Some women may think pelvic floor issues are a normal part of the pregnancy journey and postpartum healing process – or they may be too embarrassed to speak up. But when you share any concerns with your doctor, you can return to normal function more quickly while also preventing [...]
Gianna Lauria was surprised to learn she was pregnant with twin girls since multiple births don’t run in her family. Then, just 32 weeks into her pregnancy, the 24-year-old Howell resident was amazed to learn she was in early labor. “I was putting my toddler to bed and noticed [...]
For most people, a healthy diet is a great way to get the vitamins and minerals you need. But if you’re planning a pregnancy or are pregnant, your body needs extra nutrients beyond the healthy foods you eat – and those can be provided in a prenatal vitamin. “Pregnancy [...]
One of pregnancy’s joyous milestones is feeling your baby move for the first time. These movements – called fetal movements – can help determine if your baby is developing appropriately. CentraState OB-GYN Benoit Mapa, DO, explains fetal movements and what you should watch for. Q: When do women typically [...]
When Devi Manthiram gave birth to her son, Rivan, last summer, “everything was great,” she recalls. With the assistance of obstetrician Casandra Autry, MD, and the CentraState team, Devi, a first-time mother in her late 30s, experienced the joy – and relief – of delivering a healthy baby boy. [...]
Pregnancy is an amazing journey. But sometimes unexpected health issues can throw you off course. Preeclampsia—high blood pressure during the later stages of pregnancy—is one of them. "Many preeclampsia symptoms—headaches, nausea, shortness of breath—are also common pregnancy complaints, so it can be hard to recognize those signs as a [...]
When Gillian Davis, 39, learned she was expecting another child, she knew what she wanted—and didn’t want—for her third baby’s birth. Gillian had gained over 100 pounds with her last pregnancy and had developed polyhydramnios, a condition in which there is too much amniotic fluid around the baby during [...]
As the COVID-19 vaccine becomes available to a broader range of ages and occupations, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may be starting to think about what they should do when the vaccine becomes available to them. Vivian Mishan, MD, FACOG, an OB/GYN at Women's Health Specialists of CentraState, [...]
When Kristen Connors McEvoy, RN, learned she was having twins last spring, she kept working as the clinical leader in CentraState’s busy Emergency Department. And then the COVID-19 crisis hit. While all healthcare workers were anxious about the virus, her pregnancy brought another level of concern. With the advice [...]
By Margaret Dufreney, MD While there are many resources for women on what to expect when you are expecting a baby, patients often ask me what to expect after delivery, when a woman’s body continues to experience a myriad of changes. Until I had my own baby recently, I [...]
