Prenatal Care

The HealthCore Clinic prenatal care team includes OB-GYN Care, Family Medicine providers, Wesley Family Medicine residents, and Certified Nurse-Midwives (CNM). We offer comprehensive check ups throughout your pregnancy to help keep you and your future baby healthy.

Regular prenatal care throughout your pregnancy helps to catch potential concerns early and reduces the risk of pregnancy and birth complications. As soon as you suspect you are pregnant, make an appointment with your HealthCore Clinic prenatal team.

Starting prenatal care early in the first trimester can help give your baby the best start to a healthy future. In addition to our experienced and caring nursing staff, some of the services we offer as part of our prenatal care include:

• In-House Ultrasound Available
• Discounted Fees for Self-Pay
• Insurance Application Assistance
• Routine Behavioral Health Consultations
• Baby Talk Education Classes
• Newborn Care

We offer Baby Talk and Healthy Babies classes, in partnership with March of Dimes, Sedgwick County Health Department, and KU School of Medicine – Wichita Department of Pediatrics. Baby Talk Education classes have prizes for attendees such as supplies and clothing for babies.

Prenatal Care Visits & Health History

What To Expect At A Prenatal Care Visit

During your prenatal care checkups, your HealthCore provider will discuss many issues, such as healthy eating and physical activity, screening tests you might need, and what to expect during labor and delivery. Here’s what to expect:

• You’ll get a check-up. This will include a general health exam (checking your heart, lungs, breasts and abdomen); measuring your blood pressure to serve as a baseline reading for future appointments; noting your height and weight; a look for varicose veins and swelling as a baseline for future visits; and a pelvic exam.
• You’ll get a confirmation of your pregnancy. Even if you got a positive result on a home pregnancy test, your practitioner will likely do a urine test and blood test with our onsite lab.
• You’ll undergo other tests. Some tests are routine for every pregnant woman, some are routine in some areas of the country, and some are performed only when necessary. The most common tests at your first prenatal visit include:
  • Urine test. Your urine may be checked for protein, glucose (sugar), white blood cells, blood and bacteria.
  • Bloodwork. A sample of your blood will be used to determine blood type and Rh status and check for anemia. Your blood will also be screened for antibody titers (levels) and immunity to certain diseases (like rubella and chickenpox) and possibly for vitamin D deficiency.
  • Genetic carrier screening. If you weren’t screened before conception, a blood draw also tests for whether you’re a carrier for the more common genetic conditions, including cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia, thalassemia, Tay-Sachs disease and others.
  • STD tests. Your provider may screen for sexually transmitted infections like hepatitis B, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and HIV.
  • Pap smear. Just like you get at your annual appointments, to screen for abnormal cervical cells.
  • A blood sugar test. You may get this test if you had gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy or if you’re at higher risk for gestational diabetes (for example, if you have a family history).
• You’ll get an official countdown. If you know when you conceived and the date of your last period (LMP), make sure to mention it. Your HealthCore provider will calculate your due date using information such as your LMP, a check of your cervix and uterus for signs and approximate gestational age of the pregnancy, your hCG levels, and an onsite ultrasound (as needed).
• You’ll chat about yourself and your baby. To give you the best possible care, your HealthCore practitioner will want to know a lot about you. This is a time for your practitioner to get up to speed on your health history and fill you in on how to care for yourself and your growing baby, as well as address any concerns you have. We recommend you take notes during your visits since there will be a lot of information in the beginning and throughout.

Health History

Your HealthCore Clinic provider will discuss your health history, family history, and current lifestyle to create a birth plan with you. To make the most of your first prenatal care visit, we suggest researching and preparing the following information to share with your HealthCore birth team:

• Key health facts. Your HealthCore practitioner will want to discuss all the details of your medical history — we recommend checking your records at home before your first visit. Come prepared with some basics about:
  • Your personal medical history. Immunizations you’ve had, previous major illnesses or surgeries, known allergies including drug allergies.
  • Your mental health history. Any history of depression, anxiety disorder, or other mental health disorders
  • Your gynecological history. Your age when you got your first period, details about your cycle, whether you have problems with PMS or PMDD, prior gynecological surgeries, history of abnormal Pap smears or STDs
  • Your obstetrical history. Previous pregnancies, including pregnancy complications or losses and details about previous deliveries
  • Potential disease exposure. Any contagious diseases you may have been exposed to (for example, if you traveled abroad recently or work in health care)
  • Your current medications. Your HealthCore provider will want to know the names and dosages of any medications and supplements you take (herbs and vitamins included).

Find out about health conditions that run in your and your partner’s families. Learn what illnesses your family has a history of, so you can speak to your practitioner about them.

Be sure to write down any questions you have and bring them to your prenatal doctor visits. You can also check out our article: “4 Prenatal Care Tips for Expecting Mothers,” which covers some of the common questions expecting mothers have about pregnancy and helpful prenatal care tips.

OB-GYN Care, Family Medicine Providers, & Certified Nurse Midwives

OB-GYN & Midwife Providers

An OB-GYN is a doctor who has broad and specific training in obstetrics and gynecology. Our OB-GYNs provide a wide range of preventive care services, including pap smears, STI testing, pelvic exams, ultrasounds, and blood work. Our OB-GYNs can answer questions about your pregnancy, sex, reproductive health, infertility, and numerous other topics.

We recommend women see their OB-GYNs at least once a year. During pregnancy, we recommend women see their OB-GYN once each month for weeks four through 28 of their pregnancy, twice a month for weeks 28 through 36, and weekly for weeks 36 to birth.

A Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) is a primary health care provider to women of all ages throughout their lives. CNMs focus on gynecologic and family planning services, as well as preconception, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, and newborn care. They also provide primary care such as conducting annual exams, writing prescriptions, and offering basic nutrition counseling.

Our Certified Nurse-Midwives are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) backed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. HealthCore Clinic registered nurses must graduate from a master’s or higher-level nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME) and pass the national Certified Nurse-Midwife Examination through the American Midwifery Certification Board. All of our CNMs must hold state licensure.

HealthCore Clinic’s Approach to Prenatal Care

Why Choose HealthCore For Prenatal Care?

HealthCore Clinic is unlike most medical offices you’re familiar with. Our patients are more actively engaged in improving their health through a team-based approach. We encourage you to become a partner with your prenatal care team to manage your care in a way that is best for you and your baby.

Our integrated care approach means that our clients have convenient, affordable access to improve their whole health and wellness — with all your prenatal care services under one roof including medical, behavioral, ultrasounds, lab, pharmacy, and more.

The systems in our body are connected, so why should your prenatal care be fragmented? It shouldn’t. Schedule an appointment with our prenatal care team today and see why HealthCore Clinic’s integrated approach to care is Wichita’s premier choice of expecting mothers.