When it comes to women’s health care, one of the most prominent medical professionals you will hear about is obstetricians. Obstetricians are specialists in the field of obstetrics. If you aren’t familiar with what an obstetrician does, let’s get you up to date.
What is an Obstetrician?
An obstetrician is essentially the go-to medical professional for all things related to pregnancy. As someone who specializes in all aspects of pregnancy, an obstetrician’s primary goal is ensuring that you have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. They not only deliver babies, but also provide treatment to help women become pregnant, such as fertility treatments and, in the event of premature birth, can provide guidance in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
An obstetrician is also specially trained in handling pregnancy complications, including:
- Ectopic pregnancy (when the fetus grows outside of the uterus)
- Fetal distress (when the fetus is having some sort of difficulty)
- Placenta issues
- Preeclampsia (high blood pressure and high levels of protein in the urine, which endanger both mother and child)
- Delivery via Cesarean (C-) section
An obstetrician is also qualified to help you after your baby is born and you are dealing with issues such as postpartum depression.
What Obstetrics Encompasses
The primary areas of obstetrics include:
- Prenatal care includes regular office visits for physical exams and routine lab tests to screen for various pregnancy complications. During the first trimester, these tests generally include a complete blood count, blood type, rubella antibody screen, urinalysis, HIV screen, and other screenings.
During the second trimester, abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound is used to assess the cervix, placenta, fluid, and baby, and amniocentesis is performed to diagnose any chromosomal abnormalities or fatal infections, as well as determine the baby’s sex.
Third-trimester screenings include hematocrit (checking iron levels), group B streptococcus screen, and glucose loading test (which screens for gestational diabetes).
- Labor and delivery, in which the obstetrician monitors the progress of labor, assists in delivery, provides pain relief, performs a C-section if necessary, and handles any complications or emergencies.
- Postpartum care involves attending to the needs of the mother after giving birth. This may include monitoring for bleeding, bowel and bladder function, and monitoring and caring for the newborn. New mothers will continue to see their obstetrician for at least a few months until they can transition back to seeing a gynecologist. Some women see obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs), which means they can get all their women’s health care needs (in addition to pregnancy-related needs) taken care of by the same medical doctor.
Obstetrician Near Me in Syracuse, New York
At University OB/GYN Associates, our goal is to help you have a happy and healthy pregnancy. Our obstetricians, maternal and fetal medicine specialists, midwives, and nurses are here to answer any and all questions you may have about prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum care. We have multiple providers specially trained to handle high-risk and multiple pregnancies, as well as genetic testing and lactation, and consulting.
To learn more about our services, contact University OB/GYN Associate in Syracuse, New York to schedule an appointment. Our doctors look forward to working to keep you and your baby safe while doing our best to honor your birth plan wishes.
