Contact Dr Allie to scheule an appointment
GIVE US A CALL: 021 637 4323Leave a message
Pregnancy Care
What is an obstetrician?
An obstetrician is a doctor with specialist qualifications in delivering babies and providing medical care to women during pregnancy (antenatal care) and after the birth (postnatal care). Obstetricians have the skills to manage complex or high-risk pregnancies and births, and can perform interventions and caesareans.
What does an obstetrician do?
Having a skilled physician by your side before, during and after pregnancy can benefit your health as well as the health and well-being of your baby.
An OBGYN can care for you during pregnancy in the following ways:
- Conduct prenatal testing (urine, Pap, blood, etc.)
- Perform fetal monitoring (ultrasounds, kick counts, electronic fetal monitoring)
- Complete tests for birth defects and/or genetic disorders
- Provide information on any physical, mental and emotional changes you experience
- Care for you during labor and delivery
- Guide you through postpartum physical changes
- Prescribe medications as needed
- Answer any questions you have along the way
How often will you see an obstetrician during pregnancy?
Each pregnancy is unique, but in general you will be seen every four weeks until you reach 28 weeks. You will then have appointments every two weeks until 36 weeks. After this, you will be seen every week. The first visit is usually the longest. You should allow 45 minutes. The remaining visits are usually 10 to 15 minutes.
What can I expect at each visit?
First Trimester Visit
Your provider will ask about your medical history (menstrual cycle, contraception, past pregnancies, medical history, family history and medications) and will perform a physical exam and routine prenatal lab tests. Your due date will be established using your last menstrual period, and possibly an ultrasound will be performed. Very few women give birth on their actual due date, but it provides an appropriate timeline for tests and procedures. Once established in the first trimester, your due date does not change and allows your provider to accurately monitor the progress of your pregnancy.
7 to 12 weeks:
You will be seen every four weeks for the remainder of your first trimester. We will check your blood pressure and weight at each visit. After about 10 to 12 weeks, your provider will listen to the baby's heartbeat with a small device called a Doppler at each visit.
Between 11 and 13 weeks, a nuchal translucency screening ultrasound appointment will be made. This ultrasound will measure the thickness of the space at the back of the neck of the fetus and will screen for any chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome.
A first-trimester genetic screening will be performed at this time as well.
Second Trimester Visit
13 to 16 weeks:
A blood test will be performed to screen for chromosomal abnormalities and neural tube defects.
18 to 20 weeks:
You will have an ultrasound around 20 weeks to look at your baby's anatomy and to determine gender if you would like to know.
24 to 28 weeks:
You will be recommended to take a glucose test to screen for gestational diabetes within this time.
Third Trimester Visit
Now your visits will occur every two weeks until 36 weeks and then every week until you deliver. At each visit, your blood pressure, weight and baby's heartbeat will be measured, and the position of your baby will be checked. You may receive an ultrasound to determine growth of the baby in this trimester.
29 to 34 weeks:
You will discuss aspects of childbirth, breastfeeding and postpartum care with your provider.
35 to 37 weeks:
Your provider will offer to do a pelvic exam. You will also be tested for Group B streptococcus to test for bacteria that can cause serious infections in newborns if not treated during labour.
After 37 weeks:
Weekly visits with your provider will now occur. Your provider may check your cervix as you approach your due date for dilation and to be sure your baby is in the head-down position.
After 40 weeks:
Your provider will recommend antenatal testing between 40 and 41 weeks to check your baby's general well-being. This test includes a quick ultrasound to measure the amniotic fluid around the baby and 20 minutes of monitoring the baby's heart rate with the external fetal heart rate monitoring machine. At this time, your provider may also discuss options for induction of labour, if you are still pregnant.