Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We know that when you leave our office you may have questions you want to ask your doctor or nurse practitioner. For this reason, we created FAQs that include some of the most common questions regarding pregnancy and gynecology. We believe ACOG (American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology) is an excellent resource to answer many of your questions and learn more about your health. Please visit any topics you are concerned about on the left hand side of the page. You can also call our office or ask your doctor or nurse practitioner at your next visit to discuss what you’ve learned.

One of the biggest concerns people face when visiting a doctor is how much an appointment will cost and if the insurance will in fact help cover all or at least some of the payment.

While we would like to offer comprehensive detailing of every insurance plan from every provider and how they work with us, the reality of health insurance is that each plan is nearly as unique as each patient.

Our relationship with you is as your healthcare provider. It’s your responsibility to understand and manage your health insurance. That being said, having all of your insurance information with you and knowing what your insurance covers will make for a much smoother appointment.

You can find our accepted insurances listed below. However, it should be noted that this is not a complete list.

If your insurance is not listed, contact your insurance to determine our participation in the network. Likewise, if you have recently changed your insurance or plan, please inform the receptionist or our billing office of the change to ensure the correct company is billed.

If you have any further billing questions, please contact our billing coordinators by calling 225-201-0505 and enter extension 204, 207 or 256.

Accepted insurances include the following but are not limited to:

  • Aetna
  • Blue Cross
  • Cigna
  • Gilsbar
  • Humana
  • Humana Gold
  • Meritain Health
  • Medicaid (OB only w/ no private insurance)
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan Network
  • People’s Health
  • PPO Plus Network
  • PHCS Network
  • Tricare (Standard)
  • United Healthcare
  • UMR

Breastfeeding is one of the most important things that you can do for your baby, and it can also be one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding, processes that you will ever go through. There are many benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby.

Benefits for your baby include:

  • Increased bonding time between mom and baby
  • The appropriate amount of nutrients and the addition of antibodies.
    • This helps aid in digestion and the antibodies help fight infection
  • Breast-fed babies have decreased rates of ear infections and diarrhea.
  • Breastfeeding decreases the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (a disease that affects the gastrointestinal tract in preterm infants), lower respiratory infections, asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Benefits for mom include:

  • Increased bonding time between mom and baby
  • Weight loss
  • A decrease risk of type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and postpartum depression.
  • Breastfeeding can also save time (there are less bottles to sterilize and get ready) and money (formula and feeding supplies can cost well over $1,500 each year).

Did you know?

The Affordable Care Act requires most insurance plans to cover the cost of a breast pump as part of women’s preventive health services. You can talk to your insurance company about its coverage. If you are covered, let your doctor know so we can provide a prescription for you.

Read more at:

Why breastfeeding is important?

Woman’s Hospital Breastfeeding information

Tips for breastfeeding moms

Breastfeeding it’s only natural

Breastfeeding-Healthy Children

If you are breast-feeding and have questions, please contact the hospital lactation department.

Woman’s Hospital offers the following:

  • Classes and Support Groups:
    • We have all the tools and education you need to breastfeed successfully. At Woman’s, our staff is eager to help and support you through your breastfeeding journey.
    • We offer a variety of breastfeeding education classes, support groups, and convenient personal consultations with our lactation specialists.
  • “Warmline:”
    • Woman’s Breastfeeding Warmline provides free lactation phone consultation and troubleshooting advice from a registered nurse.
    • This service is available to the entire community by calling 225-924-8239. For an after-hours emergency, call 225-924-8286.

Breastfeeding is one of the most important things that you can do for your baby, and it can also be one of the most difficult, yet most rewarding, processes that you will ever go through. There are many things that can affect breast milk production and each woman’s supply can be affected by something different. Breast milk production amount can also vary in subsequent pregnancies, so even if it did not work for one pregnancy, be sure to give it a try on the next one.

