What will my prenatal visits be like? |
Prenatal Care at CHOICES
The CHOICES Prenatal Program offers you personalized care of the highest
medical standards for a positive pregnancy and birth experience.
The CHOICES Prenatal program includes comprehensive visits with the prenatal
care/obstetrical team (including a midwife as your primary provider, physician
assistant, OB/GYN physician, counselors, and nursing staff), complete laboratory
work-up, sonography, and any additional examinations and services you will require
during your pregnancy. Our team will provide care to you from your initial prenatal
visit through your postpartum course.
To receive the most out of prenatal care and to make sure you are healthy and your pregnancy is progressing smoothly,
CHOICES encourages you to make your first prenatal care appointment as soon as you make the decision to carry your pregnancy to term and give birth.
Remember: earlier is better!
At your first appointment, you will have an extensive discussion with our midwife in order for us to really get to know you.
You will discuss:
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Your health history, including medical problems, surgeries, prior pregnancies, social history, etc.
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Your family's health history
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Your expected due date
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Your eating and nutritional habits to make sure you are receiving all vital nutrients for a healthy pregnancy
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What to expect at each following prenatal visit
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At the first visit, we want you to ask questions and discuss any additional issues
related to your health and your pregnancy.
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You will also have a thorough physical examination at the initial visit including:
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A complete physical exam |
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A pelvic exam with a Pap test, cervical cultures, and vaginal cultures |
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Blood and urine tests |
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Checks of your blood pressure, urine, height, and weight |
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Sonogram |
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Later prenatal care appointments will be shorter. Your prenatal care team will check on your health and make sure that your pregnancy is progressing smoothly. We will discuss with you the best ways to stay healthy and other issues relevant to your current stage in the pregnancy and answer any questions you may have.
Your physical exam will include:
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Listening to the fetal heart rate; |
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Checking your blood pressure, urine, and weight; |
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Any other tests that are required based on your stage in pregnancy. |
 Your birth will be at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens or Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn where the trained and dedicated obstetrical staff will manage your delivery. About six weeks after you give birth, you will return to CHOICES for your postpartum visit.
CHOICES' dedicated practitioners are available to you 24 hours a day by telephone in case of any emergency. During our clinical hours, both medical providers and counselors are on staff and available to address your questions, problems or just to talk.
Most insurances and Medicaid accepted for prenatal care.
If you are uninsured and ineligible for NY State's Prenatal Care Assistance Program, you can still receive your prenatal care at CHOICES Women's Medical Center.
An all-inclusive fee covers pregnancy testing, your prenatal visits, all laboratory blood and urine testing, sonography, your delivery (vaginal or cesarean section) and hospital stay, and postpartum visit.
Please ask our staff.
CHOICES Women's Medical Center is a progressive and comprehensive healthcare facility. Our healthcare team assures that every patient receives the highest quality medical treatment in a positive, supportive and educational environment. CHOICES is committed to the concept of knowledgeable choice, and offers complete patient-centered medical care for any of your healthcare needs.
| At CHOICES, we emphasize our philosophy of Patient Power, which means being an informed consumer of medical treatment with the knowledge and information that enables each individual to make appropriate decisions about medical care, whether in the area of general health, surgery or birth control. |
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