Dr. Chismar offers the following obstetric services:

• Delivery services
  –  Vaginal
  –  Cesarean section

• Postpartum care
• Breastfeeding support

 Pregnancy confirmation

Dr. Chismar offers pregnancy confirmation tests. Many women use in-home urine tests to find out if they are pregnant. Since their arrival on the market, these tests have become increasingly accurate. However, it is possible to get both false-positive and false-negative responses from a home test kit!

Women who take fertility drugs to increase their odds of becoming pregnant can experience false-positive results. Ectopic pregnancies, which are not viable, can also register as a positive pregnancy result. 

False negative results can occur if woman uses a home test too soon after a conception attempt. They can also occur if the test is not performed correctly, or the urine has been diluted prior to testing. A blood test can accurately confirm a positive or negative home test result.

 Ultrasound

Ultrasound examinations can provide both parents and Dr. Chismar with a lot of information about a pregnancy. We use ultrasound examinations to confirm the viability of a pregnancy; confirm normal physical fetal development; and identify certain serious fetal defects. An ultrasound examination is a safe, non-invasive and effective diagnostic tool. It has no negative side effects for the developing fetus, and enables us to verify the health and well-being of both mother and baby.

 Prenatal care

Taking care of yourself during pregnancy is the best gift you can give to your baby. When we provide prenatal care, we can evaluate the progress of your pregnancy at every step. Regular prenatal care can help ensure that you remain healthy during pregnancy, avoid common complications and identify potentially serious pregnancy-related conditions that could harm you or your baby.

You should schedule your first prenatal visit as soon as you think (or know) that you are pregnant. Important fetal development occurs in the first weeks of pregnancy. As your health care partner, Dr. Chismar can monitor your pregnancy, answer questions, perform routine tests and evaluate potential risks and complications.

Early in your pregnancy, you’ll see Dr. Chismar every 4-6 weeks. Later, you will begin to schedule appointments every 2-3 weeks. In the weeks immediately preceding your delivery date, we will ask you to visit the office weekly. These visits are important because they allow us to monitor any potential stress on your body as your pregnancy progresses. If your pregnancy is classified as high-risk, Dr. Chismar will follow you more closely, so you may schedule clinic appointments more frequently.

 In-office blood draws

Dr. Chismar provides all lab services you will need during your pregnancy, and for all routine gynecological care. You will not have to schedule appointments elsewhere to have routine lab work performed.  It also enables us to get results to you more quickly.

 Delivery services

Dr. Chismar provides in-office prenatal care, but he will also deliver your baby!  Dr. Chismar admits patients to Union Hospital, where you will receive exceptional delivery and post-partum care. As your due date approaches, Dr. Chismar will begin discussing delivery plans for your baby, based on your specific condition. Once you go into labor and are admitted to the hospital, unforeseen circumstances may require rapid changes your delivery plan. Dr. Chismar and the staff at Union Hospital will keep you apprised of any necessary or recommended changes to your initial delivery plan.

 Vaginal deliveries

Dr. Chismar will recommend a delivery method, based on your personal circumstances. In the absence of any known complications, most women deliver their babies “naturally” via a vaginal birth. Many women worry that their bodies will be unable to tolerate a natural delivery or that their babies will be too big for a vaginal birth. However, late-pregnancy changes in your body help it to prepare for a vaginal birth. Vaginal births are typically less risky and result in fewer complications for both the mother and the baby. Women who give birth vaginally also recover more quickly than women who have a Cesarean section (C-section).

As part of your delivery preparations, Dr. Chismar will discuss your delivery with you, and will help you to understand the potential options, risks, and outcomes of each method of delivery.

 Cesarean Section

A Cesarean Section (C-section) is a surgical alternative to vaginal delivery. During a C-section, a doctor surgically opens the mother’s abdomen and removes the baby from her uterus. A doctor may choose to perform a C-section if the mother or baby develops a serious risk during pregnancy, labor or delivery. Women who have previously had a C-section will usually have repeat C-sections, although vaginal birth after Cesarean Section (VBAC) is possible. A Cesarean section usually takes about 45 minutes, most of which is devoted to repairing the mother’s uterus and abdomen. Women who have Cesarean sections usually experience more blood loss and are at a higher risk of complications following the procedure. In addition, women who give birth via C-section need more time to recover from birth, and are more likely to experience difficulties breastfeeding their babies.

Babies born by Cesarean section are at a higher risk of developing respiratory problems following birth. Some studies have also suggested that babies born via C-section are more likely to develop asthma and allergies.

 Post-Partum Care

Dr. Chismar will continue to provide care for you after the birth of your baby. Regular post-partum care allows Dr. Chismar to monitor your recovery, check for post-delivery complications and provide the necessary mental and physical healthcare support a woman needs following childbirth. Regardless of how you delivered your baby, post-partum care is essential!

 Breastfeeding support

Breastfeeding provides your baby with a host of health benefits that baby formula cannot offer. It may also offer benefits to mom! Studies have shown that women who breastfeed their babies are at lower risk for developing post-partum depression following the births of their babies.

Many new mothers experience difficulty breastfeeding. It’s easy to assume that breastfeeding happens naturally, and that problems you encounter must be your fault.  Dr. Chismar offers breastfeeding support for women who want to breastfeed their babies. Knowledgeable breastfeeding support can often resolve issues that may prevent or frustrate attempts to breastfeed successfully. Dr. Chismar can also offer information about the best time and techniques to wean your baby.

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, please contact our office to arrange for routine obstetric care for yourself and your baby.