Ways to increase supply are:

  • To increase the frequency of feedings
    • in the beginning you should be putting baby to breast every 2 to 3 hours, even throughout the night, even if baby is sleeping
  • Make sure to continue prenatal vitamins, increase fluid intake (try to avoid caffeinated products), and insure adequate caloric intake.
  • Stress and fatigue can take a toll on breast milk production, so make sure to try and nap when baby is napping.
  • Some over the counter help includes Fenugreek three capsules three times per day and Mother’s Milk Tea three to five times per day. A prescription drug called Reglan can be taken at doses of 10mg three times per day. Discuss with your doctor and see if this medicine could be right for you.
  • Avoid antihistamines because these can cause your milk supply to decrease.

If you are having other breastfeeding issues please visit the following for more information:

Breastfeeding Problem Solving

Common Breastfeeding Challenges

Yes. There are many methods of birth control, presenting with their own unique benefits and risks. Types include birth control pills, a birth control patch, the NuvaRing, Nexplanon, Depo Provera injection, Mirena IUD and Paragard IUD. Discuss with your healthcare provider about which method may be best for you. To read more about different contraception option please click here

Begin your new pills on the first Sunday after the first day of your menses (the first Sunday after the first sign of bleeding). Always use backup protection for one month.

The pill may make your cycle longer, shorter, or occasionally you may not have a cycle at all.

If you begin to bleed when you are not supposed to be bleeding, continue your pills. Stopping the pills may make the bleeding worse. Look back at the package to make sure you have taken all of your pills through today.  If you have not missed any pills, call your doctor, but please do not panic. This can be a normal side effect.

Double up if only one or two pills have been forgotten. If more than two pills have been missed, you should wait until you have another period, and then restart the pills. Remember you should use backup protection for the first month of taking your pills.

There are no studies documenting weight gain on the pill. Equal numbers of people gain and lose weight on the pill. You may experience fluid retention, but this should not account for greater than five pounds. The newer pills have fewer side effects.

The pill can aggravate some migraine headaches, especially if you have a history of migraines. There are a few potential remedies so be sure to ask your doctor. Mood swings can be a side effect of the birth control pills, however sometimes the pills may help alleviate mood swings by keeping your hormones at a steady level. Each type of birth control pill will have its own effects, so you may need to try a few to see which one works best for you.

Decreased libido can be a normal side effect of the pill.

No. The pills of today are much lower in the amount of hormones, therefore reducing side effects.

Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an X-ray procedure that is used to view the inside of the uterus and fallopian tubes. It often is used to see if the fallopian tubes are partly or fully blocked. It also can show if the inside of the uterus is of a normal size and shape. All of these problems can lead to infertility and pregnancy problems.
HSG also is used a few months after some tubal sterilization procedures to make sure that the fallopian tubes have been completely blocked. HSG is not done if a woman has any of the following conditions:

  • Pregnancy
  • Pelvic infection
  • Heavy uterine bleeding at the time of the procedure

For additional information, please click here Hysterosalpingography

Colposcopy is a way of looking at the cervix through a special magnifying device called a colposcope. It shines a light into the vagina and onto the cervix. A colposcope can greatly enlarge the normal view. This exam allows the health care provider to find problems that cannot be seen by the eye alone.

Colposcopy is done when results of cervical cancer screening tests show abnormal changes in the cells of the cervix. Colposcopy provides more information about the abnormal cells. Colposcopy also may be used to further assess other problems:

  • Genital warts on the cervix
  • Cervicitis (an inflamed cervix)
  • Benign (not cancer) growths, such as polyps
  • Pain
  • Bleeding

Sometimes colposcopy may need to be done more than once. It also can be used to check the result of a treatment.

For additional information, please click here Colposcopy

NovaSure endometrial ablation is a quick non hormonal procedure that is used to treat heavy bleeding. Novasure is designed to remove just the uterine lining (the endometrium) which is the part of your body that causes heavy bleeding. This procedure can be done in an outpatient setting and you can go home the same day.

