Are you expecting? Prenatal care during your pregnancy is good for your growing baby. That’s because babies of mothers who don’t receive prenatal care are three times more likely to be born underweight. The highly skilled staff at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates in Greensboro, North Carolina, can guide you through a healthy pregnancy. The board-certified obstetricians offer pre-conceptual counseling and continuous care for low- and high-risk pregnancies. Call the Greensboro OB-GYN Associates office or schedule a consultation online today.
request an appointmentWhat is the right care for my pregnancy?
As soon as you find out you’re pregnant, you should schedule an appointment with the practice. Your obstetrician at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates will set up a schedule of prenatal care visits for you to help you maintain a healthy pregnancy.
Depending on your health and other factors, your visits will occur on this schedule:
- Weeks 4-28: About once a month
- Weeks 28-36: Twice a month
- Week 36 to delivery: Every week
If you’re age 35 or older, have issues with hypertension or diabetes, or you’re having multiples, you’ll probably see your obstetrician more frequently.
What happens during prenatal care?
During your first prenatal visit, your Greensboro OB-GYN Associates obstetrician discusses your health and lifestyle. The goal is to help you have the best pregnancy possible.
Your obstetrician may:
- Ask about your overall health and a family history of diseases
- Ask about previous pregnancies and deliveries
- Ask about medications you’re taking
- Ask whether you’re taking prenatal vitamins
Your obstetrician performs a complete physical exam and may recommend blood and urine tests. The practice offers on-site ultrasounds and lab work for your convenience.
As your pregnancy progresses, you’ll need other tests to monitor your health and your growing baby’s health.
What tests should I expect during pregnancy?
Your obstetrician recommends certain tests during your pregnancy to identify conditions that raise the risk of complications for you and your baby. Some tests are performed early in pregnancy, while others are performed later, or repeated. The tests include:
- Complete blood count
- Blood type
- Urinalysis
- Urine culture
- Rubella
- Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Human immunodeficiency virus
- Rh antibody test
- Group B streptococci
You’ll also need a glucose screening test, which measures the level of sugar in your blood, to assess your risk for gestational diabetes.
What should I expect later in my pregnancy?
As your due date draws near, you’ll want to discuss your delivery plan with your obstetrician. If you’ve previously had a cesarean delivery, you can talk about whether you’d like a repeat C-section or vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). While VBAC isn’t for everyone, research shows 60-80% of women have a successful vaginal delivery after a C-section.
Trust your pregnancy to the board-certified experts at Greensboro OB-GYN Associates. Call or schedule a consultation online today.