Obstetrics (OB)

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Northport Medical Center

Women’s Pavilion

Have You Registered For Childbirth Classes?

Sign up for one or all of these Childbirth Education Classes
  • Comprehensive Childbirth
  • Big Brother/Big Sister
  • Pregnancy in the 3rd Trimester
  • Breastfeeding
  • All About Infant Care
  • Breathing and Relaxation
  • Beyond Your First Baby
  • Infant/Child CPR & Safety
  • Marvelous Multiples

A schedule of classes may be picked up at the Registration Desk at the Women’s Pavilion

For more information,

Call 205-333-4296

All of the childbirth education classes are taught by Registered Nurses, many who are certified through the Council of Childbirth Educators.

www.dchsystem.com

Northport Medical Center

The Lactation Center

The Lactation Center, part of the Breast Care Center, is located in the Medical Office Plaza at Northport Medical Center. Services available at the Lactation Center include:

  • Post-discharge Clinic Visits
  • Pump Sales & Rentals
  • Telephone Consults
  • Baby Weigh Day
  • Full Consults
  • Prenatal Consults
  • Prenatal Breastfeeding Classes
  • Nursing Bras & Breastfeeding Supplies

 

Hours:
7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Scheduling:
(205) 330-3036
(Appointments are needed to lactation consults, fittings and follow-up weight checks.)

Breastfeeding Services

Breastfeeding Class: This class is designed for women who plant to breastfeed. Father are encouraged to attend. This course offers instructions and help in effective breastfeeding techniques. For further information, or to register, call 333-4296.

Baby Weigh Day: Curious about our baby’s weight gain? Drop by the Breast Care Center from
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of each month for a complimentary weight check and reassurance by a lactation consultant.

Breast Care Store: The Breast Care Store offers a wide variety of breastfeeding accessories and supplies. Included are nursing bras (up to 54J), Medela “Pump-N-Style” breast pump, breast pump accessories, cloth nursing pads, lanolin, shells, breast milk storage bags and nursing footstools.

Breast Pump Rentals: Medela Symphony breast pumps are available for monthly rental..

Follow-up Weight Checks: Have your infant’s weight checked for your own peace of mind or upon the advice of your physician. Appointment required. A fee is required for this service

Lactation Consults: Lactation consultants are available for breastfeeding mothers who are
Experiencing problems or who have questions. Appointment required. A fee is required for this service.

Bra Fittings: Be fitted for a nursing bra by a Medela Certified Bra Fitter. Appointment requested.

4D Ultrasound Information

Congratulations on your pregnancy! Thank you for choosing Obstetrics & Gynecology of West Alabama. If you are considering having a 4D ultrasound examination, you will be interested in the following information regarding the scheduling procedure and cost, as well as answers to some frequently asked questions about 4D ultrasounds provided by us here at Obstetrics & Gynecology of West Alabama.

What is 4D ultrasound?

“4D” is shorthand for “four-dimensional” the fourth dimension being time. 4D ultrasound takes three-dimensional ultrasound images and adds the element of time to the process. The result: live action images of your unborn child. 4D ultrasound utilizes sound waves to look inside the body. The technology is similar to sonar. A probe placed on the body emits sound waves into the body, listens for return echoes, and generates an image. Extensive studies over 30 years have found that ultrasound has not been shown to cause any harm to mother or baby within the safety parameters established for our use.

When should I schedule my 4D?

We recommend that if you plan on having a 4D ultrasound examination, that you have it performed between your 28th and 32nd week of pregnancy. At this stage your baby has begun to put on a little weight but still has room to move around, so we get the best opportunities for good pictures. After 32 weeks, the baby has grown so much that there is much less fluid and it is difficult to get good images. 4D ultrasound examinations are performed by appointment only. Due to limited scheduled openings for 4D ultrasound examinations, we recommend you schedule your 4D ultrasound appointment as soon as possible to ensure your scheduled appointment time falls in the optimal fetal age range of your pregnancy.

Obstetrics & Gynecology of West Alabama will make every effort to get pictures that are acceptable; however, that will depend on the “cooperation” of the baby. If the pictures are deemed unacceptable, you do not have to purchase them and you may schedule another 4D ultrasound if you wish. You may call to schedule your 4D ultrasound appointment during any of our regular business hours.

How much will my 4D ultrasound cost?

4D ultrasound is not a diagnostic ultrasound. At this point, insurance does not cover the costs of 4D ultrasounds. Since this is an elective procedure and is not intended to be a replacement for your physician ordered ultrasound, you will need to pay the cost of this ultrasound as an out of pocket expense. We accept cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, American Express and debit cards. The cost for a 20 minute 4D ultrasound is $50.00 and is due before you have the 4D ultrasound performed. Obstetrics & Gynecology of West Alabama does not currently charge an additional fee for multiple gestation pregnancies (i.e., twins, triplets, etc.). This $50.00 is non-refundable regardless of whether acceptable pictures of your baby are obtained or not. This $50.00 is a “session fee” for the each ultrasound appointment. It must be remitted each time you choose to reattempt your 4D ultrasound for any reason. Pictures and a DVD of your 4D ultrasound can be purchased for an additional $75.00 following your examination. Obstetrics & Gynecology of West Alabama, P.C. requires a “zero balance” before your 4D ultrasound can be scheduled.

What if I do not wish to know the gender of my unborn baby – Is this a problem?

Many of our patients want to enjoy a scan but do not want to know the sex of the baby at all. This is not a problem at all. Simply tell the sonographer that you do not want to know BEFORE the scan starts. They will then ask you to look away from the screen for a few moments when they first place the probe. This will allow them to identify your baby’s position so they can stay away from the “crucial area” during the scan.

What if a problem is identified during my 4D ultrasound examination?

Even though your 4D ultrasound is not a medical examination, on occasion we may detect a problem with your pregnancy. Rest assured that in the case of this rare event, your physician automatically receives a report following your ultrasound procedure with the results of the study so he/she will be able to advise you what to do with this new information.

Who can I bring with me to my 4D ultrasound?

While Obstetrics & Gynecology of West Alabama does not limit the amount of people you are allowed to bring to your 4D ultrasound with you, and wants you to feel welcome to bring as many people to your 4D ultrasound experience as you would like, please take into consideration that we have a limited amount of space in our ultrasound rooms to seat people comfortably.

Please click here for paperwork that can be filled out before your appointment.