For additional information please visit the Novasure website

If you have an abnormal cervical cancer screening result, your health care professional may suggest that you have a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) as part of the evaluation or for treatment. LEEP is one way to remove abnormal cells from the cervix by using a thin wire loop that acts like a scalpel (surgical knife). An electric current is passed through the loop, which cuts away a thin layer of the cervix.

For additional information, please click here Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP)

Hysteroscopy is used to diagnose or treat problems of the uterus. A hysteroscope is a thin, lighted telescope-like device. It is inserted through your vagina into your uterus. The hysteroscope transmits the image of your uterus onto a screen. Other instruments are used along with the hysteroscope for treatment.

For additional information, please click here Hysteroscopy

D&C is a surgical procedure in which the cervix is opened (dilated) and a thin instrument is inserted into the uterus. This instrument is used to remove tissue from the inside of the uterus (curettage).

D&C is used to diagnose and treat many conditions that affect the uterus, such as abnormal bleeding. A D&C also may be done after a miscarriage. A sample of tissue from inside the uterus can be viewed under a microscope to tell whether any cells are abnormal. A D&C may be done with other procedures, such as hysteroscopy, in which a slender device is used to view the inside of the uterus.

For additional information, please click here Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

Sonohysterography is a special kind of ultrasound exam. Fluid is put into the uterus through the cervix using a thin plastic tube. Sound waves are then used to create images of the lining of the uterus. The fluid helps show more detail than when ultrasound is used alone. This test can be done in your OB-GYN’s office, a hospital, or a clinic. It usually takes less than 30 minutes.

Sonohysterography can find the underlying cause of many problems, including abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, and repeated miscarriage. It is able to detect the following:

  • Abnormal growths inside the uterus, such as fibroids or polyps, and information about their size and depth
  • Scar tissue inside the uterus
  • Abnormal uterine shape
  • Problems with the lining of the uterus
  • Whether the fallopian tubes are open or blocked

For additional information, please click here Sonohysterography

Ultrasound is energy in the form of sound waves. During an ultrasound exam, a transducer sends sound waves through the body. The sound waves come into contact with tissues, body fluids, and bones. The waves then bounce back, like echoes. The transducer receives these echoes, which are turned into images. The images can be viewed as pictures on a video screen.

For additional information, please click here Ultrasound Exams

I am interested in having a natural birth, water birth, or finding a midwife. How can I get more information?

As your physician, we provide full support for your childbirth plan. Our group of physicians are willing to work with you individually to provide you with labor options to meet your needs. If you are interested in having a water birth or finding support from a midwife during your labor please visit http://birthcenterbr.com/ . We have partnered with a group of wonderful providers to help provide you with another option for your labor.

Where will I be delivering my baby at?

For any hospitalizations during this pregnancy or when you are delivering your baby, it will be at Woman’s hospital. Please visit their website for more information. You can also take a video tour of the hospital!

Who will deliver my baby?

Our group is composed of seven female physicians.  There is no way of determining when you might go into labor and who will be on call at that time, but our physicians feel comfortable that any member of their team will show you the same compassion and quality of care that they would personally give.

