Obstetrics

What happens during prenatal care?

Your prenatal care begins as soon as your provider verifies your pregnancy and continues with monthly checkups. After you reach week 28, Providence Women’s Healthcare schedules biweekly appointments, and after 36 weeks, you meet with your provider every week until your baby arrives.

At your checkups, your provider checks your weight, heart rate, blood pressure, and the size and heartbeat of your baby.

All pregnant women have routine urine and blood tests to monitor for potential concerns such as:

• Anemia
• Hepatitis B
• Gestational diabetes
• Bladder and kidney infections
• Rubella and chickenpox
• Chlamydia and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus)

Providence Women’s Healthcare also ensures the well-being of your baby with routine screening for spina bifida and chromosomal anomalies. 

What other obstetrics services do I receive?

Your obstetrics care includes:

Ultrasounds

You may have an ultrasound any time during your pregnancy to verify the growth and health of your baby. However, ultrasounds commonly occur around six weeks and 20 weeks.

A six-week ultrasound confirms your pregnancy, determines the gestational age, and shows if you’re carrying more than one baby. At 20 weeks, your baby has grown enough for your provider to examine their anatomy, size, and in many cases, determine the baby’s gender. 

Birthing options

Providence Women’s Healthcare respects each woman’s choice for delivering her baby. Your provider explains your options so you can make an informed decision, whether you want a natural birth, epidural anesthetic, or a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC).

Maintaining a healthy pregnancy

A woman can depend on their provider for many obstetrics services that support a healthy pregnancy. They include (but aren’t limited to) a nutritional assessment, tips about foods to eat and avoid, weight management, and prenatal vitamins. 

High-risk pregnancy care

You have a high-risk pregnancy if your age or a medical condition threatens the health of you or your baby. Providence Women’s Healthcare frequently manages high-risk pregnancies due to blood disorders, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, obesity, and preterm labor. They perform fetal monitoring when needed and work closely with other specialists if you face complex problems. 

Postpartum care

During the postpartum period, your physical and emotional health go through massive changes as your body returns to a nonpregnant state. Your provider helps with any problems like sleep disruptions, infant care and feeding, physical issues, and postpartum depression. You also receive a comprehensive postpartum evaluation within 12 weeks.

Don’t wait to begin your obstetrics care; call Providence Women’s Healthcare or request an appointment online today.