Pregnancy Care and Delivery (Prenatal Care) in New York

If you're pregnant, or plan to become pregnant soon, you should know about our prenatal program at The Woman's Health Pavilion. Under the guidance of Doctors Saad, Scarantino, and Ortega, our prenatal program has helped thousands of women deliver safely, secure in the knowledge that they've received the best care around.

Prenatal care ideally should start even before pregnancy. In a pre-conceptual visit, we can explore your medical and genetic history to identify issues which may require attention prior to pregnancy. Thorough testing helps us confirm that you are in optimal health before trying to conceive. At this visit, we can also help to answer the many question women have about fertility, conception, and early pregnancy. We will prescribe special vitamins that have been proven to reduce birth defects if taken before conception, and help you understand the time in your cycle when you are most likely to conceive.

If you haven't seen us prior to your conception, don't worry: We can pick up prenatal care at any stage — even in the last few weeks of your pregnancy — and work with you to ensure the best possible outcome. Typically, your first prenatal visit includes a full exam (including pelvic exam and Pap smear), collection of a urine specimen, and blood tests. After the first visit, you'll probably be seen monthly through the early stages of pregnancy, as long as everything is going well. Later in the pregnancy, we see patients more frequently, especially if special circumstances arise. Of course, we are always available between visits to answer urgent questions, or to deal with unexpected problems.

Remember that prenatal care is not just testing: We pride ourselves on the time we spend counseling and preparing women for the experience of childbirth. Our philosophy is simple: The more you know, the more confident you'll feel, and the easier your labor will be. We start at the first prenatal visit by giving you a "prenatal pack": a complimentary welcome bag filled with useful information, recommended reading, web links, and lots of giveaways and free coupons. Through the rest of your pregnancy, our entire team-doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants-participates in preparing you for "the big day." We even offer private childbirth education classes in your home, given by a licensed labor and delivery nurse.

On the day of your delivery, we will work with you to make the experience exceed your expectations. You can "go natural" or get an early epidural; you can walk through your labor, or relax in a bed; you can listen to your own personally selected soundtrack, or choose serene surroundings instead. Whatever makes the experience special for you — as long as it doesn't create a risk for you or your baby — is fine with us. We invite you to visit us at The Woman's Health Pavilion, so that we can help you plan a pregnancy and labor experience that is uniquely right for you.