  • After a vaginal delivery, soaking your episiotomy repair in warm water three to four times a day helps promote the healing process. Although this may be difficult at times, please make an effort to soak.
  • After a cesarean delivery, you may clean your incision with soap and water in the shower. Afterwards, pat the area dry and try to keep it as dry as possible.
    • Some red/yellow drainage is normal.
    • If the area becomes red or you begin to run a temperature (>100.5) please let us know.
  • You may experience some constipation after delivery. Try increasing your daily fluid intake. As you become more active this problem will improve.
    • A mild laxative such as Milk of Magnesia or Metamucil is okay in order to avoid straining.
    • It is better to avoid enemas.
    • It is advisable to take a stool softener until there is no more discomfort from the stitches.
    • If problems with constipation or hemorrhoids are severe, please let us know.
  • If you are bottle-feeding, you will probably resume menstruation in four to ten weeks.
  • If you are breastfeeding, you may not menstruate for several months or until after weaning your baby.
  • Remember, although you may feel great, it will take several weeks for your body to heal. Involution of the uterus (womb) involves the process by which the uterus sheds its thickened lining. This causes a considerable amount of discharge called lochia.
  • For the first few days, the discharge contains blood and other cellular debris and is red in color. In ten days or so it is light brown or yellow in color.
  • After several weeks, the discharge will disappear completely. The length of time the discharge persists is variable. Bleeding longer than this is not necessarily abnormal, particularly for breastfeeding mothers.
  • You may experience some “cramps” (after birth pains) for the first few days after delivery. Often they are more severe when nursing. These are a normal part of involution

Postpartum Sterilization

Please refer to contraception FAQ for additional information

Postpartum birth control

Please refer to contraception FAQ for additional information

You have just undergone surgery and now it is your turn to play an important role in the long-term success of your surgical treatment. Surgery and the recovery period can be a difficult time. It is normal to have many questions and concerns. The following guidelines are presented with the goal of helping you recover from surgery and giving you long-lasting satisfaction from your operation.

Notify your doctor or the on call nurse (after business hours) if you experience any of the following symptoms:

  • Temperature over 100.4 degrees for more than 4 hours
  • Prolonged nausea and vomiting
  • Severe pain not relieved by pain medication
  • Excessive vaginal bleeding soaking a pad within 1 hour or less
  • Vaginal discharge with a foul odor
  • Burning, frequency, urgency of urination, or a foul odor to urine
  • Shortness of breath, persistent and/or productive cough
  • Unable to void within 6-8 hours
  • If your incision sites have signs of infection (i.e. hot to touch, redness surrounding the incision, or a yellow or foul smelling drainage)
  • The incision is larger or open

We hope that it is clear to you that successful, long-lasting surgery is a joint effort by both the doctor and the patient. After the surgery is complete, the work of the patient begins. We look forward to helping you have a good recovery. Please feel free to call our office if you have any further questions. We always have a nurse and doctor available to you 24/7

 

  • This includes:

