Meet Dr Edna

Hi there,
I’m Dr Edna Lekgabe.

MBBS (Hons), BSc (Biomed) (Hons), MCE, DRANZCOG, MP, FRANZCP, PhD

And I'm a perinatal and reproductive psychiatrist.

I believe the best care is built together. My approach is collaborative and grounded in evidence — but always guided by you. You know your story better than anyone, and my job is to listen carefully, bring the science, and help you feel confident and supported at every step.

When we work together, I take in the whole picture: your unique story, your sense of self, and the world you live in — and how all of it shapes what you're experiencing. Women come to see me for many reasons: infertility, PMS, anxiety around childbirth, perinatal loss, and the tender, often bumpy adjustment to parenting.

I care deeply about catching things early — ideally before they take hold. My approach is holistic: together we'll look at how to optimise your care, ease stress, and thoughtfully navigate medication decisions at every stage of your reproductive and perinatal journey. Most of all, we'll work to understand what you're going through and create a plan that nurtures who you're becoming.

Outside of my private practice, I hold consultant positions with The Royal Women's Hospital and Frances Perry House in Melbourne/Naarm.

    • Bachelor of Science (Biomed)(Honours)

    • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery, Monash University

    • Master of Clinical Embryology

    • Master of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne

    • PhD, University of Melbourne

    • Diploma of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

    • Specialist medical training:
      - The Royal Melbourne Hospital
      - The Royal Children’s Hospital
      - The Royal Women’s Hospital

    • Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

    • ADHD

    • OCD

    • Anxiety

    • PTSD

    • Depression

    • Panic Disorder

    • Birth trauma

    • Perinatal loss

    • Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

    • Preconception planning and medication advice

    • Fears, stress or anxiety relating to fertility treatment

    • Fears relating to childbirth

    • Adjusting to parenthood

    • Bipolar Affective Disorder

    • Postpartum psychosis

FAQ's
“People will forget what you say, people will forget what you do, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou
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Principles I stand by and value

  • Health and rights for all women

    Ensuring women have access to quality care and rights observed will lead to closing the equality gap as well as improved health and wellbeing for children, families and communities.

  • Holistic wellness, from physical to spiritual

    We prioritise and nurture all dimensions of wellness: physical, intellectual, social spiritual, emotional.

  • A safe and secure space—always

    Creating a safe environment is fundamental to how we work together. It cannot, and will never be compromised.

  • The power of feeling heard

    When we are listened to, we feel seen, valued and cared for. Which in turn fosters openness in communication.

  • Telling the stories of who we are

    Everyone’s perspective deserves to be heard.

Providing an integrated approach to care.

A holistic view coordinates care around your needs, values and understanding of your mental health that also considers early intervention, prevention and treatment. My goal is to ensure you receive support that creates security, connection and collaboration throughout the journey.

  • I provide a calm, secure and supportive environment to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your mental health status over 3 sessions.

    The sessions incorporate your unique biological, psychological, social, cultural and spiritual factors contributing to your difficulties, with a focus on early identification, prevention and treatment.

  • I provide evidence-based information regarding the risks and benefits of treatment to help you make a decision around the use of medication in pregnancy and in the postpartum period.

    I also monitor medication usage throughout your pregnancy and in the postpartum period ensuring you and your baby are safe at all times.

  • I can work with your team of healthcare professionals, including obstetricians, paediatricians, psychologists, social workers, nurses to provide collaborative care.

    This “collective” approach ensures that you receive the comprehensive care you need to achieve optimal mental health.

  • A mental health birth plan should be a part of every woman’s birth plan. It is especially important to have this plan if there are risk factors for the development of mental illness.

    This includes an understanding your own history of mental health difficulties, a family history of mental health concerns, a history of trauma, grief, loss and/or a lack of practical, social and emotional support.

  • I can provide you and your family with information about the risks and symptoms of perinatal mental health disorders. From guidance on how to promote mental health during pregnancy through to the postpartum period.

    Prevention efforts may include screening for depression and anxiety during routine prenatal care and providing support to you especially if you have experienced previous mental health difficulties, a family history of mental health concerns or history of trauma, grief and loss.

For patients
For Referrers
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