UnityPoint Clinic OB/GYN - Lakeview

Lakeview Medical Park

Lakeview Medical Park is located on University Avenue in West Des Moines. This outpatient facility offers patients the convenience of accessing multiple healthcare services in a single location while receiving the high-quality health care.

Lakeview Medical Park is home to several UnityPoint Health services, all in one convenient location:

• UnityPoint Clinic Counseling and Psychiatry - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Clinic Family Medicine Lakeview
• UnityPoint Clinic Internal Medicine - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Clinic OB/GYN - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Clinic Pediatrics - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Clinic Surgery - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Clinic Urgent Care - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation - West Des Moines
• UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Cardiology - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Health - Des Moines Neurology - Lakeview
• UnityPoint Health - Pathology Laboratory - Lakeview

Prenatal Appointments

You will see your healthcare provider a lot during your pregnancy. That is why it is important you choose someone you enjoy and trust. Most pregnant women have 10 to 15 prenatal visits.

Typically, an expecting mother will visit with a health care provider every four weeks until 28 weeks, then every two weeks until 36 weeks, and then weekly until the baby is born. However, the number of times you visit your healthcare provider may vary because of your medical history or pregnancy complications.

The ultimate goal of prenatal appointments is to see how your pregnancy is proceeding and to ensure you and your baby are healthy. It's also an opportunity to provide you with additional information and to answer any of questions or concerns. Your health care provider will check your weight, urine and blood pressure; check the position of your baby, measure your abdomen, listen to your baby's heartbeat, and perform other exams or tests as needed.

After your healthcare provider is done with the physical examination, they will review their findings with you. It's important to understand and expect normal changes as your pregnancy proceeds and to know what warning signs to look for. To have a healthy baby it's important to make appropriate lifestyle choices, including eating healthy and avoiding alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Most women find their prenatal appointments are over in just 10 minutes. While sometimes disappointing, this is a sure sign you and your baby are healthy and right on track. If you're concerned about not getting enough time to accurately voice your feelings to your healthcare provider, write down a few questions or concerns before you go into your appointment to make sure your questions or concerns are addressed. By doing this, you will be more likely to remember to ask any questions or share any concerns with your healthcare provider.

What Does an Obstetrician and Gynecologist Do?

An obstetrician specializes in managing the care of women during pregnancy. Labor and birth, as well as equipped to handle emergency situations. Obstetricians care for all women during pregnancy whether their pregnancy is normal or high risk. A gynecologist specializes in the care and diagnosis of a women's reproductive system, including menstrual problems, birth control, menopause, infertility and prenatal care. Additionally, our OB/GYN services include annual exams, STD testing and treatment, pap smears and treatment of endometriosis, fibroids or abnormal bleeding. 

Midwife Services

In addition to OB/GYN locations throughout the area, Midwife Services of UnityPoint Health - Des Moines is also available to patients. Our modern-day midwives are Certified Nurse Midwives/Nurse Practitioners who offer care throughout a woman's lifespan, from adolescence through adulthood, providing services for puberty, pregnancy, childbirth, gynecological care, and menopause in Central Iowa.