A person who’s expecting and who has sickle cell disease (SCD) requires early prenatal care and careful monitoring, but a healthy pregnancy is certainly possible. Sickle cell disease increases the risks for mother and the unborn baby, so plan on scheduling regular visits with your obstetrician, hematologist or primary care provider. Risks associated with pregnancy…
If you are pregnant again and delivered your last baby via cesarean delivery (C-section), it still might be possible to have a vaginal birth. While patients who attempt to have a vaginal birth after C-section (VBAC) have about a 60% to 80% success rate, your safety and the safety of your baby are the most…
During pregnancy, there are many guidelines for patients to follow, ranging from what to eat and what not to eat to how to exercise and what medications are safe to take. One of the medications that long has been deemed safe to take during pregnancy is acetaminophen. But a recent statement by 13 scientists from…
Esta publicación también está disponible en español If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, you may wonder how the coronavirus/COVID-19 could affect you and your baby. The OB/GYNs, midwives and other staff providing obstetric care with Norton Healthcare are closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic. As the situation continues to evolve, patient safety remains our top…
This publication is also available in English Si estás embarazada o planeando un embarazo, es posible que te preguntes cómo el coronavirus/COVID-19 podría afectarte a ti y a tu bebé. Los obstetras y ginecólogos, parteras y otro personal que brinda atención obstétrica en Norton Healthcare están monitoreando de cerca la pandemia de COVID-19. A medida…
More and more patients are interested in natural birth. There are many definitions of “natural birth” and just as many misconceptions about how and where a natural birth can happen. We will break down the facts so you can know how to prepare for natural birth — the way you want to do it. What…
Stress is a psychological and physiological reaction to changes in a person’s environment. These changes can be emotional, physical, social or cultural. Stress is a normal reaction that can seem like a constant companion in modern life. Can stress affect your period? Types of stress Not all stress responses are equal; stress can have both…
Improving your chances of getting pregnant starts with when you decide to try to have a child. You’re excited and ready to begin this part of your life. Planning for your health and that of a baby begins right away. “Assure yourself that if it’s meant to be, it will happen,” said Crista L. Hays, M.D.,…
During pregnancy, there are two vaccines that women should get to help protect them and their unborn children. Unfortunately, many women in the United States are not getting vaccinated, especially if they are Black or Hispanic. Just 61% of pregnant women got a flu shot during the 2019-2020 flu season, and only 40% also got…
Seasonal flu is especially dangerous for pregnant women and their babies in normal times. With COVID-19 spreading at the same time, it’s especially important to get vaccinated this year. “If you’re pregnant, getting a flu shot is critical because you’re more likely to have serious complications from the flu because of changes to your immune…
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a common condition caused by an imbalance of hormones that results in small cysts growing on the ovaries. PCOS mostly affects women in their late teens and 20s, and can cause irregular periods or infertility, as well as other health issues. PCOS is one of the most common causes…
As the coronavirus outbreak continues, the medical community learns more about how it affects certain populations. A study released July 9 by the University of Milan in Italy found the coronavirus and antibodies against it in the umbilical cord blood, breast milk, placentas and vaginas of some pregnant women infected with COVID-19, suggesting that the…