Prenatal Care Services at Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN

Welcoming a new life into the world is a journey filled with anticipation, joy, and a fair share of anxieties. At Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN, we understand the complexities of this journey. Our prenatal care services are meticulously designed to guide expectant mothers through each stage of pregnancy, ensuring optimal health, comfort, and confidence from conception to delivery.

Our commitment is rooted in decades of experience, a team of highly qualified and compassionate professionals, and advanced technologies that enable us to deliver the best possible care. With our comprehensive prenatal care program, we strive to empower women with knowledge, support them in making informed decisions, and ultimately ensure the well-being of both mother and baby.

At Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN we offer prenatal care in Atlanta and Alpharetta for every stage of pregnancy so women can stay healthy from conception through delivery.

What Should I Expect During My Prenatal Care Exam?

Prenatal care at Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN is a holistic experience, designed to cater not just to the physical well-being of the mother and baby, but also to the emotional and psychological readiness of the expectant mother. From your first visit, through each milestone of your pregnancy, to the moments leading up to delivery, here’s what you can expect:

Initial Assessment: Your journey begins with a thorough assessment, including a detailed medical history review and a discussion of your health habits, lifestyle, and any concerns you may have. This foundational step helps us tailor your prenatal care to your unique needs.
Regular Check-ups: During these visits, we monitor your health and your baby’s progress. This includes measuring your blood pressure, weight, and your belly’s size. These metrics help us track your pregnancy’s progression and identify any potential issues early.
Lab Tests and Screenings: Expect to provide urine samples to check for infections and glucose levels, and undergo comprehensive blood work. These tests are vital for detecting conditions that could affect your pregnancy or your baby’s health.
Risk Assessment for High-Risk Pregnancies: If there’s a possibility of a high-risk pregnancy, we’re equipped to offer specialized care. Additional tests and closer monitoring become part of your personalized care plan.
Nutritional and Lifestyle Guidance: Our prenatal doctors provide comprehensive advice on nutrition, exercise, and any necessary lifestyle adjustments to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery.
Emotional Support: We believe in the power of emotional well-being during pregnancy. Our team is here to listen, support, and guide you through any concerns or anxieties you may experience along the way.

Comprehensive Prenatal Testing at Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN: Ensuring Your Baby's Health

Understanding the critical role of prenatal testing in the early detection and management of potential health concerns is at the core of our care philosophy. Our comprehensive prenatal testing program is designed to offer peace of mind and a deep understanding of your baby’s health and development.

First Trimester Care at Our Prenatal Clinic (Fertilization to 13 Weeks Pregnant)

The first trimester is a foundational period in your pregnancy, marking a time of significant development and change for your baby. At Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN, our prenatal clinic provides a comprehensive suite of tests and screenings as part of our dedicated prenatal care services during this critical phase. Our goal is to ensure the health and well-being of both you and your baby from the very start.

Blood Type and Rh Factor Testing:

This crucial blood test is the first step in identifying any potential blood type incompatibility between you and your baby. Such incompatibilities can lead to complications if not managed correctly. For example, if you are Rh-negative and your baby is Rh-positive, there could be a higher likelihood of your immune system reacting against your baby’s blood cells. To mitigate this risk, our prenatal doctors may recommend a course of Rh immunoglobulin. This proactive approach is a cornerstone of effective prenatal care, ensuring a safer pregnancy journey.

STI Screening

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) present a significant risk if transmitted to the fetus. Unchecked, they can lead to complications during pregnancy and affect the baby’s health. As part of our prenatal testing protocol, we conduct comprehensive screenings for common STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, HIV, and through Pap smears. Our prenatal clinic takes these potential threats seriously, and our prenatal doctors are committed to early detection and treatment to safeguard both you and your developing baby.

First-Trimester Screen

Early in pregnancy, it’s vital to assess the risk of chromosomal abnormalities that could affect your baby’s development. Our first-trimester screen involves a simple blood test that provides valuable insights into your baby’s risk for conditions such as Down syndrome and other chromosomal anomalies. This early intervention strategy is a key aspect of our prenatal care services, allowing for timely planning and decision-making.

