UnityPoint Clinic OB/GYN - Waterloo

• Prenatal care and delivery at our Birth Center
• High-risk obstetrical care
• CenteringPregnancy® group prenatal care
• Infertility evaluation and treatment
• Preconception services
• Midwifery care with individualized support
• Postpartum birth control options

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.

Usually, an expecting mother will visit her healthcare provider every four weeks during the first 28 weeks, then once 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 your prenatal appointments is to see how your pregnancy is proceeding, and to make sure that you and your baby are healthy. It is also an opportunity to provide you with any information you may want or need, and to answer any of your questions or concerns. Your healthcare provider will then 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 then review their findings with you. It is important to understand what normal changes to expect as your pregnancy proceeds and what warning signs to look for. To have a healthy baby it is important to make appropriate lifestyle choices, such as healthy nutrition and avoiding alcohol, tobacco and drugs.

Most women find their prenatal appointments are over in 10 minutes. While sometimes disappointing, this is a sure sign you and your baby are healthy and right on track. If you are concerned you are 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 you get all of your questions or concerns addressed. By doing this you will be more likely to remember to ask any questions or share any concerns with your healthcare provider.

• Contraception
• Abnormal pap smear evaluation and treatment
• Allen Center for Female Pelvic Medicine & Reconstructive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery for less pain and faster recovery
• Gynecological problem diagnosis and treatment, including surgery
• Menopausal evaluation and treatment
• Premenstrual syndrome evaluation and treatment
• Tubal ligation
• Urinary tract and vaginal infection evaluation and treatment