Gibson Area Hospital & Health Services | Gibson gets it! | Fall/Winter 2018

Gibson gets it! 7 Donald Reese, MD Doug Lanoue, MD Katherine Austman, MD Baby YOU’VE CHECKED and double-checked—and all the home pregnancy tests agree: You’re pregnant! Now it’s time to make an appointment for your first prenatal checkup! “I chose Dr. Reese to deliver my third child, and it was my best birthing experience from start to finish. Even though my husband, Darrick, and I already had two children, Dr. Reese taught me quite a bit about the birthing process. He made me feel like I was important and not just another number. We were able to enjoy my pregnancy knowing that we were being well taken care of. Out of all three of our children’s births, we had the best experience delivering at Gibson with Dr. Reese.” —Susanna B., mother of Sawyer Benjamin Brewer, MD Bernadette Ray, MD Rachel Wenger, MD on the way? Looking for a provider who can care for you and your little one? Visit gibsonhospital.org/ physicians f or information about our physicians who offer family practice withmaternity care. What to expect During prenatal visits, your doctor may: • • Determine your baby’s due date. • • Check your baby’s heartbeat and growth. • • Check your weight and blood pressure. • • Check you for problems, such as anemia, infections and gestational diabetes. • • Talk to you about some essential healthy habits, such as eating well, getting enough folic acid, and not smoking or drinking during your pregnancy. • • Answer your questions and concerns. Prenatal care is best started right away. Call your doctor for an appointment as soon as you can. Sources: March of Dimes; National Institutes of Health; Office on Women’s Health The best start Prenatal checkups are essential for both you and your baby. Getting regular prenatal care can: • • Help you have a healthy baby. • • Lower your risk of having your baby too early. • • Help your doctor find and treat potential problems early. In general, you’ll have about one prenatal checkup per month for the first several months of pregnancy. As you get closer to your due date—or if you have any health conditions that need to be monitored more closely—you’ll need more frequent checkups. Childbirth and breastfeeding classes are also a great option to help you prepare, and Dawn Merkle, RNC-OB, Co-Director of OB Services, encourages all new parents to attend. “Childbirth and breastfeeding classes help inform parents-to-be about things like the labor process, comfort options, skin-to-skin contact with your baby immediately after delivery, and breastfeeding,” Merkle says. “It gives our new parents the opportunity to learn about the birth experience, have questions answered, and see the labor/delivery unit prior to coming in for their actual labor. The classes help parents prepare for one of the most special times in their lives.” Your team for maternity care