Obstetrics
Board-certified Obstetrics Care in NYC
Prenatal care consists of periodic visits to the doctor during pregnancy. Information is collected and tests are performed during these visits, so that potential problems can be detected early.
Your first prenatal visit includes a taking a history. It may also include an in-office ultrasound to confirm that the pregnancy can continue. You may also receive referrals for lab tests, including a complete blood count to check for anemia, a blood type, rubella and hepatitis screens, an antibody screen, a urine culture, and a test for syphilis. Additional tests may also be done or offered, based on medical history.
Your second visit will be a complete physical examination including a pelvic exam. The pelvic exam determines the size of the uterus and the amount of room in the pelvis. Cultures will be taken to screen for gonorrhea and chlamydia. Other tests may also be performed.
Routinely, you will be seen approximately every 4 weeks until you are 24 weeks pregnant, then every 3 weeks until you are 32 weeks, then every 2 weeks until you are 35 weeks, and then at least weekly until you deliver. Completion of 37 weeks is considered a full-term pregnancy.
Each time you come in for a routine visit, your visit will include the following things at least:
- Temperature check
- Blood pressure and heart rate check
- Weight check
- Urine collection and check. Your urine is checked for sugar and protein, and serves as a screen for diabetes, kidney function, and infection.
- Fetal heart tones
- Abdominal exam. This includes measuring the height of the uterus in centimeters after 20 weeks and checking the position of the baby/babies.
From 35 weeks to until delivery, you may have a pelvic exam to detect changes in the cervix such as softening, thinning, and dilation.
During your visits, it is important to ask your doctor or nurse any questions that you have about your pregnancy, your general health, your examination, or your tests. We recommend that you write down your questions and bring the list to your appointment.
Your physician delivers at Tisch Hospital/NYU Langone, which is located at 550 1st Avenue, New York, NY 10016. Please be aware that we require our patients to go to Tisch Hospital for deliveries, or in case extra monitoring is required.
