Patient Education Blog

Ultrasound imaging is an integral part of comprehensive prenatal care, allowing us to monitor your baby's growth and development while assessing your overall pregnancy health. We perform routine obstetric ultrasounds to establish your due date, evaluate fetal anatomy and development, monitor fetal growth and amniotic fluid levels, and check on the well-being of your baby. Additionally, we perform ultrasounds as needed postpartum and for gynecologic reasons throughout a woman’s life, unrelated to pregnancy.

Genetic screening can provide important insights about your baby's health early in pregnancy. Our team offers a range of screening options and takes the time to explain your choices, discuss results, and help you choose the tests that best align with your needs and preferences. We offer:

• We are pleased to offer Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) using Natera's most validated test available in the U.S. Please visit this webpage to learn more: https://www.natera.com/womens-health/panorama-nipt-prenatal-screening/patients/#pg-menu-tabs
• Additionally, we offer carrier screening through Natera to screen your blood for inherited conditions that you carry a gene for but are not affected by. You can do this testing before you conceive or anytime during your pregnancy, and it can help you plan for your baby’s health. Visit the ACOG website for additional information, and we are also happy to answer questions anytime. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/carrier-screening

Many pregnancies require additional monitoring and specialized care due to maternal or fetal health conditions. These conditions can include preexisting diabetes, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure or preeclampsia, advanced maternal age, autoimmune conditions, placental abnormalities, fetal anomalies, or fetal growth restriction. Our experienced providers work closely with you in conjunction with Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM or High Risk OB) physicians to help ensure the healthiest pregnancy and delivery for you and your baby. You have many choices for MFM care in the Triangle region, and we regularly work closely with the care teams at Calla MFM in Raleigh, the University of Chapel Hill, and Duke practices.

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Whether you're planning to start a family, space pregnancies, or explore your reproductive options, we are here to support your goals. We provide personalized family planning services, education, and contraceptive counseling to help you make confident decisions at every stage of life.

If you're having difficulty becoming pregnant, you're not alone. 10 women out of every 100 women in the United States struggle with infertility. It’s often frustrating and confusing, but you don’t have to face it alone. Our compassionate team offers initial infertility evaluations to help identify potential causes and develop a personalized plan for moving forward. We are committed to providing guidance, support, and appropriate treatment options or referrals to fertility specialists when needed.

At Cary OB/GYN, we will see you for your first visit around 7-8 weeks gestation to confirm the pregnancy and establish a due date with an ultrasound. You may need to start care sooner depending on your medical problems. From there, we will see you every 4 weeks during the first and second trimesters and every 2 weeks during the third trimester. Finally, we will see you weekly during the final month to get you ready for labor and delivery planning. Your visits may include blood work, urine testing, ultrasounds, vital sign and symptom monitoring, and personalized care and treatment from one of our physicians, midwives, or nurse practitioners. We're also happy to see you anytime for problem-focused or sick visits during your pregnancy, as needed. We are excited to be on this journey together!

At Cary OB/GYN, we are thrilled to support our moms before, during, and after birth, and we offer quick postpartum appointments as needed. You will be seen in our office for a routine postpartum visit at 6 weeks, which we will schedule for you after your delivery with the same provider who delivers the baby. You may need to be seen sooner for an incision check if you had a cesarean, blood pressure monitoring and hypertensive medication adjustment, or for mental health support, as a few examples. We are also happy to see you to support your breastfeeding journey and to treat conditions such as mastitis. Please reach out immediately if you are a postpartum patient in our practice with any needs. Additionally, please see the Advanced Care Team resource page for lactation consultants and mental health support resources.

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Our physicians and midwives offer personalized counseling before conception and at the start of a new pregnancy to help you make informed decisions about your health and your baby's development. We provide guidance on nutrition, lifestyle, prenatal supplements and vitamins, and safe medications to take during pregnancy and postpartum.

Visit here for additional information from the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG).