A critical part of managing your health is understanding your risks for certain inherited medical conditions. Certain types of cancer, such as breast and colon cancer, appear more frequently in some families, while other diseases, such as coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, depression and blood clotting disorders, may be common in others. Collecting an accurate family history will help you and your health care […] Read More
It is not always known why a baby is in a breech position. Breech position occurs in 3-4% of babies at term and is more common when: The woman has had more than one pregnancy There is more than one fetus in the uterus (twins or more) The uterus has too much or too little amniotic fluid (the liquid around the fetus inside the […] Read More
The benefits of low dose aspirin in decreasing cardiovascular events such as stroke and heart attack are well described. In 2009 the U.S Preventative Task Force made the following statement: Men age 45 to 79 years should use aspirin when the potential benefit of a reduction in myocardial infarctions outweighs the potential harm of an increase in gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Women age 55 to 79 years […] Read More
One of the most common and important questions we get from newly pregnant women is about exercise. We know that regular exercise is critical for maintaining good heath in general, and the same benefits apply during pregnancy. Exercise helps to regulate weight gain and to alleviate some of the aches and pains women experience throughout gestation. One of the problems with pregnancy exercise guidelines has […] Read More
By far, the most common concern I hear from pregnant women is that they have read they should sleep on their left side (not just their side, their left side), but they awaken in a panic in the middle of the night when they find themselves on their backs. I realize the books all say the same thing, but we have to use some common […] Read More
When I began my obstetrics and gynecology residency training in the early 1980s, it was routine practice to perform an episiotomy during vaginal birth. The procedure — an incision made in the perineum and vaginal wall to make room for the baby — was believed to minimize trauma to the perineum and reduce pelvic relaxation. Pelvic floor relaxation and dysfunction — conditions characterized by a feeling of pelvic heaviness, vaginal […] Read More
Measles (Rubeola) is a viral disease which was considered eliminated in the United States in 2000 as a result of vaccination programs beginning in 1967. As a result of decreased vaccination rates in the U.S and exposure to the infection from foreign travelers, new Measles cases were reported in record numbers in 2014. Measles is highly contagious with an incubation period of 8-10 days. 75 percent of susceptible […] Read More
Vitamin D, or calciferol, is a fat-soluble vitamin with a very well understood role in bone health. Over the last several years it’s role in immune function, cell growth, neuromuscular function and reduction of inflammation has prompted more routine testing of vitamin D levels. Currently, there is intense interest in the role Vitamin D plays in pregnancy. A recent review article explored hundreds of studies on Vitamin […] Read More
Originally written By: Sean Bourke, MD, Edited by Karen Callen, MD For many women, weight management is a lifelong challenge, and planning to become pregnant can be great a motivator for adopting a healthy lifestyle. Knowing the facts about excess maternal weight with its attendant health risks for moms and babies, can help inform the choices obese women make while planning pregnancy and once they have conceived. […] Read More
Back pain in pregnancy has many possible causes. It usually is caused by strain on the back muscles. In mid-pregnancy, when your uterus becomes heavier, it changes your center of gravity. You then slowly begin to change your posture and the ways that you move. Most women begin to lean backward in the later months of pregnancy—making their back muscles work harder. Weakness of the […] Read More
