Pregnancy Resources

The OB/GYN team at Independence Health System is here to prepare you and your family for one of life's most important events through education, information and preparation. Classes are offered both online and in-person in the Butler, Clarion, and Westmoreland Areas.

Schedule an In-Person Tour of the OB Unit

To schedule a Family Additions Maternity Tour at Westmoreland Hospital, visit Classes & Events and search "Family Additions Maternity Tour".

To schedule an OB Unit Tour at Butler Memorial Hospital, please call 724-284-4334.

Safety Guidelines for Pregnancy

Click here to see a list of approved medications to be used throughout pregnancy. Please review all prescription medications or other questions with your provider.

Click here to make informed choices when it comes to the types of fish that are nutritious and safe to eat while pregnant.

About Ultrasounds and Your Growing Baby

Ultrasound (or Sonogram) uses high frequency sound waves and a monitor to show your developing baby inside the womb (uterus). Ultrasound is safe for you and your growing baby when performed by a trained certified technologist. Ultrasound has been an integral part of prenatal care for over 30 years and has been found to pose no risk for mom or baby. Most uncomplicated, normal pregnancies, will have 3 ultrasound exams, one in each trimester of your pregnancy.

Our OB/GYN technicians are highly experienced in evaluating developing babies in the womb and are accredited by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). Not all facilities and technicians have this experience, expertise and accolades. When you’re ready for your fetal ultrasound, please be sure to schedule at one of our physician preferred offices.

The 1st Trimester Ultrasound – Seeing Baby for the First Time!

Most first trimester ultrasound exams are performed when baby is about 8 weeks old (¼-½ inch big).

During the ultrasound exam your technician will be looking to find:

How many babies are you expecting?
Is baby in a gestational sac inside the uterus?
Does baby have a heart beat?
Does Mom’s last menstrual cycle coincide with how big baby is measuring? This will help to confirm baby’s due date.
Your uterus and ovaries will also be checked to make sure they look healthy as well.

This exam typically takes less than 10 minutes and these will be the very first pictures of your baby!

The 2nd Trimester Ultrasound – The Detailed Anatomy Ultrasound

This is perhaps the most anticipated of all ultrasounds during a woman's pregnancy. This exam is typically done when baby is about 20 weeks old. Mom can finally put a face to the flutters and movements she’s beginning to feel. The prep for this exam is for Mom to have a very full bladder.

The fluid in mom’s bladder helps to highlight baby, making him/her easier to see. It’s also recommended to refrain from stimulants like caffeine & sugar the day of this exam as these tend to put baby in “exercise mode”. Keep in mind, it’s the ultrasound technicians’ job to evaluate your babies’ growing vital organs which are very small. It is important for baby to be as still as possible.

Sometimes, due to baby’s position or activity level, the technician may not be able to see everything that must be evaluated. If that happens, a follow-up ultrasound may be necessary. Additional follow up ultrasounds may need to be performed.

The 3rd Trimester Ultrasound – How Big is Baby & is Baby “Head Down”

It’s been about 3 months since you’ve last seen your growing and developing baby. How much does he/she weigh? Is he/she in the right position for delivery? These are important questions for mom and dad, but also for your doctors. The 3rd trimester ultrasound is typically done when baby is between 34-36 weeks old. The prep for this exam is the same as the 2nd trimester exam, mom needs a full bladder and should limit caffeine and sugar the day of the exam.

Sometimes during pregnancy, it’s necessary to have more than the typical 3 ultrasounds. Mom may develop gestational diabetes or high blood pressure, baby may have a single umbilical artery cord or may be measuring too small. In cases such as these, you may need to have weekly antenatal testing called a Biophysical Profile Ultrasound.

About Genetic Screening Tests

Screening tests are often done during pregnancy. It's important to remember that they don’t diagnose genetic conditions and an abnormal result doesn’t mean the fetus has a condition. It means there’s a higher risk for a genetic disorder. Your provider will help explain your testing results and any next steps.

About Preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a serious blood pressure disorder that can happen during pregnancy or soon after childbirth. Preeclampsia is a leading cause of death worldwide for women, fetuses and newborns. It can develop without you realizing it, so it’s important to learn the symptoms.

When there are symptoms, they may include:

A headache that will not go away
Seeing spots, blurry vision or other changes in eyesight
Swelling of face or hands
Sudden weight gain
Nausea and vomiting in the second half of pregnancy
Pain in the upper abdomen or shoulder
Shortness of breath

If you are diagnosed with preeclampsia during pregnancy, you may be at a higher risk of developing heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and high blood pressure later in life. You may also need to schedule additional visits with your OB/GYN or other health care professional. And be tell any future health care professional that you had preeclampsia during pregnancy so they are aware.

Anyone can develop preeclampsia. Many women who get preeclampsia are otherwise healthy and do not have clear risk factors. But some women may have a higher risk than others.

High risk factors can include:

Preeclampsia in a past pregnancy
Carrying more than one fetus
Chronic high blood pressure
Kidney disease
Diabetes mellitus
Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus

Moderate risk factors can include:

Being pregnant for the first time
Obesity
Family history of preeclampsia (mother or sister)
Being older than 35

Classes Offered

In-Person Classes

These classes provide information about the labor and delivery process, the role of the support person, medical procedures and common challenges and questions. The class also provides information and tools to use during labor, delivery, and postpartum, including pain management options and breathing and relaxation exercises. A labor support person is strongly encouraged.

Preparing for Labor and Birth: Natural Births and Postpartum
Family Additions Maternity Tour at Westmoreland Hospital
OB Unit Tour at Butler Memorial Hospital - To arrange a tour of the OB department , please call 724-284-4334.