What to Expect

Visits will be scheduled very 4 weeks until 28 weeks then every 2 weeks until 36 weeks then weekly until you deliver.  Every visit will include a weight, blood pressure and urine check for protein and sugar.

The following are some general guidelines that our practice follows.  Please know that your specific care will be tailored to your specific needs.

Things to Note

At 8-12 Weeks

  • We will review your medical history and provide you with materials that will be helpful to you during your pregnancy. 
  • We will perform a complete gynecologic exam.
  • You will be given a lab form to have your prenatal labs completed.
  • An ultrasound will be performed to confirm pregnancy and to help determine an EDC (due date).
  • Options for screening tests for Down syndrome and other anomalies will be reviewed.  We will discuss advantages and disadvantages of each to see which evaluation, if any, is right for you.
  • If screening in the first trimester is desired a referral will be made for an ultrasound and bloodwork between 11 and 13 weeks.
At 15-20 Weeks
  • If screening in the second trimester is desired a blood test will be performed.
  • An ultrasound to review anatomy will be scheduled at 20 weeks.  If knowledge of gender is desired it can be determined at this time.
AT 24-28 Weeks 
  • During your visit at this time, please plan to be at the office for an additional hour.  We will perform Glucose blood testing which screens for gestational diabetes. 
  • Occasionally during pregnancy your body may exhibit difficulty processing carbohydrates.  Further testing will be required if this testing is positive.
  • If your blood type is determined to be Rh negative Rhogam will be given at 28 weeks to protect future pregnancies.
AT 35-37 Weeks
  • At this time we will obtain a vaginal culture which will check for Group B streptococcus.  This is a type of bacteria that can be found in up to 40% of pregnant women.  If this test is positive, you will be treated with antibiotics during your labor.

Prenatal Vitamins

Your Insurance

Prenatal Laboratory Panel

Prenatal lab panel is a panel of blood work, that tests for routine blood count, rubella antibodies, hepatitis B, HIV, blood type and antibody screen.  Additionally during your early pregnancy, you can expect to have a routine pap smear & genital cultures. This will also include an urine analysis.  The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology & The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine HIV testing in pregnancy.

Ultrasound

Currently used equipments are known as real time scanners, with which a continuous picture of the moving fetus can be depicted  on a monitor. Very high frequency sound waves are generally used for this purpose. The information obtained from different reflections are recomposed back into a picture on the monitor screen. Movements such as fetal heart beat and measurements can all be made accurately.  Measurements are used to confirm the gestational age, size and growth of the fetus and detection of some birth defects. Depending on the progress of the pregnancy the baby's sex can be determined. If you are interested in knowing the sex of your baby, we will try our best to identify that for you. Please know though,  that the sex of the baby is not the primary focus of our examination. An ultrasound takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Explore more :