OB/GYN: Obstetrician & Gynecologist

“Obstetrician & Gynecologist” is the medical doctor whose specialty encompasses obstetrics (i.e. pregnancy care & delivering babies) and gynecology (which studies the functions & diseases pertaining to the female reproductive system).

Traditionally, the OB/GYN is the first doctor, if not the family doctor or primary healthcare provider, who is alerted when a woman finds out she’s pregnant. This doctor will be the one to order lab work and scans, do physical exams, monitor mother and baby throughout the pregnancy, deliver the baby, and clear mom at 6 weeks postpartum. If you’re looking for a Certified Nurse Midwife, click here.

You will typically see your OB throughout a low-risk pregnancy as follows:

First visit: should typically occur in the first trimester as soon as that stick says positive. Congrats, Mama! You’ll go in for a full history & examination, including a pelvic examination. You will discuss payment, insurance, birth plan, and everything else related to this 9-month journey with your provider.
From 8 to 32 weeks pregnant, you will see your OB/GYN once every 4 weeks. They will take your weight, blood pressure, a urine sample, listen to the baby’s heart rate with a doppler, measure your fundal height with measuring tape, and order any necessary lab work.
From 32-36 weeks, you will see your OB/GYN every 2 weeks. The same routine as the past ~6 visits will happen at these visits, maybe with a little extra monitoring and possibly a non-stress test in office.
From 36 weeks to up to 42 weeks, you will see your OB/GYN once a week. By now, you’ll know the drill. If you have changed anything to your birth plan, let your OB know, especially if he or she plans to deliver your baby in the next few weeks.

For a high risk pregnancy, you will see Dr. Sprauve. What constitutes a high-risk pregnancy?