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Early vs. Active Labor & the Stages of Labor
Labor consists of three basic stages. Within the first stage of labor there is latent (more commonly known as early) and active labor. Below you will find explanations of the different stages of labor. First Stage: The first and longest stage of labor consists of two phases. The early labor phase, or latent labor, can last anywhere from…
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Navigating Cervical Exams: What to Expect During Pregnancy and Labor
First things first, you always have the right to decline a cervical exam. You also have the right to ask if and why they are needed when they are offered to you. A cervical exam involves the insertion of two gloved fingers into the vagina to assess: If you do not want to have a…
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Evaluating Pregnancy Sources
It’s so important to find trusted resources when learning about trying to conceive, pregnancy loss, pregnancy and the postpartum period. There is so much information overwhelm on the internet (product of being a millennial parent!) that sometimes it feels impossible to know where to turn and what to trust. That is why Sterling Parents exists!…
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Understanding Labor Monitoring: What to Expect and Why It Matters
During labor, your care team will monitor the baby’s heartbeat and your contraction pattern. This can be done in a number of different ways. In addition, your team will be intermittently monitoring your vital signs by assessing your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and oxygen saturation. Fetal Monitoring
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Real Life: All About Bedtime Routine
Dr. Sterling shares her family’s bedtime routine as an example of how to craft a routine that works for your family.
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Membrane Rupture: When will my water break?
When your water breaks, the amniotic sac (also known as membranes) around the baby opens and releases amniotic fluid. You may hear your Ob provider call this “membrane rupture” or “rupture of membranes.” This often feels like a gush of fluid coming from the vagina, but it can also feel like a trickle or a…
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A Quick Guide to Anxiety and Depression in Pregnancy
The awareness of postpartum depression and anxiety has grown over the last decade. Parents are sharing their experiences, struggles and triumphs, helping families feel less alone. However, many are unaware of how prevalent prenatal depression and anxiety are. More than 1 in 10 pregnant people will experience one or both of these disorders. Signs and…
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Pregnancy Viability: Milestones, Risks, and Support
A pregnancy is considered viable when there is a reasonable chance for a baby to survive outside of the womb. While an exciting journey, pregnancy can also be a time of anxiousness about what could go wrong. Reaching certain points during a pregnancy can be comforting as miscarriage risks decrease, and chances of delivering a…
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Predicting Fetal Size: Is it accurate?
Estimating a baby’s size is important to ensure fetal development is on track and to prepare for birth. In a perfect world, we would have the technology that would tell us exactly how much a baby weighed and accurately identify a baby measuring smaller or larger than normal. Unfortunately, our current technology does not create…
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Fundal Height: Tracking Growth and Health in Pregnancy
While it may seem like your provider is measuring your belly, they are actually measuring something more specific called fundal height. Fundal height is the measurement, in centimeters, from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus. It is a tool used during pregnancy to screen for problems with baby’s growth and amniotic fluid…
