• Overview
• Antepartum Testing Center
• Diabetes in Pregnancy
• Preterm Birth Prevention and Multifetal Gestation Services
• Fetal Therapy and Procedures
• State-of-the-art Ultrasound

Overview

Most pregnancies proceed normally, but some require special care. Sometimes these special circumstances are known in advance of pregnancy, such as medical problems. Frequently they are discovered during prenatal testing or during the course of pregnancy. Circumstances and conditions for which you should see special care in advance of pregnancy include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Pregnancy before age 18 or after age 34
• History of miscarriage, stillborn, or pre-term birth
• Family history of genetic disorders
• Exposure to drugs, x-rays or other harmful agents
• Extreme over- or under-weight
• Positive for HIV and/or other sexually transmitted diseases

To help ensure the birth of a healthy baby, we suggest the following:

• If possible, seek pre-conception care from your health care provider to identify any risks or problems before becoming pregnant. Discuss your medical, reproductive and family histories, nutritional status, genetic concerns, social, psychological or financial concerns.
• Seek genetic counseling if there is a history of genetic disorders, or if you are over age 34.
• See your health care provider as soon as you become pregnant to set up a schedule for prenatal care. During this visit discuss your risk factors.
• Avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, and taking any drugs, unless prescribed by a physician.
• Avoid chemicals in the workplace or at home.
• Avoid high temperatures, including hot baths, saunas, or hot tubs.

Annually, our Perinatal and Neonatal Teams care for hundreds of women with high-risk pregnancies as well as premature babies. We recognize that each experience is different, and our team is available to answer your questions and help you.


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Antepartum Testing Center

Staffed by nurses and physicians specializing in high-risk obstetric services, our antepartum testing program offers care for a woman whose pregnancy requires additional monitoring. If you are hospitalized due to high-risk pregnancy or have a condition that may put you at risk for early delivery or complications, we offer advanced testing to ensure your baby is developing in a healthy environment.



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Diabetes in Pregnancy

California Pacific's Diabetes in Pregnancy Program is staffed by a perinatologist, nutritionist and nurse educator. This program offers pre-pregnancy, antepartum and postpartum consultation and management for gestational and insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Through individualized counseling, meal planning and education, we help moms with diabetes manage their blood sugars, resulting in a healthier pregnancy.



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Preterm Birth Prevention and Multifetal Gestation Services

This program involves consultation and active management for pre-term labor patients. Our team of specialized doctors and nurses enables us to offer several different treatment plans to best meet the expectant mother’s individual needs. These plans may include medication, cerclage, or bed rest with monitoring. We also provide expert care to moms during pregnancy and delivery with multiple gestation pregnancies— particularly twins with special concerns or multiples of three or more.



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Fetal Therapy and Procedures

California Pacific is a referral center for therapy procedures including intrauterine transfusions, fetal tissue biopsies, umbilical cord sampling, fetal pleuracentesis and selective reductions.


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State-of-the-art Ultrasound

California Pacific’s advanced ultrasound technology provides remarkably detailed pictures that can help identify fetal abnormalities or provide assurance that all is well. Particularly useful for high-risk pregnancies, our ultrasound helps estimate fetal weight and growth, among other indicators.



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