OB/GYN visits always feel a little … personal. But nothing’s like prenatal visits, when you hear your baby’s heartbeat and see their tiny toes for the first time. If you’re pregnant, trying or hopeful, it’s important to find a women's care provider you trust and feel comfortable talking to.
Choosing an OB/GYN is one of the very first things you do for yourself and your baby. Here are some questions you can ask potential providers to help you find the perfect fit for your family, plus info about Atrium Health Women’s Care:
Where do you deliver?
Avoiding the highway? Looking for amenities? Location and comforts matter, but peace of mind comes from knowing you and your baby can get advanced care if you need it.
For instance, when you choose Atrium Health Women’s Care, you’re also choosing the region’s best care for moms and babies. Atrium Health is the only health system in the region recognized by U.S. News & World Report for maternity and newborn care. Our maternity care consistently meets high standards for safety and expertise, and we have more maternity hospitals awarded by Newsweek than anyone else in the region.
Will you deliver my baby?
OB/GYN practices often have a rotation schedule, where the providers take turns being on call for deliveries. This means there’s a chance the OB/GYN you see for prenatal visits might not be the same one who delivers your baby.
If you’re worried you won’t know the doctor on delivery day, you can ask to see different providers throughout your pregnancy. This lets you meet all the OB/GYNs at your practice and helps ensure you’ll see a familiar face when your baby is born.
What’s your experience with high-risk pregnancies?
Every woman hopes for a stress-free pregnancy. But even in a routine pregnancy, you want a team who can handle complex situations. Knowing your team has additional levels of care available means you can focus less on the “what ifs” and more on getting ready for your baby.
At Atrium Health Women’s Care, we have a state-of-the-art maternal-fetal medicine program, with outcomes among the best in the nation. Safe, high-quality care is so important to us, we're national leaders in reducing and managing certain complications, like C-sections and maternal hypertension. So even if the unexpected happens, you’ll know you and your baby are exactly where you need to be.
What are your fertility outcomes?
If you’re hoping to grow your family, you deserve a care team with the knowledge, technologies and proven results to help you achieve your dreams. Ask your doctor about their experience with fertility care, their outcomes and your treatment options.
For instance, our OB/GYNs give you direct connection to Atrium Health Women’s Care fertility specialists. With the latest treatments and nationally leading outcomes, they bring you one step closer to where you hope to be.
Are you available after hours?
You want a care team who’s always there for you, even for those middle-of-the-night questions. Not only does this help you avoid unnecessary ER trips, but it gives you peace of mind to get back to your day (or back to sleep).
For your convenience, Atrium Health Women’s Care has ways you can get in touch after hours. If something’s keeping you up at night, just call our 24/7 nurse advice line or send a message through our patient portal, MyAtriumHealth.
How soon can you see me after the first positive home test?
Find out your doctor’s policies on pregnancy confirmation appointments and how soon they can get you in after a positive home test. At Atrium Health Women’s Care, we don’t want you to wait to find out your family is growing. That’s why we offer pregnancy confirmation appointments within 24 hours.
Do you accept my insurance?
Before picking a provider, make sure they’re in network with your health plan. This helps keep your out-of-pocket costs as low as possible.
Who cares for my baby after they’re born?
In addition to caring for you, you need a team that supports your baby, too. Ask your doctor who cares for your baby after they’re born, and learn more about the neonatology services at your hospital.
Babies delivered at Atrium Health, for example, are cared for by Atrium Health Levine Children’s providers. They’re backed by the Charlotte region’s only U.S. News & World Report-awarded Best Children’s Hospital – with 8 nationally ranked specialties, including the region’s most advanced neonatology program.
Atrium Health Levine Children’s cares for your baby when they go home, too, with neighborhood pediatricians, the only children’s urgent cares in the region, and every other type of pediatric care imaginable.
Who’s on my care team?
In addition to your OB/GYN, find out who you’ll be seeing during visits and who’s there if you need them.
For example, Atrium Health Women’s Care’s certified nurse-midwives are here to guide you and help you understand your options for the best birth experience.
Our lactation consultants are in the hospital and nearby doctor’s offices to help you navigate breastfeeding after your baby is born.
And if there’s any concern along the way, it’s comforting to know high-risk pregnancy specialists, pelvic health doctors, neonatologists and more are always available.
Do you offer maternity classes?
From labor techniques to newborn care, maternity classes help you feel a little more prepared to meet your baby. (As prepared as you can be, of course!) If your hospital offers maternity classes, it’s also a fantastic chance to learn more about where you’ll be delivering.
Atrium Health Women's Care offers classes in everything from childbirth to breastfeeding to infant safety. And they’re not just for you – maternity classes can also be a fun, hands-on way to get your partner and family involved in the journey.
How do you care for me in the fourth trimester?
Maternity care isn’t just during pregnancy and the day your baby’s born. It’s everything after, too. Talk to your OB/GYN about the physical and emotional resources they offer in the fourth trimester. For instance, Atrium Health Women’s Care has pelvic health care, new mom support groups, lactation consulting and more – all to make the transition to parenthood as easy as possible.
What’s the delivery experience like? What amenities do you offer?
Want to walk out your contractions? Prefer to stay in the same room for labor and delivery? In addition to exceptional clinical care, there might be certain conveniences that are important to you. Ask about the hospital amenities early, so you know what to expect and what’s available to you before you arrive.
From labor tubs and mobile monitors to in-room streaming and room service, Atrium Health Women’s Care provides extra touches to help you have the experience you want.
We hope this helped you learn more about what you’re looking for in an OB/GYN for pregnancy care. To keep learning about Atrium Health Women’s Care or schedule an appointment, visit AtriumHealth.org/EveryStep or call 704-468-8884.
