Salir
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
- 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 more than 105,632 babies in 2016, so you can rest assured that you and your new baby are in very good hands.
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.
These ob-gyn physicians have advanced training caring for high-risk mothers and babies. These specialists provide care and guidance for women who have health complications or complications during pregnancy.
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.
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.