    • Hysteroscopy
    • Dilation and Curettage
    • Tubal sterilization
    • Laparoscopy
    • Uterine ablation
    • Essure procedure
    • Minor vaginal procedures
  • You may bathe either in the bathtub or shower, whichever you prefer 24 hours after your surgery. You may wash your hair.
  • It is important that you do NOT insert ANYTHING (NO SEX, TAMPONS, OR DOUCHING) in the vagina for 2 weeks
  • It is normal to have a discharge, which may persist for several days. If the discharge increases in amount, becomes bright red, contains clots, or smells bad, please call the office
  • If you had a uterine ablation, a thin, bloody discharge is normal after an ablation. If this persists longer than 2-3 weeks or bleeding becomes heavy, please contact the office.
  • If you had a dilation and curettage, it is normal to have some bleeding or spotting for 1-2 weeks.
  • If you had a laparoscopy, an instrument was placed inside the uterus which allows your surgeon to manipulate the uterus so he or she can see behind it.  This instrumentation and manipulation often increases the flow of the first menstrual period after surgery and may also make the cramping more severe.  This does not predict how you will do in the future.
  • You should have been given a prescription for pain medications from your doctor during your pre-op visit or prior to discharge from the hospital
  • Mild nausea is normal from anesthesia. Call the office if vomiting persists after 24 hours
  • You may experience minor pain or soreness for a few days. If the pain persists or becomes severe, please contact the office.
  • You may return to your normal diet
  • Be sure to eat foods that are a good source of protein such as meat, eggs, fish, nuts, and milk, as well as foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, and green vegetables.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.
  • If you need to take a stool softener or mild laxative, you may do so, but call the office if constipation persists
  • May allow soap and water to run over incision after 24 hours
  • Keep incision clean and dry, free of creams, powders, or ointments
  • Wear loose fitting clothing
  • Although your surgery is considered minor, you still need to rest for proper healing
  • You should NOT drive for 24 hours after surgery or if you are taking prescription pain medicine.
  • You should NOT sign any important papers or make important decisions for 24 hours
  • You may resume regular activity the next day, but be sure to rest frequently and avoid strenuous activity for 2 days
  • This includes:
    • Exploratory Laparotomy
    • Hysterectomy
    • Myomyectomy
    • Uterine prolapse surgery
  • You may bathe either in the bathtub or shower, whichever you prefer 24 hours after your surgery. You may wash your hair. You may get your incisions wet. Pat them dry and wear loose fitting clothes.
  • It is important that you do NOT insert ANYTHING (NO SEX, TAMPONS, OR DOUCHING) in the vagina for 6 weeks.
  • It is normal to have a discharge, which may persist for several days. If the discharge increases in amount, becomes bright red, contains clots, or smells bad, please call the office.
  • If you had a hysterectomy, it is normal to have some bleeding or spotting on and off for up to 6 weeks. Some women experience a gush of blood followed by spotting for several hours. This is usually due to a clot or hematoma forcing its’ way through the suture line at the top of the vagina. If bleeding becomes heavy where you are saturating more than 1 pad every hour or less, please call the office.
  • If you had a myomectomy, it is normal to have some spotting or bleeding similar to a period following the surgery. Your first menstrual cycle or period may be heavy as well.
  • You will be given steroids during surgery to prevent nausea. This medication can cause hot flashes the first couple of weeks. These are NOT hormonal hot flashes.
  • You should have been given a prescription for pain medications from your doctor during your pre-op visit or prior to discharge from the hospital
  • Mild nausea is normal from anesthesia. Call the office if vomiting persists after 24 hours
  • If you have an OnQ pain pump, you are to remove it 3 days after surgery or when it’s empty
  • You may experience pain or soreness for a few days. Please take your pain medications as instructed. If the pain persists or becomes severe, please contact the office.
  • You may return to your normal diet
  • Be sure to eat foods that are a good source of protein such as meat, eggs, fish, nuts, and milk, as well as foods that are high in fiber, such as whole grains, fruits, and green vegetables. You need increased calories and adequate nutrition to help the healing process.
  • Drink 8-10 glasses of fluids daily.
  • Begin stool softener (Colace or generic docusate sodium) as soon as you come home. Take a 100mg capsule three times daily.
  • Chew Gum. Recent research has demonstrated that gum chewing makes bowel contents travel through faster.
  • A high fiber diet will also help speed the return of normal bowel function. Adding an over the counter fiber laxative (Benefiber, Metamucil, Citrucel, etc.) twice daily should be sufficient.
  • If you go 3-4 days and still haven’t moved your bowels, take a mild laxative like Milk of Magnesia or Senokot. Repeat every 12 hours till you get results
  • If you are still having problems, please call the office
  • Incisions are closed with either a suture material, dissolvable staples, or an adhesive glue.
    • Please refer to the skin adhesive guidelines listed below.
    • Incisions closed with sutures eventually all dissolve in approximately 2 weeks so you may see some threads there. They do not need to be removed; they will dissolve and fall out on their own.
    • Incisions closed with dissolvable staples will eventually all dissolve in 6-8 weeks. They do not need to be removed.
    • If you have the paper “Steri-strips,” these should be removed 10 days after surgery. May allow soap and water to run over incision after 24 hours and pat dry afterwards
  • Keep incision clean and dry, free of creams, powders, or ointments
  • Wear loose fitting clothing
  • If your incision sites have signs of infection (i.e. hot to touch, redness surrounding the incision, or a yellow or foul smelling drainage) please call the office
  • You may need more rest than normal while you are recovering from the surgery. Plan to lie down and rest at intervals during the day.
  • You should NOT drive for 24 hours after surgery or if you are taking prescription pain medicine.
  • You should NOT sign any important papers or make important decisions for 24 hours
  • We recommend that you limit your activities for a full 6 to 12 weeks after surgery. What exactly does this mean? Anything that increases the pressure inside of your abdominal cavity will place stress and strain on the stitches and repair work in your pelvis and vagina. If enough stress is placed, the stitches and repair can break or be torn down.
  • We recommend that you avoid any activity which will increase your intra-abdominal pressure.
    This includes the following:

