woman sitting in a chair holding her newborn infant

Pregnancy & Birth

When you’re ready to have a baby, you need a care team by your side before, during and after pregnancy. Visit with a prenatal care provider, like an OB/GYN, midwife or family medicine/OB.

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Give you and your changing body the best experience possible when bringing baby into the world. From prenatal to labor and delivery as well as postpartum, your pregnancy journey with Avera will involve individual attention from our skilled and compassionate doctors.

No matter what Avera facility you visit across our service area, we offer the best care possible to help you stay healthy for you and your baby. This can include well visits before conception, prenatal checkups and delivery in the hospital. Physicians and patients are partners through every stage, including referrals to specialists as needed to ensure you have the best care available.

Maternity Care for Every Mom-to-Be

Navigate pregnancy confidently with your care team by your side. Many of our board-certified family medicine physicians have expertise in obstetrics to support patients managing pregnancy, including medications and potential complications. Their obstetrics background also includes labor and delivery for vaginal births, and sometimes cesarean sections depending on location.

Pregnancy Services

  • Birthing care
  • Childbirth education
  • Fertility guidance
  • Genetic testing and counseling
  • Lab work
  • Labor and delivery
  • Maternal fetal medicine
  • Certified nurse midwifery care
  • Nutrition
  • Pregnancy care
  • Prenatal visits
  • Surgical interventions
  • Ultrasound and imaging

Postpartum Services

  • Behavioral health care
  • Child life specialists
  • Donor milk banks
  • Education and follow-up visits
  • Hemorrhage treatment
  • Lactation services
  • New parenting classes
  • Nutrition
  • Neonatal intensive care unit (Level IIIB NICU)
  • Pediatric care (including specialty and hospital)
  • Physical therapy (pelvic floor)
  • Post-birth recovery care
  • Urogynecology care

Types of Providers

  • Certified nurse midwife: Advanced practice provider who delivers prenatal, birthing and well-woman care for women of any age or stage of life.
  • Family medicine/OB physician: Doctors who care for your family (and newborns) with additional training in obstetrics to manage pregnancy, including medications and complications that may occur.
  • Family medicine physician (also referred to as primary care provider): Doctors who care for people ranging from young children through older adults and including pregnant women. But you don’t need to be part of a family to see these providers.
  • Lactation consultant: Health care professionals who provide clinical breastfeeding support and management..
  • Neonatologist: Physicians who care for high-risk infants with health issues or those born prematurely.
  • Neonatal nurse practitioner: Health care professionals with special education and training for neonatal intensive care.
  • Obstetrician gynecologist (OB/GYN): Doctors who specialize in both pregnancy and gynecology who deliver babies, perform cesarean sections, perform gyn surgeries and manage labors that are normal or abnormal with pregnancy complications.
  • Perinatologist (also known as a maternal fetal medicine specialist): OB/GYN subspecialty providers who specialize in maternal fetal medicine for managing high-risk pregnancies. They also provide routine pregnancy ultrasounds and other prenatal tests to diagnose and prevent or correct complications below delivery.
  • Sonographer: Ultrasound technicians use high-frequency sound waves to create images of the body, including the fetus during pregnancy.

When considering care options for your baby, Avera offers a team of qualified family practice caregivers, pediatricians and pediatric specialists.  

Rural Access

Equal access to health care for women is important. That’s why Avera is committed to overcoming rural health disparities. Our physicians provide close-to-home care as well as visit outreach sites and conduct some specialty visits via telemedicine. At dozens of our hospitals and birth sites across the region, 24/7 labor and delivery care is available, plus Careflight emergency air transport to get patients to more advanced care when needed.

Childbirth Education Childbirth EducationFind the support you need before, during and after pregnancy through childbirth education resources and classes.
woman at prenatal checkup for Prenatal Care Prenatal CareLearn more about common and abnormal discomforts during pregnancy, why they occur and how you can find relief.
midwife taking care of pregnant woman at prenatal checkup Midwife Care Midwife CareCertified nurse midwives can provide prenatal visits, lab work, ultrasounds and more in select areas in South Dakota and Minnesota.
High-Risk Pregnancy woman at doctor prenatal checkup High-Risk PregnancyRely on maternal fetal medicine care for managing risk factors as well as proactive measures you can take.
woman being helped by a nurse the day after giving birth Labor & DeliveryMany different birthing sites across our region offer expertise and a comfortable environment for a safe and healthy birth.
new mom holding a newborn at home postpartum Postpartum CareWhile caring for your baby, take good care of yourself, too, with our help during the first 12 weeks after giving birth and beyond.

