Being pregnant can be a wonderful and exciting but sometimes scary phase of life, and Choices is here to help you with your medical care, provide factual information and offer a level of concern and involvement that goes way beyond the doctor-patient relationship. Your Prenatal Team includes a provider; board certified obstetrician; licensed nurses; licensed counselors; and a clinic support staff.
Your team will be with you through each phase of your pregnancy and after your delivery. Here is what our program consists of:
Have questions? Read our Frequently Asked Questions or chat with one of our representatives.
Choices Prenatal Program monitors your health and your baby’s growth to make sure everything is developing properly. It is a partnership between you and a Choices health care provider. Your first prenatal check up is the foundation on which that partnership is built. Your Choices health care provider will answer any questions you may have throughout your entire pregnancy. Through a comprehensive questionnaire, you will be asked to provide information about:
Throughout the prenatal program you will have check ups and be given tests by a Choices health care specialist to make sure you are healthy and your baby is developing properly. You will have physical and pelvic (internal) exams, blood and urine tests to make sure you are not anemic or have any type of infection, a PAP test to check for cervical cancer and screening to make sure you have not been exposed to any sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Your weight and blood pressure will be checked regularly, and at various points of your pregnancy an ultrasound will be administered to create an image to check on your baby’s growth and development.
You may be prescribed prenatal vitamins or other medications if needed to keep you feeling fine. Remember, everything you share and discuss with your Choices Prenatal Provider is confidential and safe. So don’t be afraid to be honest or to share any concerns you may have.
A sonogram is an image or picture taken during an ultrasound scan that uses high frequency sound waves to create the images or pictures of your baby.
As part of its Prenatal Program, Choices has convenient, on site sonography suites and certified technicians available to regularly monitor your baby’s development.
GYN-Horizon testing is for women and their partners who want to know what genetic conditions they may pass along to their babies. Patients who are thinking of becoming pregnant and who want to be tested will meet with a Choice’s social worker for an informational meeting. Women with questions about finances or insurance coverage will be referred to a financial representative who will answer any questions they may have. Patients will give a blood sample and be asked to return to the clinic to receive results in 14-16 days. Patients who receive positive test results will be referred to a specialist who will guide them through their best options for moving forward.
Click here for more information on Horizon screening.
As early as 9 weeks into pregnancy, a simple blood draw can tell you the sex of your baby. The test will also determine if your baby is at higher risk of having Down syndrome and other common genetic conditions. Non-invasive and highly accurate, Panorama identifies more than 99% of pregnancies affected with Down syndrome and has the lowest reported false positive rate of any prenatal screening test for the commonly screened chromosomal abnormalities: trisomy 21, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13.
This test can be taken by women of any age and ethnicity who are at least 9 weeks pregnant. Panorama is an in-network provider with most health plans, including Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. A comprehensive list of insurances can be found here. The cost of the test varies according to the prenatal screening panel selected and your specific insurance coverage. Based on previously approved claims, most patients pay between $100 and $200 out-of-pocket after their deductible.
For more information on Panorama Genetic Testing by Natera, visit their website.
Dealing with a diagnosis of fetal abnormality or fetal demise is of one of the most challenging situations a woman will have to face. Because most of these fetal conditions are diagnosed in the second trimester, decisions must be made within specific time frames and a host of medical information has to be taken into consideration.
Because these decisions are so very personal and touch upon the core beliefs of each woman and her partner, the most important part of this process is Trust.
Trust in the facility, the staff and the process that Choices has evolved over almost ½ of a century of the highest standards of women’s health care.
Our clinicians, social workers and physicians are there to support, educate and guide each woman thru their decision because we trust that within this circle of care and attention, each woman will make the best choice for herself and her family.
At Choices, patients who have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth are offered Anora testing to gain a better understanding of what genetic conditions they may or may not carry. Patients will complete a blood test and should be asked to return to Choices to receive their results within five days. If the test results show a patient is positive for a genetic condition that resulted in the miscarriage or stillbirth the medical provider will refer the patient to a genetic specialist who will help develop a plan for moving forward.
Miscarriage Testing (Anora by Natera) is available at Choices to help determine why a miscarriage occurred. Testing is performed on the tissue from the pregnancy loss. The results obtained from testing can reduce a patient’s emotional burden and information from the results can improve the chances of a future successful pregnancy. If the cause of the loss is determined to be due to a chromosome abnormality in the fetus, parents can usually be reassured that the chance of recurrence is low and avoid a costly medical work-up.
Miscarriage Testing can be helpful if you:
Why choose Anora?
This is an exciting time but it also can be a bit scary, especially if you are a first time parent and have never cared for a newborn. Babies don’t come with a “how-to” manual. Choices Prenatal Program helps you prepare for this incredible experience by giving you access to parenting, breastfeeding and nutritional workshops and counseling. These classes cover the basics about your newborn, and Choices counselors and licensed clinical social workers will answer your questions, support you and get you the help you need.
Choices social workers and health care providers will work with you to create a complete plan for the delivery of your baby, from the selection of your delivery hospital and doctor to pain management. We will address your concerns and give you the answers to questions that really matter to you. Choices Prenatal has developed relationships and delivery protocols with doctors and top hospitals such as North Shore Long Island Jewish and Jamaica Hospital.
Six weeks after the birth of your baby, we will schedule your post-partum visit to ensure that you are having a healthy recovery from your pregnancy. At this point you will have the option to transition into our gold standard women’s health care program to build on the relationship and trusting partnership that has developed throughout your pregnancy. You will be able to access expert and professional gynecological care that includes family planning and birth control methods.
Choices Women’s Medical Center designed its Prenatal Program to treat the whole woman and apply it to all aspects of your pregnancy, including how to maintain a well-balanced yet varied diet of meat, dairy products, fruit, vegetables and grain, and how to safely wash, prepare and store food to avoid food-born diseases such as Salmonella. Counselors offer information on foods to avoid, such as raw eggs, unpasteurized milk products, caffeine and artificial sweeteners, and what to consume on a limited basis such as fish or other seafood products. They help monitor your rate and amount of weight gain and address how to exercise during pregnancy to minimize risk to both mother and baby.
Alcohol, cigarette and drug use is addressed by Choices health care professionals and counselor/social workers who are experts in providing information on the risks associated with these substances, treatment and care on how to deal with the effects, if necessary.
Nutritional and Lifestyle counseling is extremely important throughout your pregnancy, after delivery and beyond. Your decisions must be based on a clear and concise understanding of the facts. You must address issues that might impact your pregnancy head-on and not put the life or health of you or your baby in jeopardy. Learning about these things will give you the ability to take control of your life and give your baby the best start possible.
Eating for two is a lot harder than it sounds. Friends and family often have conflicting ideas about what you should and shouldn’t eat during pregnancy. Seeing a Registered Dietitian will give you the facts and help you to get the nutrients to keep you strong with the baby on board growing well.
Breastfeeding Nutrition
Mother’s milk is the perfect food, full of all the vitamins and minerals your baby needs along with bonus antibodies for immune support, it’s no wonder making milk is such hard work! Many new moms are confused about what to eat and how they can determine whether their babies are getting enough milk. Make an appointment with our Registered Dietitian for education to get the support you deserve.
If you have or develop certain medical conditions and are pregnant, your condition may be classified as a moderate-risk pregnancy, and you and your baby might need special monitoring or care throughout your pregnancy. The highly trained and experienced Choices Prenatal Team is trained to coordinate and supervise your care with the doctors at your delivery hospital.
Specific factors that might contribute to a moderate-risk pregnancy include:
So go online to make an appointment or call 718-786-5000 to speak to a Patient Representative and make an appointment. Choices can supply you with the support, expertise and supervision needed to manage a moderate-risk pregnancy.
If you are a sexually active teenage girl and not using a reliable form of birth control every time you have sex, you are in danger of getting pregnant. If you think you are pregnant, you should act quickly to get tested and get the help and guidance you need to make sure that you and your baby are not at risk. The longer you wait the greater the risk.
It’s only natural to feel emotional and to be afraid or apprehensive about telling your parents, partner, family members, teachers or friends.
