Clinic’s New Prenatal Care Services Ensure Healthy Births

/in /by

By Catherine Rice, Vice President of Marketing/Outreach at Health Partnership Clinic

Clinic's New Prenatal Care Services Ensure Healthy BirthsPrenatal Care Services Update

Since beginning prenatal care services in November 2024, Health Partnership Clinic has seen more than 80 mothers-to-be. During that time frame, 36 babies have been born, all healthy! Research shows that prenatal care and education programs can be successful in improving maternal and infant health outcomes. Eva Clark, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, our Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner says that prenatal care can reduce the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight and even maternal and infant death. At the clinic, mothers are provided with information not only regarding the pregnancy but also for postpartum care such as breastfeeding.

Prenatal care ensures mom and baby are not only healthy during pregnancy but also for delivery. Bottomline, the goal is to prevent health problems early and ensure healthy outcomes for both the mother and baby.

Health Partnership has partnered with Kansas City Women’s Clinic, an HCA Midwest Health practice, and Overland Park Regional Medical Center to provide care along with our own in-house women’s health nurse practitioner. The partnership leverages the expertise of community OB/GYNs, OB residents and our nurse practitioner.

Clinic's New Prenatal Care Services Ensure Healthy Births Clinic's New Prenatal Care Services Ensure Healthy Births

Prenatal Care Services For Communities of Color

According to Kelly D. Kreisler, MD, MPH, FAAP, Chief Health Officer and pediatrician, the program was started to meet the growing need for prenatal services among communities of color. Dr. Kreisler says that mortality rates for Hispanic babies are roughly double the rate of white infants, and Black babies are nearly three times more likely to die before their first birthday than white babies. The disparity is linked to systemic causes related to the social drivers of health. As a community health center, Health Partnership is uniquely poised to support moms to be, and after birth, take care of both mom and baby at one of our facilities.

The clinic followed Maranda Gordon through her pregnancy care at the clinic and shared it on our Facebook feed. We are happy to announce that Maranda, Miguel, her partner, and big sister Kinsley, welcomed Malina Jo Ramirez on August 11, a healthy baby girl weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 inches long! Malina was seen at HPC for her initial follow up visit with Jessica Nichols, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner, and everything was great!

To learn more about our prenatal services, visit hpcks.org/prenatal-services.

Pregnant? What’s next? HPC now offers prenatal services!

/in /by

Eva ClarkBy Eva Clark, MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC, Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at Health Partnership Clinic

So, you just found out you are pregnant and excited but nervous at the same time. Now what to do next? The answer is simple: Make an appointment with a provider to begin prenatal care.

Prenatal care is important as it ensures you and your baby are healthy during pregnancy and delivery. Unfortunately, statistics have shown that minorities (African American and Hispanic) continue to be the highest groups with no prenatal care. The lack of prenatal care can lead to low birth weight, premature birth and even maternal and child death.

An important part of the prenatal care plan is proper nutrition for both you and your baby. It is challenging to get all the nutrition your body needs from food alone, so it is important that you take a prenatal multivitamin containing between 400-800 mg of folic acid which could minimize the risk of birth defects and complications.

Initial Visit to HPC

For your initial visit expect to be there for about an hour as the provider will do the following:

  • Obtain your medical history as well as family history
  • Do a complete physical exam
  • Provide education about good lifestyles such as stop smoking and drinking alcohol as well as exercise
  • Provide you with an estimated due date (EDD)
  • Obtain your blood and urine for lab work

During pregnancy, your body goes through so many changes which sometimes lead to conditions that you normally would not have if you were not pregnant such as gestational diabetes, headaches, nausea/vomiting and swelling especially in your ankles/feet. Having prenatal care allows your provider to assess your health and ensure the baby is growing as expected.

Subsequent Visits to HPC

HPC Prenatal ServicesSubsequent visits should be shorter and will include:

  • Checking your blood pressure
  • Obtaining your weight
  • Measuring your abdomen once you are over 20 weeks to check baby’s growth
  • Check the fetal heart rate (FHR) after 10 weeks

After each visit, you will make an appointment according to how far along you are. The following schedule shows how often you will see your provider which could change depending on if you are considered high risk:

  • Every four weeks through 28 weeks
  • Every two weeks from 28 weeks until 36 weeks
  • Every week from 36 weeks until you deliver

Visiting your provider regularly provides you with the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. It also allows your provider to detect any problems early and provide treatment as needed. Proper prenatal care can help you have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

HPC Offers Prenatal Services

Having said this, if you have recently found out you are pregnant or pregnant but have not started prenatal care, Health Partnership Clinic is excited to announce we are offering prenatal services. We are in collaboration with Overland Park Regional Medical Center which is where you would deliver.
For information or to schedule an appointment, please call 913-276-7098.