SASOG 2026: Different Expertise. One Shared Purpose.

Some conferences leave you with new information.
Others leave you with renewed hope.
For me, SASOG 2026 was the latter.

As I listened to colleagues from different areas of healthcare, one message became
increasingly clear: we are moving towards truly integrated perinatal care, where mental
health is recognised as an essential part of maternal health, not an optional extra.

That gives me enormous hope.

We all want the same thing

Whether you are a midwife, obstetrician, GP, physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, lactation
consultant or the mother herself, we all share the same goal:
A healthy pregnancy. A healthy mother. A healthy baby.

Each member of the perinatal team brings different knowledge and experience. That diversity is one of medicines greatest strengths. Specialisation helps us provide better care and better
outcomes.

But before we focus on our own area of expertise, it is worth pausing to remember something important: Pregnancy is about far more than one symptom or one diagnosis.

Health is physical, emotional, social and, for many women, spiritual. These parts are
connected, and together they shape wellbeing.

Better Together

One of the highlights of SASOG was collaborating with colleagues whose work looks very
different from my own.

Each professional sees something unique. Together, those perspectives create a fuller picture.

When healthcare professionals work together instead of in silos, women benefit. Care
becomes more connected, conversations become richer, and decisions become clearer.

The Woman Must Remain at the Centre

Perhaps the most important member of the team is the woman herself.

Shared decision-making means that healthcare is not something done to her, but with her.

Evidence matters. Clinical expertise matters. But so do a womans values, beliefs, culture,
family circumstances and personal goals.

When women feel heard, understood and included in decisions, they are more likely to feel
confident and reassured, even when the choices are difficult.

More Than Information

Good healthcare is about more than giving advice.

It is about listening, validating concerns and carefully weighing options together. This way
we empower women to make clear, confident decisions that support both physical and mental wellbeing.

Leaving with Hope

I left SASOG encouraged, not because every challenge has been solved, but because I saw
something that matters.

Colleagues from different specialties were learning from one another, respecting each others expertise and working towards a shared purpose.

That is what mothers deserve.

When we bring together different perspectives, keep the whole person at the centre of care,
and make decisions together, everyone benefits.

Because ultimately, we are all working towards the same outcome:

Healthy mothers.
Healthy babies.
Healthy families.