For many families, pregnancy is the first time they begin thinking seriously about the health care system not simply for themselves, but for the next generation.
That makes prenatal care, and even care before conception, one of the earliest forms of preventive medicine. At Choptank Community Health, that work brings together family physicians, certified nurse midwives, pediatric care, dental services, and primary care to support both mother and child before, during, and long after pregnancy.
In this Spy conversation, Mickey Dubroff, CNM, and Jordan Burnette, DO, talk about why early matters, what families can expect during those first visits, the role of nurse midwives, and why it is never too late for a pregnant woman to seek care.
They also discuss something they believe is too often overlooked: the quality of maternity care available here on the Eastern Shore, and the value of having that care connected to a broader health system that can continue serving a family after the baby arrives.
Perhaps the simplest message from the conversation is also the most important: when in doubt, call. Even one prenatal visit can provide information that can make pregnancy and delivery safer for both mother and child.
