Constipation is a decrease in the frequency of a person’s bowel movements, a change in the consistency of stools (resulting in small, hard stools), or a difficulty in a person’s ability to pass stools. Constipation is fairly common complaint in older adults, and most people will experience constipation at some point. In many cases it is related to a person’s diet or daily routines, but constipation may also be a sign of a more serious disorder.

During this outpatient procedure, a doctor withdraws amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman’s uterus. This is the fluid that surrounds the developing baby. It contains cells and chemicals related to the baby’s development.

(Aka non-invasive prenatal screening) is a relatively new technology to screen for Down syndrome and certain other chromosome conditions without a risk of miscarriage to the pregnancy. Blood from the patient is drawn any time after 10 weeks of pregnancy and results are available within approximately 14 days. The detection rate for Down syndrome is higher than with routine prenatal screening, but is still not as accurate or comprehensive as an invasive procedure such as CVS or amniocentesis.

This is a test performed at approximately 11 to 13.5 weeks of gestation to determine whether the fetus has certain conditions. CVS is often offered when the mother is age 35 or older, other prenatal screenings may have revealed a risk that the baby has an inherited or congenital condition, an abnormality is seen on ultrasound, or if any inherited conditions run in either of the parents’ families. It is typically used only to diagnose chromosome conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13. If indicated, however, it can be used to test for many other conditions. These conditions include, but are not limited to: cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, fragile X syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy, Tay-Sachs disease, and hemophilia.

This form of diabetes develops during pregnancy. With it, the hormone insulin has problems helping the body turn blood glucose (commonly called blood sugar) into energy. In most cases, gestational diabetes can be controlled with no complications. It often goes away after pregnancy.

Exercising at least 30 minutes on most days of the week can benefit health and pregnancy (unless you are placed on bed rest by your doctor during the pregnancy). Exercise will increase your energy, your mood, may improve your sleep and may prevent or treat gestational diabetes. Regular activity also helps keep you fit during pregnancy and may improve your ability to cope with labor. This will make it easier for you to get back in shape after the baby is born.

Walking, exerciseswimming, stationary cycling, and low impact aerobics are safe during the pregnancy. If you were a runner before you became pregnant, you often can keep running during pregnancy, although you may have to modify your routine.

In general, activities in which there is a high risk of falling, such as gymnastics, water skiing, snow skiing, and horseback riding, should be avoided. Some racquet sports also increase the risk of falling because of your changing balance. Also, you may be at risk of altitude sickness, an illness caused by breathing air that contains less oxygen. Contact sports, such as hockey, basketball, and soccer should also be avoided. Scuba diving can put your baby at risk of decompression sickness (a serious illness). You should avoid activities such as jumping, jarring motion, or quick changes in direction.

This testing can occur in both the first and/or second trimesters of pregnancy and may include blood work, ultrasound, or both.

We have two copies of every gene. A carrier is an individual who has inherited a mutation in one, but not both, of those copies. The copy without a mutation serves as a “back-up” and the carrier usually shows no problems from the mutation. If an individual has a mutation in both copies of the gene, then s/he will most likely show signs of the condition and is considered to be affected with the genetic condition. This phenomenon of carrier and affected individuals is known as autosomal recessive inheritance.

Most people do not know they are a carrier for a genetic condition because they do not have any symptoms from just being a carrier. However, if both parents are unknowingly carriers for the same genetic condition, they may each pass on their copy of the gene with the mutation and have a child who is affected with the condition. If both parents are carriers, the likelihood of this happening is ¼ (25%) with each pregnancy. Carrier screening is a method of testing one or more genes to determine if one or both parents carry a mutation and are therefore at-risk of having a child affected with a genetic condition. The type of carrier screening offered is based on family history, ethnic background, or patient request.

Proper nutrition is important for your health. Making good food choices, combined with regular exercise, can help you maintain a proper weight. If you are overweight, making small changes in your eating habits can make a big difference in your health. Follow these simple tips for proper nutrition.

Being diagnosed with gestational diabetes can be stressful. But with proper care and management, you can stay healthy and deliver a healthy baby. In many cases, gestational diabetes goes away on its own after the mother gives birth.

This condition is the common name for nausea and vomiting that many women experience during pregnancy. It is very common and can occur any time of day, despite its name. Morning sickness usually starts during the first month of pregnancy and can last until the third or fourth month of pregnancy, although some women experience morning sickness throughout the entire pregnancy.

A balanced diet is essential to maintaining a healthy pregnancy and preventing excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure from developing. All expectant mothers can benefit from following dietary guidelines that provide sufficient nutrients; however, these guidelines can be slightly different for each person. Prenatal nutritional counseling strives to provide a healthy standard of eating to maximize the advantages to both the mother and growing baby while still allowing for a wide dietary variety.

The foods you eat during pregnancy will have an impact on your developing baby since you are the baby’s only source of nutrition. Therefore, when you eat healthfully, the baby receives many important nutrients to help it grow. There are also foods that you should avoid during pregnancy because they may pose a risk to the fetus. These include certain types of seafood that have high levels of mercury and soft, unpasteurized cheeses. In addition, it is best to limit your caffeine intake and to refrain from consuming alcoholic beverages. Bacteria from unwashed produce and undercooked meats can also be more dangerous during pregnancy and special care should be taken when preparing these foods.

We have the ability to screen and test for maternal or fetal complications using state-of-the-art ultrasound (including 3D and 4D capabilities) in conjunction with diagnostic testing as needed. We provide preconception consultations, gynecologic ultrasound evaluations as well as advanced care for complicated maternal-fetal conditions and multiple gestations.

Obstetrical ultrasound is a safe, noninvasive procedure that uses sound waves to create images of the fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid. These images can be viewed in real time on a computer monitor by patient and doctor. An obstetrical ultrasound is often performed several times throughout pregnancy to monitor the growth and development of the fetus. During the first trimester, ultrasound can determine the age of the fetus or detect some potential birth defects. Later in the pregnancy, regular ultrasound exams measure the size (and position) of the fetus, placenta and amniotic fluid to help ensure that the delivery will not have any major complications.

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors made up of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle that slowly develop in the wall of the uterus. Fibroids are very common, and most often affect women in their 40s and early 50s.