We provide comprehensive obstetrical care from preconception to postpartum. Our experienced doctors provide general obstetric services to guide women through each and every step of their pregnancy, ensuring proper growth and development, as well as a successful delivery. Our facilities are fully equipped with the most advanced technology and equipment to make your pregnancy as simple as possible.
During your pregnancy, you will visit your doctor on a regular basis for physical examinations, blood tests and ultrasounds in order to monitor the growth and development of your baby. We will discuss options for the delivery process, and work with you to ensure that labor and delivery is comfortable and stress-free. Postpartum care is also available to help women become acclimated to the new experience of motherhood.
Fetal Monitoring
Fetal monitoring involves checking the heart rate and other vital functions of the baby during labor and delivery. It is a useful tool to ensure that the fetal heart rate falls within the normal range of between 110 and 160 beats per minute. In cases where fetal monitoring shows an abnormal heart rate or rhythm it may indicate a lack of sufficient oxygen to the fetus or another potentially dangerous problem.
Fetal monitoring is usually performed using either a fetoscope or a Doppler device. A fetoscope is a variation on a stethoscope that enables the doctor to hear the heartbeat of the fetus. A Doppler device uses sound waves to monitor the heartbeat of the fetus. Both forms of fetal monitoring are considered very safe to both the mother and baby and are commonly used during labor.
In other cases, the physician may choose electronic fetal monitoring. This method may be external, in which two belts are placed around the abdomen of the mother. One of the belts measures the fetal heart rate and the other evaluates the length and timing of contractions. Another option is internal monitoring, which requires passing an electrode through the cervix to affix it to the head of the fetus. Electronic fetal monitoring provides a consistent reading of the fetal heartbeat that will indicate any changes taking place.
Infertility Treatment
Infertility is typically defined as inability to conceive after 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. In addition, women over the age of 35 may be considered infertile if they have failed to conceive after 6 months of trying. In many cases, advanced treatments now available can sufficiently improve fertility to allow for successful conception.
Once the cause of the infertility is established, a treatment plan can be devised. This may include making lifestyle changes, taking medication, undergoing a surgical procedure, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), or some combination of these techniques. Among the most widely used methods of infertility treatment include:
- Clomiphene citrate and intrauterine insemination (IUI). Clomiphene citrate, a mild fertility drug, is given for five days to produce one or more mature eggs. One dose of the hormone hCG stimulates the ovaries to release the eggs. The male partner’s sperm, which has been washed and prepared by a laboratory, is then injected into the uterus.
- Gonadotropins and IUI (superovulation). Gonadotropins stimulate the growth of additional follicles and increase the quality of the eggs, cervical mucus and uterine lining.
- ART, including in-vitro fertilization (IVF). Various hormones are administered along with gonadotropins to produce three or more eggs, which are then retrieved from the ovaries prior to fertilization.
Preconception Counseling
When a couple decides they are ready to start planning a family—before they even begin trying to get pregnant—it can be very helpful to schedule a preconception counseling appointment with an obstetrician. The doctor will require information about health and family medical history as well as lifestyle and habits of both partners. Any medications currently being taken and alcohol and tobacco use will be discussed. Honesty is essential, as this can enable the doctor to determine whether there are any issues that might potentially be harmful to the mother or baby during pregnancy.
If anything in the couple’s background indicates a recommendation for genetic screening, these options will be explained. Vaccinations may be needed for some patients and an outline is provided for precautions to take to reduce the risk of certain birth defects. The doctor will prescribe or recommend a prenatal vitamin to take daily, beginning before conception and continuing during pregnancy. Aside from other beneficial nutrients, prenatal vitamins contain folic acid, which has been proven to prevent neural tube defects. The doctor will also make suggestions as to the patient’s nutritional needs and safely exercising during pregnancy.
Obstetrical Consultation
One of the most important obstetric appointments you will have at Penfield OB/GYN will be your OB Consult. This appointment is booked one-on-one with a nurse around your eighth week of pregnancy and typically lasts about forty-five minutes. There is plenty to discuss at this visit and, if appropriate, we encourage you to bring your partner to the appointment as well. During your consult, the nurse will review both you and your partner’s personal and family medical histories, offer screening tests to detect possible fetal abnormalities, discuss lifestyles issues associated with pregnancy, and answer any questions you and/or your partner may have. Your OB Consult is a very valuable appointment for you, our providers, and most importantly, your baby!