Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a time to take extra care of your body and your growing baby. You may have lots of questions about how to proceed through pregnancy and delivery and the expert team of OB/GYNs at The Women's Center can help. With locations in Orlando, St. Cloud, Altamonte Springs, Oviedo, Winter Park, and Celebration, Florida, you can receive prenatal care that’s both compassionate and convenient. Call one of the offices or book an appointment online if you’re pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant.

Pregnancy Q & A

Why is prenatal care important?

Whether you’re expecting your first child or your third, each pregnancy is different and you benefit from prenatal care to monitor the health of you and your baby throughout the nine months of development. Proper prenatal care allows your doctor at The Women’s Center to detect problems early and ensure you’re doing all you can to prevent complications. Women who have consistent prenatal care have fewer cases of low birth weight babies and are less likely to die during childbirth.

How often are prenatal appointments scheduled?

Your doctor at The Women’s Center schedules your visits according to your particular needs. High-risk pregnancies may require more frequent visits. In general, however, expect to come in about once a month for the first 28 weeks of pregnancy. In weeks 28-36, you’ll see your doctor twice a month. After that, you’ll see your doctor weekly until you give birth.

What happens during prenatal visits?

During your first prenatal appointment, your physician at The Women’s Center will review your medical and family history in detail. They’ll discuss any prior pregnancies and existing health conditions to better understand your needs. A pelvic exam, full physical, and Pap test are typically performed, along with blood and urine tests for further evaluation. Your doctor will also estimate your due date during this initial visit.

At the first and subsequent visits, the team tracks your blood pressure and weight. And you’ll have an opportunity to ask any questions that you have.

As your pregnancy progresses, your doctor performs ultrasounds, measures the size of your belly, performs tests to check the health of your baby, and evaluates you for complications such as anemia, HIV, and gestational diabetes.

What is a high-risk pregnancy?

If you have a greater risk of developing complications during your pregnancy, you’re deemed high-risk. Being older than 35, having a pre-existing condition such as lupus or diabetes, or developing a condition during pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia makes you high-risk. A multiple pregnancy also might require extra prenatal care.

If you’re pregnant, call one of the offices of The Women’s Center today or book an appointment online to start your prenatal care.