Finding an OB/GYN
Our obstetrics and gynecology practices, LG Health Physicians Lancaster Physicians for Women, LG Health Physicians Eichenlaub and May, and LG Health Physicians OB/GYN offer a unique and specialized approach to care for women at all stages of life. These teams include board-certified OB/GYNs who are focused on addressing the evolving health-care needs of women. This includes complete care for routine and high-risk pregnancies, from conception to delivery and postpartum care.
With Women & Babies Hospital nearby, our patients enjoy the convenience of testing, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and delivery of their babies close to our practice.
OB/GYN at Primary Care Practices
Lancaster General Health primary care providers offer routine gynecologic care. The following also provide obstetrical care:
OB/GYN at Additional Practices
Prenatal Screenings and Testing
Prenatal Sonogram
An ultrasound, or sonogram, uses painless, high-frequency sound waves to allow doctors to examine organs and tissues. Similar to sonar or radar, the waves reflect back to create an image of the organ or other structure being examined. Unlike an X-ray, an ultrasound does not involve any exposure to radiation. We may use ultrasound to:
- Assess risk of certain medical conditions
- Check placement of the placenta
- Confirm multiple fetuses
- Determine gestational age of the fetus
- Evaluate pregnancy progress
- Guide needle placement for amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling
When do you get a fetal sonogram or ultrasound?
A sonogram during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy can help confirm and date the pregnancy. An ultrasound when you are between 18 and 22 weeks pregnant gives a more detailed picture of the baby’s anatomy. Ultrasounds may be repeated if the baby’s health needs to be monitored more closely.
What to expect during your ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a painless test. The technologist will spread a clear, water-based gel over the abdomen or inside the vagina and then slide a wand, called a transducer, over the gel. The physician will discuss the results and recommendations with you at the conclusion of the ultrasound.
Screenings and Diagnostic Tests
We use blood tests, ultrasound and other techniques to detect and diagnose chromosomal abnormalities. We use the least invasive techniques possible in order to reduce potential risk of complications or miscarriage.
- First trimester screening involves laboratory tests and ultrasound to indicate the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome or other chromosomal conditions. We perform this test between 12 and 13 weeks plus 5 days into your pregnancy.
- Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), also known as cell-free fetal DNA screening, is a screening test for women at high risk of having a baby with a chromosomal condition. For this test, we draw some of the mother’s blood, which contains DNA from both the mother and the baby. We perform this test after 10 weeks.
- Amniocentesis is a diagnostic tool we use if a screening test indicates a chromosomal condition. Guided by an ultrasound image, we insert a long, thin needle into the abdomen and remove a small amount of the amniotic fluid inside the uterus, which we send to an accredited laboratory for analysis. We usually perform this test between 15 and 22 weeks. We can perform it as early as 12 weeks, but the risk of complications rises.
Additional Prenatal Services
Developing a Birth Plan
During your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will discuss the pain relief options available to you during labor, delivery and cesarean section (if required). Anesthesiologists are in-house 24 hours a day and will take a full medical history in order to be aware of any current medications or allergies, in the event of an emergency cesarean section.
Completing a birth plan in advance of delivery helps to assure that the birth of your baby goes according to your wishes. It lets our team know of any special circumstances or requests that would be important during your labor and delivery process. Of course, sometimes changes need to be made for your baby’s health and for your own safety and comfort as labor progresses, but we do our best to make your birth experience everything you and your family are hoping for.
Use a birth plan form to help you organize your preferences, and then share with us.
Choosing Your Baby’s Doctor
Deciding on a pediatrician or family doctor for your baby is an important decision that should be made before your baby is born. Check with your obstetrician or other parents for recommendations, and find out which insurance plans are accepted at the practices you are considering. Find a provider at Lancaster General Health.
Many primary care practices offer prenatal tours or open houses to get you acquainted with your baby’s pediatrician, family medicine doctor, or nurse practitioner. Your relationship with your baby’s provider is an important one. Your baby’s provider will become a trusted resource for important parenting skills and education, and you will work as a team to keep your baby healthy and well-adjusted throughout every stage of childhood.