Ob-Gyne Services

• Well-woman care for your lasting good health.
• Leading-edge care for gynecologic health concerns.
• Conservative, leading-edge care you can trust for your gynecologic health.
• Certified nurse-midwives and board-certified obstetrics.

Well-woman care for your lasting good health.

Dr. James Smith and our certified nurse-midwives provide complete well-woman care to help you feel your best now and protect your health for the rest of your life. With our team, you’ll have the time you need to talk about your concerns, ask questions and get the most from each visit. We offer:

• Annual gynecologic exams for all ages
• Contraception, preconception counseling and family planning
• Menopause wellness and education

Leading-edge care for gynecologic health concerns.

If you’re suffering with a gynecologic health problem, you may be worried and experiencing pain that interferes with your life. Get the help you need at Ob-Gyne Associates, SC in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Our team has decades of experience and stays on the leading edge of women’s healthcare through rigorous continuing education. Dr. Smith and our nurse-midwives are easy to talk to about your personal health concerns. They make sure you understand your condition and all your treatment options.

Conservative, leading-edge care you can trust for your gynecologic health.

Minimally invasive solutions: No large incisions mean a faster recovery.

Our medical team takes a conservative approach to treating women’s health problems and will always offer the solution that will be most effective and easiest on you. Your certified nurse-midwife will educate you about your condition, explain all your options for treatment and may prescribe medication and recommend lifestyle changes that can help you.

• One-time outpatient solution for heavy bleeding – Endometrial ablation gently removes the lining of the uterus, putting an end to heavy menstrual bleeding. Recovery generally takes a day or two, and any discomfort can usually be managed with an over-the-counter pain reliever.
• Pelvic reconstruction – Childbirth, the aging process or being overweight can cause a loss of support in the pelvic region. Dr. Smith can correct this problem with an outpatient surgery that requires a few small incisions.
• Solutions for uterine fibroids – Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that can cause painful, difficult periods and pelvic pain. Your certified nurse-midwife or Dr. Smith may recommend medication or a state-of-the-art procedure called “uterine artery embolization” that stops the flow of blood to these benign growths and relieves symptoms.

Prenatal care and delivery, with the experience and options you want.

Certified nurse-midwives and board-certified obstetrics: Individualized care from experienced providers.

Experienced nurse-midwives you can trust for pregnancy, birth and postpartum care.

• Ours is one of the only obstetrical practices in the area that includes nurse-midwives who provide the full scope of care through pregnancy, birth, postpartum and beyond.
• Certified nurse-midwives are licensed as advanced-practice nurses and certified by the American College of Nurse-Midwives after completing extensive specialized postgraduate training. We are authorized to write prescriptions and order tests.
• As nurse-midwives, we are dedicated to providing ethical quality healthcare with your active participation in healthcare decisions; involving your family members in your healthcare experiences as much as you desire and individualizing your care using the best evidence available.
• Nurse-midwives see the events of a woman’s lifecycle as normal. Our approach includes watchful waiting and nonintervention in normal processes; supporting health and prevention of problems; using interventions and technology when appropriate; and consultation, collaboration and referral with other healthcare team members when needed.
• Nurse-midwives see pregnancy and birth as a normal process. Even if you have had a health problem before or develop one during pregnancy, we can continue to care for you by consulting or collaborating with Dr. Smith. You may also choose to receive physician-only care with Dr. Smith.
  In the event of a very serious complication, we can refer care to the specialists within our network.
• Nurse-midwifery care is safe, resulting in fewer newborn deaths and fewer low-birth-weight babies. We are less likely to induce labor and women we care for have a lower risk of a cesarean section. The cesarean birth rate for OB-Gyne Associates, SC in 2008 was 20% vs. an average of 34% at Northwest Community Hospital, where we attend births. We offer “trial of labor” after one cesarean and in 2008 had a 68% success rate for VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean).
• Women report high levels of satisfaction when nurse-midwives are their caregivers. They feel that they spend more time with the healthcare provider and are given more information. The Office of Technology Assessment of the US Congress stated that, “Certified nurse-midwives are more adept than physicians at providing services that depend on communication with patients and preventative action.”