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An ob-gyn is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. Obstetrics focuses on pregnancy and childbirth, and gynecology is the general care of the female reproductive system.
Your care team
At Kaiser Permanente, your labor and delivery care team may include:
- Obstetrics-gynecology physicians
- Certified nurse-midwives
- Maternal-fetal medicine specialists
- Neonatologists
- Anesthesiologists
At the hospital
Our obstetrical team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the hospital — whenever you arrive in labor, we’ll be ready.
When you’re a Kaiser Permanente member, your prenatal care team, primary care doctor, and labor and delivery team are all connected through your electronic health record. The physician on call when you’re in the hospital may not be the same one you saw during your prenatal visits, but they will have the same knowledge, expertise, and experience. Kaiser Permanente delivered nearly 120,000 babies in 2020, so you can rest assured that you and your new baby are in very good hands.
Our vision
The Kaiser Permanente Fresno Women and Children staff is committed to providing evidence-based care that is developmentally and culturally appropriate. We strive to provide education to our patients based on individualized, age-specific needs. We strive to establish and maintain an effective team based on mutual respect, integrity, collaboration, and flexibility. Our goal is for each family to feel that they have a personalized, caring, and safe experience during their stay at Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center.
Care team members
Depending on your preferences and needs, you may receive care from a physician or a nurse practitioner during your pregnancy. If you or your baby need special care, we’ll refer you to one of our high-risk specialists.
In addition to the traditional ob-gyn care model, you’ll have the option to get care from a team that includes certified nurse-midwives and ob-gyn physicians working together.
The midwife philosophy takes a holistic approach, recognizing that conception, pregnancy, and birth are part of a natural cycle. Ob-gyn physicians specialize in all aspects of women’s health and medical care, and are highly trained in caring for women before, during, and after childbirth. We’re proud to be part of a national movement toward this new collaborative care model, where new moms and new babies can benefit from the knowledge and expertise of two types of medical professionals.
These physicians specialize in caring for newborns, children, and adolescents. A pediatrician will see your new baby before you are discharged from the hospital. After that, you’ll choose a pediatrician or family doctor to care for your baby.
These physicians are pediatricians with advanced training to care for babies who need specialized care. Newborns who are premature, have birth defects, or have other high-risk situations are cared for by neonatologists.
These physicians are responsible for epidurals, spinals, and general anesthesia during childbirth.
Maternity nurses are nursing professionals who care for expectant mothers before, during, and after childbirth. They specialize in caring for newborns and new moms, and can help you and your baby get started with breastfeeding.
An internationally board-certified lactation consultant specializes in breastfeeding. They help new moms who have difficulty breastfeeding for various reasons, including: pain, latch problems, milk supply concerns, a premature newborn, or history of breast surgeries. A lactation consultant is available to help you in the hospital and after you are discharged.
A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) is trained to help families during times of challenge and change. Some parents need additional guidance finding out about helpful resources. Our social workers see all of our teen moms and mothers of premature infants. There are many other situations when a social worker can help. If, at any time, you feel you need to see a social worker, let your nurse or doctor know.
Choosing your baby's doctor
We encourage you to select a personal pediatrician or family medicine physician for your new baby before he or she arrives. Helping your little one grow up healthy is an important job, so make time to choose a doctor you really like.
Ready to get maternity care?
Find a hospital or care provider near you.
Northern California members:
Visit Your Pregnancy to sign up for prenatal classes, get weekly emails, view and prepare for appointments, and more.
Learn about CenteringPregnancy®, a unique prenatal care program that includes group support with other new moms.