Pregnancy/Prenatal Care

Pregnancy & Prenatal Services for a Healthy Delivery

Women who are pregnant or have just delivered a baby receive prenatal, pregnancy, and postnatal services. At Bassett Healthcare Network, our trained maternity care professionals focus on keeping the mother and baby healthy before, during, and after delivery.

During the pregnancy, our experienced practitioners discuss and help you manage:

• Your nutrition
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• The baby’s growth and movements
• Working with any pre-existing medical conditions, or those that may appear during pregnancy, such as hypertension
• Testing for genetic conditions that could affect the baby
• Learning to care for your newborn

Once the baby is born, we follow up with postpartum checks for at least six weeks, with special attention given to breastfeeding, your nutrition and weight-loss, any continuing health issues from before or during the pregnancy, postpartum depression screening, and referrals to social services, during or after pregnancy, for various programs.

Your First Prenatal Appointment

During your initial appointment with Bassett Healthcare Network’s prenatal services, you will receive a physical exam to confirm your pregnancy, and to evaluate your general health. Your practitioner will want to know your medical and family history, any current medical treatments, and any medications, vitamins, or supplements you are taking.

This is also an opportunity to get answers about your pregnancy and delivery, including who will deliver your baby, tests you will receive, and any symptoms you should look for.

Screenings During Pregnancy

While you are pregnant, your practitioner will monitor both your health and your baby’s. As part of your pregnancy care, there are several options for screenings. After discussing your individual health history and the testing options, the following may be offered to you:

• Noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), sometimes called noninvasive prenatal screening (NIPS), is a method of determining the risk that the fetus will be born with certain genetic abnormalities. This testing analyzes small fragments of DNA that are circulating in a pregnant woman's blood. This is done if the parent wishes, around weeks 11-14 of the pregnancy. 
• Maternal quad screen, offered between weeks 15-22 of the pregnancy, is a blood test from the mother to assess the baby’s risk of chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s Syndrome (trisomy 21) or Edward’s Syndrome (trisomy 18), as well as neural tube defects, like spinal bifida.   
• Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) is a blood test that assesses the baby's risk of having a neural tube defect or other condition. This is done if the parent wishes, between weeks 15-22 of the pregnancy. 
• Pregnancy ultrasound to verify the due date (ideally, this is done in the first trimester) and check the baby’s development (around week 20 of the pregnancy).

Other pregnancy testing and ultrasounds would be done based on your health history, and pregnancy related factors.

Prenatal Services

At Bassett Healthcare Network, we offer a range of services for expectant mothers. These largely educational programs include:

• Breastfeeding services, including classes
• Childbirth and prenatal classes so parents can learn more about pregnancy and childbirth
• Lamaze classes to teach couples helpful birthing techniques

Talk to Your Primary Care Practitioner About Your Options

Every pregnancy is different, but all expectant parents will benefit from prenatal care. Contact your primary care physician or practitioner about your pregnancy and childbirth options, or call 1-800-BASSETT to learn more.

Bassett Healthcare Network provides care for pregnancy in Central New York, including its facilities in Cooperstown, Oneonta, Herkimer, Little Falls, Hamilton, and Cobleskill.