Obstetricians are focused on the care of female patients from the initial conception through to the birth of their baby, fulfilling their medical needs through all of the stages of their pregnancy. Women will be referred to an obstetrician for their prenatal care as soon as they find out she is pregnant, typically receiving a referral from their family doctor. However, women may also work with an obstetrician before becoming pregnant if they are experiencing difficulties conceiving, if they are considered to be at high risk for complications during pregnancy, or if they have chronic health problems. While obstetricians handle all aspects of an expectant mother's prenatal care, including regular check-ins for both the mother and baby, as well as reviewing results from bloodwork and ultrasounds, they also provide care for high-risk patients. A woman can be considered to have a high-risk pregnancy if she is over 35, has a chronic health condition, is carrying multiple babies, has a history of preterm labor, miscarriage, or c-section delivery, is a smoker or drinker, or if she develops complications during the pregnancy that could affect the mother or baby. Obstetricians can also treat fetal distress, ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, placental abruption, uterine rupture, prolapsed cord, obstetrical hemorrhage, and sepsis. They also provide labor and delivery services to their patients, and postnatal care following the baby's birth.