Nuchal Translucency (NT) Scan

Also known as the nuchal fold scan, this specialized ultrasound test is a critical component of our prenatal testing suite. By measuring the fluid at the back of your baby’s neck, our prenatal doctors can assess the risk of Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. This non-invasive test is part of our commitment to comprehensive prenatal care, offering peace of mind and essential information about your baby’s health.

Second Trimester Prenatal Testing: Monitoring Your Baby’s Development (14 to 27 Weeks Pregnant)

The second trimester is a pivotal time in your pregnancy, offering unique opportunities for monitoring and understanding your baby’s development. At Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN, our prenatal clinic is dedicated to providing an in-depth look at your baby’s growth, health, and well-being through a comprehensive suite of prenatal tests. These tests, performed by our experienced prenatal doctors, are integral to ensuring a healthy pregnancy and preparing for a safe delivery.

Ultrasound

Often the most anticipated part of prenatal visits, ultrasound scans use sound waves to create detailed images of your baby inside the womb. These scans allow our prenatal doctors to meticulously assess your baby’s size, the placement of the placenta, and the baby’s sex if desired. Ultrasounds play a crucial role in prenatal care, offering a window into the womb that helps ensure your baby is developing as expected. They are performed regularly throughout your pregnancy, providing continual reassurance and valuable insights into your baby’s health and development.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

A routine yet essential component of second-trimester prenatal testing is the CBC. This blood test is pivotal for checking for anemia, a common condition during pregnancy that can lead to fatigue and other complications if untreated. By monitoring the levels of red and white blood cells and platelets, our prenatal clinic can ensure that any signs of anemia are addressed promptly, contributing to the overall health and vitality of both mother and baby.

Glucose Tolerance Test

Gestational diabetes is a condition that can develop during pregnancy, affecting both the mother’s and the baby’s health. The glucose tolerance test is a critical part of our prenatal testing regimen, designed to identify any abnormalities in how your body processes sugar during pregnancy. Early detection through this test allows for the management and mitigation of gestational diabetes, ensuring a healthier pregnancy and reducing the risk of complications during delivery.

Amniocentesis

For pregnancies identified as having a higher risk of genetic or chromosomal conditions, amniocentesis offers a definitive diagnostic tool. This procedure involves the careful extraction of a small sample of amniotic fluid to test for congenital disabilities and chromosome issues. While not performed in every pregnancy, amniocentesis is a valuable option for those who need it, providing peace of mind and essential information for managing the remainder of the pregnancy.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Test

The AFP test measures the levels of alpha-fetoprotein in the mother’s blood, a protein produced by the fetus. Abnormal levels can indicate the presence of brain or spinal cord defects, as well as an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. This test is an important part of our prenatal care services, allowing for early detection and the opportunity to plan for any necessary interventions.

Third Trimester Preparations with Your Prenatal Doctor (28 weeks Pregnant to Birth)

The third trimester is a crucial phase in your pregnancy, marking the final preparations for your baby’s arrival. Our prenatal care at Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN intensifies to ensure both you and your baby are ready for a safe and healthy delivery. Here’s what our comprehensive prenatal testing and monitoring involve during this period:

Vaginal Beta Strep Culture

This test is essential for detecting Group B streptococcus, a common bacterium that, if present, could be transmitted to your baby during delivery. A positive result leads to the administration of antibiotics during labor to safeguard your baby from infection, highlighting the importance of this test in our prenatal care services.

Monitoring for Signs of Preeclampsia

Regular checks for swelling in the ankles, hands, and face, alongside blood pressure measurements, are conducted to screen for preeclampsia. This condition signifies high blood pressure during pregnancy, which can lead to serious complications if not managed. Our prenatal clinic is vigilant in identifying early signs to ensure timely intervention.

