Prenatal Care

Bernie Russell, MD

Prenatal care is vital in ensuring the healthy growth and development of your baby. Regular visits to your health care provider aim to monitor your baby’s progress and identify any potential problems before they become serious. Women who receive prenatal care have healthier babies and are less likely to deliver prematurely or have pregnancy-related problems. 

Prenatal care should begin as soon as possible and usually includes monthly doctor’s visits. These visits should become more frequent as the pregnancy progresses, and include a complete physical exam, blood and urine samples and answers to your questions. Your doctor may measure your uterus, take ultrasounds and perform several other routine tests to keep you and your baby as healthy as possible.

Delivery

Delivery is the significant end of your pregnancy and beginning of your baby’s life. Many choices and factors can affect the time, length, location and type of your delivery, so it is important to be well-prepared and comfortable with the help of your health care provider.

The whole birthing process usually takes 12 to 24 hours and includes labor, pushing and delivery and delivery of the placenta.  Delivery can take place in a hospital, birthing center or at home, and with the assistance of an obstetrician, family practitioner or midwife. The birth can be vaginal or through a cesarean section. These choices are made by the woman during her pregnancy, but can change at the last minute due to complications or emergency circumstances.

Despite the conditions, doctors put the health of mother and baby first. Your doctor will do the best she can to provide a safe, comfortable and successful experience, so that you can begin life with your new baby.

Cesarean Sections

A natural, vaginal birth is not always possible for all babies. In some cases, delivery through a cesarean section, surgical incisions in the abdomen or uterus, is necessary. A cesarean section may be needed for many reasons and may even be planned in advance, but is often an emergency procedure.

Cesarean birth is often used for multiple pregnancies, labor not progressing, concern for the baby and placenta or position problems. A cesarean section is needed in about one in four women and is safer than vaginal birth in many cases.

Although recovery time is longer than a vaginal birth, a cesarean section most likely benefits your health as well as your baby’s. You can learn more about a cesarean section before giving birth through classes and readings in order to better prepare yourself for the procedure.

Postpartum Care

After childbirth, both mother and baby usually require special care for a certain amount of time. This care may come right after delivery while still in the hospital and through treatments and doctor’s visits in the following weeks. A woman’s body goes through several physical and emotional changes after childbirth and your doctor can provide support for these changes.

The effects of pregnancy and childbirth can include:

A full physical exam is usually performed six weeks after the birth, at which time you can ask your doctor questions and share any concerns you may have.

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