Obstetrics
The practitioners and office staff of Cherry Hill OB/GYN are delighted to be a part of this very special time in your life. The highest level of care and compassion will be provided at all stages of pregnancy whether considering becoming pregnant, during prenatal care, at delivery or during post partum recovery. We specialize in High Risk obstetrics in coordination with the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center at Virtua Voorhees Hospital and we are AIUM certified (providing in office ultrasounds). We perform our deliveries at the Obstetrics department of Virtua Health System, Voorhees.
Preconception Counseling
An evaluation before pregnancy is recommended. This would include a review of your personal and family history, a physical exam, any testing necessary including a pap smear and bloodwork as ordered. Taking a multivitamin before conceiving is encouraged as this has been shown to reduce the risk of spinal cord defects. Once you are pregnant an appointment is made to start your prenatal care and place you on a path to a healthy pregnancy.
Prenatal Care
Your first prenatal visit our providers will confirm your pregnancy. As needed, a first trimester ultrasound is performed and routine blood work is done (this can be done by our in house lab technician). Shortly after your first visit will be an OB Education visit which will include obtaining your medical history and answering any questions or concerns that you may have. Educational materials will be provided and any prescriptions needed will be given to you.
Follow up visits are scheduled in the office. There are several obstetric practitioners to see during the course of your pregnancy. We ask that you all of them during your visits to be familiar with who may be on call when you deliver. The unpredictable nature of having a baby keeps us from predicting who will be available for your delivery.
Prenatal Office Visits Schedule
- Week 1 – 28: every 4 weeks
- Week 29 – 36: every 2 weeks
- Week 37 – delivery: weekly or biweekly if past your due date
- Some medical issues may require additional visits
Routine visits include checking your weight, blood pressure, and urine. The provider will check the size of your uterus, listen to the fetal heart beat and discuss your plan of care. Listed below are the various tests (some optional) addressed at different times during your pregnancy:
- 11 – 13 weeks: Part I of Sequential Screen for Down Syndrome and Trisomy 18 (done in coordination with the Maternal Fetal Medicine Center at Virtua Voorhees Hospital)
- 16 weeks: Part II of Sequential Screen, Quad Screen, or MSAFP (Maternal Serum Alpha-fetoprotein)
- 20 weeks: Anatomy ultrasound
- 28 weeks: Gestational diabetes, CBC (complete blood count)
- 36 weeks: Group B Strep
Chorionic Villus sampling, amniocentesis, and additional ultrasounds are done as referred. During the final weeks of pregnancy you and your baby are monitored closely on a weekly basis and evaluated for any other tests needed specific to your care.
The father of the baby is welcomed at all visits and you are both encouraged to ask questions at any time. If you have a question at any other time our office provides nurses in our triage department to help you as well as a practitioner on call.
Medications During Pregnancy
During your pregnancy, we suggest that you do not take any medication other than those that are necessary. Most often, small problems may be remedied with either rest or adjustment of diet, rather than over-the-counter preparations. We ask that you consult this list before using any medications. Follow the directions on the containers for appropriate dosage. This list is safe for you and your baby. Contact our office if you have any questions regarding medications you are currently taking or have been prescribed to you by another provider.
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PROBLEM |
OVER THE COUNTER |
PRECAUTIONS |
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Nausea |
Snack on crackers throughout the day, Vitamin B6 (50-100 mg once daily), Ginger tea, Ginger candy, Peppermint, Bio-Bands, Emotrol liquid (if not diabetic) |
Persistent vomiting, weight loss or decrease in urine output call provider |
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Headaches, aches or pains |
Acetaminophen (Tylenol), regular or extra strength. No aspirin products or ibuprofen |
Call if headache lasts more than 24 hours or if pain is severe |
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Fever |
Acetaminophen (Tylenol), regular or extra strength |
Call provider if fever is >100° without relief with medication |
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Allergies / cold symptoms, nasal congestion / sinus symptoms |
Increase fluids and rest, Benadryl, Chlor-Trimeton, Ocean Nasal Spray, Neti Pot, Warm mist humidifier |
Call if symptoms continue after 2-3 days or symptoms get worse |
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Cough |
Plain Robitussin (no alcohol) |
Persistent cough |
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Sore Throat |
Sucret or Cepacol lozenges, salt water to gargle (no cold Eezz) |
Persistent sore throat (or severe pain) |
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Diarrhea |
Clear liquids 1st 24 hours (try 1 Tbsp of water every 10 minutes for 1 hour – if tolerated try crackers, dry toast, etc, but separate liquids and solids for 2 hours) then BRAT diet (bananas, rice, applesauce, toast), no dairy products, sips of Gatorade or Pedialyte, Kaopectate or Imodium as directed |
Call provider if diarrhea persists for more than 2 days and is accompanied by fever or if diarrhea is sever or shows blood |
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Constipation |
Increase liquids in diet. Increase fiber (bran, wheat bread, green leafy vegetables, fresh and dried fruit (prunes/prune juice diluted)). Then try Metamucil, Colace, Fibercon, Citracel, only if needed use Milk of Magnesia and Ducolax. Also exercise (like walking) |
Avoid severe straining. Call provider if no relief after trying rememdies |
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Hemorrhoids |
Warm sitz baths 3 times daily, Tucks / witch hazel pads, Anusol, Preparation-H |
Bleeding or severe pain |
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Mild rashes / Skin allergies |
Baking soda or Aveeno lotion baths, Calamine lotion, corn starch |
Call if no relief after 3 days |
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Heartburn / Indigestion |
Try smaller more frequent meals, stay upright for 2 hours after eating, Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, Zantac-75, Pepcid AC, Gaviscon, Decrease caffeine and chocolate |
Call provider if no relief |
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Yeast Infection |
3 day Monistat vaginal cream, baking soda baths |
Call if no relief |
See How Your Baby is Growing
Follow the growth and development of your baby. Click here.
Delivery
Please call the office when you think you are in labor or if your bag of water has broken. We will be happy to answer any questions you have at this exciting time! To better understand what happens during childbirth we recommend childbirth education classes at Virtua Hospital. These classes will help you to recognize the signs of true labor, will teach you what pain management options there are and they will help the labor coach to support you during the labor process.
Cord Blood Banking
Please review the educational material about cord blood banking by linking on the cord blood registry site available under Pregnancy Educational Topics. Cord Blood Banking allows parents to save the stem cells found in the blood of their newborn’s umbilical cord. This procedure is done without risk to the mother or newborn. When the stem cells are preserved, they are available for specific future medical treatments.
PostPartum
A follow up visit is scheduled for six weeks after a vaginal delivery or two weeks after a cesarean section. It is important to get the rest and nutrition you need after delivering to heal properly and care for your baby. Again, we are here to answer any questions you may have about your recovery, evaluate you for depression, provide a breast and pelvic exam, discuss breastfeeding, and baby care as well as contraception and when to start exercising again. Of course we always love to see the babies we deliver!
OBSTETRICS LINKS
Pregnancy Educational Topics
- Nutrition During Pregnancy
- Morning Sickness
- Exercise During Pregnancy
- The Rh Factor: How it can affect your pregnancy
- High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
- Diabetes & Pregnancy
- Group B Streptococcus & Pregnancy
- How to Tell When Labor Begins
- Preterm Labor
- Labor Induction
- Cesarean Birth
- Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery
- Postpartum Depression
- Early Pregnancy Loss
- Cord Blood Registry
- Medications During Pregnancy
- Breastfeeding Information
- Childbirth Education Classes
- See How Your Baby is Growing
- Facebook Application to Track your Babies Growth
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