Women's Health & Pregnancy

Hi All, Blog Moving

2011-11-05T21:01:00.000-04:00

Hi,
I have moved my blog to a `hosted domain. Please come and follow me at http://womenshealthnpregnancy.com

Thank You! I hope to see you there.

Bonnie

Breast Cancer Screening

2011-09-29T11:29:00.000-04:00

I was going to write a riveting post on early breast cancer screening, but I decided on a short story. It is a subject close to my heart. My maternal grandmother held my hand when I was four years old. She asked me to promise to care for my mother. She passed away from breast cancer six weeks after discovery of a pea size lump. My grandmother was 54 years old. I had my second experience with what breast cancer can do to a family when I was ten years old. My paternal grandparents parked their mobile home on our property, so my grandmother can recover from surgery and undergo chemotherapy. She too had breast cancer in her fifties. I remember her good spirit and wearing a short wig. She recovered enough to go back to Florida. We received a phone call just before Easter. We drove three days in a station wagon to Florida. She died on Easter morning. We arrived only one hour too late. My father was devastated. We all were. Anyway, I do not want to rewrite the guidelines for early breast cancer screening. Here is the link to the American Cancer Society guidelines. Please pass it on to all the women you know.
Thank you,
~Bonnie

Abnormal Pap Smears: What are they?

2011-06-13T00:10:00.000-04:00

What makes a pap smear abnormal? How often should you get one? Are two questions that are often asked in an OB/GYN Clinic by patients. Pap smears should be begin the first year you have had sexual intercourse. A pap smear is done every year after that. A new Bethesda system recommendation is that if your pap smear is normal and HPV testing(Human Papilloma Virus) is negative, then a pap smear can be done every three years.
An abnormal pap smear or cervical (pre cancer cells) can come from sexual intercourse before the age of 20. The sperm can cause changes in the cervical cells. Also, being exposed to different sperm (multiple partners) can cause cervical dysplasia. Smoking, Genetics and High Risk HPV can change normal cervical cells into pre cancer cells.

The progression of abnormal pap smears from mild precancerous changes to cancer have a specific terminology. ASCUS, Atypical Squamous cells, is the very first change. The cells can change back to normal. A yeast infection, bacterial infection or STD can cause ASCUS. High risk HPV also causes the change. Further evaluation of a women's cervix will have to be done by a Colposcopy procedure for ASCUS with high risk HPV or worse. LSIL, Low Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, HSIL, High Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion, or ASCUS-H (ASCUS with a High grade component), then Carcinoma in situ or adenocarcinoma is the progression from mild dysplasia to cancer.

As you can see cervical dysplasia is one way a pap smear can be abnormal. Women 40 and over should be aware of the name of cells that are abnormal and can indicate a serious medical condition. If a woman 40 or over has a normal pap smear, but Endometrial cells are present, that is not normal. Unless the woman is just going to start her menses or has just ended it. The uterine lining sheds during a menses that is normal.

What does Endometrial cells mean on a pap smear? It means that the cells from the lining of your uterus have sloughed off. This can mean cancer of the uterine lining or Endometrial Cancer. An Endometrial biopsy can be done to test the uterine cells for cancer. This is a simple in office procedure that a GYN Physician or Nurse Practition can do for you.
Another abnormality women over 40 can have on a pap smear is Atypical Glanular Cells or AGUS for short. An Endometrial Biopsy is also indicated for this pap smear result.

The next time you have a pap smear, ask your medical provider to have the HPV DNA testing done regardless of the pap smear results. HPV latches onto your cervical cells and changes them into the precancer cells. I will go more indepth on HPV in another post. I can not stress enough how important a pap smear is to a woman's health.

Take Care,

Bonnie

My Review of Our Famous Moonpocket Coat

2011-04-03T11:46:00.001-04:00

Originally submitted at Chadwick's

Moonpocket Coat

By Bkays from Cleveland, OH on 4/3/2011

Sizing: Feels true to size

Pros: Well Made, Comfortable, Figure Flattering, Beautiful color, Practical

Cons: Wrinkle Easily

Best Uses: Wear To Work, Wear to School, Date Night/Night Out, Casual Wear, Special Occasions, Wear to Church

Describe Yourself: Casual Dresser

Comfort vs Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

I get so many compliments on this coat. Love the bright pink color to brighten up a Cleveland winter. Needs a sweater underneath in 20 degree weather. True to size.

(legalese)

When can I take a pregnancy test?

2010-12-04T10:06:00.000-05:00

The ultimate question a woman seeking pregnancy wants to know. Or, for those that had that oops what did we do last night question. Technically, You can test 2 weeks after unprotected intercourse or the condom breaks. The pregnancy hormone does not start to rise until 6-12 days after ovulation occurs. Most women do not know when they ovulate, unless they have ovulation pain, or are doing Basal Body Temperatures. (BBT)
Question: What if I have unprotected intercourse while on my period? Well, sperm can live 3-5 days. If you ovulate early on day 7 or 8 of your cycle you can get pregnant. Day one of the menstrual cycle is the first day of blood flow. If you have intercourse on day 3 of your cycle you could conceive.

