Prenatal Care

Austin ABC offers mothers the same prenatal testing as they would expect at a physician’s office in addition to more time for counseling, teaching, and getting to know the midwife.

The first prenatal visit:

At this time a physical exam is performed to ensure that the mother is a healthy, low risk client.

Routine pregnancy blood work is drawn and any extra tests as indicated by the mother's health history are performed.

If the pregnancy is difficult to date using traditional methods, a dating ultrasound may be performed. If the parents wish, our ultrasonographer can perform a "first trimester screening test". This is an optional, early, non-invasive method of checking the baby's health.

Please schedule approximately one hour and 20 minutes for this first visit.

The second prenatal visit:

At this time the focus is on individualized diet teaching and counseling. The rest of the visit includes:

a.      Review of the lab work from the first visit

b.      Measuring the fundus (uterus)

c.      Checking the mother's vital signs and the baby’s heart rate

At this time, the mother may chose to join our group prenatal program for the middle part of her pregnancy. Our program involves mothers joining together with the other moms who share similar due dates. Various pregnancy topics are covered as well as the information needed to prepare for birth. The group is part prenatal visit, part support group, and part childbirth class. Many strong bonds are established between the moms participating in our group prenatal program.

Some moms prefer to continue on with traditional prenatal visits, rotating among the midwives and getting to know all of them in a private setting.

Most clients receive a twenty week ultrasound or anatomy scan of the baby at our North location.

As the due date approaches, the moms participating in the group prenatal program return to weekly private visits with the midwives at their location.