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Fax: 206.233.9657
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Obstetrics

Seattle OB/GYN group understands that having a baby is a transformative life experience and each pregnancy is unique. At Seattle OB/GYN group we are an independent all-women practice offering physician care during pregnancy and childbirth. Our unique partnership of physicians allows patients to have individualized high-quality care that focuses on the best practices for a woman, her pregnancy and childbirth. We are a private practice associated with Swedish Medical Center and all of our patients will deliver at Swedish Medical Center, First Hill.

Pre-Pregnancy Counseling

If you are considering pregnancy and would like to schedule a pre-conception visit, please contact our office to make an appointment.

Pre-Pregnancy Preparation

  • You should take prenatal or multivitamins with a minimum of 400mcg of folic acid approximately 3 months before trying to become pregnant.
  • Have a dental exam and complete any necessary repairs.
  • See your primary care provider or specialist if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.
  • Make sure you are up to date on all of your vaccines.
  • If you need vaccines, make sure you receive them at least one month prior to attempting pregnancy.
  • Male partners should avoid hot tubs.
  • You and your partner should avoid travel to any known areas with risk of Zika infection for at least 6 months prior to attempting pregnancy.

Nutrition during pregnancy

  • In pregnancy, you’ll need approximately 300 additional calories per day.
  • Have a combination of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily.
  • Focus on whole grains and lean proteins and minimize sodium and starch intake.
  • Dairy products fortified with vitamin A&D can provide your daily calcium and potassium needs.
  • It is recommended that you consume no more than 200mg of caffeine daily (approximately 1-2 cups of coffee/day).

Exercise in pregnancy

  • Pregnancy is not the time to start a new exercise program.
  • At the beginning of pregnancy, you may feel tired and experience nausea, which might prevent you from exercising.
  • If you stop exercising, it is okay to pick up where you left off once you feel better.
  • Avoid excessively vigorous exercise, extreme and impact sports such as skiing and skydiving, and exercise in heated rooms such as hot yoga or pilates.

Foods and Substances to Avoid

  • Pregnant women should not consume alcohol, recreational drugs or tobacco products.
  • Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel, or tilefish while pregnant. They are high in mercury content.
  • Avoid raw or undercooked meat and fish (may contain Toxoplasmosis).
  • Avoid unpasteurized cheeses (may contain Listeria).
  • Avoid hotdogs and deli meat unless they are cooked to steaming hot (may contain Listeria).

In Vitro Fertilization

  • Fertility specialists perform IVF but once you are pregnant, physicians at Seattle OB/GYN are happy to manage your pregnancy.
  • If you become pregnant via IVF and are being seen at a fertility clinic, we recommend making your first OB visit at Seattle OB/GYN between 8 and 10 weeks in order to establish care and begin your prenatal screening.
  • We recommend bringing a copy of your fertility records with you to your first OB visit.

Healthy and low-risk pregnancy

  • The majority of pregnancies are considered low-risk and you have the option of physician care at Seattle OB/GYN.
  • All of our providers aim to have a safe vaginal delivery.

Management of Labor

  • Our physicians will manage your labor from the time you are admitted to the hospital until your delivery.

Vaginal and Cesarean Section Births

  • Physicians manage vaginal deliveries. Physicians perform cesarean section (c-section) deliveries when necessary.

TOLAC/VBAC

  • TOLAC means a “Trial of labor after a Cesarean section (c-section) birth”. If you desire a vaginal delivery both our physicians will strongly encourage a TOLAC if it is safe and healthy for your pregnancy.
  • VBAC means a “Vaginal Birth After a Cesarean section (c-section) birth” and is a successful trial of labor after a Cesarean section (TOLAC)

High Risk Pregnancy

  • Our physicians manage high-risk pregnancies including but not limited to gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, a patient with a history of bariatric surgery, endocrine disorders in pregnancy and twin pregnancies.
  • Our physicians can manage patients enrolled in the Bloodless Program.

Limited Ultrasound Studies

  • At Seattle OB/GYN, we have bedside ultrasounds and can perform limited ultrasound studies in our office..
  • In low-risk pregnancies there are typically two ultrasounds performed. You can expect to receive an ultrasound at your first OB visit.
  • We may recommend and order a "formal" ultrasound performed at the radiology department or certain indications that cannot be completed in our office.

Postpartum Care

  • In the postpartum period, it is routine for you to see a provider 6-8 weeks following delivery for a full physical exam.
  • We will review normal physical changes following delivery and discuss returning to normal activities.
  • It is important that all women are assessed for postpartum depression.
  • At this visit, we will also review your birth experience, discuss breastfeeding support and postpartum birth control.