Family Medicine with Obstetrics: One Doctor for the Whole Family

My day recently started with delivering a baby at Bothwell Hospital at 7 am. Mom and baby did beautifully. Once everyone was settled, I rounded on the postpartum moms and babies in their rooms. I examined each of them and talked with the moms about how they were feeling.

After ensuring everyone was stable and doing well, I headed to the Healing Arts Center across town to start my day at Bothwell Family Medicine Associates. In the clinic, I may see newborns, children for well-child exams, adults for wellness visits and chronic disease management, pregnant and recently postpartum patients, someone with a skin condition that needs a biopsy, women for well-woman exams and more. The variety is vast.

Family doctors who practice obstetrics are trained to manage all these needs and many others. We walk with people through pregnancy, delivery and postpartum care, then continue caring for the same families in the clinic for years.

The convenience of seeing a single doctor who knows and cares for the entire family is hard to match. In one morning visit, I may check on a new mom to talk about how breastfeeding is going and how her mental health has been since delivery, help treat an older sibling’s stomachache and see the baby for a routine check. Later that day, I might see grandparents, hear family updates and look through all the cute baby pictures. Caring for entire families during pregnancy, delivery and as they grow is one of the best parts of my job.

Missouri is a maternal health desert, which means our state lacks adequate maternity care resources. Many communities have lost labor and delivery units, and it can be hard to find quality obstetric and newborn care close to home. That can mean longer drives, more time off work and more stress for pregnant patients and their families.

Family medicine physicians who provide obstetric care are uniquely positioned to help fill this gap. We can provide prenatal care, deliver babies, care for newborns and then see those children and their parents for years in the same clinic. This continuity helps us notice changes early, build trust and support the whole family’s health.

At Bothwell, I am part of a team working to expand access to this kind of care. In family medicine, we are trained to care for patients during pregnancy. With additional obstetrics training, we can deliver babies and provide that care in the hospital. At Bothwell, our family medicine with obstetrics team includes me, Dr. Misty Todd at Bothwell Cole Camp Clinic, Dr. Alyssa Emery at Bothwell Family Medicine Associates and the six family medicine residents training at Bothwell. We continue caring for families after delivery – from newborn visits and childhood checkups to adult care and advanced age.

If you are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or thinking about starting a family and like the idea of one doctor caring for you and your child, family medicine with obstetrics may be a good fit. If you think this type of care is right for you, you can contact Bothwell Family Medicine Associates to learn more.

I grew up in Lincoln, Missouri, where I learned to value community, hard work and human connection. Now, caring for families in this region feels like a natural extension of how I was raised. I am grateful to help families welcome new babies into the world and then watch those children grow.

Dr. Alexandra Cooke is a family medicine physician who also provides obstetric care at Bothwell Family Medicine Associates on the first floor of the Healing Arts Center at 3700 W. 10th St. in Sedalia. She cares for patients of all ages, including pregnant and postpartum women and newborns. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cooke, call the clinic at 660.827.2883 or Centralized Scheduling at 660.829.8888.