The doctors at San Francisco Women’s Healthcare provide excellent prenatal care to women from throughout the Bay Area. Pregnant women can make appointments at both the Downtown and Laurel Village offices in San Francisco, California.
Prenatal care is preventive healthcare for pregnant women and their unborn child. Prenatal care treats and prevents any potential issues or health problems that can arise during pregnancy. It also encourages healthy behavior choices to benefit the mother and child to keeping both healthy. Regular appointments enable doctors to spot health issues and monitor the wellbeing and development of both mother and baby throughout the pregnancy. Early detection of an issue allows for early treatment, which leads to better health overall. There are also a variety of tests and screenings that are carried out to ensure the health and development of the baby throughout gestation.
The first visit will be longer than follow-up visits. The doctor performs a complete physical, asks about the mother’s personal and family health histories. The doctor will order blood and urine samples and checks your height, weight and blood pressure. The doctor will also calculate your due date and answer any questions you have about pregnancy. Expectant mothers follow a regular schedule of follow-up visits throughout pregnancy, increasing in frequency as the due date approaches. Later visits include some additional screenings and the doctor will monitor your blood pressure, weight gain, abdominal circumference growth, and the baby’s heart rate.
There are a wide variety of tests available to monitor the development of a fetus and mother-to-be and to check for any developmental or gestational health issues. Some screenings are routine and all expectant mothers should have them. These include:
Genetic screening is also available for issues such as, but not limited to sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and Tay-Sachs disease. These tests are not required, but depending on the health history of the mother, the doctor may recommend some of them to check the health of the baby. These additional tests are usually recommended to higher risk mothers, who may include those:
At San Francisco Women's Healthcare, we accept most major insurance plans. Here is a short-list of just some of the most popular plans we accept. Please contact our office if you do not see your insurance provider listed. Please be prepared to bring your current insurance card with you for your appointment. Our office requires payment at the time of service.
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"I have the utmost confidence in her knowledge and the expert level of care I get at Women's Health."
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