It’s normal to approach pregnancy, childbirth and the following weeks with a number
of questions and expectations. Our obstetricians are here to guide you through the
process and understand your concerns and wishes.
We offer the full range of obstetric care you’ll need from finding out you’re pregnant
through delivering your baby and beyond.
Prenatal care
During the course of your pregnancy, you’ll receive ongoing prenatal care, which includes
checkups and tests. It’s important for the health of you and your baby that you stay
on top of your prenatal care and follow the care plan your obstetrician designed for
you.
Checkups typically occur once a month through 28 weeks of pregnancy, twice a month for weeks
28 through 35 and weekly from week 36 through delivery. During these visits, your
obstetrician will examine you, check your blood pressure and weight and your baby’s
heart rate and growth, and perform necessary laboratory tests.
Prenatal tests allow your obstetrician to check your blood type and Rh factor and look for anemia,
infections and signs that you’re immune to certain diseases. They will also offer
additional tests, such as screenings for diabetes during pregnancy, Down syndrome
and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
We also offer breastfeeding counseling through our board-certified lactation consultants
and obstetric emergency care in case complications arise after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Labor and delivery
We realize that you may have concerns and preferences about labor and delivery. We
strive to make childbirth as safe, comfortable and memorable for you as possible while
taking into consideration your wishes. We offer:
- Vaginal delivery, which may involve certain instruments, such as forceps or a suction to guide your
baby through the birth canal
- Cesarean section, also called c-section, when vaginal delivery isn’t possible — for example, if your
baby isn’t positioned with their head down, is too large to move through the pelvis
or is in distress
- Vaginal birth after cesarean, also called VBAC, for women who qualify based on certain factors, such as the condition
of the scar on their uterus from previous cesarean sections
- Pain management through our obstetric anesthesiologist and anesthesiology team that is dedicated to
helping you feel as comfortable as possible during childbirth by using pain medications
and anesthesia if you wish
Postpartum care
The postpartum period begins immediately following childbirth and lasts six weeks.
During this time, a woman’s body readjusts to its nonpregnant state while she adjusts
to her new role of caring for a newborn baby. We offer:
- Mother Baby Couplet Care during your hospital stay to encourage you to spend as much time with your baby as
possible so you can learn their feeding and sleeping habits and bond
- Breastfeeding support through our board-certified lactation consultants who will help you and your baby
breastfeed during your hospital stay and after you go home
- Checkups typically within three weeks of giving birth and again within 12 weeks for a pelvic
exam, postpartum depression screening and treatment, and discussion about birth control
options
- Obstetric emergency care in case complications arise within six weeks after delivery
Support services
When you’re navigating major life changes, such as having a baby, you deserve all
the support you can get. We offer:
- Nutrition counseling through our certified dietitians to prevent and treat certain conditions, such as
diabetes during pregnancy and hyperemesis gravidarum
- Classes, including labor and delivery tours, breastfeeding and infant CPR classes, and car
seat safety and Cribs for Kids classes offered through Safe Kids Greater Augusta
- Support groups to help those who are navigating motherhood and breastfeeding
- Free access to educational resources through HealthClips
- Prenatal patient education in English and Spanish to help you understand what to expect from your first prenatal
visit through pregnancy and bringing your baby home
