We Are Here For You

As your healthcare provider, we promise to provide you with excellent care as you bring your little one into the world. To help you along, we've created Your Guide to Pregnancy. It includes information about our providers, our office, appointments, procedures and so much more! 

Please download and complete the Birth Preparation Form. Bring this along with you to your next appointment.

Your Guide to Pregnancy
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COVID-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy

After you have a positive home pregnancy test, call our office to schedule your initial appointment. 

This initial appointment is referred to as a confirmation of pregnancy visit. We would like to see you for this first appointment between 8-9 weeks gestation. During this confirmation of pregnancy visit, you will have an ultrasound if you have not already had one, and meet with a certified nurse midwife to go over the results. Your medical history will be reviewed including any medications you are taking. The nurse or midwife you are seeing that day will give you an informational booklet and a link for videos that you should watch while you are waiting or at home, and you will be given information about optional screening tests as well. You will also have lab work done at this visit.

What happens after my Confirmation of Pregnancy visit?

Your next visit with us is called the New OB Exam. At this visit, you will meet with a certified nurse midwife to do a physical exam and review any health problems you may have or medications you are taking which may affect your pregnancy. You will also have a complete physical exam. At this point, you will also decide whether you prefer to see doctors, or midwives, or participate in group prenatal care for your pregnancy. We may recommend physician care if you have significant risk factors in your pregnancy. We will then schedule a follow-up appointment approximately two to four weeks following the interview appointment.

What happens after my New OB Exam?

Between the first OB visit and 28 weeks, we would usually like you to schedule a visit about every four weeks. Starting around 28 weeks, your visits will increase to every 2 weeks, and then to weekly visits from 35-36 weeks until delivery. If you have risk factors in your pregnancy, you may have more frequent visits

What happens at each OB visit?

During each visit, you will have your weight, blood pressure, and fetal heartbeat checked. At approximately 20-24 weeks, your provider will begin fundal height evaluation by measuring the uterus. Several additional tests are done at scheduled times throughout your pregnancy. These include:

+ Anemia and gestational diabetes screening – this screening is performed between 26-28 weeks. You will be given a sugar drink and instructions for how/when to drink it. One hour after you finish the sugar drink, your blood will be drawn.

+ Vaginal culture for group B strep – this swab of your vaginal area is performed at your 35-37-week appointment. Group B strep is a normal bacterium that is naturally found in the vagina in 10- 30% of women and is not harmful to women or a developing fetus. However, it can be harmful to your infant if exposed at time of delivery. If you test positive for this bacterium, you will receive antibiotics during labor and delivery.

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Patients experiencing a low-risk pregnancy are great candidates for midwifery care. Choosing between using an obstetrician or midwife for your prenatal care and delivery is really a personal choice. If you are uncertain which care model fits you best or if your pregnancy is considered low-risk, we suggest meeting with a midwife and an obstetrician to determine what feels right for you and your baby.

High-risk births should be attended by an obstetrician.

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Whether you choose a Group midwife or obstetrician, you can be assured that they are part of one of the largest and most comprehensive maternity and childbirth practices in the Midwest. Our team of certified nurse midwives and physicians work side-by-side within our practice and hospital. That experience and collaboration make a difference. 

• Normal pregnancy care
• Bedside labor support and delivery
• Birth prep and planning visits
• Family-centered care
• Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Section (VBAC)
• Pre-pregnancy counseling
• Gynecological care
• Birth control
• Co-management of a high-risk pregnancy with a physician
• C-section Support

We always have a physician and midwife on call. Safety guides everything we do. It’s YOUR choice and we work around what you would like to do. 

No. The midwives at The Group are happy to be able to offer superior care at MercyOne Genesis BirthCenter!

The labor rooms have the feel of home, but with the ability to quickly address any medical emergency, which may unexpectedly arise.  The Group’s team of dedicated physicians and midwives work side-by-side within our practice and at the hospital. Patients who choose a Group midwife as their provider can rest assured that if an emergency were to arise, their midwife and obstetrician would work together to ensure a safe birth for mother and baby.

