Women often plan for pregnancy with one goal in mind: to have a baby. They don’t usually give a lot of thought to what pregnancy means for them and their health. This time before pregnancy, called the preconception period, is the perfect time to take stock of your general health and lifestyle habits to give […]
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. While the world looks different now, and many people have delayed routine healthcare to focus on social distancing and balancing a work-from-home lifestyle and childcare, there are still many ways to get involved and get the care you need. Getting involved: While there may not be large walks […]
Women have so many options for contraception these days, it can be overwhelming. For those interested in permanent contraception, a tubal ligation (historically known as having your tubes tied) is a great option for many. Hear from WakeMed OB/GYN, Dr. Chantel Roedner, about this popular method of permanent birth control. Q: How do you know […]
Pregnancy can be both exciting and scary, especially if it’s your first child. But there are things you can start doing today to keep your baby healthy and make your pregnancy easier. The first step is to schedule a visit with your doctor, if you haven’t already. There will be a lot more of these […]
View a printable version of this blog post here. Why do my periods hurt so much? During your period, your uterus makes chemicals called “prostaglandins”. Prostaglandins cause contractions of the uterus, which causes pain. These contractions are similar to the ones that happen during childbirth and can be very painful. They may begin 1-2 days […]
During National Women’s Health Week, we wanted to take a moment to highlight some health care topics to help patients improve their overall health and live a healthy lifestyle. #1 – Annual Exams We cannot highlight enough the importance of the screening annual exam. During this visit, your physical as well as emotional well-being is assessed. […]
Today more than ever, women have a wide variety of non-surgical contraceptive options for preventing pregnancy. Research tells us that the most effective methods in preventing pregnancy are long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), which includes 5 types of intra uterine devices (IUDs) and the contraceptive implant (Nexplanon). Benefits of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) LARCs are better […]
As an Ob-Gyn, among the most devastating news I can share with my patient is that they are experiencing a miscarriage or stillbirth. What is a miscarriage? A miscarriage is any pregnancy loss that occurs during the first 20 weeks of the pregnancy, which is around the 5th month. Even though there is some awareness […]
In the United States, 80% or more of pregnancies among adolescents age 15 to 19 years are unintended. National surveys report that ⅓ of high school students are sexually active and only ⅓ of those reported use effective contraception. Barriers to Seeking Contraception Potential barriers might include concerns about confidentiality or cost as well as […]
Pregnant with tummy troubles? Let us explain changes to your gastrointestinal system in pregnancy, and what you can do to feel better! Battling Constipation Progesterone, a pregnancy hormone, slows down the GI tract, which can have many unpleasant side effects. Bloating and constipation are two frequent side effects of this. Pressure from the pregnant uterus […]
