Today's moms-to-be have more choices and more medical help than their parents ever did. Instead of one doctor, you have a team of experts. You can also select the type of professional that will care for you: an obstetrician, family practice doctor or certified nurse midwife to help with your prenatal care and delivery. Our maternal fetal medicine specialists are available for high-risk pregnancies and births. Other professionals like physician assistants, nurse practitioners and specialists will also aid in your care.
Doctors & Specialists
Obstetricians
Obstetricians are doctors who specialize in the health care needs of women. Our obstetricians will guide and manage your normal or high-risk pregnancy, as well as support your ongoing and changing needs. At Carle Foundation Hospital, an obstetrician is in the hospital 24 hours a day, adding a level of safety and security during labor and delivery.
Obstetricians offer a comprehensive array of obstetrical, gynecological and surgical services to meet your every need, including:
- breast and pelvic exams
- Pap smears
- fetal monitoring
- premature labor therapy
- ultrasound evaluations
- biophysical profiles
- nonstress testing
- treatment for diabetes and other medical conditions during pregnancy
- amniocentesis and genetic counseling
The department provides full surgical expertise including laser and microsurgery and gynecologic oncology. PMS counseling and therapy are also offered, as is AIDS testing and counseling. For couples who are experiencing difficulty conceiving, Carle offers state-of-the-art fertility treatment and assisted reproduction.
Family Practice Doctors
Family Practice is the medical approach that's all about family. It's about one doctor who will care of every member of your family - from your baby to your grandparents. Many Family Practice doctors can care for you prenatally and deliver your baby. A Family Practice doctor can get to know your child from the start when he or she delivers your baby and cares for him or her throughout life. Family Practice doctors stress preventive care, health and patient education.
Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists
A maternal fetal medicine specialist is an obstetrician who has received specialized training in the care of women with high-risk pregnancies. The maternal-fetal subspecialist also diagnoses and treats the fetus with birth defects. Maternal-fetal medicine offers a variety of services, including:
- comprehensive targeted ultrasound evaluation
- fetal echocardiography
- genetic counseling
- chromosomal analysis
- amniocentesis
- analysis of pregnancy loss
- prenatal/prepregnancy counseling for medical, hereditary and genetic disorders
Carle's maternal fetal medicine specialists work closely with obstetricians, family practitioners and certified nurse-midwives to treat those women needing special care and medical attention. Appointments must be made by your doctor or nurse-midwife.
Certified Nurse Midwives
Certified nurse-midwives offer a safe, satisfying family-centered childbirth alternative based on a philosophy of total physical andmental wellness in which birth is a natural event. For women with low-risk pregnancies, nurse-midwifery provides sensitive, personal care in a hospital setting by highly-skilled healthcare professionals with degrees in nursing and nurse-midwifery. Nurse-midwives guide you through pregnancy, work with you through labor and childbirth and care for you after delivery.
Other Providers
Anesthesiologists
An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in medicating patients requiring surgery or having a baby so they will experience the least amount of pain and discomfort possible. Just as an obstetrician is available at Carle Foundation Hospital 24 hours a day, so is an anesthesiologist. If you and your prenatal care provider choose to use anesthesia as a pain control method during your labor and the birth of your baby, Carle Foundation Hospital offers epidural anesthesia. Epidural anesthesia is administered by an anesthesiologist or by a certified registered nurse anesthetist under the direction of an anesthesiologist. This regional anesthetic offers pain relief in the areas surrounding your abdomen and back, while you are fully alert for the birth of your baby.
Physicians Assistants and Nurse Practitioners
Physician assistants and nurse practitioners are very knowledgeable about obstetrics and gynecology and work closely with your care provider. You can also schedule prenatal appointments with them if their schedules better meet your needs.
Nurse practitioners are healthcare professionals who are extensively trained in their specialty through an organized program of study and clinical experience. Many of Carle's nurse practitioners work in collaboration with a specific care provider to offer assistance and continuity.
Physician assistants are healthcare professionals who complete a specified program of study and clinical practice that allows them to work with specific Family Practice doctors and Obstetricians.
Obstetric Services Nurses
Obstetric services nurses are registered nurses who have received specialized training to care for you and your baby before, during and after your birth experience. Care provided ranges from calming anxious feelings before birth, to educating and preparing your family for your life together at home. Our nurses work together to individualize your care and to meet your family's specific wishes and desires whenever possible.