MATERNITY CARE
you're pregnant!
now what?
First of all, congratulations!
You’ve just received a ticket for one of life’s most thrilling rides! And we are here for it!
We love babies here at OMC. And we love taking care of them—from the day you let us know about your positive pregnancy test to your baby’s birth day … and beyond! We are equally passionate about caring for expectant mothers, too, providing comprehensive care that answers your questions, alleviates your concerns, and gives you the peace of mind you need to truly enjoy this ride.
See us for:
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Prenatal Care—first, second & third trimesters
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Delivery at OMC's Birth Center
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Postnatal Care
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Post Delivery Support
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Postpartum Support
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Childbirth Classes
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Nutrition Services
Learn more about:
meet your obstetric team
Our doctors, from left to right: Jennifer Belisle, Michael Tiffany, Nicole Smith, and Erika Helgerson
One of the benefits of being a community-focused healthcare facility is that we can be present for you in every sense of the word. We call it our "home-town approach" and, when it comes to your pregnancy, it means you'll be able to have your regular provider throughout all of your prenatal appointments—and, 95% percent of the time, during your delivery as well!
We can't wait to meet you! We're excited to hear (and implement!) your birth plan, and are fully committed to creating a nurturing and reassuring environment for you throughout your pregnancy and birth experience.
PRENATAL CARE
Providing the best care for your baby begins in the womb.
First Trimester—Weeks 1-13
Appointments: Dating ultrasound followup between 7-9 weeks, and initial OB visit between weeks 11-13
Nature of Care: Follow up to review your due date based on your menstrual cycle and/or ultrasound results, and meet your pregnancy care provider. The initial visit includes a complete physical & standard checkup to monitor your baby, as well as a full panel of routine lab work. Your OB will want to talk to you about baby development, hear all your concerns, and answer all your questions.
Pregnancy Milestones: Seeing your baby for the first time! (We’ll send you home with photos from your ultrasound!)
Second Trimester—Weeks 14-27
Appointments: Monthly
Nature of Care: These appointments are similar in nature to those during your first trimester. In addition, your provider will also check for such things as your baby’s size, position and heartbeat.
Pregnancy Milestones: Anatomy ultrasound around 20 weeks, screening for gestational diabetes with our all-natural, organic and vegan “Fresh Test” around 24-26 weeks.
Third Trimester—Weeks 28-Birth Day
Appointments: Bi-monthly, then weekly
Nature of Care: Closely monitoring the growth of your baby
Pregnancy Milestones: Childbirth classes, lactation education, and creation of your birth plan.
Our Prenatal Care Features:
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Regular First, Second & Third Trimester Appointments
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Prenatal Nutrition Support
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All-Natural, Organic & Vegan Glucose test (aka, The Fresh Test)
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Wireless Fetal Heart Monitoring
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Wellness Education & Support
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Lactation Education & Support (before & after delivery)
your baby's birth day
We believe that a moment as beautiful as childbirth is best experienced when it’s securely wrapped in the support of your family, friends, and health care team. Our Birth Center offers all the technology and popular amenities you'd expect at a larger hospital. Unlike big-city hospitals, however, we're able to deliver one-on-one attention from the same dedicated care team you've seen throughout your pregnancy. Our goal is to focus on you, so you can focus on experiencing the truly amazing moment you get to see, hear, and hold your new son or daughter for the very first time.
OUR BIRTH CENTER OFFERS AMENITIES AND TREATMENT OPTIONS, INCLUDING:
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Private birth suites, including meals for support person and free wi-fi
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Private bath with Jacuzzi tub
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Nurses specially trained in spinning babies techniques
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Water births
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Jacuzzi labor tubs
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Gentle, family-centered C-section births
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Wireless & waterproof fetal heart monitoring
Our family-centered maternity care prioritizes the inclusion of your loved ones, offering a supportive, family-focused experience.
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Mechanical, medication-free cervical ripening with Dilapan or cervical ripening balloon
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Comprehensive pain relief services, including nitrous oxide
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A full complement of tools to help ease your labor, including birthing balls, stools, peanut balls, squatting bars & essential oil diffusers
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Lactation education and support, including screened donor breast milk available during your stay
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Infant security system
In OMC's Birth Center, you'll stay in the same suite for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care.
POSTPARTUM SUPPORT
You are your baby’s primary source of love, comfort, and nutrition. In order to provide the care your baby needs, it’s important for you to take care of yourself. We’re here to help!
