Obstetrics

  • Prenatal care of low and high risk pregnancies
  • Screening for Birth Defects and Fetal Chromosome Abnormalities
  • Ultrasound
  • Laboratory Testing
  • Non-Stress Test
  • Biophysical Profile Ultrasound

Prenatal care of low and high risk pregnancies
From your first appointment through delivery and postpartum care, Oakdale Ob/Gyn is there for you every step of the way. Our physicians see OB patients for the first prenatal visit in the 8th or 10th week of pregnancy. If you have questions about when you should first be seen, please call us at 763-587-7000.

Screening for Birth Defects and Fetal Chromosome Abnormalities
Even though most babies are born healthy, a small percent (3%-5%) are born with a birth defect. Some parents want to know if their baby has a birth defect so they can prepare for a child with special needs. Others might choose to end the pregnancy. For most parents, the results are negative (meaning no defects detected) which greatly reduces anxiety about the pregnancy. We want to make you aware of the variety of ways that your baby can be screened-prior to birth- to detect some birth defects. None of these tests detect all birth defects.

As a woman’s age increases, her baby’s risk of Down syndrome and other chromosome problems increases. Based on age alone, a twenty year old woman has a 1 out of 1500 chance of delivering a baby with Down syndrome; a fourty year old woman has a 1 out of 100 chance.

Blood tests, ultrasounds, or both can provide a more accurate estimate of the risk of Down syndrome and other chromosome problems than the risk based on the mother’s age alone. The decision to have testing is up to you. The options for testing are listed below.

Nuchal translucency and serum screening:

  • offered to all pregnant women
  • nuchal translucency is an ultrasound measurement of fluid normally present at the back of a baby’s neck
  • this test also includes measuring free beta hCG and PAPP-A, two proteins present in the mother’s blood during pregnancy
  • performed at 11-14 weeks gestation
  • detects 82-87% of babies with Down syndrome
  • if this test is normal, a follow-up test (blood test or ultrasound) for spina bifida is still offered at 16-20 weeks gestation
  • Performed at North Memorial Medical Center

Quad Screen:

  • Offered to all pregnant women
  • An alternative to nuchal translucency and serum screening
  • This blood test measures MSAFP, hCG, estriol and inhibin-A, proteins and hormones present in a mother’s blood during pregnancy
  • Performed at 16-20 weeks gestation. The blood is drawn in our clinic
  • Detects 90% of babies with spina bifida or anencephaly, birth defects in which the spine or brain dos not form properly. These conditions happen in 1 out of 1000 pregnancies.
  • This test detects approximately 80% of babies with Down syndrome
  • Approximately 5% of all pregnancies will have a positive screen result indicating a higher risk of Down syndrome or other chromosome abnormalities. A consultation and ultrasound exam is scheduled with a genetic counselor and perinatologist (high risk pregnancy specialist) at North Memorial. Based on that evaluation, amniocentesis may be offered

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS)

  • available to all women
  • a needle is place in the uterus through the cervix or abdomen to remove a very small piece of the placenta
  • performed at 10-12 weeks gestation
  • checks the baby’s chromosomes when a chromosomal abnormality is suspected o this test provides information earlier than amniocentesis
  • risk of miscarriage is 1-2 out of 100 (1-2% chance)
  • performed at Abbott Northwestern Hospital

Amniocentesis

  • available to all women
  • a needle is placed in the uterus to remove a small amount of fluid from around the baby
  • performed at 15-18 weeks gestation
  • checks the baby’s chromosomes when a chromosomal abnormality is suspected o this test is the most accurate to diagnose a chromosome problem
  • risk of a miscarriage is 1 out of 200 (0.5% chance)
  • performed at North Memorial Medical Center

Targeted ultrasound (also called Level II ultrasound)

  • available to all women
  • offered to women at elevated risk for Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities
  • also offered if there are twins, a family history of certain birth defects or abnormal quad screen
  • performed at 19-22 weeks gestation
  • a very detailed look at the baby’s anatomy
  • looks for the presence of specific birth defects associated with chromosomal abnormalities
  • if the baby does look abnormal, an amniocentesis might be offered o performed at North Memorial Medical Center

