Women's Health Institute

Prenatal Care

The goal of prenatal care is a healthy mother and baby

Every woman, regardless of her age or health status, needs the type of comprehensive prenatal care our San Antonio OBGYNs provide. Women should see our physicians regularly for pregnancy care so that our team can keep both mother and baby healthy.

Prenatal office visits are an essential part of prenatal care

Prenatal office visits are the heart of prenatal care. These visits not only allow our San Antonio OBGYNs to monitor the mother and the baby, but also provide mothers-to-be and their partners with an opportunity to ask questions and get answers.

The first office visit occurs in early pregnancy, at around week 6 to week 10. This appointment is one of the longest and most comprehensive because our physicians and staff perform several tasks.

  • Take a thorough medical and family health history of the mother.
  • Obtain blood and urine samples to test for infectious diseases, blood cell counts, iron levels, blood type, protein levels, sugar levels and bacteria.
  • Perform a physical and pelvic exam.

The second visit is a longer visit. This is because we provide a significant amount of counseling regarding prenatal care, resources, genetic testing and postnatal care.

For the first six months, women see our physicians every four weeks for prenatal care so that our team can monitor the baby’s growth and development and the mother’s health. Our physicians and staff weigh the pregnant woman, listen to the baby’s heartbeat and measure the woman’s abdomen, evaluate blood pressure and urine testing and general health of mom and baby.

During month 7 and month 8, women usually schedule appointments twice a week, then once a week during month 9. If a woman has a high-risk pregnancy, she will need more frequent appointments.

Prenatal tests help our physicians monitor a woman’s pregnancy

During each trimester, women routinely undergo certain prenatal tests. After a discussion with our San Antonio OBGYNs, some women may opt to have genetic screening during their first trimester. These screenings may cell free fetal DNA, sequential screen or include chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and carrier screening.

During the second trimester, our physicians perform a glucose challenge screening to look for signs of gestational diabetes. They also order anatomy ultrasounds to ensure normal physical development of your baby.

Group B streptococcus and Rh antibodies are two routine prenatal care tests that women have during the third trimester that are vital for a healthy labor and delivery.

  • The group B streptococcus test occurs at week 35 to week 37. Group B streptococcus is a type of bacteria that can occur in a woman’s vagina or rectum. It is present in 25% of all healthy women. The test screens women for this bacterial infection to prevent it from being passed on to the baby during delivery.
  • The Rh antibodies tests occur between week 28 and week 29 if a woman is Rh negative. The Rh antibodies test can detect antibodies to Rh positive blood. This test helps to determine if a woman will need an injection of Rh immune globulin to prevent her body from producing antibodies during her pregnancy.
  • A pertussis booster is given in the third trimester, usually between week 32-36.

Our physicians and staff are here to help before, during and after pregnancy

Our San Antonio OBGYNs and experienced staff work to provide every woman with the healthiest pregnancy, labor and delivery possible. From preconception planning to labor and delivery, our prenatal care is designed to keep mother and baby healthy. Contact us for an appointment to receive pregnancy care.