Checking the Position of Your Baby

As delivery approaches, our prenatal doctors assess your baby’s position. A breech position, where the baby is feet first, requires strategic planning for delivery. While many babies in this position naturally turn before birth, our team is prepared to discuss and manage all possibilities to ensure a safe delivery.

Additional Prenatal Care Tests

Depending on individual health profiles and pregnancy progress, our prenatal doctors may recommend further testing. This is particularly true for pregnancies in women over 35, where there’s an increased risk of complications. These tests can include:

Multiple Marker Screening: Similar to first-trimester screenings, this blood test checks for congenital disabilities.
Biophysical Profile (BPP): A comprehensive assessment that evaluates your baby’s heart rate, movement, breathing, and amniotic fluid level.
Chorionic Villus Sampling: For detecting genetic defects, this test involves taking a small sample of placenta tissue.
Non-Stress Test: This assesses the baby’s heart rate as they move, ensuring well-being.
Contraction Stress Test: Using a fetal Doppler, this test checks how your baby’s heart rate responds to contractions, simulating conditions of labor to ensure they can safely withstand the birthing process.

Specialized Prenatal Testing for High-Risk Pregnancies

High-risk pregnancies require specialized attention and care to manage the unique challenges they present. At Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN, we understand the complexities involved when either the mother or baby faces risks that could impact the pregnancy or delivery process. High-risk conditions can include, but are not limited to:

Diabetes: Whether pre-existing or gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy.
High Blood Pressure: Pre-existing hypertension or that which develops as hypertension of pregnancy.
Advanced Maternal Age: Pregnancies in older women often require closer monitoring.
Lifestyle Factors: Including alcohol consumption, smoking, or drug use.
Obesity: Carries increased risks for both mother and baby.
History of Multiple Miscarriages: Indicating potential underlying issues that need close observation.
Genetic Concerns: Either from family history or genetic screening results.
Existing Medical Conditions: Such as autoimmune diseases or infections.

Our prenatal care for high-risk pregnancies includes:

Frequent Monitoring: Enhanced prenatal care exams to closely track mother and baby’s health.
Targeted Ultrasound Scans: For detailed assessment of the baby’s development.
Specialized Tests: Screenings for specific risks, ensuring early detection and management.
Customized Care Plans: Addressing each risk with appropriate interventions to safeguard mother and baby.

Choosing the Right Prenatal Clinic: Why Northside/Northpoint Stands Out

Finding the perfect prenatal clinic is a crucial step in ensuring the health and wellbeing of both mother and baby during pregnancy. Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN stands out in the prenatal care landscape for several compelling reasons:

Unwavering Commitment to Prenatal Medical Excellence

Our clinic is renowned for its commitment to medical excellence in prenatal care. With advanced prenatal testing protocols and practices, we ensure comprehensive care managed with the highest level of expertise by our prenatal doctors.

Deeply Compassionate Prenatal Care

At the heart of our prenatal clinic is a deeply compassionate approach to patient relationships. We understand the emotional and physical journey of pregnancy, providing empathetic support and understanding at every step.

Proven Success in Prenatal Outcomes

Our track record of successful outcomes for mothers and their babies highlights our capability to deliver exceptional prenatal care. Our prenatal doctors specialize in navigating the complexities of pregnancy, ensuring the best outcomes for mother and child.

State-of-the-Art Facilities for Prenatal Testing

Our facilities are at the forefront of medical technology, specifically tailored for prenatal testing and care. This ensures that every mother and baby receive the most accurate and comprehensive care possible, supported by the latest advancements in prenatal health.

Professional, Dedicated Team of Prenatal Professionals

Our team, consisting of highly experienced prenatal doctors and healthcare professionals, is dedicated to making your pregnancy journey as healthy and joyful as possible. We offer personalized prenatal care, tailored to meet the unique needs of each mother-to-be.

Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN Prenatal Services Guide

We know every pregnancy is unique—your obstetrician will counsel you about the various testing options. The following will provide an overview of what to expect during your prenatal care visits, including ultrasound examinations and pregnancy blood tests.

