Obstetrics is the medical specialty that’s focused on the health needs of pregnant women and their unborn babies. At Gresham Women’s Health, we provide comprehensive obstetric care, including non-stress tests for fetal well-being, high-risk ultrasound, and fetal heart rate testing.
In most cases, prenatal checkups are performed every month up until the 28th week of pregnancy, then every 2 weeks up until the 36th week of pregnancy, and then every week until delivery. Women who have high-risk pregnancies typically need to be seen more frequently for tests or other monitoring, depending on their needs. Keeping every prenatal visit is important for staying healthy and identifying problems in their earliest stages. When an appointment can’t be kept, it’s essential to call right away so the office visit can be promptly rescheduled.
Your first visit is typically the longest visit. The doctors at Gresham Women’s Healthcare begin by taking a complete history and performing a thorough physical exam. This may include a breast and pelvic exam. Lab work is typically done as well. This is a visit where you might want to bring your partner since there will be a thorough discussion of options for genetic testing. All subsequent prenatal visits include measurements of weight and blood pressure as well as a urine sample to check for signs of infection or other issues that could indicate a potential problem. Depending on the stage of pregnancy, the doctor will measure your abdomen and listen to the baby’s heartbeat using a special monitor. Blood draws may be done periodically throughout your pregnancy. Every patient will have a detailed anatomy ultrasound at around 20 weeks, which will be conveniently scheduled here at Gresham Women’s Healthcare. Many patients will need additional ultrasounds, sometimes early in the pregnancy and sometimes to monitor the baby in the late pregnancy.
A high-risk pregnancy is one in which the mother, the baby, or both have a health condition that could compromise or interfere with pregnancy or delivery. Some of the most common causes of high-risk pregnancy include:
The doctors at Gresham Women’s Healthcare perform ongoing evaluations for some issues like hypertension and diabetes, and other testing can be performed as needed, based on the patient’s medical history, lifestyle issues, and other factors.
Gresham Women’s Healthcare is also proud to team with the Perinatologists from Legacy Emanuel Maternal Fetal Medicine to provide high-risk ultrasounds in Gresham, OR as well as consultations for high-risk pregnancies.
Feel free to email us regarding any scheduling or general questions!