Screening ultrasound 

  • offered to low risk women
  • performed at 19-22 weeks of pregnancy
  • a detailed look at the baby’s anatomy
  • if the baby does look abnormal, an amniocentesis or targeted ultrasound might be recommended
  • performed at Oakdale OB/GYN

Click the below link to learn more about Ultrasounds:

What is Ultrasound

Your Obstertricial Ultrasound

Ultrasound
We offer a screening ultrasound to our pregnant patients at 19-22 weeks. An ultrasound examination at this time of the pregnancy allows an assessment of the baby’s growth and development. Abnormal conditions (congenital anomalies or birth defects) may be detected. The ultrasound also helps confirm the due date. Most insurance companies provide coverage for this type of ultrasound examination. Please be aware that not all birth defects can be detected by ultrasound. Some abnormalities are too small to be seen or appear later in pregnancy. Some organ systems may be more difficult to assess because of the baby’s position or the size of the mother. We do not regard this examination as the making of a keepsake video and do not give out a videotaped copy of the ultrasound. We also do not allow video cameras in the room during the examination. We ask that you limit the number of people that accompany you to three. While there are businesses that perform 3-D and 4-D ultrasound examinations as keepsakes, these types of ultrasound examinations are usually not medically indicated and are not covered by insurance unless there is a medical reason for performing the exam. We do not perform 3-D and 4-D ultrasounds in our office.

Laboratory Testing
At the beginning of your pregnancy laboratory testing of your blood is typically done at your first visit. The information gathered helps us determine your blood count, blood type, as well as whether or not you may be suffering from any other treatable conditions. Most often the results of your tests are discussed at scheduled office visits. Please do not call the office to check for test results, unless you have been instructed to do so.

 Non-Stress Test
A non-stress test measures your baby’s heart rate to in response to movements made by the baby. During a non-stress test, an external monitor is placed around the mother's abdomen to record the baby’s heart rate. Each time the fetus moves, the movement is noted on monitor strip. Any changes in heart rate during movements are recorded.

What if I have Nausea in Pregnancy?
Unfortunately, 70-85% of pregnant women experience nausea. The cause of this symptom is not really understood. Interestingly, women who have nausea during pregnancy tend to have fewer miscarriages or stillborns than women without this symptom.

Nausea and vomiting typically begin early in pregnancy and usually resolve by 10-12 weeks. Ten percent of women may still have symptoms after 16 weeks. Here are some treatment suggestions:

  • Eat small frequent meals (every 2-3 hours)
  • Eat as soon as you get hungry
  • Drink liquids between meals, not with them
  • Drink room temperature beverages rather than cold or hot ones
  • Try lemonade or ginger ale
  • Avoid greasy or high fat foods (yet some women tolerate potato chips)
  • Eat high carbohydrate foods (crackers, rice, pasta fruits)
  • Eat high protein foods (eggs beans, chicken)
  • Change position slowly
  • Do not take iron supplements
  • Do not brush your teeth after eating
  • Take vitamin B6 25 mg three to four times a day
  • Take on half of a Unisom tablet (over the counter sleep aid) with the vitamin B6 three to four times a day
  • Try Sea-Band or Relief Band (devices that apply pressure on the inner wrist and use acupressure to relieve nausea)

What over the counter medications are ok to take?

  • For heartburn: Tums, Maalox, Mylanta, Riopan, Zantac, Pepcid AC
  • Nausea/Vomiting: Vitamin B6, Unisom, Emetrol
  • Constipation: Fibercon, Metamucil, Citrucel, Senokot
  • Headaches: Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol, acetaminophen, ibuprofen (ibuprofen may be used between 13 and 27 weeks)
  • Colds/Allergies: Sudafed, Actifed, Tylenol Sinus, Drixoral, Robitussen DM cough syrup
  • Insomnia: Tylenol PM, Unisom, Benadryl