FIRST VISIT:
On your first visit, you will be oriented to the practice by one of our nurses. She will determine your due date and take your medical history. Our trained phlebotomist will draw your prenatal labs.
SUBSEQUENT VISITS:
Dr. Hodges or Erin, her Nurse Practitioner, will examine you, discuss lab results, and answer your questions. For an uncomplicated pregnancy, the visits are every four (4) weeks until you reach your 28th week. After this, your visits will be every two (2) weeks until your 36th week when you will be seen on a weekly basis.
OBSTETRIC TESTING
Second visit - Dr. Hodges or Erin will perform a pap smear and cervical cultures screening for sexually transmitted disease.
1. From 16 - 18 weeks - we offer the alpha feto protein (AFP) blood test that screens for:
1. Trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome)
2. Trisomy 18
3. Spina Bifida*
* (This test is optional and Dr. Hodges will discuss the pros and cons of this test.)
* At 20 weeks - we perform an anatomic survey ultrasound, which takes approximately one hour to complete. In this ultrasound we are visualizing and measuring the internal structures of the brain, chest, (heart and lungs), abdomen and pelvis (your baby's sex). We evaluate the baby's face to rule out cleft lip and palate. You will be given a CD that has recorded this special time so that you may share with others for years to come.
* At 26 -28 weeks - we perform a one hour glucose challenge test that screens for diabetes. The test is simple and you only need to drink two (2) packages of Capri Sun Drinks that we provide for you. One hour after drinking the Capri Sun, we prick your finger and evaluate the blood sample for glucose and iron content.
Also at 28 weeks - if you happen to have RH - negative blood, i.e. A negative, O negative, etc, then you will be given a rhogam injection.
At 30 weeks - you will be offered an ultrasound to evaluate your baby's growth. The ultrasound will take approximately 30 minutes and will be recorded on a CD.
At 35 - 36 weeks - a vaginal culture will be obtained for group B streptococcus (GBS). One third of all women have a positive GBS culture. If this is positive, you will be given an antibiotic through your IV when you are in early labor to avoid the passage of this bacteria to your baby.
There are other tests that may be offered if your particular situation requires these. These tests are Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), Amniocentesis, Non-Stess Testing, Biophysical Profile Testing, and various other blood tests.
