Best Obstetrician
An obstetrician is a physician that specializes in delivering babies and caring for people during pregnancy and after they give birth. They treat medical conditions unique to a pregnancy and perform surgeries related to labor and delivery.
Obstetricians provide surgical care for women during pregnancy and childbirth. They also handle postnatal care.
Some obstetricians choose to specialize in maternal-fetal medicine (MFM). This branch of obstetrics focuses on pregnant women who have chronic health problems or abnormal issues that arise during pregnancy. Because of this, MFM doctors are considered to be high-risk experts.
What conditions do obstetricians treat?
In addition to monitoring your general wellness during pregnancy, obstetricians check for complications, diseases, or conditions associated with pregnancy. They also monitor your growing baby’s health by measuring fundal height and doing ultrasounds.
Some of the most common conditions they help manage are:
- High blood pressure or preeclampsia.
- Ectopic pregnancies or miscarriages.
- Issues with the placenta like placental abruption.
- Morning sickness or nausea.
- Gestational diabetes.
- Muscle aches and pains.
- Genetic disorders.
Some obstetricians have additional experience managing higher-risk pregnancies. A high-risk pregnancy has a greater chance of complications. If the pregnancy is too high risk or beyond your obstetrician’s comfort level, they may refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
What surgeries do obstetricians perform?
Obstetricians can perform surgeries related to pregnancy, labor and delivery. Some of the most common surgical procedures are:
- Dilation and curettage (D&C).
- Vaginal delivery.
- Cesarean delivery.
- Cervical cerclage.
- Using forceps or a vacuum to assist with the birth.
What does an obstetrician do?
An obstetrician provides routine prenatal care to people who are pregnant. They also diagnose and treat complications during pregnancy. Obstetricians deliver your baby and monitor you after childbirth.
Your obstetrician is responsible for:
- Prenatal screenings, exams and lab tests.
- Evaluating your baby’s size, growth and position in your uterus.
- Detecting congenital anomalies or potential complications in conjunction with maternal-fetal medicine providers.
- Using ultrasound, blood tests, urinalysis and other tools to monitor your pregnancy.
- Treating health conditions that can affect your pregnancy or your baby.
- Managing labor and delivery, including labor induction, emergencies and medications.
- Providing postpartum care for up to six weeks after childbirth.