What to Expect

Genetic Screening (Optional)
If you have certain risk factors, including advanced maternal age or a positive family history, you may have genetic testing that will screen for the most common chromosomal abnormalities seen in pregnancies. This testing can also tell us what the sex of your baby is and can be done after 10 completed weeks of pregnancy.

AFP – Screening for probabilities of some genetic disorders including neural tube defects. This test can be done after 15 weeks.

We also offer an optional gender scan around 16 weeks to determine the sex of your baby. This ultrasound is not typically covered by insurance and therefore a cash payment will be due the time of the appointment.

Ultrasound
Ultrasound uses high frequency sound waves to produce a picture of your baby. This imaging is performed right here in our offices by one of our highly skilled sonographers. An anatomy ultrasound is routinely done around 20 weeks gestation to check the baby’s heart, brain, spine, kidneys, etc. At this visit, the sex can usually be seen if not already known.

Additional ultrasounds are performed based on the medical need, such as elevated blood pressure, diabetes or a fundal height that does not correlate with gestational weeks.

One-hour Glucose test
All patients will get a blood sugar test during their sixth month of pregnancy to screen for gestational diabetes. We recommend fasting for a few hours before this test. You will be provided with the glucose solution when you arrive for your appointment which you will drink in 5 minutes. At the end of your appointment, or when an hour has passed, your labs will be drawn to test your glucose level.

Complete Blood Count
We will also screen your blood to evaluate for possible anemia at the time of your glucose screening. If your levels are below a certain threshold, which is common during pregnancy, you may be started on iron supplements.

Rh Immunoglobulin injection (if Rh negative)
If your blood type is Rh negative, then you may be at risk for a blood type incompatibility. This is a pregnancy complication in which your immune system attacks the baby’s blood cells if you have a negative blood type and your baby has a positive blood type. Fortunately, it can be prevented with a shot called Rhogam which is given at 28 weeks or anytime vaginal bleeding occurs. If you are Rh negative, contact our office immediately.

TDaP Vaccine
TDaP is a vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough) in people who are 11-64 years of age. The TDaP vaccine is recommended for all pregnant women in their 3rd trimester regardless of previous vaccinations. This is to protect the baby from transmission of whooping cough in its first few months of life. While not usually a serious illness in adults, whooping cough can be fatal to newborn babies. Other family members and caregivers should be current in their vaccine as well to help protect the baby (it is due every 10 years in non-pregnant adults).

Group B Strep Vaginal Culture
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a type of bacteria that can be found in a pregnant woman’s vagina or rectum. This bacteria is normally found in about 25 % of all healthy, adult women. Because a mother can pass GBS to her baby during delivery and antibiotics can decrease the risk of infection significantly, any mother who tests positive will require IV antibiotics during labor. GBS is responsible for illness in about 1 in every 2,000 babies in the United States.