It’s not uncommon that once you see those two lines pop up on a pregnancy test, you may feel some anxiety—is this a “lasting pregnancy”? How likely is it that I’ll miscarry? What can I expect? Are there ways I can avoid a miscarriage? First, let’s talk about the generals of miscarriage, which is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week (Mayo Clinic). After that 20-week mark, it’s called a stillbirth. Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester before the 12th week, and the rate of miscarriage drops drastically after that in the second trimester (to 1-5%). It’s estimated th ..read more

As uncomfortable it is be talking about sexually transmitted infections and diseases, knowing about them and protecting yourself is important. Beyond protecting yourself, it’s to protect any sexual partner you have AND any child you might conceive. “When you have sex with someone, you are having sex with everyone they have had sex with for the last 10 years, and everyone they and their partners have had sex with for the last 10 years,” said C. Everett Koop, M.D., former U.S Surgeon General. Not pleasant to think about, but a fact that illustrates the need of open communication with all sexual ..read more