Obstetrics in Columbus, OH

There is some variability in the frequency of your prenatal visits with us. This depends, in part, on your age and on your risk of potential complications. This is the schedule of prenatal care for a woman who is healthy and between the ages of 18 and 35:

• Every 4 to 6 weeks for the first 32 weeks
• Every 2 to 3 weeks for the 32nd to 37th weeks
• Every week from the 37th week through delivery

High-risk pregnancies will likely dictate more frequent appointments.

What common issues and symptoms occur in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters?

The first trimester (0 to 13 weeks)

This period is the most crucial for your baby’s development. During the first trimester, your baby’s body structure and organ systems develop. Most miscarriages and birth defects occur during the first trimester.

For you, your body undergoes major changes as well. These changes lead to a variety of symptoms: nausea, fatigue, breast tenderness, and frequent urination. These are common, but symptoms vary with different women. For instance, while one newly pregnant woman may feel tired and emotional, another may feel an increased energy level.

The second trimester (14 to 26 weeks)

Many people deem this middle section of your pregnancy the “golden period.” This is because many of the unpleasant aspects of the first trimester now disappear. You should have less nausea, better sleep patterns, and increased energy levels.

Symptoms during the second trimester change to reflect the growing baby. You may have back pain, abdominal pain, leg cramps, constipation, and heartburn.

The third trimester (27 to 40 weeks)

You’re now in the home stretch. Particularly at the end of the third trimester, you’ll feel ready to have the baby and be finished being pregnant. There will be some anxiousness about what’s upcoming. Physical symptoms in the third trimester include shortness of breath, hemorrhoids, urinary incontinence, varicose veins, and sleeping problems.

Many of the symptoms in the third trimester arise from the increase in the size of your uterus, which expands from approximately 2 ounces before pregnancy to 2.5 pounds at the time of delivery.

We will perform many tests. Most of these are routine. Genetic testing can be a part of these tests, such as amniocentesis. Amniocentesis tests your amniotic fluid, the fluid surrounding and protecting your fetus inside your uterus. Amniocentesis can detect chromosomal defects, such as Down syndrome. We may suggest amniocentesis if you are over 35 years old, you have a family history of certain birth defects, you’ve had a previous child with a major birth defect, or other screening tests point to the need for more detailed testing.

These are the basic tests we will perform. Of course, every pregnancy is unique, so these tests can vary.

First trimester

• Urine tests
• Rh factor tests
• Initial blood work-up
• Pap smear

Second trimester

• Quad screen
• Level 2 ultrasound
• Glucose screening

Third trimester

• Non-stress test
• Biophysical profile
• Group B strep

With pregnancy, you’ll have lots of physical symptoms you may never again have unless you become pregnant again. Most of these symptoms are nothing to worry about, but there are some specific symptoms that require immediate medical attention. These cannot wait until your next prenatal visit with us.

Call us at Columbus Women’s Care immediately with any of these symptoms:

• Any bleeding during pregnancy is not normal — Heavy bleeding with severe stomach pain in the first trimester could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. Heavy bleeding with cramping in the first three or four months could be a sign of miscarriage. Bleeding with abdominal pain in the final three months of pregnancy could be a sign of a placental abruption.
• Stomach cramps — Could be a sign of ectopic pregnancy
• Dizziness — Could be a sign of ectopic pregnancy or pre-eclampsia
• Severe vomiting or sickness — Could be a severe symptom of pregnancy or a sign of an infection
• Lower back pain — Could be a sign of pre-eclampsia
• Rapid increase in blood pressure — Signaled by possible nose bleeds, headaches, or dizziness, these could be a sign of pre-eclampsia
• Blurry vision and headaches — Could be a sign of pre-eclampsia
• Sudden and significant swelling of the hands, face, and feet — Could be a sign of pre-eclampsia
• Fever — Could be a sign of an infection
• Decrease in your baby’s normal movements
• Regular, increasingly intense contractions before 37 weeks of pregnancy — May be a sign of premature labor
• If your water breaks before labor begins — You will feel a gush or continual trickle of fluid that has a slightly sweet smell
• Blackouts or fits

Because of the available care and facilities, should they be needed, our OB/GYNs and nurse-midwives perform deliveries at these hospitals:

• Mount Carmel East
• Grant Medical Center
• Mount Carmel St. Ann’s Hospital