by Dr. Crystal M. Newby, MD The holidays are officially upon us and so is your growing baby bump!  Pregnancy can be challenging, especially with the commotion of the holiday season. In addition to the normal complexities of growing another human in your belly, many people work longer prior to the holiday season, and have additional financial and emotional stressors during this time. Are you wondering how you will keep your spirits up and your stress down this time of the year? From Cocktail to Mocktail, Keeping Your Spirits Up Without Spirits ‘Tis the season for family, celebrating old tr ..read more

by Dr. Errick Y. Arroyo, MD During pregnancy, your body will go through a multitude of changes. While many of those changes are internal, some are more prevalent physically, including skin conditions that may arise. There are many common skin conditions that can occur during pregnancy and most of them disappear postpartum. Most common skin conditions can be broken down into three categories: hormone-related, preexisting, and pregnancy-specific. Hormone-Related Skin Conditions Many skin conditions that women will experience during pregnancy are due to hormonal changes that the body goes through ..read more

by Dr. Emily S. Minderman, MD September is recognized as Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer-related deaths among women, and the chance of a woman getting ovarian cancer in her lifetime is 1 in 78. Ovarian cancer mainly develops in older women with about half of those diagnosed age 63 or older. At any age, it’s important to know the facts about ovarian cancer. What Causes Ovarian Cancer? Researchers have yet to find an exact cause of ovarian cancer. Recent findings about the cause indicate that it starts in the cells lo ..read more

by Dr. Meghan A. Nichols, MD July is Cord Blood Awareness Month. There are often many questions when it comes to cord blood, its benefits, and why people choose to donate or store it. In this article you can learn more about cord blood and help make an informed decision on what to do with your own cord blood after birth.  What is Cord Blood Banking? Before deciding if you want to bank cord blood, it’s important to know what it is. Cord blood is the remaining blood from the baby that’s left in the umbilical cord and placenta after birth. Cord blood is unique in that it has a high concentra ..read more

by Dr. J. Anthony Heit, MD While pregnancy in the summer can have its fair share of benefits, including fun, airy maxi dresses and delicious snacks of fresh fruit, the season can also cause its fair share of negatives. Pregnancy during summer can be an uncomfortable affair, as many pregnant women experience a spike in their body temperature during their pregnancy. Staying cool in the summer can be an important task to prepare for in advance. Why Does a Woman’s Body Temperature Spike During Pregnancy? While not every woman experiences a spike in body temperature during pregnancy, it is very com ..read more

by Dr. Crystal M. Newby, MD The stories about odd food cravings while you’re pregnant are true. While they may not be as humorous as movies and television shows make them out to be, cravings, as well as food aversions, are very common during pregnancy. In the U.S. alone, 50-90% of pregnant women experience cravings for specific foods, according to research. While there is no one specific cause tied to food cravings, researchers and doctors contribute the cravings to a few different factors. Why Does Pregnancy Cause Food Cravings? Some of the most common theories as to why pregnancy causes food ..read more

by Dr. Errick Y. Arroyo, MD A Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT, for short) can also sometimes be called a Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening (NIPS). This is a method used to determine the risk of a fetus being born with certain genetic abnormalities. How Does a NIPT or NIPS Work? This testing method analyzes small fragments of DNA that are circulating in the pregnant woman’s blood. During pregnancy, a mother’s blood contains a mixture of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) that comes from both her cells and the cells from the placenta. The placenta is tissue in the uterus that links the mother’s blood supply t ..read more

by Dr. Emily S. Minderman, MD Cervical Cancer Awareness Cervical cancer was a common disease in women in the past, but routine Pap smear screening has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer dramatically. A well-woman visit is a great opportunity for a female patient and their Ob/Gyn provider to review her health, conduct screenings, and discuss preventive health care steps. Since January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, this article will discuss facts you should know about cervical cancer and the importance of screening and its protocols. What is Cervical Cancer? Cervical cancer occurs in ..read more

by Dr. Meghan A. Nichols, MD You had baby names to consider, crunched the numbers financially and were already decorating the nursery in your head. 2020 was going to be your year to begin trying to get pregnant.  And then COVID-19 struck.  Pondering the “best” time to get pregnant is a personal decision but as the global pandemic continues, couples are left wondering if this is really the safest time to get pregnant. Many have argued that a pandemic is no time to get pregnant. In fact, in May, a survey of 2000 women found that 34% wanted to delay pregnancy or have fewer children beca ..read more

by Dr. J. Anthony Heit, MD Tubal ligation (“tubes tied”) is a surgical procedure that many women elect to have done after they have decided they are done having children. It is categorized under permanent birth control, making the decision to have your tubes tied not a light or easy decision for many.  In the procedure, your fallopian tubes are either cut, tied or blocked to prevent pregnancy. This process prevents an egg from traveling from the ovaries to the uterus, where it could potentially be fertilized by sperm. Tubal ligation can be done anytime, including after childbirth and in comb ..read more