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Obstetrics

Our obstetrics motto is, "It's all about time." Your pregnancy is going to be the time of your life. Your body is going to go through many changes and our physicians and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) know this can be both an exciting and scary time. From preconception through postpartum, we invest our time with you to ensure you understand the phases of your unborn baby's development, each recommended test, and what the results mean. By spending this extended time together, we know you'll feel increasingly more comfortable as each birthing stage progresses.

We emphasize pregnancy and natural birth as a healthy, normal process and are proud of our very low cesarean-section rate. Should a cesarean become necessary, though, our skilled surgeons and CNMs can and will provide surgical assistance with the birth.

Ultrasound

Whether this is your first pregnancy or one of many, we know how thrilling it is to see that first image of your unborn. We are pleased to offer diagnostic ultrasound for the convenience and reassurance of our patients and their families. You will go home with those precious pictures, a DVD, and gender determination at the appropriate time (if you want to know the gender of your baby prior to his or her entrance into this world). Of course, we also offer antenatal testing such as NST (non-stress test), BFP (biophysical profile), and AFI (amniotic fluid index) as needed.

ultrasound

On site laboratory drawing station

We also offer the convenience of an onsite laboratory drawing station for our patients who need these services as part their treatment.

Antepartum Testing

To ensure the well being of babies and their mothers, we provide non-stress testing for AFI (amniotic fluid index) and BPP (biophysical profiles) as part of our services.

Your Birth Experience

Childbirth is an extraordinary and empowering experience for the mother. We take measures to ensure that it is a personal experience for you with a family friendly environment where you can be in control of the circumstances that your baby enters the world. To accommodate this, we will help you decide the best options for your birth plan, including the option of a water birth.

Immediately after birth we encourage infant bonding by means of skin to skin contact between you and your new baby and breastfeeding shortly thereafter. The entire birthing experience is a natural process for both you and your baby that should be as non-interventive as possible

Guidelines for Weight Gain in Pregnancy

  1. How much a woman “should” gain in pregnancy depends on her height and weight before pregnancy. There are many different opinions about what is “right”.
  2. In general, women who are underweight for their height should gain between 30 and 40 pounds.
  3. Normal weight for height women should gain between 25-35 pounds.
  4. Overweight women should gain between 5-15 pounds.
  5. Women having twins should gain about 35-45 pounds. It will vary by pre-pregnant weight.
  6. Weight gain is a very individual matter. There is no “ideal” weight for all women.
  7. Extra weight for women comes from a variety of places (averages):

    8. Baby

    7.5lbs

    Stored Nutrients

    7.0lbs

    Blood

    4.0lbs

    Extra Body Fluids

    4.0lbs

    Breasts

    2.0lbs

    Uterus

    2.0lbs

    Amniotic Fluid

    2.0lbs

    Placenta

    1.5lbs

    Total

    30lbs


Pregnancy Weight Quiz

  1. Everyone should gain weight in pregnancy.
    True/False

  2. Healthiest outcomes for baby are when mothers gain between 30 and 40 pounds.
    True/False

  3. Women who gain over 40 pounds have babies who are twice as likely to weigh over 9 pounds.
    True/False

  4. Ideal weight gain in pregnancy is:
    1. 20 pounds
    2. 24 pounds
    3. 24-30 pounds
    4. Depends on pre-pregnant weight
  5. What percentage of women put on too much weight in pregnancy?
    1. 10%
    2. 20%
    3. 40%
    4. 50%
  6. Pregnant women should have an extra 800 calories each day.
    True/False

  7. If a woman is having twins, she needs to eat twice as much.
    True/False

  8. During pregnancy, women’s breasts (each) can weigh an extra:
    1. 12 ounces
    2. 1 pound
    3. 2 pounds
    4. 3 pounds
  9. Problems that can occur if a mother gains over 40 pounds in her pregnancy include:
    1. babies that are prone to obesity later in life
    2. “stuck” shoulders, increased collarbone fractures
    3. Increased vaginal tearing
    4. Increased C-section rate
    5. All except a
    6. All the above
  10. It doesn’t matter what a woman weighs, it is more important what she eats.
    True/False

  1. True
  2. True
  3. True
  4. d.
  5. 20%
  6. False
  7. False
  8. c.
  9. f.
  10. True

When is my baby due?