Prenatal Care at WBWC
Overview
For many families, their first parenting decision is where to get care and give birth. To start that process at WBWC, you must schedule an orientation/informational tour, prior to your first visit. Request a date for the session on the “Am I a Candidate?” form.
Your First Visit
Expecting families who choose Women’s Birth & Wellness Center as the setting for their prenatal care are assured of a high-quality, family-centered experience. Each woman’s medical history will be reviewed individually to be sure she is a safe candidate for an out-of-hospital birth.
We ask you to set aside at least an hour for your first visit. We encourage you to bring your husband, partner or support person with you. The nurse midwife will discuss your past health history, previous pregnancies and your current health and lifestyle. This includes nutrition, exercise program, family and support system. We will do a complete physical exam and lab tests appropriate for the time in your pregnancy. We can usually hear the baby’s heartbeat about 10-12 weeks from the date of your last menstrual period.
Please write down any questions you may have so that we may address all of them at your visits.
Your Prenatal Visits
Subsequent visits will last approximately 30 minutes. We will explain the various options available to you and together form a plan for your pregnancy, which may include special testing such as a sonogram, alpha-fetoprotein test [AFP/Multiscreen test], amniocentesis, etc. Other topics may include:
- Coping with discomforts of pregnancy
- Writing a birth plan
- Labor support
- Newborn care
- Breastfeeding
Visits will rotate among our Certified Nurse Midwives, so mothers and families will be acquainted with our team. The Birth Center program gives you the time that you deserve – time to monitor the health of mother and baby; time to listen to and answer questions; time to help you and your family off to the best start.
The most important part of prenatal care is the job you do. By attending all of your visits, eating a well-balanced diet, exercising appropriately, reading, asking questions, choosing a provider for your infant, attending prepared childbirth classes, and living a healthy lifestyle, you will be doing all you can to help assure a low-risk pregnancy and safe birth.
Prenatal Care at Women’s Birth & Wellness includes:
- One-hour initial appointment including detailed history and full physical
- Half-hour prenatal visits with education
- Optional community group prenatal care
- Access to 24-hour midwifery care and phone consultation
Community Prenatal Care
We also offer community prenatal care, or CPC. CPC is woman-focused, enhances a woman’s ability to make decisions regarding her own care, and encourages the social support that is so critical to successful out-of-hospital birth.
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