New OB Patients

Congratulations!

Valley OBGYN wants to be amongst the first to say Congratulations to you and your family on this new development in your life.  We are just as excited to be a part of this journey.

What’s next?

New OB Quick Info Card (View PDF)

Your first Obstetrics (OB) visit will be with a nurse prior to your 8th week of pregnancy. This visit can either be conducted in the office, or over the telephone if you would like to save yourself a trip to the office as this appointment will not include a physical exam, ultrasound, or any fetal heart monitoring.

1st Trimester 2nd Trimester 3rd Trimester
Week 8 Week 10 Week 19 – 20 Week 28 Week 36

Telephone or Office visit with a nurse

  • Review Health History
  • Prenatal Education
  • Order Laboratory Test
    • Complete Blood Count
    • Urinalysis
    • Syphilis Test
    • Rubella Screen
    • Blood Type, Rh Factor and Antibody Screen
    • Urine Culture
    • Drug screening (this is routine for all patients)
    • HIV
    • Confirmation of Pregnancy (4-6 weeks)
    • Peek A Boo Testing
      • Find out Baby’s gender as early as 7 weeks
      • 99.5% accurate
      • Only early gender test endorsed by the American Pregnancy Association
    • V Scan

First appointment with your physician

  • Genetic Counseling and Screening
  • STI Testing (Sexually Transmitted Infection)
  • Schedule Ultrasound
  • Regular appointments will be schedule every 4 weeks

Anatomy Ultrasound
  • Pick up registration packet
  • Blood Glucose Screening Test
  • Begin Bi-week appointments
  • Group B Strep Culture Test
  • Begin Weekly appointments
  • Schedule Prenatal Lactation appointment
1st Trimester
Week 8

Telephone or Office visit with a nurse

  • Review Health History
  • Prenatal Vitamins
  • Order Laboratory Test
    • Complete Blood Count
    • Urinalysis
    • Syphilis Test
    • Rubella Screen
    • Blood Type, Rh Factor and Antibody Screen
    • Urine Culture
    • Drug screening (this is routine for all patients)
    • HIV
Week 10

First appointment with your physician

  • Pelvic Exam
  • Vitals
  • Schedule Ultrasound
  • Regular appointments will be schedule every 4 weeks
Week 19 – 20

Anatomy Ultrasound
2nd Trimester
Week 28
  • Pick up registration packet
  • Blood Glucose Screening Test
  • Begin Bi-week appointments
3rd Trimester
Week 36
  • Group B Strep Culture Test
  • Begin Weekly appointments
  • Schedule Prenatal Lactation appointment

Frequently Asked Questions

It is best to avoid alcohol when you are pregnant, especially during the first 4 months. Women who drink regularly drink during pregnancy can have babies with mental retardation, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and other deformities.

Smoking is hazardous to your health at any time however there are specific problems with smoking during pregnancy. Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen available for your baby and reduces the ability of the placenta to delivery nutrients for the baby. Women who smoke have an increased risk for miscarriage, premature labor, placental separation and increased risk for fetal growth restriction. We highly recommend your quit smoking during pregnancy and postpartum. This same recommendation is also for smoking marijuana and other recreational drugs.

  • Pain/fever/headaches: Regular or extra strength Tylenol or Acetaminophen (avoid Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS) Increase fluids
  • Constipation: Milk of Magnesia, Metamucil, Citrucel, Colace (stool softener), Increase dietary fiber
  • Cold or Allergy Symptoms: Plain Actifed, Plain Sudafed, Saline Nasal Spray or Drops, Breathe Right Strips, Tylenol Sinus, Tylenol Cold, Zyrtec, Claritin, Benadryl, Neti Pot Vaporizer/Humidifier ( Avoid NyQuil)
  • Cough: Robitussin, Robitussin DM, Triaminic, Cough Drops
  • Heartburn: Maalox, Rolaids, Tums, Mylanta, Pepcid AC, Zantac, Papaya enzyme chews
  • Gas Pain: Mylicon, Phazyme, Gas-X, Lactaid Ultra
  • Diarrhea: Kaopectate, Immodium AD, Metamucil for bulking or slowing stool (Avoid Lomotil)
  • Skin Rash: Hydrocortisone cream, Cortaid, Topicort, Caladryl Lotion, Benadryl Cream, Benadryl 25 mg tablet
  • Yeast Infection: Monistat 7, Clotrimazole Cream
  • Nausea: B6 50mg twice a day, Unisom ½ tablet at bedtime, Emetrol, Peppermint/Ginger Tea
  • Insomnia: Benadryl, Unisom, Sominex, Tylenol PM, Non caffeinated tea
  • Hemorrhoids: Tucks, Anusol, Preparation H, Sitz Bath
  • Leg Cramps: Calcium (500mg) daily with Magnesium (250mg) at bedtime. Natural Calm at bedtime
  • Raw fish, raw shellfish, sushi containing raw fish & oysters and smoked fish.
  • Undercooked meat, hot dogs, deli meat & poultry. All deli meat should be heated until steaming to prevent listeria. Please reference Listeria and Pregnancy on the American Pregnancy Association page here: American Pregnancy Association of Listeria and Pregnancy.
  • Raw or lightly cooked eggs or foods containing them.
  • Unpasteurized milk or other milk products or juices
  • Unpasteurized and pasteurized soft cheeses (Camembert, feta, brie and blue veined cheeses). Some Queso Fresco cheeses are also unpasteurized.
  • Refrigerated Pattes and meat spreads
  • Raw sprouts (alfalfa sprouts)
  • Fish with Mercury (shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Canned light tuna generally has lower amounts of mercury but should only be eaten in moderation- up to 12 oz per week) Please reference the Department of Health healthy fish guide here: doh.wa.gov
  • Avoid large amounts of caffeine (less than 200mg/day is recommended-equivalent to 1 12oz cup of coffee).
  • Artificial sweeteners

