Obstetrics is a medical specialty that focuses on the female reproductive organs during pregnancy and childbirth. You will have several visits with your obstetrician throughout your pregnancy. He or she will help you manage symptoms and monitor your baby's development.
Obstetrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the female reproductive organs during pregnancy and childbirth. After you have become pregnant,
you will probably visit your obstetrician many times throughout the following nine months. This specialist will provide medical care and monitor the health of you and your unborn child. Pregnancies are divided into three trimesters, and the first trimester is from 1 through 12 weeks.
Your baby's organs and systems develop during the first trimester, and you may experience a variety of normal symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms during this time include morning sickness, mood swings, and breast swelling. Doctor visits will typically be every 4 to 6 weeks and mostly involve documentation of your physical condition. At your first visit, your doctor will document your medical history and conduct a physical and pelvic exam. He or she will also calculate your due date based on your last menstrual cycle.
Establishing your due date is an important part of accurately monitoring your baby's growth. Your first visit will likely include lab tests to check for diseases and screening tests to check for fetal abnormalities. Other doctor visits during the first trimester will include weight and blood pressure measurements, as well as discussion of any symptoms you are experiencing.
During the second trimester, obstetrics visits become more frequent and you will experience dramatic changes to your body. Some of the early symptoms, like morning sickness, will usually become less frequent or completely disappear. The second trimester is from week 13 to week 26 of your pregnancy. At this stage, you will probably be able to feel the baby's movement for the first time. Your belly will grow, sometimes very quickly, as your uterus expands. Typically, you can expect to gain 3 or 4 pounds each month until the birth. Along with routine lab tests, obstetrics during your second trimester will include heavy monitoring of your baby's growth. Your doctor will measure your abdomen regularly to track the baby's growth, and you may be able to listen to the baby's heartbeat through the use of a Doppler instrument.
Your doctor visits during the third trimester will continue to become more frequent. In fact, you may even have weekly appointments during the last month of your pregnancy. The third trimester, from week 27 to week 42, is typically the most challenging and uncomfortable part of the pregnancy. Your breasts will continue to grow, and you will continue to gain weight. You may experience Braxton Hicks contractions, or false labor, which are weak contractions that come and go at irregular intervals. You will also have backaches and swelling in your ankles, hands, and face. Your doctor will continue to monitor your weight and blood pressure, and you may need additional screening tests for some conditions.
You may be tested for gestational diabetes, anemia, and group B strep. Your doctor will also continue to track your baby's size and heart rate. He or she may conduct vaginal exams to determine the baby's position in your uterus. You may have an obstetric ultrasound during the second or third trimester, which allows you to view your baby on a monitor.
Throughout your pregnancy, you will likely have many questions and concerns. Your doctor will help you address those concerns and provide the best obstetric care possible. You and your baby will be closely monitored to ensure a normal and healthy childbirth.
