Find Specialized Pelvic Health Care at Wellstar

Whether you’re planning to grow your family, expecting a baby or navigating the early days of parenthood, Wellstar Cobb Medical Center supports women and families across Cobb County with expert, compassionate maternal care.

The Women’s Center at Wellstar Cobb was the first hospital in the Wellstar system to achieve a Level III Maternal Care designation from The Joint Commission and the Georgia Department of Public Health and open a dedicated Obstetric Emergency Department. Families have access to comprehensive services including OB/GYN care, maternal-fetal medicine, labor and delivery, a Mother/Baby Unit and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for premature and critically ill newborns. The Women’s Center also features recently refreshed spaces designed to enhance comfort and privacy, elevating the patient experience.

By combining advanced technology, family-centered care and personalized support, Wellstar Cobb creates a warm, welcoming environment where women and families feel safe, respected and supported throughout their care journey.

OB/GYN care

The OB/GYNs at Wellstar Cobb provide personalized care for women through every stage of life. Our team offers a range of maternal services, including:

• Family planning and sexual health
• Prenatal care and delivery
• High-risk pregnancy care
• Postpartum care and support
• Infertility evaluation and treatment

Beyond pregnancy and postpartum care, OB/GYNs also support women’s long-term health through preventive screenings, gynecologic care, menopause care and wellness services tailored to individual needs.

Maternal-fetal medicine

Maternal-fetal medicine specialists care for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. These experts work closely with OB/GYNs to monitor both mother and baby, helping families navigate complex conditions with clarity and confidence.

At Wellstar Cobb, our maternal-fetal medicine team treats women with high-risk factors such as heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, infectious diseases and multiple births. Specialists also use advanced imaging, genetic screening and fetal monitoring to help identify and manage complications as early as possible.

Women experiencing high-risk pregnancies may receive care in the hospital’s dedicated antepartum unit (APU), where specialized nurses partner closely with maternal-fetal medicine physicians to support patients with personalized care and education.

APU care teams also create opportunities for comfort, connection and encouragement during extended hospital stays—from baby showers to themed experiences—helping patients feel supported throughout their pregnancy journey.

Labor and delivery

Wellstar Cobb offers maternity services designed to help mothers and babies stay safe and comfortable throughout labor, delivery and recovery. Because every birth experience is different, care teams prioritize shared decision-making and support birth plans that include midwives and doulas.

Labor and delivery teams work closely with NICU specialists whenever advanced support or monitoring is needed. The onsite Level III NICU allows newborn specialists to provide immediate care for mothers and babies. Wellstar Cobb provides care for both routine and high-risk deliveries, including babies born as early as 22 weeks.

Care continues beyond delivery, with teams across the Women's Center working together to support families as they prepare for the transition home.

Mother/Baby Unit and Women’s Unit

Following delivery, families receive continued care in the Mother/Baby Unit, where private rooms and a family-centered couplet-care and rooming-in approach helps minimize separation between parents and babies whenever possible. Care teams support skin-to-skin contact and every family's unique feeding and bonding journey while providing education and guidance as families prepare to transition home.

In addition, the Women’s Unit provides specialized gynecologic and surgical recovery care, combining clinical excellence with emotional support to help patients navigate recovery, unexpected diagnoses and sensitive health experiences with dignity, empathy and expertise.

Admission, Discharge and Education (ADE) nurses play an important role across both units, helping families feel informed, prepared and supported throughout their stay with personalized education and discharge guidance. Their collaboration with teams across the Women's Center helps ensure seamless, coordinated care from admission through discharge.

Obstetric Emergency Department

The Obstetric Emergency Department at Wellstar Cobb provides 24/7 specialized care for patients who are 20 weeks pregnant through six weeks postpartum. Patients are evaluated directly by board-certified obstetric providers, who work closely with maternal-fetal medicine experts, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, nurses and midwives to deliver coordinated care.

Services include rapid diagnosis and treatment for urgent pregnancy concerns, fetal monitoring and ultrasound, and care for pregnancy-related or postpartum complications. Specialists also provide emotional guidance and resources for families, including support during high-risk pregnancies or loss.

“Pregnancy can bring moments of uncertainty and having immediate access to obstetric experts can make all the difference,” said Dr. Jessica Williams, OB/GYN medical director at Wellstar Cobb. “The Obstetric Emergency Department allows us to respond quickly, provide clarity and help families feel supported from the moment they walk through the door.”

NICU

Wellstar Cobb is home to a Level III NICU providing advanced care for premature and medically complex newborns. The care team includes neonatologists, neonatal nurses and respiratory therapists specially trained to care for critically ill newborns.

