FAQs

Your health and the health of your pregnancy are important to us. Once you find out you are pregnant, please contact our office at (315) 492-5875. We typically like to schedule patients for their first prenatal visit between 8 and 12 weeks.

If you have had a prior pregnancy with complications or are having symptoms indicating there may be a problem, please let our office know, as we may ask you to come in for a visit sooner. If you are beyond this timeframe in your pregnancy, please reach out to us. It is our goal to ensure a safe and healthy pregnancy for you and your baby, regardless of when your prenatal care begins.

Many teens are experiencing several changes in their lives and bodies. Initial care for young women is often informative, conversational, and rarely requires a pelvic examination unless a concern is present. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends persons with a cervix receive their first Pap smear, regardless of sexual activity, starting at age 21.

The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends persons with a cervix receive their first Pap smear, regardless of sexual activity, starting at age 21.

The Pap smear is an exam during which your provider looks at your cervix and swabs it. Much like a cheek swab, our providers are collecting cells from the cervix that can then be analyzed for abnormalities such as cellular changes and the presence of the human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that our bodies often defend against on their own. However, when the body does not fight the virus off, more serious changes can develop. The Gardisil-9 vaccination along with Pap smears are the best ways to detect and intervene early, significantly decreasing your chances of developing cervical cancer.

We attend all our deliveries at Upstate Hospital Community Campus. At Upstate Community OBGYN & Midwifery, we have a mixture of certified nurse midwives and physicians within our practice. Some of our providers see patients in the office, some in the hospital, and some do both. You will likely see the same provider for all your prenatal visits.

In the hospital setting, we provide 24/7 in-house midwifery and OBGYN coverage. Most of the vaginal deliveries within our practice are attended by our hospitalist midwives. We are the only hospital in Syracuse that provides midwifery-driven labor and delivery experiences.

Your First Visit (6 – 12 Weeks)

During your first visit, we will schedule a first trimester ultrasound to confirm the age of your pregnancy.  At this time, we will also obtain personal medical and family medical histories, perform a complete physical exam, answer any questions you may have, and provide you with general pregnancy-related information.

We provide all expectant mothers with a welcome packet/folder, as well as advise them of our on-call number and service. We also provide optional genetic tests such as carrier screening and MaterniT21. Carrier screening will assess if you carry genes for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and cystic fibrosis (CF). If you carry either of these genes, we can offer testing to your partner, as well as genetic counseling. MaterniT21 is a genetic test that can let us know if the baby is at high risk for Down’s syndrome, Edwards syndrome, Patau syndrome, and/or trisomy X.

Routine laboratory testing, including a Pap smear (if needed), cultures, toxicology, and urinalysis with urine culture, will be performed. We will check your weight, blood pressure, and do a physical exam. Your initial prenatal lab testing may include:

• Blood count to check for anemia and infection
• Blood type and RH factor
• Abnormal antibodies
• Serology (syphilis)
• Hepatitis B & C
• Sickle Cell/Thalassemia blood disorders
• HIV
• Varicella and Rubella immunity
• Complete blood cell count
• Lead level
• Hemoglobin electrophoresis testing

If any of these test results are abnormal, you will be notified. Otherwise, they will be reviewed with you at your next appointment with your provider. Your next visit will be scheduled approximately 4 weeks after the first one.

8 – 12 Weeks

At each appointment, we will check your weight, blood pressure, and urine for protein and glucose. We will review your laboratory tests, listen for your baby’s heartbeat, and answer any questions you may have. Your partner is welcome to come with you.

12 – 16 Weeks

This will be another routine prenatal visit to check your weight, blood pressure, urine for protein and glucose, and fetal heart rate.

16 – 20 Weeks

During this routine prenatal visit, we will once again check your weight, blood pressure, urine for protein and glucose, fetal growth, fundal height, and fetal heart rate. We will check the growth of your uterus and give you a lab slip for your AFP test if you desire. This optional blood test screens for neural tube defects like spina bifida.

An ultrasound to check your baby’s anatomy and growth will be scheduled between 19 and 22 weeks. You may also consider whether you would like to learn the sex of the baby at this time.

20 – 24 Weeks

This appointment will consist of a routine prenatal visit to check your weight, blood pressure, urine for protein and glucose, fetal growth, fundal height, and fetal heart rate.

24 – 28 Weeks

This will also be a routine prenatal visit. If you are Rh negative, you will be tested for the development of antibodies and given an injection of RhoGAM at your next visit. We also discuss the TDAP vaccination, which can protect your baby from pertussis or whooping cough by allowing your body to make antibodies that are passed to the baby through the placenta. After this appointment, you may start coming every 2 weeks.

28 – 34 Weeks (Appointments Occurring Every 2 Weeks)

During this time, you will be given your glucose challenge test. This test is a screening for gestational diabetes. It involves drinking a sugary solution and having blood drawn one hour later to measure blood glucose levels.

In addition to the glucose challenge test, the rest of these biweekly visits will consist of a routine prenatal visit to check your weight, blood pressure, urine for protein and glucose, fetal growth, fundal height, and fetal heart rate.