Depoprovera and Vaginal Bleeding

2010-11-08T20:48:00.000-05:00

Depoprovera is a progesterone only injection for birth control that is given every 11-13 weeks. Depoprovera is effective after 24 hours of injection, however I suggest use condoms for a week after injection to be safe.
Four variations of vaginal bleeding can happen after receiving an injection.

1. Periods are suspended.
2. A period begins a few weeks before the next injection is to be given.
3. A woman may experience, annoying, spotting, a light flow, or both alternating until the next injection. The spotting lessens with the second injection and is usually gone by the third.
4. Vaginal bleeding that uses 6-10 super pads a day for 14 days or longer.

The first three are normal variations of vaginal bleeding after a depoprovera injection. Irregular vaginal bleeding occurs due to a womans' body produces hormones & a hormone is injected. It can take time for the hormones to level out for the vaginal bleeding to regulate. This is especially true if depoprovera is given after a woman gives birth. The hormone progesterone is elevated during pregnancy. After birth the progesterone level drops. Depoprovera causes a rise again in progesterone. Variation number 2 most likely occurs.
If variation number 4 occurs, then please contact your medical provider a second depoprovera injection or oral hormones may be needed to slow the vaginal bleeding. A medical emergency is when a overnight pad is saturated in one hour for 2 hours in a row. call 911 or have someone drive you to the nearest ED if that happens. If the vaginal bleeding is prolonged and dizziness, shortness of breath, or rapid heart rate occurs then have someone drive you to the ED.

Depoprovera works well for many of woman as a birth control method or to help slow vaginal bleeding. If your interested in depoprovera then contact you GYN for more information.

Clogs vs. Clots

2010-08-18T20:37:00.000-04:00

Ok, So I have to get this off my chest. I want to scream when a woman says, I had “clogs” coming out of me. Clogs? Shoes? Perhaps. Shoes from Holland? Nope, the woman meant blood clots. Blood clots. not clogs. Clogs would get stuck, don’t ya think? Menstrual blood pools inside your vagina or uterus and then is expelled with uterine cramping or movement. Such as lying down then standing up. Boom, blood clots come out……not clunky wooden shoes…LOL.

Got Nose?

2010-08-12T12:50:00.001-04:00

Ha, Ha, Seriously. I had a patient call me the other day in a panic. She was so worried about her nose. She was pregnant and it appears that her nose had spread and become more noticeable. She wanted to know the cause and will it go away.

Answer: Many area's of a women's body can spread during pregnancy. Some have swollen ankles, hands, bottoms, and yes, noses. The swelling will go away after delivery. Fluid can take up to six weeks to dissipate after delivery.

Does anyone have any nose stories?

Ouch! I rolled over in bed and felt a sharp pain in my side.

2010-04-16T22:07:00.002-04:00

I often get a phone call from a pregnant woman in panic, she begins to tell me she is 18 weeks pregnant, and she felt a sharp pulling pain on the side of her abdomen. I ask if it happens if she gets up too fast and she tells me, "Yes." I ask if it happens when she walks too fast or rolls over in bed. She empathically says, "YES!'
I ask her if her baby feels like it is balling up. She responds, "No" I ask if her whole abdomen gets hard when she feels the pain. She again says, "No". I then tell her the cause of her pain...it is her Round Ligament. A woman’s uterus is about 3 inches when non-pregnant. A ligament attaches to the bottom of the uterus up to the top. There is one ligament per side of the uterus. When the uterus grows the round ligament stretches. A baby goes through a big growth spurt around 20 weeks gestation (5 months). That ligament has now been stretched from the lower uterus up to the woman’s umbilicus (bellybutton). That’s a far stretch and it is going to take time for your body to get used to that stretch. It can take a week or two to feel better. It does not mean your in labor or your baby is in danger. It is a normal occurance in pregnancy.

Here is what you can do to feel better. Take a warm bath, Tylenol or apply a warm compress. If the discomfort persists then a maternity support belt may help. Walmart has them in the woman's bra department. Babies R Us has them as well.

Take your time going from sitting to standing. Try not to walk too fast and take your time rolling over in bed. This will pass...until the next time your baby goes through a growth spurt. LOL

Round Ligament Pain

Types of Miscarriage

2010-04-16T22:02:00.000-04:00

There are three types of miscarriages: Complete, Incomplete and Missed.

> A complete miscarriage is also called a spontaneous miscarriage or SAB. All of the fetus and placenta come out of the uterus.

>An incomplete miscarriage means that some of the fetus and placenta has not come out of the uterus. Prolonged vaginal bleeding or heavy vaginal bleeding is signs of this. Treatment for this is a D & C (dilatation and curettage).

>A missed miscarriage may cause no bleeding or light spotting occurs, but the fetus does not come out of the uterus on its own. Treatment is a D & C for a missed miscarriage.

How do you know you will need a D&C after a miscarriage?

Serum (blood) pregnancy hormone levels are drawn every 48 hours. If the pregnancy hormone level does not drop and remains the same or rises slightly then a D&C is indicated. An ultrasound is always done first to verify a fetal heart rate is not present.

