Pregnancy is one of the most exciting adventures in life, but it can also be scary and sometimes uncomfortable as your body goes through changes. If you want the best care for you and your baby throughout pregnancy, Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. of South Charleston, West Virginia, can help. OB/GYN Kiran Patel, MD, family medicine practitioner Leela Patel, MD, and their team offer exceptional care for pregnant women, including those facing a high-risk pregnancy. Call Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. today to find out more, or schedule a consultation using the online form.
request an appointmentHow do I prepare for pregnancy?
A healthy pregnancy begins before conception. The Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. team can provide you with all the advice you need on preparing for pregnancy, including how to increase your chances of conception and when to start taking supplements like folic acid.
They can also counsel you on how to prepare your body for motherhood by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, losing weight if necessary, quitting unhealthy habits like smoking, managing stress, and getting the right exercise, so your body is as fit as possible.
Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. provides preconception counseling and noninvasive genetic testing too, and if you’re having any problems conceiving, you can undergo a fertility evaluation.
What happens when my pregnancy begins?
After confirming you’re pregnant, your provider at Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. draws up a pregnancy plan that details all the routine exams, tests, and evaluations you need over the next nine months.
They offer in-house lab services for all your prenatal blood tests and have skilled, friendly ultrasound technicians who perform this imaging in the office. At every stage, your provider helps you manage any risk factors you have and sees you for regular appointments to monitor your health and your baby’s growth.
In addition to lab tests and scans, you can get all the prenatal care and advice you need to make your pregnancy as trouble-free and enjoyable as possible. Your provider can advise you on diet and exercise and help you manage common problems, such as morning sickness, acid reflux, swollen legs, and backache.
What tests might I need during pregnancy?
Some tests are ones all mothers have, for example, blood sugar measurements to look for signs of gestational diabetes. Others you can choose to have, like an amniocentesis to identify a child who has Down syndrome. Other tests include cystic fibrosis screening and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) screening.
Ultrasound scans are also performed routinely during pregnancy. These scans use high-frequency sound waves to create images of your unborn baby. Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc. uses state-of-the-art 3D and 4D ultrasound that shows your baby in remarkable detail.
The team has considerable experience in managing high-risk pregnancies as well as routine ones, so you can be confident in their expertise. You can also benefit from round-the-clock access to expert help and advice should you have any concerns during your pregnancy.
To find out more about pregnancy and how to receive the best preconception and prenatal care, call Patel & Patel, M.D., Inc., or book an appointment online.