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CONFIDENCE IN CHOOSING AN OB The right doctor puts you and your baby's health first. Childbirth is a critical moment in life. Whether you have a high-risk pregnancy or want to deliver without pain medication, make sure your obstetrician respects your expectations and values. An OB who makes decisions with you and walks you through your options can help you feel confident before, during and after birth. Here are a few questions to get you started. Remember, it's your pregnancy. Let Providence be your partner. Find out more at providence.org/locations/socal/tarzana-medical-center/obstetrics. The basics. How would the OB describe their role in your care? How long have they been practicing? How many C-sections have they performed in the past year? And do they take your insurance? Prenatal care. Before and during your pregnancy, you'll need ongoing support and personalized care. Ask how often you'll see the doctor, how they 'll handle your questions between visits and whether they 'll still be your doctor if your pregnancy becomes high-risk. Will they help you create a birth plan? Labor and delivery. During this stage, it's vital to have an OB who respects your choices and avoids unnecessary interventions that can lead to complications. Ask who will deliver if your doctor is unavailable, what their thoughts are about inducing labor and what choices they offer for pain management. Postpartum care. Your OB can help both you and your baby thrive after delivery. Ask if your baby can sleep in the same room with you, if your partner can stay over as well, and what kind of breastfeeding help you will receive. Now ask the most important person: yourself. Do the OB's values align with mine? Do I trust their judgment? Do I like the way they communicate? And do they make me feel respected, confident and safe? NOW THAT YOU'RE HOME Creating a supportive team is essential for moms who have given birth to high-risk babies. That's why Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center offers a high-risk-infant follow-up clinic for the first two years of a baby's life. For preemies and other high-risk NICU babies who meet specific criteria, checkups start around 6 to 8 months, based on their corrected age, says Michele Curtis-Lavin, RN, director of women's and children's services. They return at other milestones, typically when the baby reaches its 13- to 15-month corrected age and chronologically turns 2 years old. During the one-hour appointment, a neonatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating newborns, will do a quick physical exam to ensure the baby is healthy and where it needs to be. A social worker will check in to see if a parent could use any extra resources. Then occupational and physical therapists will assess the baby for appropriate milestones. If there are developmental delays, the baby can be referred for additional services with therapists through California Children's Services. Parents who have a baby in the NICU or have brought their babies home may attend the monthly NICU parent support group. Meetings include speakers, such as a social worker or lactation consultant, and a light lunch. The program is one of the few high-risk- infant follow-up clinics in the San Fernando Valley. "We are able to follow the babies during a crucial time in their growth," says Curtis-Lavin. "Not many places offer this." What does corrected age mean? It's the premature baby's chronological age minus the number of weeks early a baby was born. For example, for a 5-month-old baby who was born 2 months early, the corrected age is 3 months. Health Matters: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center | 9 Michele Curtis-Lavin, RN

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