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Our Philosophy

Remember that prenatal care is not just testing: We pride ourselves on the time we spend counseling and preparing women for the experience of childbirth. Our philosophy is simple: The more you know, the more confident you will feel, and the easier your labor will be.

 

Early and regular prenatal care

Typically, your first prenatal visit includes a full exam (including pelvic exam and Pap test), collection of a urine specimen, and blood tests. After the first visit, you will probably be seen monthly through the early stages of pregnancy, as long as everything is going well. Later in the pregnancy, we see patients more frequently, especially if special circumstances arise. Of course, we are always available between visits to answer questions, or to deal with unexpected problems.

We start at the first prenatal visit by giving you a "prenatal pack": a complimentary welcome bag filled with useful information, recommended reading, web links, and lots of giveaways and free coupons. Through the rest of your pregnancy, our entire team of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants participates in preparing you for "the big day."

  • Folic Acid and Prenatal/Preconception Vitamins
  • Proper Exercise - Move your body. Once you get pregnant, you cannot increase your exercise routine by much. So it i's best to start before the baby is on the way, but once you are pregnant, exercise is still an important part of your prenatal health.
  • Get checked for hepatitis B and C, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and HIV since these can harm both you and your baby. Tell your doctor if you or your sex partners have ever had an STD or HIV.
  • Healthy Behaviors
    1. Tell your doctor if you smoke or use alcohol or drugs. Quitting is hard, but you can do it. Ask your doctor for help.
    2. Get enough sleep (try to get seven to nine hours every night).
    3. If you can, control the stress in your life. When it comes to things like work and family, figure out what you can really do. Set limits with yourself and others. Do not be afraid to say NO to requests for your time and energy.
    4. Get any health problems under control. Talk to your doctor about how your health problems might affect you and your baby while pregnant. If you have diabetes, monitor your blood sugar levels. If you have high blood pressure, monitor these levels as well. If you are overweight, talk to your doctor about what a healthy weight is for you. Talk to your doctor about how your health problems might affect you and your baby while pregnant. There are things both you and your doctor can do to help you have a safe pregnancy and healthy baby.
    5. Go over all of the medicines you take (prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines you buy without prescriptions, and herbals) with your doctor and ask if they are safe to take while you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant.