How to Prepare for Your First Pregnancy Ultrasound
Ultrasounds provide a safe and effective way of viewing your growing baby. Read on to learn more about why they are done and what you can expect at the appointment.
Becoming a parent involves many decisions as you work to navigate the best fitting path for you and your growing family. One of the earliest choices may involve what type of medical care and birth plan you envision. For many people, a midwife plays a crucial part in this journey.
Dr. Thomas Hatchett and our midwife nurse practitioner Britteny Barron, along with our highly skilled staff at Habersham OBGYN in Demorest, Georgia, guide women of all ages through the various stages of their lives. Whether you're seeking preventive care, treatment for an issue or help navigating pregnancy and childbirth, we provide full-service, state-of-the-art care with a personalized touch.
Midwives are highly trained medical professionals who help women navigate their pregnancies, labor, and deliveries. They are also a valuable resource post-partum.
When a midwife is selected, they typically provide the main care for a woman throughout her journey to motherhood, while also working with her obstetrician for medical evaluations and screenings. Often midwives are selected by women seeking a more natural experience without a lot of medical intervention.
A midwife can join a woman's birth team at any time but it's most helpful to make this decision early on in the pregnancy, as they can play an important role at each step of the process.
Midwives can conduct prenatal exams beginning with the first appointment where the mother-to-be's overall health is evaluated, vaccinations are administered if needed, and the baby's due date is determined. Subsequent prenatal appointments measure a woman's weight and blood pressure and check the baby's heartbeat and growth. Other tests may be performed as well throughout these months.
Women who use midwives are typically well-prepared for labor. Different birth plans have been described during the prenatal appointments so by the time the baby is ready to be born, everyone on the team knows how the woman would like her experience to unfold.
Midwives can also teach women pain-reduction techniques to help make the natural childbirth process as smooth as possible. In addition, they are by a woman's side to provide emotional and practical support throughout labor and delivery.
Having a baby is a big change and a midwife can help women with this transition as well. Midwives can monitor the mother's health during her recovery and offer nutritional counseling. They can also assist with lactation issues and offer advice about caring for a newborn.
Midwives can be an excellent choice for women who are generally healthy and experiencing a low-risk pregnancy. If you're having a baby and would like to learn more about the benefits of working with a midwife during this special time, call our office at 706-229-4718 for an appointment today or book one online.