Having a Level III NICU in Cobb County allows families to access world-class care close to home during some of life's most critical moments. Families can remain near their support systems while their baby receives specialized care.

“Our diverse team of experienced neonatologists and neonatal nurse practitioners brings the highest level of training to each newborn’s care,” said Dr. Kathryn Rhyne, medical director of the NICU at Wellstar Cobb. “Treating every baby with love and compassion, we work together with our patients’ families to make their time spent in the NICU as smooth as possible.”

Recent NICU updates reflect Wellstar Cobb’s commitment to high-quality care for mothers, babies and families across Cobb County. Designed to create a bright and welcoming environment, the renovated space helps families feel more comfortable and connected during a challenging time. Parents have access to 24-hour camera streaming so they can securely check in on their baby remotely.

Lactation services and breastfeeding education are available in the NICU and across the Women’s Center. The hospital also supports a milk depot program that helps provide donor milk for premature and medically fragile infants in the NICU.

Throughout the NICU stay, care teams partner with parents in their baby's care, encouraging bonding through skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding support and involvement in care whenever possible. The goal is to help every family feel informed, supported and connected.

Resources and support

Wellstar Cobb offers educational resources and programs for patients before, during and after pregnancy.

Community outreach efforts, including an annual baby shower hosted at the hospital, invite expecting and new parents to tour the hospital, connect with community resources and learn more about topics such as car seat safety, pain management options and doula support.

My Pregnancy Journey includes trimester-specific guidance on physical and emotional changes, nutrition, wellness and medication safety. Women and families can also access classes on childbirth, breastfeeding and newborn care, along with mental health and parenting resources.

Learn more about maternal care services at Wellstar Cobb.

Hot flashes and night sweats are common during perimenopause and menopause. They can show up without warning—sudden waves of heat, flushing or sweating that can disrupt your day and leave you feeling uncomfortable.

Symptoms can vary widely in frequency and intensity. “The severity of menopausal symptoms varies among women due to a combination of lifestyle, genetic, psychological and socioeconomic factors,” said Wellstar Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Karin Hulon.

Among those factors, nutrition plays a key role—and certain foods can influence how often symptoms happen. “Some foods trigger hot flashes,” Hulon said. “Pay attention to your body to see if you can make a connection.”

Helpful foods

A balanced, plant-rich plate can support your body’s natural regulation and may ease symptoms. “Soy is a phytoestrogen that mimics estrogen in our bodies and helps to reduce hot flashes,” Hulon said. “Foods high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, such as seafood and green leafy vegetables, are also beneficial.”

Options include:

• Mediterranean-style eating: plant-based foods, healthy fats
• Soy-based foods: tofu, edamame, soy milk, tempeh
• Phytoestrogen-rich foods: whole grains, seeds, legumes, berries
• Omega-3: salmon, chia seeds, avocados, flaxseeds
• Naturally cooling foods: apples, bananas, carrots, cucumbers, watermelon, pears, romaine lettuce

Mediterranean-style eating can be a practical place to start. “It encompasses plant-based foods and good fats such as avocado and olives, nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, tofu, fruits and fish,” Hulon said. “Even if you do not fully adopt this approach, making some substitutions and adjustments can be helpful.”

Foods to limit or avoid

Certain foods and drinks can trigger or worsen hot flashes, including:

• Caffeine: coffee, energy drinks
• Ultra-processed foods: baked goods, sugary drinks, fast food, fried foods
• Alcohol: wine (especially red wine), beer, liquor
• Spicy foods: hot peppers, jalapeños, cayenne pepper, hot sauces
• Nicotine: cigarettes, vaping, smokeless tobacco

“Women should avoid inflammatory foods—processed foods, fried foods, sugar, processed meats, canned foods and restaurant foods,” Hulon said. “Spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol also trigger hot flashes, so limit that intake as well.”

Supporting your well-being

Choosing nourishing foods, staying hydrated and noticing your personal triggers can help your body feel more balanced and comfortable.

Nutrition matters, but it is only one part of your overall health. “Lifestyle changes include smoking cessation, decreased alcohol consumption, exercise, dietary changes and weight loss,” Hulon said. “Decrease inflammation by eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables, increasing sleep to seven to nine hours per night and reducing stress. Despite good lifestyle modifications, many women may still need menopause hormone therapy support.”

Wellstar offers resources to guide women through this transition. “At Wellstar, refer to the Center for Best Health, where practitioners are trained in helping patients achieve healthy goals and offer behavioral, exercise and nutrition counseling,” Hulon advised. “Additionally, a certified menopause practitioner can help patients navigate menopause hormone therapy.”

Our women’s health experts are here to support you with guidance, compassion and whole-person care. To learn more about menopause care at Wellstar, visit wellstar.org/menopause.