Get insights on all things obstetrics, including pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care, from the doctors at Kamm McKenzie OB/GYN.
After putting the kids to bed tonight and reflecting on this past week, I realized just how much the Coronavirus pandemic has affected me, my family and friends, my fellow healthcare colleagues, and especially my patients. Each morning as I put on my scrubs and brushed my teeth, I would stare into the mirror in a foggy haze and contemplate what the new day would bring.
Read the rest of entry »
This blog will share the most recent information that was distributed to us by the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (these are the high-risk pregnancy experts). My goal is to explain the information in an easy to understand way.
I hate to break the news to you, but it seems like this new Coronavirus (COVID-19) is going to make its way around. I hope I am wrong and that diligent self quarantine will minimize exposure in the USA and we can all dodge a bullet. However, we want our office and our patients to be as best prepared as possible.
Everyday we get a wide variety of questions from expecting moms about their babies’ movements inside. When should I feel it? Why is my baby moving so much? Why can’t I feel my baby moving enough? What’s this weird thing I am feeling? Is my baby ok? Let’s take a few minutes to review fetal movement from the beginning.
Now that you’re pregnant, you might have noticed an increase in gum or tooth sensitivity, even if you have not changed your normal eating or oral hygiene patterns. That’s because normally occurring hormonal shifts during pregnancy can increase the risk for gum disease, or gingivitis. However, by maintaining good oral hygiene habits before and during pregnancy, you can reduce your risk for gingivitis as well as improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy and baby!
A few patients over the last several weeks have asked us about the recently publicized “ health grade” WakeMed Raleigh got from the LeapFrog group. It got a “C” which at first glance is NOT what you want to see right? We, as a group not owned/operated by WakeMed would never do business at WakeMed if we were not fully comfortable in the quality of care our patients can get there. The local media failed to accentuate the positives about the obstetrical services provided at WakeMed by Leapfrog this year, so we would like to take a minute to highlight those areas.
Pregnant? We have good news! Obstetrics & Gynecology, the go-to journal for our little niche in medicine, recently published new findings on sleep position in pregnancy. For years and years we have been telling patients to sleep on their sides, left side more than right if you can tolerate it, because older studies suggested an increased stillbirth rate for those that did not. Well, now a new study was just published, and I think you will like the results.
I have seen and heard numerous advertisements for other local groups promoting their "now, not 8 weeks from now” approach to early pregnancy. We agree with being seen early, and have been doing it that way for several years already! Over 9 years ago, when I first started at Kamm McKenzie OBGYN, we would see patients between 8-12 weeks from their last menstrual periods...
You are finally at term and the seconds, minutes and days seem to slow to a crawl. Your mother-in-law is texting you non-stop wanting to know when the grand-kiddo is coming. It’s hard to work or do your day-to-day activities because the baby is pushing on your pelvic floor so much you have this sense that you are waddling more than walking. You have contractions now and again and the increased discharge makes you wonder if your water broke. And more so for first time moms, there is an overwhelming anxiety about the labor process, being a new parent, and knowing when to come to the hospital… am I right?!?
World Breastfeeding Month is celebrated every August. This month provides an opportunity to engage the community in supporting breastfeeding families. The 2019 theme is “Support Changes Everything.” Studies clearly indicate moms who feel supported will breastfeed longer and report a more positive experience with nursing overall. How can you support a breastfeeding mom?