Pregnancy Services Offered

Each OB/GYN at Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas can manage both high and low-risk pregnancies, no matter what your needs are. Throughout your pregnancy, you have access to:

• An OB/GYN who oversees and manages your care with regular appointments.
• An ultrasound technician, who can monitor the growth and development of your baby.
• A board-certified anesthesiologist on the medical staff at Texas Health Dallas during labor and delivery.

Getting early and regular prenatal care improves the chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy birth.

After your baby is born, you’ll have access to the quality neonatal care and continuing support from your doctor.

Your First Prenatal Visit

Prenatal care generally begins around 8 weeks after your last menstrual period. If you are a known high-risk patient or are concerned about the first weeks of your pregnancy, we are able to see you earlier.

Your initial visit for prenatal care will be quite comprehensive. Your doctor will: 

• Ask you questions about your medical history including diseases, operations, or prior pregnancies.
• Ask about your family’s medical history.
• Conduct a complete physical exam, including a pelvic exam and Pap smear.
• Take your blood and urine for lab work.
• Check your blood pressure, height, and weight.
• Calculate your due date.
• Answer your questions.
• Order an ultrasound.

It is routine for us to order an ultrasound on your first visit. At other times, one may be ordered if there is any question about how far along you are or if you are experiencing any bleeding or cramping.

During your visit, your doctor will also discuss the following with you:

• Diet, exercise, nutrition, weight gain
• Prenatal vitamins, supplements, herbs
• Travel limitations
• Environmental hazards
• Fevers and medications
• Dental care, cats, raw meat, fish, and gardening
• Miscarriage precautions

Later Prenatal Visits

Later prenatal visits will be shorter. Your doctor will check on your health and make sure the baby is growing as expected. At these visits, you can expect that your doctor will:

• Check your blood pressure.
• Measure your weight gain.
• Measure your abdomen to check your baby’s growth (once you begin to show).
• Check the baby’s heart rate.

During these visits, your doctor may also order some routine tests, such as blood work to check for anemia, your blood type, HIV, and other factors. Plus, other tests may be ordered based on your age, personal or family medical history, your ethnic background, or the results of routine tests you have had.

Childbirth

Childbirth, or labor and delivery, is the culmination of pregnancy with the emergence of a newborn infant from the mother’s uterus. 

It is important to discuss labor and signs of labor with your doctor early in your pregnancy, before labor begins.

For most women, labor begins sometime between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. Labor that occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy is considered premature or preterm.

Stages of Labor

• There are three stages of labor. The first stage begins with the onset of labor and ends when the cervix is fully opened. This is the longest stage of labor, lasting anywhere from 12 to 19 hours. It is different for every woman.
• The second stage of labor involves the pushing and delivery of your baby. This stage can last 20 minutes to 2 hours.
• The third stage of labor involves the delivery of the placenta. It is the shortest stage, lasting 5 to 30 minutes.

Signs of Labor

The primary sign of labor is a series of contractions (tightening and relaxing of the uterus) that arrive regularly, become stronger, and last longer. You should contact your health care provider when your contractions are every 5 to 10 minutes for an hour.

Other signs of labor include:

• Lightening. This term refers to when the fetus drops or moves lower in the uterus.
• Increase in vaginal discharge. This discharge is called “show” or “bloody show” and may appear clear, pink, or slightly bloody. It occurs as the cervix begins to open (dilate).
• Pain or pressure around the front of the pelvis or the rectum.
• Low, dull backache.
• Cramps that feel like menstrual cramps, with or without diarrhea.
• A gush or trickle of fluid, which is a sign of water breaking.

These signs can happen several days before labor or just as labor begins.

Labor and Delivery

Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas operates out of Texas Health Dallas. Here you’ll find a premier facility for all of your labor and delivery needs, including an advanced neonatal intensive care unit for your newly arrived baby.

Postpartum Visit

After the birth of your baby, your doctor will talk with you about things you may experience as your body starts to recover, such as:

• Vaginal discharge called lochia. It is the tissue and blood that lined your uterus during pregnancy. The discharge may start off heavy at first and then gets lighter until it goes away after a few weeks.
• Swelling in your legs and feet. Reduce swelling by elevating your feet when possible.
• Constipation. Drink plenty of water and eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Menstrual-like cramping. This is common, especially if you are breastfeeding. Your milk will come in 3 to 6 days after your delivery.
• Screening for postpartum depression and anxiety.

You will have your postpartum visit with your doctor about 6 weeks after birth. During your visit, your doctor will discuss such things as:

• Resuming normal activities
• Eating and Fitness Plans to return to a healthy weight
• Sex and birth control