Pregnancy, Labor and Delivery

• Ob-gyns provide care throughout every stage of a woman's pregnancy. During medical checkups, nurses prepare patients for their appointment and may assist the doctor in the examination. In hospitals, ob-gyns are responsible for admitting, monitoring and caring for women during and after labor and delivery. Some ob-gyns specialize in areas such as labor, delivery or neonatal care, in which they provide care to newborns immediately after delivery, in the nursery or in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Ob-gyns also care for women who have had a miscarriage or stillbirth.
  
  

Gynecological Care

• Gynecological care extends from the onset of menstruation to the end of menopause. Conditions that may arise during these various stages include endometriosis, cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. Ob-gyns care for patients with these conditions by providing information and advice, administering medications or other therapies and assisting OB-GYN physicians in examinations and surgeries. Nurses also contribute to preventive care measures, such as assisting in pelvic and breast examinations.
  
  

Patient Education and Counseling

• Ob-gyns are often responsible for counseling patients on the proper use of medications, such as birth control pills. They may also be required to educate patients on reproductive health topics, including medical conditions; surgeries or procedures; prenatal health; and preventive care, such as breast self-exams and safe sex practices.
  
  

Other Duties

• Ob-gyns may perform other duties, as well. Examples include collecting patients' medical information; responding to patients' requests or concerns, either in person or over the phone; refilling prescriptions; ordering and restocking medical supplies; and cleaning and maintaining exam rooms. These duties are more common for ob-gyns working in medical offices or clinics.