Very hot water and steam should be avoided especially during the early part of your pregnancy. Avoid immersing your entire body into the hot tub with elevated temperatures. Saunas should be avoided.

If you have a history of miscarriage, pregnancy related bleeding or other complications, talk with your healthcare provider. Otherwise, there is no reason to interrupt your normal sex life. Avoid intercourse if there is any suspicion that your membranes have ruptured.

Avoid heavy or prolonged exposure to household chemicals, insecticides, pesticides and weed killers. Be sure to avoid lead based paint, use a mask & maintain proper ventilation if painting

ACOG recommends 27mg of Iron, 600mcg of folic acid, 1000mg of Calcium and 600iu of Vitamin D for all pregnant women. There are a variety of prenatal vitamins on the market that you meet these requirements. Also, our providers are happy to prescribe a prenatal vitamin should you choose.

  • Bleeding (vaginal, rectal, bladder)
  • Swelling to face or hands
  • Dimness or blurred vision
  • Severe or continuous headache
  • Abdominal pains that do not go away with heat & rest or bowel
  • Avoid impact exercises such as jumping or jarring activities
  • Avoid becoming overheated
  • Avoid excessive stress to your lower back area
  • Limit the intensity & time of your workout to the same level as you were pre pregnancy
  • Reduce weight bearing exercises (running, weight lifting)
  • Avoid any exercises lying flat on your back late in pregnancy

Hair color and many other hair treatments are not determined to be safe or unsafe during pregnancy.

Travel is usually no risk to you or your baby. However, you should not plan to travel long distances the last 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. Travel should be restricted earlier if you are pregnant with twins, bleeding, or having pregnancy related high blood pressure. If you are traveling long distances, make sure you get up & walk at least every hour to keep your circulation moving. With recent Zika virus concerns, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/zika for foreign travel recommendations.

Sensible weight control during pregnancy is balanced between health diet, exercise and rest. Weight gain from fluid retention during the later stages of pregnancy can play an added role. An acceptable weight gain during pregnancy can range from 25-35 pounds in an average weight female. Your health care provider can recommend a goal weight gain for your pregnancy. A pregnant woman needs about 300 calories more each day than a non-pregnant woman.

  • Influenza vaccine is safe to take during pregnancy & will be offered by your provider during flu season.
  • TDap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis) is recommended for all pregnant women by the CDC during the third trimester or late second trimester of pregnancy or at the start of pregnancy if the mother has never been immunized.

Valley Hospital offers a variety of FREE prenatal classes to help you and your family prepare for the arrival of your baby. View class options & Register: https://www.multicare.org/valley-community-events-classes For more information email Angie Tollefson, RN, IBCLC at tollefa@multicare.com

How to reach us: During regular business hours (Monday-Friday 8a-5p) please call 509-924-1990. For after hours (nights, weekends, Holidays) please call the same number and you will be directed to our answering service. Please let them know who your provider is and how many weeks pregnant you are as well as your reason for calling. The on-call provider will return your call. If you have questions or concerns during regular business hours, we do have a nurse on staff to assist you. In case of emergency when you are unable to reach our office, please go directly to Valley Hospital Labor & Delivery (509) 473-5431.

How to reach us

During regular business hours (Monday-Friday 8a-5p) please call 509-924-1990. For after hours (nights, weekends, Holidays) please call the same number and you will be directed to our answering service. Please let them know who your provider is and how many weeks pregnant you are as well as your reason for calling. The on-call provider will return your call. If you have questions or concerns during regular business hours, we do have a nurse on staff to assist you. In case of emergency when you are unable to reach our office, please go directly to Valley Hospital Labor & Delivery (509) 603-5431.