Bonnie

Miscarriage-When a pregnancy ends too soon

2010-04-16T21:43:00.000-04:00

Miscarriage of a desired pregnancy causes such heartache and disappointed dreams. You feel as if you must have done something to cause the loss. Maybe God was getting even with you for a misdeed you had done. Maybe it was the one drink you had prior to knowing you were pregnant. Maybe it was... you fill in the blank. Whatever you fill, the blank with it is not true. Not one word of it, do you hear me! Blame, guilt, anger, rage, is all normal reactions of miscarriage no matter if you were 5 weeks or 19 weeks. The emotions are the same.

A woman will go through the five stages of grief after a loss. She may not stay at any one stage for a certain length of time, but nonetheless, she will go through them. The five stages are Denial/Isolation, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. As an example of these stages, I will tell my story. I have had two miscarriages & I know these stages well. I was 11 weeks pregnant & I was looking more like 5 months along instead of almost three. I went into my scheduled u/s thinking I was having twins, but as I looked at the ultrasound screen my breathing quickened and my pulse raced. I immediately knew something was wrong. I worked Labor & Delivery enough to know that little sac on the screen was not an 11-week gestation pregnancy. My fears were confirmed and my precious little baby had passed a month earlier. I sobbed. I was numb. I kept asking "why?” "Again?" I went home and climbed the stairs to my bedroom. I stopped and paused at the doorway of the room that was slated to be the baby's room. I slowly walked inside and lay down on the bed. I cried and cried. I talked to the lifeless baby still inside of me. I told myself I was letting my baby sleep in its room one time before it is taken from me. I bargained with the Lord, to let my baby miraculously live...my angel did not awaken. I was sad beyond sad. I could not speak tears no longer flowed. I was numb again. The next day I had a D&C (dilatation and curettage). I remember being in the recovery room when it was over. I was mumbling due to the anesthesia. The nurse kept asking what is wrong. I said, “My baby is gone. My baby is no longer inside of me”. My husband took me home. I was sort of in a daze for a few weeks. I slowly came out of it and accepted what had happened. I focused on the two children I did have. Life went on after my loss.

Bonnie

Nausea in Pregnancy

2010-04-16T21:39:00.001-04:00

Nausea in pregnancy is very common. When the pregnancy hormone rises, it can cause nausea. Not all pregnant women are affected, but when it happens, all you can do is lay down. Here are some tips that can help and why.

--Eat small frequent meals-

Coating your stomach will actually help keep nausea away. Keep a baggy of dry cereal or crackers with you at work to snack on during the day. The longer you go inbetween meals the more nauseated you will be.

--Pour some clear pop or Coke a Cola in a cup and stir out the bubbles and sip-

The syrup from the soda pop can help some stomachs settle down and feel better.

--Eat what sounds good to you-

If it sounds good and it stays down -Great! Unless, it is Hot Sauce...LOL.

--Try eating ginger snaps

There is something with ginger that settles your stomach.

--Put a can of pop, a straw and some crackers by your bed before you go to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, do not sit up. Roll over and open the pop and sip with the straw. Eat a cracker. Wait 10 minutes before getting out of bed-

Why? Nausea can begin the minute a woman sits up in the morning. When she sits up her stomach goes..Whoomp-Instant nausea. If you coat the stomach before sitting up you might be able to lessen the nausea. It works for some pregnant woman. Try it and let me know.

Hope that helps,

Bonnie

What to do before you become pregnant.

2010-04-16T21:21:00.000-04:00

Planning a pregnancy is an exciting time in a women’s life. It is also often felt to be overwhelming at times. Here are some tips to help you in your goal of creating the healthiest new life possible. What is your BMI? Body Mass Index. This chart tells whether you are a healthy weight. Starting at a healthy weight will help to make a pregnancy go smoother.

BMI Weight Status

Below 18.5 Underweight

18.5—24.9 Normal

25.0—29.9 Overweight

30.0 and Above Obese

It decreases complications of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other medical conditions. Nutrition is an important part of planning. You need to eat a balanced diet, drink 8 glasses of water a day, and start taking a prenatal vitamin that contains at least 400 mcg of folic acid. Folic acid helps to prevent birth defects of a baby's spine. Especially, when taken prior to pregnancy and in the first 5 weeks of pregnancy. By 5 weeks the defect in the spine can be present. The defect is called open neural tube defect (NTD), Or, open spine. Taking a prenatal vitamin with folic acid is very important in woman 35 yo and older who are seeking to become pregnant. Do you have diabetes? Make sure your blood sugar is in good control prior to pregnancy. See a Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) physician prior to getting pregnant. This is called a pre-pregnancy consult. Having your blood sugar in control decreases the risk of a miscarriage and heart defects in your baby. Having hypertension in pregnancy can cause have blood flow problems. Decreased blood flow to the kidneys and developing baby are two examples. Again, it is important to make an appt with (MFM) physician. One key to a healthy baby is a healthy body before pregnancy.

Bonnie