Prenatal / OB Care

Prenatal care means taking care of yourself and your baby during your pregnancy. The best thing you can do for your baby and yourself is to seek prenatal care early and get regular prenatal care throughout your pregnancy. Care providers can detect health problems more easily when they see mothers regularly. This allows for early treatment, which can cure or prevent many problems. 

Our office will ask you to schedule many visits during your pregnancy and each one is important. We want to give you and your baby the best start possible.

Estimated Schedule of visits:

Dating Ultrasound (less than 14 weeks gestation):
A dating ultrasound will be performed assuming you are less than 14 weeks pregnant at the time you begin prenatal care with Women's Health Center of Oregon.  You will need to have a full bladder for this appointment.  You will be required to partially undress.  Please only invite friends and family you feel comfortable undressing in front of, as the exam must be performed on bare skin.  Ultrasound results will be discussed with you by your care provider.

Pre-OB appointment (7-8 weeks gestation):
This appointment will be scheduled with a nurse or a nurse practitioner/nurse midwife.  At this appointment the provider will collect some background information and your family and genetic history.  Your prenatal labs will be drawn. You will be given information and explanations on our office care and an opportunity to ask any questions you have about pregnancy. 

First OB appointment (9-10 weeks gestation):
This visit will be scheduled with the provider you intend to see throughout your pregnancy (MD or Nurse Midwife). This visit will include a full physical exam and will take the place of your annual well woman exam.  Screening tests such as a pap or checking for infections may be done.

OB checks: Following your First OB appointment, your prenatal "OB check" visits will occur every 4 weeks until you reach 32 weeks gestation. From 32 to 36 weeks gestation you will be seen every 2 weeks.  After 36 weeks you will be seen weekly until your delivery.  This is just a general schedule, please keep in mind all pregnancies are different and adjustments to the schedule will be made as needed. These visits may include any or all of the following: weight and blood pressure monitoring, additional lab work, fetal heart tones & glucose screening.  We will also be working with you through your pregnancy to determine what instruction and support you may need. 

20 Week Ultrasound: (approximately 20 weeks gestation): 
At this ultrasound the technologist will measure your baby's head, abdomen and legs. Amniotic fluid will be measured and the placenta assessed.  Your baby's umbilical cord, kidneys, bladder, hands and feet will all be checked.  You will need to have a full bladder for this appointment.  You will be required to partially undress. Please only invite friends and family you feel comfortable undressing in front of, as the exam must be performed on bare skin.  Depending on fetal position it may be possible to find out your baby's sex at this appointment. Please keep in mind that sex determination is, at best, an educated guess. Ultrasound results will be discussed with your care provider. 

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