Obstetrics

Obstetrical Care at West Des Moines OBGYN

Your pregnancy is as unique as you are, and from your very first visit through your postpartum recovery, our all-women care team walks beside you. We individualize every care plan, because no two pregnancies look exactly alike. Whether this is your first baby or your fourth, our focus stays the same: keeping you and your baby healthy while making space for your questions, your preferences, and your peace of mind.

New patient? Call us at (515) 223-5466 to schedule your first prenatal appointment.

When to Call for Your First Appointment

Once you have a positive pregnancy test, give us a call. We typically schedule your first prenatal visit between 8 and 10 weeks, though we’ll see you sooner if you have a history of pregnancy complications, are managing a chronic condition, or are experiencing symptoms like bleeding or significant cramping. Not sure when to come in? Call and our team will help you figure out the right timing.

What to Expect Throughout Your Pregnancy

Your prenatal schedule is built around the moments when monitoring matters most. As your due date gets closer, we’ll see you more often:

• Monthly visits until 28 weeks
• Biweekly visits from 28 to 36 weeks
• Weekly visits beginning at 36 weeks until you deliver

These appointments let us track your baby’s growth, manage any symptoms that come up, and give you a steady point of contact throughout. You’ll also get to know several of our providers along the way, so a familiar face is likely to be there when you deliver.

Prenatal Care

Good prenatal care is the foundation of a healthy pregnancy, and ours covers far more than measuring a bump. At each stage we screen for conditions that can affect you or your baby, review your nutrition and supplements, talk through what’s normal and what isn’t, and adjust your plan as your needs change. The goal is simple: catch concerns early and keep you informed at every turn.

Some patients need closer monitoring in the third trimester, and we handle that testing right here in the office:

In-Office Non-Stress Tests (NST) Performed in the third trimester, a non-stress test checks your baby’s heart rate in response to movement. It’s quick, comfortable, and tells us a lot about how your baby is doing.

In-Office Biophysical Profiles (BPP) A BPP combines an ultrasound with a non-stress test to give a fuller picture of your baby’s wellbeing. We may recommend one when there’s a reason to look more closely, including:

• High-risk pregnancies
• Reduced or changed fetal movement
• A pregnancy that has gone past your due date
• Amniotic fluid abnormalities
• A non-reactive non-stress test

If you’ve been told your pregnancy needs extra monitoring, our Pregnancy-Related Conditions page explains the conditions we manage and what specialized care looks like.

Ultrasound

Our in-house ultrasound suite means you can watch your baby grow without ever leaving our clinic. Using 3D and 4D high-definition technology, you might even catch your baby wave before birth. Beyond those special moments, ultrasound is one of our most important tools for monitoring health and growth.

We perform ultrasounds based on medical necessity in each trimester:

First trimester: Confirm your baby’s heartbeat, establish gestational age, and watch for anything that might signal a higher-risk pregnancy.

Second trimester: Track growth and development, check amniotic fluid levels, and complete the detailed anatomy scan around 20 weeks.

Third trimester: Confirm your baby’s position, observe movement, and check for any changes in your uterus or pelvis as delivery approaches.

Our scans are performed by certified sonographers and reviewed by your provider, with additional services including transvaginal scans and fetal surveys available as needed.

Birth Classes

Preparing ahead can make labor and delivery feel far less daunting. We encourage all patients to take advantage of childbirth preparation classes, which cover everything from the stages of labor to pain management options and what to pack. These classes are offered through MercyOne, and you can view the current birth class schedule here.

Labor & Delivery

When the big day arrives, you’ll deliver at a MercyOne facility with our physicians close by. We proudly deliver at:

• MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center
• MercyOne West Des Moines Medical Center

Both hospitals offer modern labor and delivery suites, experienced nursing teams, and access to neonatal care should your baby need it. Your physician will talk through your birth preferences and options with you, including vaginal delivery, scheduled cesarean section, and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC). To understand how these approaches differ, read our overview of birth methods.

We also encourage every patient to consider lactation support and a hospital tour through MercyOne so the building feels familiar before you arrive in labor.