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! 

Your Guide to Pregnancy
Telemedicine Visits
Testing for COVID-19 Before Delivery
COVID-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy
COVID & Pregnancy

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

We would like to see you for your first appointment between 8-9 weeks gestation to be sure you are able to take advantage of the screening blood tests that are offered. Your first OB visit will be your interview appointment where you will meet with a nurse. During that visit, you will be asked to complete a genetic screening questionnaire, which will help us evaluate your unborn baby. The nurse will go over all of our office policies and procedures, pregnancy education, as well as gather a thorough health history. Once you have decided whether you would like to see a physician or certified nurse midwife, we will schedule a follow-up appointment with your chosen provider approximately two weeks following the interview appointment. 

What happens after my first OB visit?!

Between the first OB visit and 28 weeks, we would like you to schedule a visit every four weeks. Around 28 weeks, your visits will increase to every 2-3 weeks, then once a week after 36 weeks until delivery.

We will request to see you more frequently if you are high-risk. 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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+ We recommend pregnant women stop working outside of the home 2 weeks prior to delivery, or at 37 weeks on average. This is so that you can isolate at home for the 2 weeks prior to delivery so that your chance of having COVID-19 when you deliver your baby is as low as possible, to keep you and your baby safe. This is especially important if you work in a job with a higher risk of exposure, such as a long-term care facility, jail, meat packing facility, or other jobs where social distancing is difficult. If your partner and other children can also stay home during this time, that would be ideal, to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19. We understand not everyone is able to do this. If you need a note for your employer stating these recommendations, please let us know.

Together, our providers use clinical experience, professional training, and collaboration to provide each patient with the quality care and compassion they deserve. We want you to know that the safety of you and your baby always comes first. We have been in practice since 1978 and are proud to serve the women of the Quad Cities and surrounding communities.

Patients of The Group deliver at Genesis East, the hospital with the highest level of neonatal care (NICU) in the Quad Cities. University of Iowa NICU physicians work with The Group providers at Genesis so your baby, should the need arise, will receive the best care possible. 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. 

We are one of the most experienced groups of obstetricians and midwives in the Quad Cities and your care is our top priority.

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+ We recommend pregnant women stop working outside of the home 2 weeks prior to delivery, or at 37 weeks on average. This is so that you can isolate at home for the 2 weeks prior to delivery so that your chance of having COVID-19 when you deliver your baby is as low as possible, to keep you and your baby safe. This is especially important if you work in a job with a higher risk of exposure, such as a long-term care facility, jail, meat packing facility, or other jobs where social distancing is difficult. If your partner and other children can also stay home during this time, that would be ideal, to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19. We understand not everyone is able to do this. If you need a note for your employer stating these recommendations, please let us know.

We deliver at Genesis East, the hospital with the highest level of neonatal care (NICU) in the Quad Cities. University of Iowa NICU physicians work with Group providers at Genesis so your baby, should the need arise; will receive the best available care. During labor and delivery, there is a dedicated OB anesthesiologist, which means your care is our top priority.

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+ We recommend pregnant women stop working outside of the home 2 weeks prior to delivery, or at 37 weeks on average. This is so that you can isolate at home for the 2 weeks prior to delivery so that your chance of having COVID-19 when you deliver your baby is as low as possible, to keep you and your baby safe. This is especially important if you work in a job with a higher risk of exposure, such as a long-term care facility, jail, meat packing facility, or other jobs where social distancing is difficult. If your partner and other children can also stay home during this time, that would be ideal, to decrease your risk of exposure to COVID-19. We understand not everyone is able to do this. If you need a note for your employer stating these recommendations, please let us know.