Women who are pregnant or planning to get pregnant need special obstetric care. At OBGYN Westside, PLLC, on the Upper West Side of New York City, you will receive expert care from a team of all-female board-certified OB/GYNs. Their personalized care will provide progressive and integrative health care throughout your journey, from pre-pregnancy through delivery into the postpartum period. We recommend that you schedule your first obstetric visit when you are 7 to 8 weeks from the first day of your last period. Please let our office know that this is the first visit for your pregnancy as we allow extra time to include a complete evaluation, ultrasound, bloodwork, discussion of nutrition, behavior and answering questions. If you need help scheduling, please call the office and let us know it is your first OB visit and we be happy to assist and accommodate you.
We recommend that you schedule your first obstetric visit when you are 7 to 8 weeks from the first day of your last period. Please let our office know that this is a first visit for your pregnancy as we allot extra time to include a complete evaluation, ultrasound, bloodwork, discussion of nutrition, behavior and answering questions.
After your first visit you will have appointments every 4 weeks until 32 weeks of pregnancy. After 32 weeks, visits are every 2 weeks; after 36 weeks, visits are weekly until delivery. More frequent visits may be recommended for high—risk pregnancies.
For your convenience, you can download the below three informational packets.
Obstetrics Informational Packet
A Week by Week Glance at Prenatal Appointments
Ultrasound Screening
An ultrasound is a procedure that uses high frequency sound waves to create a picture. Not only are these scans routine, but they are also fun for you and your partner. Your doctor will review with you what ultrasounds and other procedures are recommended for you during your pregnancy, including nuchal translucency, chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis. We also may refer you to one of the below maternal fetal medicine centers for more detailed, higher resolution ultrasound.
Morning sickness is nausea or vomiting that occurs during pregnancy. It is very common and doesn't always happen in the morning! It usually goes away by your second trimester, when the level of pregnancy hormones in the body falls. When morning sickness is severe, it is called hyperemesis gravidarum.
Call your doctor if you experience:
Allergies & Congestion:
Cough:
Constipation:
Dental Work:
Headache:
Hemorrhoids:
Heartburn/Indigestion:
Itching:
Leg Cramps:
Nausea:
Sore Throat:
Yeast Infection:
Regular, well-balanced meals are a source of nutrition for both you and your baby. You will need more protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron, which are critical to your baby's growth and development. Here are some guidelines and recommendations:
Sources of protein and vitamins are:
Sources of calcium are:
Foods rich in iron are:
While each individual is different, usually 25 to 35 pounds is the maximum amount of weight gain recommended.
It's important to incorporate a balance of protein and carbohydrates (grains, fruits, vegetables) in your daily diet. Variety is important.
Foods to Avoid/Limit
Foods that Alleviate Pregnancy-Related Nausea (Morning Sickness)
Dietary Supplements
The following vitamins and minerals are often recommended: