Answers to common questions about what you can expect
Prenatal Care
Perinatal nurse navigators are highly trained experts in maternal and infant health. They have a deep understanding of the physical, emotional, and psychosocial aspects of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Perinatal nurse navigators act as advocates for their patients, helping them navigate the complex health care system and ensuring that their preferences and values are respected.
They support communication between families and the health care team, promoting shared decision-making and a patient-centered approach to care. Perinatal nurse navigators provide emotional support and a compassionate presence, helping families cope with stress, anxiety, and other emotional aspects of the perinatal experience. They also connect families with any community resources and support services they may need, such as breastfeeding support groups, childbirth classes, and mental health care.
Navigators can meet with patients through a telemedicine appointment at the beginning of their prenatal care journey for an introduction to prenatal care and their OB team.
Perinatal navigators play a vital role in supporting patients throughout their pregnancy journey, but they usually do not attend OB appointments. Instead, they collaborate closely with clinic nurses to coordinate care, provide education, and assist patients in navigating the health care system. Perinatal navigators act as a bridge between patients and their health care providers, offering guidance and support as needed.
Additionally, we encourage patients to use the patient portal, which allows them to communicate directly with their OB team, schedule appointments, and view test results. This helps ensure that patients receive complete support and information throughout their pregnancy.
The birthing tour is held multiple times each month. The schedule will accommodate most patients. Prenatal classes are offered in-person and online via zoom. Some classes work better on zoom than others. Classes are held on weeknights and Saturdays. Please visit www.uabhealthclass.com for tour and class schedules and registration.
Birthing suite tours are offered both mornings and evenings- offering a variety of choices to schedule. You can also watch a virtual labor and delivery tour on our website. Prenatal classes are also flexible, offering in-person and virtual options, evenings and weekends.
Determining whether your pregnancy is low-risk or high-risk usually involves an evaluation by your health care provider, who will consider various factors such as your age, health history and underlying medical conditions, pregnancy history, and any current pregnancy complications.
How to assist in assessing your risk:
- Regular prenatal visits: Attend all scheduled prenatal visits. Your health care provider will monitor your health and your baby’s development.
- Medical history review: Share your complete medical history with your health care provider, including any chronic conditions, previous pregnancies, and any family history of genetic conditions.
- Routine screening tests: Undergo routine screening and diagnostic tests as recommended by your health care provider, such as blood tests, ultrasounds, and glucose screening.
- Communication: Discuss any concerns or symptoms you have with your health care provider. Promptly reporting issues like severe headaches, swelling, or unusual pain is important.
- Healthy lifestyle: Maintain a healthy lifestyle with proper nutrition, regular exercise, and avoiding harmful substances.
Your OB/GYN may consider referring you to a high-risk OB (often referred to as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist) if you have any of the following conditions/concerns:
- Type 1 or 2 diabetes
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Heart disease
- Kidney disease
- Autoimmune disorder
- Thyroid disorder
- Fetal concerns detected during ultrasound or genetic testing
- Possible placental problems, such as placenta previa or placental abruption
- Concern for fetal growth, such as being too small or too large
- Substance use during pregnancy
This is only a partial list of reasons that your provider may refer you to a maternal-fetal medicine specialist.
Prenatal Care Team
During prenatal care and delivery, patients often benefit from a collaborative team of health care providers. This usually includes:
- Obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs)
- Advanced practice providers, such as certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and nurse practitioners (NPs/CRNPs)
- Resident physicians
- Maternal-fetal medicine providers
- Nurses
- Other specialists as needed
Each team member contributes unique expertise throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. This approach ensures that patients receive whole-body care, emotional support, and education tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
We are proud to offer a collaborative team approach for low-risk prenatal care at eight convenient offices throughout Jefferson and Blount counties. This team includes 17 OB/GYN physicians, 10 certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNPs), and 4 certified nurse-midwives (CNMs). This ensures that all patients receive personalized attention and expert medical guidance throughout their pregnancy journey.
UAB Medicine family practice physicians also provide prenatal care and collaborate with OB/GYN physicians and midwives during pregnancy and delivery.
Should your pregnancy become high-risk, your OB/GYN will collaborate closely with UAB Medicine maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, also known as perinatologists. Their advanced expertise in managing complex maternal and fetal conditions ensures that you receive specialized care tailored to your specific needs. This approach promotes seamless coordination between our OB/GYN team and maternal-fetal medicine experts, with a focus on the health and well-being of you and your baby every step of the way.
Most OB/GYNs can effectively care for high-risk pregnancies, and in some cases they will co-manage or consult with a perinatologist on pregnancies involving pre-existing conditions or medical complications. However, perinatologists receive three years of additional training in managing medical complications related to pregnancy.
You may not see your doctor at every appointment, but rest assured that your providers are working closely with their partner physicians, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, maternal-fetal medicine providers, neonatologists, genetic counselors, and other specialists to provide complete care. They work together to care plans that focus on the health and well-being of both mother and baby.
Midwives
Certified nurse-midwives are an important part of our team, and they work alongside residents, OB/GYN doctors, and maternal-fetal medicine specialists. Midwives emphasize empowerment of the birthing person, the normalcy of pregnancy and childbirth as events in a patient’s life, and minimizing interventions.
- Certified nurse-midwife (CNM): A midwife is a health care provider specializing in women’s reproductive health, including gynecologic care, prenatal care, labor and birth support, and postpartum care. They are registered nurses who have completed advanced training in midwifery, including a graduate degree and certification.
- Nurse practitioner: These are registered nurses with advanced education and training, usually at a master’s or doctoral level, in a specific area of health care. They provide comprehensive health care services, including primary care, specialty care, and acute care, depending on their area of specialization. Nurse practitioners provide gynecologic, prenatal and postpartum care but do not deliver babies.
- OB/GYN physician.: These are physicians who have completed medical school and residency training in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN). They provide medical and surgical care related to women’s health, including prenatal care, childbirth, and managing gynecological conditions.
- Residents are physicians who have completed medical school and are pursuing residency training in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) or another medical specialty. Under the supervision of attending physicians, residents deliver babies vaginally and by C-Section, assist with gynecologic procedures and surgeries, and provide gynecologic and obstetric ambulatory care, including prenatal care.
- Medical Students: Medical students are also a part of our team and accompany the residents and attending physicians with your care.
Midwives who are licensed as advanced practice nurses can legally perform home births in Alabama under certain conditions, but the midwives at UAB Medicine do not perform home births.
You may not see your midwife at every appointment, but rest assured that your team is working closely with partner physicians and CNMs, nurse practitioners, maternal-fetal medicine providers, neonatologists, genetic counselors, and other specialists to provide complete care. They collaborate to develop tailored management plans that focus on the health and well-being of both mother and baby.
Should your pregnancy become high-risk, your midwife will collaborate closely with in-house OB/GYN physicians and UAB maternal-fetal medicine specialists. These specialists have advanced expertise in managing complex maternal and fetal conditions, ensuring that you receive specialized care tailored to your specific needs. This approach allows seamless coordination between our OB/GYN team and maternal-fetal medicine experts, focusing on the health and well-being of you and your baby every step of the way.
During delivery, patients often benefit from a collaborative team of health care providers. This usually includes:
- Obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs)
- Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs)
- Resident physicians
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Nurses
- Other specialists as needed
Each team member contributes unique expertise throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. This approach ensures that patients receive whole-body care, emotional support, and education tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
Labor & Delivery
During delivery, patients often benefit from a collaborative team of health care providers. This usually includes:
- Obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs)
- Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs)
- Resident physicians
- Maternal-fetal medicine providers
- Nurses
- Other specialists as needed
Each team member contributes unique expertise throughout pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. This approach ensures that patients receive whole-body care, emotional support, and education tailored to their individual needs and preferences.
Yes, residents are part of the care team.
Yes. We practice family-centered care and shared decision-making.
Yes. We encourage you to discuss your desires for birth planning with your perinatal nurse navigator or provider during your prenatal care.
Yes. This may be part of your birth plan. All care is determined by you and your baby’s condition and/or labor progress. This is part of the shared decision-making that we support.
UAB Medicine does not employ doulas, but patients may choose to work directly with a doula, and we welcome them as part of your support team.
Yes. We welcome doulas as part of your support team.
There are no restrictions on visitors or support people during the labor process. At the time of delivery, the number of support people at the bedside is limited to two, to help ensure a supportive and calm environment for the birth.
Yes. We follow research-based practices of delayed bathing and support shared decision-making.
Your care team will round on you frequently during your stay. You will be discharged when you reach certain clinical milestones. That’s roughly 48 hours for a vaginal delivery and about 72 hours for a Cesarean delivery.
UAB supports VBAC. At your prenatal appointments, your provider will discuss options and incorporate shared decision-making.
We do not offer birthing tubs. We have showers that can be used for comfort and pain relief during labor.
You do not have to call before coming, but doing so may allow for a more timely admitting process.
We have a full staff of board-certified lactation consultants, and our staff follow the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding guidelines.
Yes, this is part of shared decision-making, and we support a mother’s choice for feeding her infant.
Yes, we offer phone consultations and visits by appointment.
Yes, epidurals are very safe. Please refer to your MyUABaby Journey Birth Plan for full details on pain management options.
Yes. All UAB Labor and Delivery nurses are trained in both medicated and natural labor support.
UAB Labor and Delivery nurses are trained in both medicated and natural labor support.