161 Riverside Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905
Phone: 607-798-5519
This information is designed for parents-to-be. In a few
short months, you and your family will experience the wonderful
moment of your baby's birth. But before that moment, there is
a great deal of learning and planning to do.
Having a healthy baby begins long before your actual delivery
date. Choosing a doctor (MD) or Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
is an important aspect of prenatal care. The provider you
choose should be one that you trust and can talk with openly.
Your MD/CNM can have a big impact on your prenatal care, if you are
comfortable with him/her, you are more likely to follow his/her
advice and have confidence in his/her judgment of your prenatal
care.
Use our Physician Directory to
locate a number of exceptional physicians to care for you during
your pregnancy.
There are many visits during an uncomplicated pregnancy.
The most important thing is to keep your appointments, this helps
to promote a healthier pregnancy and prevent potential
problems. During your prenatal care visits, your blood
pressure, urine, weight, and baby's heart beat will be
evaluated. Each of these aspects tells your MD/CNM a lot
about your overall health and well-being as it relates to your
pregnancy. At certain points in your pregnancy blood work is
needed to help further evaluate your pregnancy.
One of the items most women want to know is when their baby will
be born. Your MD/CNM will figure out the "due date" of your
baby based on the date of your last menstrual period. This is
only an estimate. Women with irregular periods have a more
difficult time in determining a due date. You can also
estimate your due date with our Due Date Calculator.
It is a good idea to bring your partner along to your prenatal
care visits. Your partner is as much a part of this pregnancy
as you are. Although your partner cannot carry the pregnancy
and may not go through the physical changes, your partner can help
you maintain a healthy lifestyle and pregnancy. Your partner
can help you by eating nutritious meals and snacks, getting basic
exercise with you, and making decisions that affect your
pregnancy. The woman may be the sole person to experience the
physical changes of pregnancy, but the emotional changes affect and
involve both of you.
It is also important to participate in Childbirth Education
Classes. These classes prepare you for the birth
of your baby and allow you to explore all of the options that are
available in labor and delivery. Lourdes has a highly
qualified staff of educators who will
guide you through this exciting time and answer any questions you
may have.
