Prenatal Care

Welcome! We would like to congratulate you on the upcoming addition to your family and thank you for selecting us to participate in your care. We’ve prepared this page to help you understand what lies ahead.

Prenatal Care Schedule

Prenatal checkups are important and we recommend that you keep them. For a routine pregnancy without complications, most healthy women will be seen in the office on the following schedule:

• Before 8 weeks: It may take a few once- or twice-weekly visits to confirm a viable pregnancy and establish your due date
• Weeks 8 to 28: every 4 to 5 weeks
• Weeks 29 to 36: every 2 to 3 weeks
• Weeks 37 and beyond: every week

If problems or questions arise between visits, you can schedule an appointment with us at your convenience. In the event of a medical emergency, you can reach us at any time by calling the number you use to schedule appointments (our office number) or directly through the on-call answering service. The direct line to the answering service is 516 692-3738.

Your First Prenatal Visit

At your first visit, we will perform all relevant blood work and specific genetic testing, in addition to performing a Pap smear and screening for certain sexually transmitted infections. We will review our Quick Guide for Our Maternity Patients with you. This helpful resource will help you to prepare for the remainder of your pregnancy. We will also give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins and calcium/vitamin D, if needed.

Sonograms During Pregnancy

Sonograms will be performed early in pregnancy in order to confirm your due date and the status of your pregnancy. Sonograms before 12 weeks of pregnancy are performed internally, using a vaginal probe; the process is not painful and not harmful to the baby.

Week 12: Genetic Testing

Around 12 weeks, you will have a nuchal translucency (NT) test, which screens for genetic problems like Down syndrome. The NT test is special kind of internal sonogram, which is interpreted together with a sample of your blood, obtained by finger stick. Other genetic tests may be offered or recommended; please be sure to discuss any relevant family history with us during early pregnancy.

By Week 15: Hear Your Baby’s Heartbeat

By 15 weeks, we can usually hear the baby’s heartbeat using a special device. We will be checking the baby’s heart rate in subsequent visits. If you would like your partner or children to hear the baby, feel free to bring them along to your scheduled visit.

Weeks 16 to 18: Further Genetic Testing

At 16 to 18 weeks of pregnancy, we will offer you the option for further genetic testing which may be obtained through bloodwork, or if necessary, by amniocentesis (collection of fluid from inside the uterus). These blood tests are used to screen for defects of the baby’s spine (spina bifida) and genetic problems like Down syndrome. We will counsel you about these tests during early pregnancy.

Weeks 20 to 22: Level II Ultrasound

A sonogram is usually performed at 20 to 22 weeks to check your baby’s development. This sonogram is called a “level II” or “anatomy sonogram” and is performed both externally (over your belly) and internally. These sonograms may be performed by specialized providers either in our office or at another facility.

Weeks 24 to 28: Glucose Tolerance Test

At 24-28 weeks, many women will have a glucose tolerance test (GTT) to  screen for gestational diabetes. It consists of fasting overnight, a simple blood test performed in the morning while fasting, and additional blood tests taken 1 and 2 hours after you drink a sugary solution. In addition, we will be informing you about cord blood and tissue storage options.

Week 30: Follow-up Sonogram

At approximately 30 weeks, you will be having a follow-up sonogram to assess how the baby is growing.

From 30 weeks until delivery, we strongly encourage first-time moms to enroll in Childbirth Classes. Our childbirth classes are offered on weekends right in the office, and feature experienced childbirth educators with direct experience in Labor and Delivery. For a schedule of upcoming classes and to register, contact our Obstetric Coordinator Jamie Razumov in the office at 516.218.6939, or send your inquiry to  obclass@ilovemygyn.com.

After Week 35: Preparing for Delivery

After 35 weeks we will begin performing internal exams at your visits. In addition, we will spend some time during your visit discussing labor and delivery. Blood work and a vaginal culture will also be performed in preparation for labor. If you’d like to arm yourself with more information, you can read about signs of labor and the labor process.

At approximately 37 weeks a sonogram will be performed to estimate the baby’s weight and ensure that he or she is positioned properly.

What If You’re Still Pregnant on Your Due Date?

If you reach 40 weeks or your due date and have not delivered, don’t panic: The due date is just an estimate. About 15% of pregnant women are still pregnant on their due date. We will follow you closely if you go past your due date. If you reach one week past your due date, we usually start discussing planning your delivery by inducing labor.

Bring Us Your Questions

Most women have a lot of questions during pregnancy. Writing down your questions and bringing them to your visits will help you to remember them. We look forward to helping your pregnancy be a happy and healthy experience for you, your family, and your expectant baby.