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Whether you choose a Group midwife or physician, you can be assured that they are part of one of the largest and most comprehensive maternity and childbirth practices in the Midwest. That experience makes a difference.

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Absolutely!  As midwives, we want to help provide you with the birth YOU want.  Whether that is planning an unmedicated birth or a strong desire for pain medications, nitrous oxide (laughing gas), or an epidural.  This is YOUR birth and we are here to support you.

As midwives, we want to support you and your birth choices by taking a collaborative approach.  We schedule extra time in our visits to discuss your birth plan and the different options available.  Midwives are well equipped to support those who desire an unmedicated birth by having time to support you with hands-on care throughout labor and birth, but we also know that sometimes plans change and we are happy to follow your desires.

MAKING YOUR CHOICE

If you are uncertain which care model fits you best, we suggest meeting with a midwife and an obstetrician to determine what feels right for you and your baby.

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Whether you choose a Group midwife or obstetrician, you can be assured that they are part of one of the largest and most comprehensive maternity and childbirth practices in the Midwest. That experience makes a difference. 

There are different types of midwives in the world, but all midwives of The Group are Nurse Practitioners who have obtained their master’s degree in nursing and/or midwifery. They have graduated from a nurse-midwifery education program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Midwifery Education (ACME). This education includes a master’s degree as well as hands-on clinical training by practicing CNMs. All Group CNMs have also passed the national certification exam of the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).

The Group Midwifery Model is unique in that all midwives work side-by-side with our team of physicians. Together they communicate and collaborate within the practice and hospital to provide the best possible care for women.

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Whether you choose a Group midwife or obstetrician, you can be assured that they are part of one of the largest and most comprehensive maternity and childbirth practices in the Midwest. Our team of certified nurse midwives and physicians work side-by-side within our practice and hospital. That experience and collaboration make a difference. 

The Group’s Certified Nurse Midwives (CNM) cover the entire continuum of care for women from adolescence to menopause and beyond. Many women don’t know they can also see their midwife for their routine annual exams, including pap smears, contraception, STI (sexually transmitted infection) prevention and treatment, health concerns, fertility support, and menopausal management. Your designated midwife can take a history, perform a physical exam, order labs, and other tests, and prescribe medications!

Before Pregnancy

• Gynecologic care
• Preconception care
• Treatment of STIs

During Pregnancy

• Pregnancy care
• Care during labor and delivery

After Pregnancy

• Gynecologic and family planning services 
• Childbirth and the postpartum period 
• Breastfeeding and newborn care guidance

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Whether you choose a Group midwife or obstetrician, you can be assured that they are part of one of the largest and most comprehensive maternity and childbirth practices in the Midwest. Our team of certified nurse midwives, physicians, advanced nurse practitioners, and physician assistant are here to support you as you start a family, expand your family, enter a new stage of life, or if you need ongoing care. We provide a full range of gynecologic and obstetric care.

While there are certainly midwives who do attend home births, the midwives at The Group work within our practice and hospital, much like our physicians. All patients who deliver with a midwife or physician of The Group will deliver at MercyOne Genesis East BirthCenter in Davenport. MercyOne Genesis East, the hospital with the highest level of neonatal care (NICU) in the Quad Cities. The Group also proudly supports VBACs (vaginal birth after C-section) and feels confident when determining if patients are good candidates. The Group has a lot of support from Genesis for VBACs. During labor and delivery, there is a dedicated OB anesthesiologist on staff at all times. 

Making Your Choice

If you are enjoying a low-risk pregnancy, it really comes down to what makes you comfortable. We suggest talking with both an obstetrician and a midwife to determine what feels right for you and your baby.

Whether you choose a Group midwife or obstetrician, you can be assured that they are part of one of the largest and most comprehensive maternity and childbirth practices in the Midwest. That experience makes a difference.