First Trimester (which is fertilization to 13 weeks pregnant)

The most common Atlanta and Alpharetta prenatal services tests for your first trimester include:

Blood Type And Rh Factor

Most of the population is Rh positive. Approximately 15% of people are Rh negative. During pregnancy, the blood type of the baby is determined by both the mother and the father. During pregnancy and delivery, there can be an exchange of blood between mom and baby. If an Rh negative mother is carrying an Rh positive baby, this exchange can result in the mother forming antibodies against the Rh positive blood of the baby which her body recognizes as foreign. For this reason, Rh negative mothers are given an injection of Rhogam (Rh immunoglobulin) to protect against the formation of Rh positive antibodies which can cross the placenta and attack the Rh positive blood of the baby creating a fetal anemia. The blood type of the baby can be determined by sampling blood from the umbilical cord at the time of delivery.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

This routine blood test checks for anemia during your pregnancy.

STI Tests

In pregnancy, screening for gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, hepatitis and HIV screening are routinely performed.

Nuchal Translucency/First Trimester Screen

This is an OPTIONAL abdominal ultrasound that measures the fold behind the baby’s neck. This is a screening method for chromosomal abnormalities including Down syndrome. This ultrasound can also serve as an early anatomy screening.

Second Trimester (14 to 27 weeks pregnant)

The most common prenatal services tests for your second trimester include:

Ultrasound

This imaging scan employs sound waves to safely create an accurate picture of your baby in the womb. Ultrasounds will allow your obstetrician to examine the size of your baby and the placental location, and identify the sex.

Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP) Test

This blood test examines your levels of a protein produced by the fetal liver and yolk sac. Abnormal levels of AFP in your blood can indicate abdominal wall or spinal cord defects.

Third Trimester (28 weeks pregnant to birth)

The most common prenatal services tests for your third trimester include:

Glucose Tolerance Test

This is a screening test for diabetes. All pregnancies are routinely screened for diabetes around 28 weeks.

Vaginal Group Beta Strep Culture

This test will check for group B streptococcus. This is a bacteria that is commonly present (in approximately 30% of women) in the vagina and rectum. If someone is found to be a carrier of group B strep, IV antibiotics are given during labor to protect the baby from acquiring an infection as he/she passes through the birth canal.

Checking For Any Swelling Of The Ankles, Hands, and Face

These can, at times, be signs of preeclampsia, a condition of high blood pressure during your pregnancy.

Checking The Position Of Your Baby

During the last few weeks of your pregnancy, the obstetrician will check the position of the baby. Most babies will be head down by the end of the pregnancy.

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

This is an ultrasound exam to evaluate the amniotic fluid, fetal movements and fetal breathing. It is a way to assess fetal well being. This is typically done to monitor the baby if certain high risk pregnancy conditions are present or if adequate fetal movements are not present.

Non-Stress Test

This will measure the fetal heart rate over a 20 minute period. This is another way to monitor fetal well being in certain high risk pregnancies.

Early detection of any health problems with our prenatal services can help your obstetrician prepare for the safest delivery.

To learn more about our obstetric services or to schedule an appointment, please call our main office at (404) 255-3633. You can also use our online Request an Appointment form. Our service area includes the area of Buckhead in Atlanta, Dunwoody, Roswell, Forsyth, Cumming, North Atlanta, Sandy Springs, and Alpharetta in Fulton County, GA.

Scheduling Your Prenatal Visit: Start Your Journey with Expert Prenatal Care

The first step towards a healthy pregnancy and delivery is comprehensive prenatal care. We invite you to begin this journey with Northside/Northpoint OB-GYN. Contact us today at (404) 255 3633 to schedule your appointment. Prioritizing prenatal care is not just a decision for your health—it’s the first of many decisions you’ll make for the well-being of your child. Let’s embark on this journey together, with expert care, comprehensive support, and heartfelt guidance every step of the way.