Our practice motto is "It's all about time." Your pregnancy is going to be the time of your life. Your body is going to go through many changes and our physicians and certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) know this can be both an exciting and scary time. From preconception through postpartum, we invest our time with you to ensure you understand the phases of your unborn baby's development, each recommended test, and what the results mean. By spending this extended time together, we know you'll feel increasingly more comfortable as each birthing stage passes.

Preconception counseling is an important part of our program. The healthiest pregnancies begin with a visit with our skilled staff, who offer advice on minimizing risks and achieving optimal health prior to pregnancy, as well as screening for potential risks and problems. At BWHC, we want this time of your life to be special and safe.

Our practice emphasizes pregnancy and birth as a healthy, normal process. We are proud of our very low cesarean-section rate. Should a cesarean become necessary, though, our skilled surgeons and CNMs can and will provide surgical assistance with the birth.

Ultrasound
Whether this is your first pregnancy or one of many, we know how thrilling it is to see that first image of your unborn. We are pleased to offer diagnostic ultrasound for the convenience and reassurance of our patients and their families. You will go home with those precious pictures, a DVD, and gender determination at the appropriate time (if you want to know the gender of your baby prior to his or her entrance into this world). Of course, we also offer antenatal testing such as NST (non-stress test), BFP (biophysical profile), and AFI (amniotic fluid index) as needed.



Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)
We confidently offer VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) as an option for women who have had prior cesarean births. We invest time reviewing each patient's medical history, discussing the advisability of VBAC, and ensuring the safest, most natural experience possible.

Current evidence shows that the majority of women can have safe vaginal births after a prior cesarean, but, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the VBAC rate has fallen 67% in the last ten years.



Birth is a major life event that significantly affects a mother's physical and emotional well-being. A cesarean can be a life-saving procedure for a mother and/or her baby, but overall, birth by cesarean puts healthy pregnant women at risk for medical complications.

High cesarean rates also run contrary to national health goals toward increasing the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified cesarean section as a risk factor for the initiation of breastfeeding. According to the CDC Guide to Breastfeeding Interventions, medications and procedures administered to the mother during labor affect the infant's behavior at the time of birth, which in turn affects the infant's ability to breastfeed. Based on the available information, every woman can and should decide with her caregiver what best meets her and her baby's needs.