Obstetrical Care

The providers at the Women’s Health Center of Lebanon are qualified to manage all aspects of your pregnancy. Our providers are skilled in managing both normal and high-risk pregnancies. Ultrasound examinations and non-stress testing are services that are all available in our office. Babies are delivered at The Good Samaritan Hospital’s New Beginning Birth Suites.

The Women’s Health Center of Lebanon allows you to schedule your doctor’s visits as you wish. You may see one doctor exclusively, or see all of the doctors who deliver babies. We suggest that you see all of the doctors during your pregnancy, to familiarize yourself with the doctor that may deliver your baby.

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Prenatal Care

Early and consistent obstetrical care contributes to a healthy pregnancy. Our providers are here to ensure you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. We encourage you to come in as early in your pregnancy as possible in order to optimize your care.

We have two obstetrical coordinators who are registered nurses. Our coordinators are available via telephone to answer questions throughout your pregnancy. Each patient will be scheduled to see an obstetrical coordinator prior to their first doctor’s appointment. During this visit, we provide you with information related to pregnancy, including information on nutrition, physical changes, the development of your baby and educational opportunities available to expectant parents. We also review your medical history and your family history to ascertain any risk factors pertaining to your pregnancy.

Throughout your pregnancy we will provide you with a full range of obstetrical services. Your first visit with one of our providers should be scheduled as early in your pregnancy as possible. Subsequent visits are scheduled monthly until later in your pregnancy when they may be scheduled as often as every week.

Preconception Care

Many women do not know they are pregnant until several weeks after they have conceived. Therefore, planning for the event by making sure you are as healthy as possible before you become pregnant will benefit both your health and the health of your baby. The early weeks of pregnancy are some of the most critical ones for the fetus since during this time, organs are formed.

If you are planning to become pregnant, be sure to let your provider know. This will allow your physician to evaluate your medical history and begin to identify any high-risk factors you may have. Medical conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease should all be discussed with your physician as they can affect your health or your baby’s health during the pregnancy. Each of these could affect your health or your baby’s health throughout your pregnancy and would need special care during your pregnancy.

If these conditions are identified prior to your becoming pregnant, your physician can help you get them under control before you become pregnant. Additionally, you should tell your provider about any medications you are taking, any problems you may have had during previous pregnancies and any conditions that are significant among family members since certain disorders can be inherited.

Your physician will also discuss lifestyle and nutritional issues with you. A balanced diet is good for your health at all times in your life. During your pregnancy what you eat supports the growth of your fetus, therefore a healthy diet is even more important before and during your pregnancy. Folic acid can also help reduce the risk of neural tube defects. Folic acid can be found in the following foods:

  • Leafy, dark green vegetables
  • Citrus fruits
  • Beans
  • Breads
  • Cereals

Supplements can also be taken. The use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs can harm both you and your fetus. No amount of these substances has been proven safe to use, especially during the early days of pregnancy.

Stay physically fit. If you follow a fitness routine before you conceive, you can improve your chances for a comfortable and active pregnancy. Additionally, many types of exercise may be continued during pregnancy if you are in good shape and were accustomed to the exercise before pregnancy.

Finally, be safe. Victims of domestic violence before pregnancy are often victims during pregnancy. In fact, the American Medical Association reports that about 37% of women are physically abused while pregnant. If you are being abused, tell your medical provider or contact a domestic violence intervention program for help.

Obstetrical Ultrasound

Ultrasound lets the doctor “see” inside a patient’s body. An ultrasound is used throughout a mother’s pregnancy to ensure the fetus is growing properly and is healthy. This procedure can determine:

• Age
• Amount of amniotic fluid in the uterus
• Detection of some types of birth defects
• Fetal position, movement, breathing and heart rate
• Location of placenta
• Number of fetuses
• Rate of growth
• Whether the size is right based on age

Sometimes a transvaginal ultrasound is used during pregnancy to find the cause of bleeding or pain, to rule out an ectopic pregnancy, to measure cervical length or to find certain types of birth defects in the fetus early in pregnancy.

Postpartum Care Guide

We are pleased to offer this simple guide to make your postpartum experience a more pleasant and rewarding one. You may have already read about the postpartum period in your personal book on maternity care. Remember that every patient and her experiences are different. If any material outlined in this guide or in your book on maternity care seems unusual, please do not hesitate to discuss it with us. Click here to review our online guide for new moms in Lebanon and Palmyra, PA.

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