What is an Obstetrician? Complete Guide for Women’s Health
According to the National Institutes of Health, about 700 maternal deaths occur in the U.S. each year. All the cases result from pregnancy and delivery complications.
More than half of these deaths could have been prevented by seeking early obstetrician help. Obstetrics specialists can monitor your reproductive health, ensuring you’re on the right path.
But let’s face it! Many women are still not familiar with who obstetricians are.
So, what is an obstetrician, and how can it streamline your health journey? Explore their role in women’s health care.
Who Is an Obstetrician?
Obstetricians don’t just focus on pregnancy and childbirth. They also offer postpartum care, which is essential for monitoring new mothers who have just given birth. Quality postpartum care is also critical to helping new mothers recover quickly.
Obstetricians don’t work alone. They collaborate with gynecologists to provide comprehensive women’s health care services.
Obstetricians with gynecological expertise specialize in:
- Treating menstrual and hormonal disorders
- Managing pelvic pain
- Managing premenstrual stress disorder (PSD)
- Helping women manage weight
- Contraceptive management
- Menopause hormone replacement
They treat a range of women’s reproductive health conditions, such as:
- Fibroids
- Disorder of the ovaries
- Vaginal infections like STIs and bacterial vaginosis
- Infertility
- Bladder infections
- Menstrual disorders like endometriosis
Obstetrician Roles and Responsibilities
Obstetrician specialists aim to keep the mother and baby healthy and safe during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. Check out some obstetrician roles:
During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a sensitive period for women due to hormonal imbalances and many health risks. Luckily, obstetricians minimize any risks by closely monitoring maternal and fetal health.
Pregnancy monitoring allows obstetricians to develop personalized care plans. Some tests that allow easier monitoring include:
- Ultrasound scans
- Screening tests
- Non-stress tests
- Diagnostic tests such as blood tests and amniocentesis
The above tests allow for early diagnosis of problems like:
- Spina bifida
- Chromosomal anomalies
- Hypertension
- Thyroid disease
- Weakened cervix
Ultrasounds also enable obstetricians to determine the number of fetuses in your pregnancy. Other related things these specialists assess include:
- Fetal growth and development
- Placenta location
- Fetal age
- Amount of amniotic fluid
Obstetricians offer counseling during pregnancy. They can educate you on healthy lifestyle adjustments, like:
- Regular physical workouts
- Healthy diets rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, and vitamin D
- Getting enough sleep
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol
If it’s your first pregnancy, an obstetrician can educate you about labor preparation, making you psychologically ready.
During Childbirth
Labor and delivery are nerve-wracking moments. You need professional care to prevent complications. Obstetricians assist in managing labor and delivery by checking the mother’s contractions.
Expert maternity care also involves monitoring the baby’s heart rate, which allows the care providers to check whether uterine contractions during labor occur correctly. Checking the baby’s heart rate also helps determine if there is fetal distress, which can result from hypoxia-a lack of adequate oxygen to the baby.
Obstetrics specialists offer pain management solutions during childbirth, and these include medications like IV narcotics. They also perform deliveries, which include vaginal or C-section deliveries. C-section deliveries are helpful when there are emergencies like:
- Weak uterine contractions
- Wrong baby’s position
- Placental issues
- Umbilical cord issues
- Serious conditions like hypertension
During Postpartum
Obstetricians monitor how new mothers recover after giving birth. They will check for possible postpartum complications like:
- Excess bleeding
- Infections such as mastitis and urinary tract infections
- Pelvic girdle pain
Obstetricians also educate new mothers on how to care for their newborns. They emphasize things like:
- Proper breastfeeding
- Bathing
- Detection of danger signs
Obstetrics professionals help new mothers easily transition to parenthood, enabling easier management of potential psychological issues like anxiety.
Once you recover, an obstetrician can help you plan your future pregnancies. They can discuss birth control and family planning.
Benefits of Visiting an Obstetrician
An obstetrician offers psychological, emotional, and social support. Adequate emotional support can boost your mood during pregnancy.
Visiting an obstetrician allows for early diagnosis and treatment, preventing more life-threatening complications like preeclampsia. Obstetrician-gynecologists (OB-GYNs) assist women with infertility. The problem comes in two categories – primary and secondary infertility.
An OB-GYN can help diagnose the cause of your infertility, which may include:
- Reproductive problems like endometriosis
- Ovulation disorders
- Uterine abnormalities like uterine fibroids
Expert maternity care also involves preconception counseling. An obstetrician will evaluate your medical history and overall health to help you get pregnant safely.
Obstetrics Care Services
Obstetricians offer pregnancy and prenatal care services. They can help make your pregnancy an exciting and healthy experience. Whether it’s a low- or high-risk pregnancy, don’t shy away from scheduling a consultation.
OB-GYNs also perform minimally invasive surgeries, which include endometrial ablation and laparoscopy.
Other OB-GYN services that help improve women’s reproductive health include:
- Osteoporosis treatment
- Mammography
- Urinary incontinence therapy
- Automated breast ultrasound
Choosing the Right Obstetrician
Not all obstetricians you meet will have the right qualifications. Therefore, finding the right specialist may be overwhelming. Thorough research will help you narrow down a competent specialist who can address your concerns.
Remember, it’s about finding someone to help enhance your overall well-being. Take time to verify credentials and qualifications.
Choose an obstetrics specialist who has completed medical school and passed relevant tests. Also, confirm that the specialist you choose has legal licensing.
The Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) licenses American obstetricians. Request that your doctor show you proof of their licensing.
Inquire about the fees charged by your obstetrician. While it’s good to save, don’t compromise on quality. So don’t go for doctors charging extremely low fees.
Read your doctor’s online reviews to verify their reputation. You can also ask for referrals and recommendations from friends and family members.
What Is an Obstetrician? Improving Women’s Reproductive Health
For a long time, you’ve probably been asking yourself, “What is an obstetrician?” No more guesswork! You’ve got the correct information.
Pregnancy and childbirth are among life’s most significant parts. Therefore, you need expert maternity care for quality support.
Women’s Health of Augusta, P.C., has over five decades of experience providing comprehensive and excellent obstetrics and gynecology services in the CSRA. Our physicians, led by Allan Joseph, M.D., and Laura Lee Joiner, M.D., are members of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and are all certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
You deserve the best maternity care at every stage. Call us today!