Obstetrics

With over 1300 deliveries per year, our healthcare team is comprised of well-trained, highly experienced physicians who have provided exceptional obstetrical care for more than 20 years. We strive to provide each patient with personalized care during pregnancy and every step of the way while growing a family. We would love to meet you so that we can create a care plan just for you and your baby!

A few of the obstetrical services include:

  • Prenatal diagnostic procedures
  • Care and counseling for low- and high-risk pregnancies
  • Care and counseling for women with a history of recurring pregnancy loss
  • Management of multiple gestations (twins, triplets, etc.)
  • Management of obstetrical complications, including hypertension and diabetes
  • Support for vaginal birth after cesarean delivery (VBAC)
  • Support for natural childbirth practice
  • Breastfeeding counseling and support

Obstetrics is the branch of medicine that focuses on pregnancy and childbirth. The obstetrics services offered by an OB/GYN are vital in helping to make sure that both mother and child remain healthy during pregnancy, childbirth and even the postpartum period. Here at Associates in Women’s Health (AWH), we offer a full range of obstetrics procedures as well as access to a variety of counseling services.

Prenatal Services

Before your baby is born, we will provide you with a collection of prenatal diagnostic procedures. These will help determine the health of you and your baby and will be used to plan the course of your pregnancy.

If you find yourself having a particularly difficult pregnancy,  we will also help manage difficult or complicated pregnancies like those with multiple gestations (twins, triplets, etc.), hypertension, and gestational diabetes. Along with the care for low- and high-risk pregnancies as well as for women who have a history of complications in pregnancy, we also provide counseling to discuss those issues.

We also understand that many women have preferences in the way they go through childbirth. Because of that, we have support available for those who prefer the practice of natural childbirth as well as for vaginal birth after a cesarean delivery.

First Initial Appointment 

Once you have had a positive pregnancy test, you will need to call the office to set up your initial obstetrical appointment for around 8 weeks. This visit will be with one of the nurse practitioners or physicians of your choice. Prior to your appointment, you will need to complete the online patient history form through our website. Having this information prior to your visit will enable the staff to address pertinent topics based on your personal and family history.

The following will be performed at this visit:

  • Blood tests
  • Urine test
  • Pelvic exam to verify gestational age by the size of your uterus
  • Vaginal cultures required by the state
  • Pap smear and breast exam if indicated
  • Sonogram, if necessary. We will listen for your baby’s heart rate although it is completely normal not to hear it at this early stage. If it is unable to be heard through the Doppler, the provider may do a sonogram.

Prenatal check-ups 

After your initial prenatal visit, your routine visits to our office will occur at intervals appropriate for your gestational age to follow the health of you and your baby.

  • Monthly until approximately 28-30 weeks
  • Every two weeks until 35 weeks
  • Weekly from 35 weeks until delivery; an internal exam will be performed from roughly 39 weeks until delivery to check for dilation of your cervix.
  • Additional visits may be scheduled outside of these intervals as needed throughout your pregnancy.

This appointment schedule may vary depending on the complications or health issues that may arise during your pregnancy. We do recommend that you schedule your appointments as far in advance as possible to ensure that you have appointment times that accommodate your schedule.

At each prenatal checkup, we will: 

  • Listen to your baby’s heartbeat
  • Check your baby’s approximate growth by assessing uterine size
  • Answer any questions that you may have

He or She? What will it be?

  • We offer gender determination ultrasounds starting at 16 weeks.
  • We also offer non-medical 3D/4D ultrasounds to women at 22-30 weeks gestation.
  • 3D/4D ultrasounds give you a more in-depth view of your baby than traditional 2D ultrasounds.
  • To schedule your gender determination or 3D/4D ultrasound, please call us at  225-201-0505 to schedule your appointment.

Breastfeeding Services

For some moms, breastfeeding takes a little more effort than what you might have expected. When this happens, you can find breastfeeding counseling and support with Associates in Women’s Health. For more information, please go to our breastfeeding FAQs