Obstetrics
Having a baby is one of the most significant and transitional times in a woman's life and we look forward to taking care of women during their pregnancy. Choosing an obstetrician who can help guide you through such an exciting yet tenuous time allows you to relax and enjoy the experience of pregnancy knowing you are in the best hands possible. A specialized obstetrician can make the childbirth experience pleasant, relaxed, and safe. Our practitioners will be here to provide an excellent start to prenatal care, provide risk assessment, education, genetic testing, and guide you through your pregnancy to delivery and postpartum care.
What to Expect During Prenatal Care:
We believe the key to a healthy and successful pregnancy is starting your prenatal care early. We make appointments available as soon as you find out you are pregnant. We provide Pregnancy Education, Risk Assessment, and Genetic Screening/testing. This allows ample time and you can relax knowing you are in the best hands possible. In a normal pregnancy, you may have appointments with an obstetrician every 2-4 weeks. Then every other week at 30 weeks gestation, and every week during the last month. Your provider will collect all of your health history, make sure that you have access to prenatal vitamins, and write a prescription if necessary. During your first trimester visits you can expect blood work, ultrasound, urine analysis, and a pap smear if necessary, and your physician will listen to the fetal heart tones of your baby.
During the second trimester, appointments continue every 3 to 4 weeks. During this time, additional screenings will be offered and you will have the opportunity to see your baby again during the 20 week ultrasound.
During the third trimester, appointments become more frequent and you can expect to see your practitioner every 2-3 weeks. It is during the third trimester that you will be tested for gestational diabetes and group B strep. We will determine the fetal position of your baby by 36 weeks. As your due date approaches, your provider will talk to you about the signs of labor and may begin checking your cervix shortly before your due date. A normal pregnancy is considered full term at 40 weeks. However, we may let the pregnancy go for up to 42 weeks as long as fetal monitoring is reassuring.
There are some pregnancies that require closer attention. Our Obstetric providers keep a close eye on our patients for any sign of distress or irregularities during pregnancy. If you have what is considered a high-risk pregnancy, this requires a slightly different care structure and potentially more frequent visits and ultrasounds. Our providers are highly skilled in high-risk pregnancies and we will provide the support you need every step of the way.