34 – 36 Weeks

In addition to your routine prenatal exam, an ultrasound is typically performed at this time to assess the baby's growth. During this visit, we will also do cultures, including a vaginal/rectal culture to check for a bacteria called Group B Strep. While it is not harmful to adults, those testing positive for the bacteria will be provided antibiotics to protect the baby. You will now start weekly visits.

36 – 37 Weeks

In addition to your routine prenatal visit, we will also review signs of labor. At this time, you will be given instructions on when and how to contact us when your labor begins.

38 Weeks Until Delivery

At each weekly visit until your delivery, a routine prenatal exam will be performed, and signs of labor will be discussed. If your pregnancy goes past 40 weeks, we will begin seeing you twice a week and may order additional ultrasounds to check the fluid around your baby. You may also receive a stress test, which assesses contractions and the pattern/well-being of your baby's heartbeat.

We typically offer induction of labor around 41 weeks if your labor has not started on its own.

The short answer is NO! We do not require a patient to have had children prior to the placement of an intrauterine device (IUD) or to have a consult for sterilization. Our in-office providers will counsel those seeking sterilization on the risks, benefits, and alternatives, ensuring a well-informed decision for our patients.

The decisions of one's reproductive future are their own, and we fully support our patients to make choices that are best for them. Those who wish to proceed can be scheduled without delay.

Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we recommend four main vaccinations.

Flu

A pregnant individual should receive the annual flu vaccine. This can be received at any point in the pregnancy. When pregnant, the immune system is compromised, allowing us to contract illnesses easier than before. These illnesses are also more likely to become severe.

COVID-19

We recommend COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters to maintain immunity, as the virus changes from season to season. These are for the same reasons as the flu vaccine and can also be received at any point in pregnancy.

TDAP

We recommend the TDAP vaccination around 28 – 36 weeks of pregnancy, so that antibodies against specifically pertussis or whooping cough can be made and passed to the baby through the placenta. This will allow the baby to have some immunity to this condition once they are born.

RSV/Abresvo

During September to January, there is an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the leading cause of hospitalization in young children. A vaccine was developed that, when administered around 32 – 36 weeks of pregnancy, allows antibodies to be made. These antibodies are passed through the placenta, giving the baby some immunity to RSV once they are born.

We ask all pregnant people to be aware of the following signs:

• Severe headache unrelieved by acetaminophen.
• Severe right upper quadrant or abdominal pain.
• Visual changes like spots or floaters in your vision.
• Rapid weight gain and swelling of the hands and face.
• If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant and having contractions 10 minutes apart (about 6 in an hour) for an hour or more.
• If you are more than 36 weeks pregnant and having uterine contractions 3 – 5 minutes apart for 2 hours. This could possibly indicate labor.
• Vaginal bleeding in any amount.
• If you are more than 28 weeks pregnant and note a decrease in the baby's movements (less than 10 movements in 1-2 hours).
• Leakage of any amniotic fluid, especially if it is green, bloody, or brown.

If you experience any of the above signs, contact our office at (315) 492-5875 immediately.

The following is a list of medications that are generally considered safe to take during pregnancy, based on information from the Cleveland Clinic. Please note that, in general, it is best to avoid any medication during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Pain Medication

• Extra Strength or Regular strength Tylenol (Acetaminophen)
• DO NOT TAKE Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (Alleve)

Antibiotics

• Amoxicillin
• Penicillin
• Keflex
• Omnicef
• Zithromax
• ZPack
• Augmentin
• Call during office hours with specific questions.

Cough & Cold Medications

• Robitussin (dextromethorphan)
• Mucinex (guaifenesin)
• Chloraseptic Spray
• Cough drops/throat lozenges

Decongestants

• Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) – 2-3 days max
• Afrin (oxymetazoline) – 2-3 days max
• Saline nasal spray for dryness

Antihistamines & Allergy Medicine

• Claritin (loratadine)
• Zyrtec (cetirizine)
• Benadryl (diphenhydramine)

Heartburn & Gas

• Tums/Rolaids
• Pepcid (famotidine)
• Gas-X (Simethicone)
• DO NOT TAKE Pepto Bismol

Hemorrhoids

• Preparation H
• Tucks Pads (keep in refrigerator)

Diarrhea

• Imodium (one dose only, call office if persists)
• DO NOT TAKE Kaopectate

Constipation

• Colace or Senokot
• Milk of Magnesia
• Miralax

Insomnia

• Benadryl
• Unisom for occasional use
• Melatonin 3mg

Morning Sickness

• Vit B-6
• Unisom (1/2 tablet)

Yeast Infection

• Monistat (miconazole) 7-day

Immunization

• Flu
• PPD
• Tdap

Always consult with a healthcare provider before taking any medication during pregnancy to ensure it is safe for your specific situation.

For those with average risk, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) recommends receiving your first mammogram around 40 – 45 years of age.

For those with increased risk factors, we may recommend screening mammography earlier or in addition to breast ultrasound and/or MRI. We can also offer our higher risk patients a consultation with our breast care center and cancer genetics to speak with specialists about their options.