Pregnancy and Prenatal Care

Prenatal care is an essential part of ensuring the health of you and your baby during pregnancy. It consists of regular checkups that provide a great opportunity to have your questions answered, alleviate any discomfort you may be experiencing, and administer routine testing to help monitor the development of your future baby.

What happens during my prenatal care appointments?

As experienced midwives, we offer comprehensive care in a beautiful, welcoming and comfortable setting. We are committed to the highest level of respectful, compassionate, and informed care during the amazing experience that is the growing of a new life. Some things to expect:

  • Complete history upon initiation of care

  • Fetal assessment (fetal heart tones, position and growth)

  • Laboratory testing, screenings and diagnostic ultrasounds

  • Check weight and blood pressure

  • Check for swelling

  • Continued assessment for risk factors or signs and symptoms of complications

  • Nutrition and exercise support

  • Emotional support and well being

  • Labor and birth information and preparation

Schedule your free tour of our center or schedule your prenatal care appointment. Email us at info@montereybirthcenter.com, call 831.717.4723, or book online 24/7. 

Schedule of Prenatal Visits

A schedule of prenatal care depends on a number of factors, including how far along you are into your pregnancy and whether you are at risk for any complications. A typical timeline is as follows:

  • Once a month from start of care until 28 weeks

  • Twice a month from 30 weeks to 36 weeks

  • Once a week from 36 weeks until birth

Prenatal care visits may be scheduled at greater frequency as needed. In the unlikely event that the pregnancy deviates from low risk, we will consult or refer to a more appropriate health care provider while continuing to offer support and additional information.  We work with you as a team and always recognize you as the central decision maker.

Common Discomforts During Pregnancy

Nearly all pregnant people experience some level of pregnancy-related discomfort. Common issues include:

·      Nausea and vomiting, known as “morning sickness.” This can intensify during the morning but some people feel queasy and/or nauseous to some degree throughout pregnancy.

·      Constipation

·      Fatigue

·      Trouble sleeping

·      Aches in lower back, sacrum and hip areas

·      Swollen and tender chest

·      Heartburn

·      Increase or decrease in sex drive

·      Abrupt weight gain or loss

We have proven solutions to alleviate many of these conditions. These will be discussed during your prenatal care visits.

Continuity of Care During Pregnancy

 In the interest of providing you with a midwife you know during your labor and birth, this practice limits the number of clients in care per month in order to provide you with the best and most attentive care possible. Schedule your free tour of our center. Email us at info@montereybirthcenter.com, call 831.717.4723, or book online 24/7. 

INSURANCE

  • Insurance billing, payment plan and financing available.

  • Credit card and HSA card payments accepted.

  • Ask us about our Birth Package, which includes prenatal care, labor care, postpartum care, and state-of-the-art birthing rooms with a water birth tub.

ACCREDITATION

The Monterey Birth & Wellness Center is one of only 18 accredited birth centers in California, and the only one in central California. Accreditation is a mark of quality and expertise achieved by relatively few freestanding birth centers in the U.S.A. Learn more about the standards for accreditation at the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers website.

Service Area

Providing midwifery care to Monterey County and some areas of San Benito and Santa Cruz Counties: Seaside, Monterey, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Salinas, Prunedale, Spreckels, Soledad, Gonzales, King City, Hollister, San Juan Bautista, Moss Landing, Castroville, Watsonville, Freedom, Santa Cruz, Aptos, Soquel and Capitola.