Interested potential clients are invited to call the center of their choice to sign up for a free one-hour tour and interview with one of our midwives. During this time you will have an opportunity to discuss any aspect of midwifery, pregnancy and the Austin Area Birthing Center with us. Austin ABC also provides annual physical exams, Pap smears, birth control, and pre-pregnancy counseling, all at reasonable rates.
First time mothers are required to take childbirth preparation classes, which we offer at a reasonable rate. We have an extensive array of additional classes to choose from, including prenatal and postnatal yoga three times a week at a low cost for clients.
Prenatal Care
Austin ABC offers mothers the same prenatal testing as they would expect at a physician’s office in addition to more time for counseling, teaching, and getting to know the Midwife.
The first prenatal visit:
At this time a physical exam is performed to ensure that the mother is a healthy, low risk client. There are also optional tests offered to check for certain genetic disorders. There is an extra charge for this test. An ultrasound accompanies genetic testing.
Routine pregnancy blood work is drawn and any extra tests as indicated by the mother’s health history are performed.
If the pregnancy is difficult to date using traditional methods, a dating ultrasound may be scheduled.
Please schedule approximately one hour and 20 minutes for this first visit.
The second prenatal visit:
At this time the focus is on individualized diet teaching and counseling. The rest of the visit includes:
- Review of the lab work from the first visit
- Measuring the fundus (uterus)
- Checking the mother’s vital signs and the baby’s heart rate
At this time the mother (and her partner) may chose to join our Centering Healthcare group prenatal program, for her prenatal care. Centering involves mothers and partners, joining together with the other moms who share similar due dates. Various pregnancy topics are covered, as well as the information needed to prepare for birth. The group is part prenatal visit, part support group, and part childbirth class. Many strong bonds are established between Centering couples.
Please click on this link to learn more about Centering.
Some moms prefer to continue on with traditional prenatal visits, rotating among the Midwives, and getting to know all of them in a private setting.
All clients receive a twenty week ultrasound/ anatomy scan, of the baby, at both our South and North locations.
As the due date approaches, the Centering Group moms return to weekly private visits with the midwives at their location.
Annual Physical Exams
AABC offers annual checkups and pap smears for all women in every phase of their lifespan, from puberty to menopause. A wide variety of birth control choices are available including:
- Birth control pills
- The Mirena, Skyla and Paraguard IUD
- Counseling and instruction regarding Natural Family Planning
We also offer Pre-Conception Counseling. This appointment is for women who are not pregnant and who are wanting to use AABC services when they do become pregnant. One of our Certified Nurse Midwife will discuss the best ways to keep healthy while trying to become pregnant.
