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Toxoplasmosis & How to Avoid it
Can I clean the cat litter during pregnancy? Cats and their feces may carry a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. While it’s rare to get toxoplasmosis from your cat, you should avoid changing cat litter during pregnancy, or wear gloves and wash your hands right after! What is toxoplasmosis? Toxoplasmosis is in an infection caused by…
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Urinary Tract Infections in Pregnancy: Symptoms & Management
Your urinary tract consists of your urethra, bladder, ureters and kidneys. An infection of the urinary tract is when bacteria infects a portion or portions of your urinary tract. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common both in and out of pregnancy, though a pregnant person is far more likely to develop a kidney infection (pyelonephritis)…
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Delayed Cord Clamping After Birth
The umbilical cord is the connection between your placenta and your baby. Throughout pregnancy, the placenta functions as a support system transferring oxygen, hormones and nutrients to your baby and carrying waste products from the baby back to you. After birth, the umbilical cord will be clamped to separate your baby from the placenta, as…
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Skin to Skin Contact: Understanding the Recommendation
Skin-to-skin contact is the practice of placing a newborn directly on the birthing person or a support person immediately after delivery. This can take place after both vaginal births and during and after a cesarean birth. The baby will be assessed and monitored throughout skin-to-skin contact. As long as both the birthing person and baby…
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Signs of Labor: What to Expect
The entertainment industry tends to portray people going into labor in a very particular way. Often at the height of an intense exchange, the lead’s water breaks and she is rushed to the hospital to give birth. However, only 15% of pregnant people experience their water breaking (also called membrane rupture) prior to starting contractions.…
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Signs of Labor: What is Bloody Show?
Often before labor begins, you’ll see vaginal discharge that’s tinged pink or brown. This mucus streaked with blood is an indication that the cervix is thinning and dilating. As the cervix ripens for delivery, small blood vessels rupture. This is a good sign that labor is coming, though it doesn’t always mean labor is coming…
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Going Past Your Due Date & Considering Induction
As your due date approaches, you’ll probably be filled with both excitement and nerves. However, if your due date passes and you’re still pregnant, often discomfort increases and patience dwindles. You might be begging for any sign of labor! If you are approaching or past your due date, discuss membrane sweeping with your provider. Membrane…
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Tearing During Birth: Tips for Prevention
Birth is a physically demanding process. The vagina and pelvis are amazing in their abilities to accommodate the passage of a baby into the world, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy. Lacerations, or tears, are common with vaginal delivery, and often do not lead to long term problems. Lacerations can occur in the vagina, perineum…
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Managing Pain in Labor with Medication
Especially if this is your first pregnancy, predicting the level of pain experienced during labor is nearly impossible. Even if you have heard every birth story under the sun and have your dream delivery planned out, until you have felt the contractions and progression of labor firsthand, it is hard to create a foolproof plan…
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Your Guide to Labor Induction
Labor induction is the act of stimulating uterine contractions during pregnancy with the goal of a vaginal birth. If labor has not begun on it’s own, your Ob provider might recommend inducing labor in specific situations. Why would I need to induce labor? There are many potential reasons your Ob provider may suggest or give…
