportunity for you to meet the other Obstetricians in the group during your pregnancy, so that you are familiar with them if you meet them during your delivery.We all share the same philosophy -  to enable every woman to achieve the best birth possible. We encourage women to achieve a vaginal birth where possible, providing Obstetric assistance when indicated as necessary.

For further information on the River City Obstetric Group, please visit our website http://www.rivercityobstetricgroup.com.au/

Our Doctors

Dr Glenda McLaren Dr Glenda McLaren specialises in Obstetrics and Women’s Health and has been in private practice in Wickham Terrace since 1993. After graduating from the University of Queensland, Glenda has gained the Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London, Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists as well as a Graduate Diploma in Law from the Queensland University of Technology. Glenda is married with 4 children, including twins, and enjoys the challenges and rewards that come with providing high quality care to couples during this most precious time in their lives. With a love of Obstetrics developed as a medical student, Glenda specialises in high risk Obstetrics, Women’s Health and has an interest in research and teaching. Her warm and caring nature, dedication to her practice and extensive experience make her highly regarded by patients and staff alike. Glenda works closely with an experienced team of female Obstetricians, The River City Obstetric Group, providing care 24 hours a day for you and your baby throughout your pregnancy and in those all-important first six weeks post-delivery. Dr McLaren delivers exclusively at the Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital in Brisbane, working closely with their dedicated team of health professionals, to ensure you are well looked after during your pregnancy. Glenda performs minor gynaecological surgery at the Mater Private Hospital in Brisbane. Glenda has chosen the Mater Mothers’ Private Hospital because of its well established, highly regarded reputation which comes from being the largest collocated maternity hospital in Australia, and the extensive experience of the staff providing high quality care.

Dr Vivienne O’Connor                                                                           Vivienne received her medical training in Birmingham, England and completed the junior training positions in medicine, surgery, paediatrics and emergency medicine. Vivienne undertook an obstetrics and gynaecology position with Hugh Philpott in Zimbabwe, and a position as a medical officer at the Charles Johnson Memorial hospital in Nqutu, Zululand before returning to London to train in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at University College Hospital. After coming to Australia Vivienne worked as a full time clinician in Mackay, Queensland for 10 years. Initially Vivienne worked as a registrar in obstetrics, then medicine and anaesthetics; and finally as a specialist in both private and public practice. During this time Vivienne welcomed four wonderful children of her own in to the world. On moving to Brisbane, Vivienne continued clinical practice and took up an academic position at the University of Queensland. Vivienne further developed her interest in medical education and established the simulated patient program (including programs for female and male intimate examination) for the MBBS program. At Bond University, Gold Coast Vivienne continued her interest in medical education by developing the initial Clinical Skills Program for the new Medical program. Back in Brisbane Vivienne continues her work as an Associate Professor with the University of Queensland and has been delighted to join Dr Glenda McLaren in clinical practice Vivienne has a wide experience and interest in obstetrics, and in the gynaecological management of Pap smear change and menstrual, hormone and vulval problems. Vivienne is a thoughtful, caring practitioner supporting a partnership approach between a women and her doctor with choice for women in the options for management. Vivienne has always loved medicine and would do it all again given the opportunity!

Physio

Sally graduated from the University of Queensland in 1980. Sally commenced her experience in general and women’s health at the Royal Brisbane & Women’s Hospital, later launching exclusively in to the specialised needs of women through life’s many and varied stages and phases. Specialised interests include management of musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy, pelvic floor dysfunction of the bladder and bowel, and pre and post-operative gynaecological surgery assistance.

Following five years at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Sally established a general private practice servicing in-hospital and rooms patients at the Wesley and Mater Mother’s Private Hospitals. Assisting women with their antenatal and post natal care has been a very rewarding and enjoyable career path.

Widely experienced professionally, Sally also enjoys the life experience of mothering three now grown children and appreciates the many wonderful and challenging times of family life.