Also, teens have a higher risk of pregnancy-related health issues, such as high blood pressure, premature births and even babies that weigh less than they should when they are born. You don’t need to go it alone, and the best next step is to reach out to an experienced health care professional at Choices Women’s Medical Center and its Prenatal Program and Counseling Services. They are experienced and well trained in dealing with the medical components of teen pregnancy, as well as guiding and supporting you with information that will lessen your fears and get you on the right track. All of the information you share will be kept completely confidential, in accordance with New York State law.
A Choices counselor will help you build a support team and enroll you in the Choices Prenatal Program to make sure you and your baby are in the best of health. You must eat right, get the right amount of sleep, take vitamins that guard against birth defects, avoid alcohol, smoking, and drugs and to be sure to use a condom if you are having sex to avoid contracting a sexually transmitted infection. Choices can even help you access government programs or insurance benefits to help pay for the services you require. If you are uninsured, 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, and postpartum visits.
So go online to make an appointment or call 718-786-5000 to speak to a Patient Representative and make an appointment. Choices is all about knowledgeable choice and offers complete patient-centered medical care for all of your healthcare needs.
Sometimes getting pregnant can have serious consequences; the mother’s age, lifestyle issues, domestic violence, substance abuse, health problems, lack of resources or no support may make it impossible to keep a baby. One of the most important and valuable aspects of the Choices Prenatal Program is its ability to inform and educate pregnant women on all the options available to her. Adoption isn’t easy, and the decision to put a baby up for adoption is not a simple one. Choices counselors will help you understand the lifelong consequences of this decision and assist you in taking the next steps.
If a woman is interested in adoption, Choices counselors will coordinate a referral to one of our trusted adoption agencies that will provide information on the adoption process and post-adoption services available for open or closed adoptions.
Abortion is another alternative that is offered to pregnant women who want or need to end an unwanted pregnancy. Choices Women’s Medical Center has been providing abortion services with respect, honesty and a high level of professional care for the past 50 years. Choices offers medical (the “abortion pill,” available up to 10 weeks of pregnancy) and surgical abortions (up to 24 weeks of pregnancy). No matter your personal circumstance, your income or your age, Choices is here to help with an experienced, dedicated medical and counseling team, a state-of-the-art facility and the highest quality healthcare practices to keep you safe. Choices accepts most major health insurances, can fast track you to Medicaid, and work with you to see if you are eligible for other government assistance programs.
So go online to make an appointment or call 718-786-5000 to speak to a Patient Representative and make an appointment.
If you are in your childbearing years and your monthly period is a week or more late, you might be pregnant. However, a missed period can be misleading if you have an irregular menstrual cycle. Other common early signs can include:
Other, less-common signs include moodiness, bloating, light spotting, cramps, constipation, food dislikes, or nasal congestion. These signs, however, can indicate other things besides pregnancy. And you can be pregnant without experiencing them. It’s important to get a pregnancy test as soon as you suspect you might be pregnant.
A Pregnancy test works by checking your urine (pee) for a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). If you’re pregnant, your body makes the HCG hormone. If your pregnancy test results are positive, it means you’re pregnant. At Choices, you can get a free urine pregnancy test by appointment or walk-in. Free pregnancy tests are completely confidential for patients of all ages. Sometimes a person begins to suspect she is pregnant when she missed a period, notices her body beginning to change in different ways, or develops other physical symptoms. After you receive your pregnancy test results at Choices, you can meet with a counselor for pregnancy options counseling or birth control options counseling if your pregnancy test results are negative.
Being unable to get pregnant when you want to can be extremely frustrating and emotionally draining. Choices offers women a variety of comprehensive gynecological care and fertility treatments. If you’ve been trying to get pregnant and haven’t been successful, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment at Choices for a fertility assessment.
Our Fertility Management Program offers Fertility assessment, management and treatment of infertility including miscarriage testing (add link to that section). If needed, Choices can refer you to a trusted Fertility Specialist for further treatment including In-Vitro Fertilization, also known as IVF.
Our team of board-certified medical professionals and support staff offer safe, trusted, comprehensive care and services at the highest level. Our state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of Jamaica Queens, NY.
Schedule an appointment with Choices today.
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Choices Women’s Medical Center is a woman-owned and operated medical facility serving women in New York City and surrounding areas for over 50 years.
