Obstetrics is the branch of medicine concerned with pregnancy, childbirth, and the first few weeks after childbirth. Many obstetricians are also gynecologists, and OB/GYNS can perform surgery. Aurora Health Care provides a wide range of services, and its medical professionals have helped deliver 12,000 babies every year. They are with their patients during all stages of pregnancy and even before. They can help women plan their pregnancies and arrange fertility treatments.
What Services Does Obstetrics Provide?
An obstetrician’s main goal is to keep the mother and her child healthy during pregnancy, childbirth, and immediately after. To that end, they will perform a variety of prenatal tests like fetal ultrasound and fetal heart monitoring. The obstetrician will also order a variety of blood tests to check for abnormalities like Down syndrome or teratogenic diseases such as rubella. Different tests are needed for each trimester. The obstetrician will also provide advice on how the mother can remain healthy during pregnancy. They may recommend dietary changes or parenting and childbirth classes.
What is Genetic Counseling?
Genetic counseling is a service that helps family members understand the role genes play in a given birth defect or medical condition. People may undergo genetic counseling while considering the possibility of having a child or during a pregnancy. In the first case, the couple usually already know that a disorder of some sort runs in their family and want to know the likelihood of it affecting a prospective child.
If a woman is already pregnant, she may go to a genetic counselor if she got test results indicating her child may have a birth defect. In this case, the counselor will explain the exact meaning of the test results and what the family’s options are for helping their child. The genetic counselor, for example, may recommend doctors or support groups who specialize in a given condition like Down syndrome.
What is a High-Risk Pregnancy?
A high-risk pregnancy is one in which the mother, baby, or both require extra care to ensure a successful pregnancy and delivery. If the mother has a chronic condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, her pregnancy is considered high risk. If a patient has a high-risk pregnancy or develops complications partway through her pregnancy, she will be referred to the appropriate specialist for help.
What Happens After Childbirth?
Shortly after the mother has gone home with her new baby, one of the nurses will contact her and provide guidance in such matters as the best way to breastfeed a newborn. The nurse will also be watching for possible problems like postpartum depression. They can also recommend a pediatrician to the family.
Get In Touch with Us for More Information
To learn more about obstetrics, we warmly invite you to reach out and make an appointment with Aurora OB-GYN. At our convenient location in San Antonio, our caring and dedicated team of professionals will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!