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At Baptist Health System, we have a wide variety of high-level pregnancy care and maternity services that can cater to your needs wherever you are on your prenatal journey; whether it’s your first ultrasound check, you’re a few weeks away from giving birth to your baby or if you need specialized care for a high-risk pregnancy, The Nest and our team is here for you.

We also offer the following services and privileges:

• Breastfeeding support and lactation center services
• Childbirth education classes
• Concierge navigator program
• Midwifery services
• Newborn and birth portraits and videos
• Private gourmet meal for you and your support person

It is recommended to visit an OB/GYN as soon as you confirm your pregnancy. Starting your prenatal care earlier into your pregnancy may improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and also help detect and/or prevent potential complications if any. Visiting your doctor regularly throughout your pregnancy can also help you prepare for each trimester and your big day.

The term obstetrics refers to the branch of medicine that focuses on medical and surgical care during pregnancy, labor, delivery and the postpartum period. Gynecology is also the branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, management and preventive care for women’s bodies and their reproductive system. These include the ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes and the vagina.

An OB/GYN, short for obstetrician-gynecologist, is a specialized physician who offers medical services, tests, screenings and care related to female reproductive health, pregnancies and childbirths. OB/GYNs complete a bachelor’s degree, four years of medical schooling and four years of residency focusing on obstetrics and gynecology.

During your first prenatal visit, your doctor will check your vital signs, gynecologic history, medical history, family history and calculate your due date. Your doctor may also recommend a physical exam and other specific tests and screenings if the situation calls for them (blood tests, ultrasound, etc.)

Your doctor might recommend a c-section if she or he thinks it is safer for you or your baby than vaginal birth. Some c-sections are planned. But most c-sections are done when unexpected problems happen during delivery. Even so, there are risks of delivering by c-section. Limited studies show that the benefits of having a c-section may outweigh the risks when:

• The mother is carrying more than one baby (twins, triplets, etc.)
• The mother has health problems including HIV infection, herpes infection, and heart disease
• The mother has dangerously high blood pressure
• The mother has problems with the shape of her pelvis
• There are problems with the placenta
• There are problems with the umbilical cord
• There are problems with the position of the baby, such as breech
• The baby shows signs of distress, such as a slowed heart rate
• The mother has had a previous c-section

Many women, especially first-time mothers-to-be, think they are in labor when they're not. This is called false labor. "Practice" contractions called Braxton Hicks contractions are common in the last weeks of pregnancy or earlier. The tightening of your uterus might startle you. Some might even be painful or take your breath away. It's no wonder that many women mistake Braxton Hicks contractions for the real thing. So don't feel embarrassed if you go to the hospital thinking you're in labor, only to be sent home.

Cesarean delivery, also called c-section, is surgery to deliver a baby. The baby is taken out through the mother's abdomen. Most cesarean births result in healthy babies and mothers. But c-section is major surgery and carries risks. Healing also takes longer than with vaginal birth.

Most healthy pregnant women with no risk factors for problems during labor or delivery have their babies vaginally. Still, the cesarean birth rate in the United States has risen greatly in recent decades. Today, nearly 1 in 3 women have babies by c-section in this country. The rate was 1 in 5 in 1995.

It is important for pregnant women to get the facts about c-sections before they deliver. Women should find out what c-sections are, why they are performed, and the pros and cons of this surgery.

As you approach your due date, you will be looking for any little sign that labor is about to start. You might notice that your baby has "dropped" or moved lower into your pelvis. This is called "lightening." If you have a pelvic exam during your prenatal visit, your doctor might report changes in your cervix that you cannot feel, but that suggest your body is getting ready. For some women, a flurry of energy and the impulse to cook or clean, called "nesting," is a sign that labor is approaching.

Some signs suggest that labor will begin very soon. Call your doctor or midwife if you have any of the following signs of labor, even if it's weeks before your due date — you might be going into preterm labor. Your doctor or midwife can decide if it's time to go to the hospital or if you should be seen at the office first.

• You have contractions that become stronger at regular and increasingly shorter intervals.
• You have lower back pain and cramping that does not go away.
• Your water breaks (can be a large gush or a continuous trickle).
• You have a bloody (brownish or red-tinged) mucus discharge. This is probably the mucus plug that blocks the cervix. Losing your mucus plug usually means your cervix is dilating (opening up) and becoming thinner and softer (effacing). Labor could start right away or may still be days away.

It's not always easy to know. If your water breaks, it could be a gush or a slow trickle of amniotic fluid. Let your doctor know the time your water breaks and any color or odor. Also, call your doctor if you think your water broke, but are not sure. An easy test can tell your doctor if the leaking fluid is urine (many pregnant women leak urine) or amniotic fluid. Often a woman will go into labor soon after her water breaks. When this doesn't happen, her doctor may want to induce (bring about) labor. This is because once your water breaks, your risk of getting an infection goes up as labor is delayed.

Time them. Use a watch or clock to keep track of the time one contraction starts to the time the next contraction starts, as well as how long each contraction lasts. With true labor, contractions become regular, stronger, and more frequent. Braxton Hicks contractions are not in a regular pattern, and they taper off and go away. Some women find that a change in activity, such as walking or lying down, makes Braxton Hicks contractions go away. This won't happen with true labor. Even with these guidelines, it can be hard to tell if labor is real. If you ever are unsure if contractions are true labor, call your doctor.