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Lactation Education & Support
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Physical Therapy
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Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Referrals
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Massage Therapy
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Integrated Mental Health
eating for two
NUTRITION TIPS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN BY OMC'S DIETICIANS
Focusing on quality nutrition during pregnancy is a top priority because what you feed yourself is also nourishment for your baby. You’re eating for two now, which doesn’t only mean you need more calories (on average, typically 300 extra calories per day), but that the food you eat needs to sustain you both!
DO
Eat a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean protein, and dairy
Why: Variety helps to ensure that you’ll take in as many of the key vitamins and minerals as possible. The key vitamins and minerals include calcium, iron, iodine, choline, vitamins A, B6, B12, C, and D, and folic acid.
Take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid every day
Why: Folic acid supports the development of your baby’s brain and spinal cord and helps to prevent premature birth and low birth weight.
Choose foods rich in iron
Why: Getting more iron will help your body make the extra blood it needs to bring oxygen to your baby. If you don’t consume enough iron, you could develop iron-deficiency anemia, which can lead to complications including fatigue, weakness, pale skin, increased risk of premature birth or low-birth-weight baby, and potential developmental delays in the child. Good sources of iron: lean red meat, poultry, seafood, dark leafy greens, legumes, apricots, prunes, and raisins.
Get extra Vitamin C
Why: Vitamin C, found in citrus, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes, helps to absorb iron by making it more available for your body to use.
Important Note: Calcium may interfere with your body’s absorption of iron. If your provider recommends iron and calcium supplements, taking these at different times of the day will ensure that iron is fully absorbed, and your baby receives all the blood needed to make oxygen!
Get plenty of calcium
Why: You’re probably aware that calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth, but did you know that it’s also essential for the smooth operation of nerves and muscles? Great sources of calcium include milk, yogurt, cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice, leafy greens, canned fish, and broccoli.
Eat more fish!
Why: Besides being a great source of protein, fish provide essential fatty acids, iodine, and choline, which helps your baby’s developing spinal cord. The healthiest choices are salmon, flounder, tilapia, trout, pollock, and catfish. Limit white (albacore) tuna to 6 oz per week.
Rest up!
Why: There is no end to the benefits of a good night’s sleep and it’s extra important now because you’re sleeping for two! Adequate rest helps reduce stress, improves blood flow to the placenta, and can help prevent complications like preeclampsia and preterm labor. It also helps the body recover and manage the physical changes of pregnancy, such as fatigue and nausea.
Keep moving!
Why: Getting regular exercise will help manage your weight gain, reduce pregnancy-related discomforts, improve overall fitness, and prepare your body for labor and delivery. It can also reduce the risk of complications like gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and caesarean delivery.
Drink plenty of water!
Why: Water helps move essential nutrients through your body, ensuring that you and your baby get all of the nutrients you need. It’s also an important component of the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby during pregnancy!
AVOID
Uncooked or undercooked meat
Why: Uncooked or undercooked meat may lead to a food-borne infection, which could result in illness to both mom and baby.
Unpasteurized milk or cheese
Why: Consuming dairy products that have not been pasteurized may result in a harmful bacterial infection that could affect both mom and baby.
Fish high in mercury
Why: Swordfish, big eye tuna, shark, and tilefish are high in mercury and not recommended due to concern for birth defects with mercury intake.
Ready-to-eat, cold smoked, cured fish, oily fish, or raw seafood/fish/shellfish
Why: These foods can contain bacteria that can cause serious illness for your baby. Oily fish can harbor pollutants that can hurt your baby. Finally, raw shellfish can contain bacteria, viruses, or toxins that can make you sick.
Excessive caffeine
Why: Limit yourself to no more than 200mg caffeine daily (one 12 oz. cup of coffee). Drinking over 200mg of caffeine daily could lead to serious complications for your baby, such as miscarriage or pre-term birth. Besides coffee, you can find caffeine in tea, chocolate, sodas, and energy drinks.
Herbal teas
Avoid drinking more than 1-2 cups of herbal tea daily. These teas may contain herbs that can be harmful if over consumed during pregnancy. There may be some herbal teas to avoid, so it is best to talk to your OB clinician about herbal teas and supplements.
Alcohol
Drinking any type of alcohol while pregnant may lead to serious consequences, such as miscarriage, pre-term birth, still birth, or fetal alcohol syndrome.
Other resources:
Nutrition During Pregnancy | Johns Hopkins Medicine
Nutrition During Pregnancy | ACOG
Pregnancy Diet: Focus on these essential nutrients (Mayo Clinic)