Obstetricians are doctors who care for people during pregnancy, birth, and recovery. Often called an ob, these doctors also offer services to help with fertility and family planning. You can benefit from the care of an obstetrician, whether you have a low-risk or high-risk pregnancy.
At UPMC, our obstetrics teams listen to you to understand your preferences for pregnancy and birth. We provide the information and support you need to keep yourself and your baby as healthy as possible. We offer renowned specialist care and advanced tests and treatments in a calming and welcoming environment.
Obstetrics is the field of medicine that focuses on pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care. After medical school, obstetricians complete four years of obstetrics residency training. They fully support the health of both the pregnant person and their baby while in the womb.
Many obstetricians have additional training in specific areas, like diabetes and high-risk pregnancies. A woman's ob manages her pregnancy and postpartum care.
In addition to obstetricians, midwives and advanced practice providers (APP) are also qualified to support you in obstetrical care.
If you are not yet pregnant, you may have an obstetrics appointment to get advice on getting pregnant. Your obstetrician can tell you how pregnancy might affect a health condition or the best time to get pregnant.
If you are pregnant, you will have obstetric appointments throughout the pregnancy, birth, and postpartum periods. Obstetricians provide care for both low-risk and high-risk pregnancies. They can perform natural and medically supported births.
These providers also work with your healthcare team care to address any preexisting diagnoses you have, or other conditions that manifest during pregnancy.
During pregnancy, common reasons for an obstetrics appointment include confirming your pregnancy and doing regular checks on your health and your baby's health and growth.
Obstetricians provide routine prenatal visits throughout pregnancy. They monitor your baby's development as well as your physical and emotional health. They also provide any tests, treatments, or vaccinations you or your baby may need.
Your ob will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout your pregnancy. They prepare you for what to expect during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Your doctor can help you write a birth plan as you prepare for labor.
Obstetricians prevent and treat a wide range of health issues that can occur in pregnancy, including:
Obstetricians also provide specialized care for pregnant people who have existing health concerns.
Conditions that may need special care during pregnancy include:
As pregnancy can worsen chronic conditions, your obstetrician will work with your other specialists to monitor your health. They will also help create a treatment plan for your chronic health problem that reduces risks for your pregnancy.
We offer the full range of ob services and treatments you may need before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Our obstetrics teams provide all the tests, exams, vaccines, and treatments you need during pregnancy. We will monitor your health and your baby's health with routine in-person and virtual visits. Most importantly, we listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have.
During your pregnancy, we offer tours of our birthing facilities as well as classes about pregnancy, birth, and how to care for your baby.
Learn more about prenatal care services.
We offer private delivery suites and family lounges that provide a calming and home-like environment.
We provide the full range of services you may need, including:
Our obstetrics team listens to what you want for your birth so we can support your goals.
Learn more about labor and delivery services.
After the birth, we provide any testing or treatments your newborn needs. We support skin-to-skin contact and can help you with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding (or both!). We'll help bathe and change your baby. We also offer cord blood banking if you wish to store your baby's umbilical tissue for future stem cell treatments.
After you go home, your obstetrician provides in-person follow-up visits. They make sure you are recovering well and answer your questions about caring for your newborn.
Learn more about postpartum services.
Our lactation counselors can help you with proper positioning, latching techniques, and more. While you're at the hospital, they can answer your questions or address any problems you're having, day or night. After you go home, they can visit you in person or provide virtual support, at your preference.
Learn more about lactation services.
Our educational classes offer nutrition and lifestyle advice to help you have a healthy pregnancy. You'll learn how to manage common pregnancy symptoms, the signs of labor, and the signs of pregnancy complications. Our classes will help you prepare for birth and offer expert advice on breastfeeding and newborn care.
At UPMC, we also offer classes for siblings and grandparents to help them transition to their new roles and adjust to changes in family dynamics.
Learn more about our educational classes.
A high-risk pregnancy means that you, your baby, or both of you have a higher risk of developing health problems. Our maternal-fetal medicine specialists are obstetricians with extra training.
Maternal-fetal medicine specialists care for people with more complex pregnancies. These patients get extra monitoring throughout pregnancy, labor, and after birth.
Learn more about high-risk pregnancy and maternal fetal medicine.
We help with diet advice and medication for preexisting or gestational diabetes to keep you and your baby healthy. We also offer exercise and lifestyle advice and teach you to monitor your blood sugars between visits.
Learn more about diabetes and pregnancy services.
We offer advanced testing to diagnose any health problems in the fetus. This includes high-resolution ultrasounds, blood tests, amniocentesis, and chorionic villus sampling. We explain the benefits and risks of all our procedures so you can decide which tests and treatments are best for you.
In some cases, we can treat a fetus's life-threatening health problem while they're still in utero (inside your uterus). Treatment could include fetal surgery or medication.
Learn more about fetal diagnosis and treatment services.
We offer genetic testing and counseling for people who are considering becoming pregnant as well as during pregnancy. This helps you understand your risk of passing on certain genetic conditions. These include conditions for which you may be a carrier, even though you have not been diagnosed personally.
If your baby shows an increased risk for a health issue, you might consider genetic testing of your fetus. Our compassionate and supportive counselors can help you decide if genetic testing is right for you. They can also help you understand what the results mean for you and your baby.
Learn more about genetic testing and counseling services.
UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, a level III unit, has one of the largest NICUs in Pennsylvania -- caring for more than 1,500 severely or critically ill babies a year.
Across the UPMC footprint, there are different levels of NICUs (levels I through IV) to meet your baby's needs. Each level is focused on care, and the baby can be transferred within UPMC to receive the next level of care if needed.
We take a family-centered approach to care. We see parents as a vital part of the care team, encourage skin-to-skin contact, and involve parents in day-to-day care.
Learn more about neonatal intensive care services.
Our Center for Reproductive Endocrinology offers a range of fertility testing and treatments. These include in vitro fertilization services, genetic testing of embryos, fertility support with donor eggs and sperm, and more.
We also provide a range of birth control options for those who wish to avoid pregnancy or optimally time their next pregnancy.
Learn more about family planning and fertility services.
We understand that pregnancy can be both a joyous and anxious time. That's why we listen to you and provide the support, information, and reassurance you need. That's why we take a family-centered approach, offering calming, private delivery rooms and family lounges.
Should you or your baby need it, we offer advanced obstetrical services that aren't available elsewhere, as well as nationally renowned NICU services. Our obstetric teams tailor care to your specific health needs. We thoroughly explain your testing and treatment options so you can choose what's best for you and your baby.
By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2024-09-05.
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