New Women’s & Children’s Center

In 2027, Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center will unveil a state-of-the-art, six-story tower featuring a new center of clinical excellence for women’s and children’s services. The expansion will include dedicated floors for women’s health, birthing and a newborn nursery, as well as an expanded NICU and pediatrics.

View Expansion Project

NICU

Children born prematurely, with special needs or with birth defects may have their needs best met with a neonatologist. Your infant is in good hands at our Level IIIB NICU designed for babies who were born at less than 32 weeks’ gestation or have special medical needs.

In addition to on-site neonatal experts in Sioux Falls, SD, each Avera site has access to pediatric hospitalists, intensivists and neonatologists through telemedicine technology, providing widespread care to those in communities across our region.

Hospital & Critical Care

Full spectrum, 24/7 pediatric hospital medicine and critical care are available to diagnose, treat and manage health conditions with services like:

  • Advanced life support
  • Breastfeeding support
  • Pediatric critical care
  • Pediatric procedural sedation services
  • Neonatal resuscitation
  • Newborn medicine

New Avera Women and Children's Center

Pregnancy FAQ

From conception to delivery, it’s natural to have many questions during your pregnancy journey. Your provider is your most reliable source for answers. Explore frequently asked questions to learn more. 

What are early signs of pregnancy?

Keep in mind that every pregnancy is different. Your early signs may differ from what someone you know may have experienced. Common signs include nausea, fatigue, frequent urination, constipation, heartburn, nipple or breast tenderness and breast swelling, bloating of belly, mood swings and missed or light periods (first trimester bleeding).

When does morning sickness begin?

Nausea and vomiting usually start before nine weeks of pregnancy. For most women, it goes away by the second trimester (14 weeks of pregnancy) but may last longer for some women. Sticking with small, frequent meals instead of three large meals, and eating foods with high water content that are less spicy and fatty can help relieve nausea. Drinking two liters of water a day helps to avoid dehydration.

How much healthy weight should I gain while pregnant?

It depends on your body mass index (BMI). As a general rule of thumb, we recommend you gain between 20 to 30 pounds if your BMI is considered normal. Check with your doctor to know for sure if you are underweight, overweight or obese. Women with a body mass index of 30 or higher have increased health risks during pregnancy for themselves and baby. Women at a lower weight should consider gaining more as this is healthiest for baby.

Who will be taking care of me when it is time to deliver my baby?

When you experience heavy contractions and are in labor, providers will be ready to care for you when you arrive at the hospital. Your baby may be delivered by your own doctor or provider, or another on-call physician. Your care team will explain what to expect. If pregnancy complications arise, your doctor will work closely with you and in partnership with specialists as needed to provide a safe delivery for you and your newborn.

Can I exercise while I’m pregnant?

Yes! During pregnancy, staying active and strong will prepare you for the big moment in the delivery room. An exercise specialist can introduce you to modified forms of your favorite exercises. Check with your doctor to know for sure what physical activities are recommended for you in your condition.

Women’s Health Research Now & Into the Future

Avera Research Institute seeks to improve health for mothers and their children through community-based research. Our staff of clinical research experts address regional needs by gaining insight into historically high-risk or medically underserved populations to make a positive impact by:

  • Addressing population health needs
  • Advancing clinical best practices
  • Supporting diverse populations

Clinical Research

Not every expecting mom has access to healthy food, reliable transportation and decent housing. To close the gaps in rural obstetrics care, Avera Research Institute addresses these realities with federally funded, community-based research such as:

At Avera, we also conduct clinical trials on women's health and other topics.  View Studies

Women's Research at Avera

Pregnancy & Childbirth Guidebooks

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More Programs and Services

Depending on your health condition, your doctor may recommend additional attention from specialists at Avera. Note that some services vary by location.

BreastfeedingCount on the expertise of certified lactation consultants to help you breastfeed during and after your hospital stay.
FertilityLook into family planning or fertility care options that are in line with the Catholic faith.
Genetic Testing & CounselingConsider genetic counseling if you know of family history of genetic diseases, birth defects or miscarriage.
Women's HealthCompassionate, comprehensive care and personalized health services for women of all ages and lifestyles.

Maybe a Baby

If a baby may be in your future, consider these expert-backed tips to help plan for and welcome a new life.

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Visit an Avera Birthing Center

When you choose to give birth at Avera, you’ll enjoy access to a wide variety of birthing professionals and services.
Contact your local Women’s Center to learn more, and ask about in-person and virtual tour options as available by location.

Meet Our Team

No matter what you need, count on our team of compassionate experts to care for you during your pregnancy.

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Read Helpful Pregnancy Articles

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By Your Side Before, During & After Baby Arrives

Trust our compassionate providers to help you navigate pregnancy, from conception to labor and delivery, as well as parenting support. Schedule an appointment at an Avera clinic in your town and visit with your doctor.

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