Our prenatal care is different at Columbia Birth Center. Our appointment times are longer, allowing more time for discussion, education, and addressing concerns or questions. You get to spend the entire appointment with your midwife.

We practice shared decision-making at Columbia Birth Center. This means that there is more educating, informing, and empowering you to decide what is best for you and your baby. We offer the standard prenatal lab tests beginning with blood tests in early pregnancy, around 28 weeks, and again around 36 weeks. There may be additional tests that you and your midwife decide are beneficial. We want you to understand what tests we recommend and why, so that you can make the best choices during your pregnancy.

At each prenatal visit, you will hear your baby’s heartbeat and your midwife will measure your baby’s growth. We can usually hear your baby’s heartbeat as early as 10-12 weeks. Your midwife will also assess your vital signs, review pregnancy symptoms, and discuss any prenatal testing that is recommended.

You’ll have one prenatal appointment every four to six weeks until 32 weeks of pregnancy. Then, you’ll come in every two to three weeks until around 36 weeks of pregnancy. At that point, we see you weekly until your baby is born.

From start to finish, we want you to have the personal care and attention you deserve. During these appointments, we welcome your family to be present, including other children. Having our midwives get to know the important people in your life only enhances their relationship with you. These appointments are designed to be informative, personalized, and supportive.