    1. Exercise

    At about 1 week, you can begin taking walks. Avoid all exercise other than walking. Begin your everyday activities as soon as you feel up to it. Move around the house, shower, and use the stairs at home during the first week. If it hurts when you do something, stop doing that activity

    2. Lifting

    Do not do any straining or lift anything heavier than approximately 10 pounds for at least the first 3 weeks. This is about the weight of a gallon of milk.

    3. Housework

    Most forms of housework are discouraged during your recovery period. Housework chores are capable of increasing intra-abdominal pressure significantly, so please try to let someone else perform these duties.

    4. Bending at the waist

    Bending at the waist will increase your intra-abdominal pressures. It is important that you try to avoid bending directly over to pick something up off the floor. If you need to reach something on the floor, either sit down and scoop it up or slowly bend down on your knees to pick it up, keeping your back straight. This restriction is not only good for the surgical repair, it is also good medicine for your lower back!

    5. Driving

    Driving is usually permissible 1-2 weeks after surgery. Please don’t drive if you are taking narcotics for pain control.

Please refer to the major surgery postoperative instructions above as well as the following:

Your incision was covered with a transparent skin adhesive. The adhesive is used to close the skin and to protect the incision from water and bacteria. It will remain in place for 5 to 10 days before naturally sloughing off of your skin. While your incision is healing, here are instructions for proper care.

  • Do NOT pick, scratch, or rub at the adhesive film
  • Protect your incision from injury until the skin has had sufficient time to heal
  • You may shower. However, do not soak or scrub your incision, do not swim and avoid heavy perspiration until the adhesive film has naturally fallen off.
  • After bathing, gently blot your incision dry
  • If necessary, apply a clean dry bandage over the incision to protect it
  • If your incision has a bandage, keep it dry
  • Replace the bandage daily as needed until the skin adhesive film has fallen off. If the bandage gets wet, replace it
  • When changing the bandage, do not place tape over the adhesive film, as when you remove the tape, you may also remove the film

Do not apply ointment or liquid medications to your incision while the skin adhesive is in place. These products may loosen the film before your incision heals.

There will be warm saline (salt water) placed in your abdomen during the surgery. This is done to help decrease postoperative pain. Some leakage from the incisions or vaginally for a few days is normal.

A urinary catheter is a thin tube placed in the bladder to drain urine. Urine drains through the tube into a bag that collects the urine. You may be sent home with a catheter if you are not able to urinate on your own or during and after some types of surgery.

  • If you go home with a catheter, you will be asked to come back to the clinic approximately one week after surgery to take the catheter out and have a voiding trial.
  • A minority of women continue having difficulty emptying their bladder.
  • The options then are to replace the catheter and have you come back in one week, or teach you or a family member how to do intermittent self-catheterization.
  • When you have the catheter in place, the tube can be attached to a leg bag so that you can move around with ease.
  • Make sure you empty the bag every time it fills up and before you go to bed at night

You should call the office or the on call nurse if you have any of the following:

  • Blood or fluid coming from your vagina
  • Sudden or extreme swelling of your face or fingers
  • Headaches that are severe or won’t go away
  • Nausea or vomiting that won’t go away
  • Dizziness
  • Dim or blurry vision
  • Pain or cramps in your lower abdomen
  • Chills or fever
  • A change in your baby’s movements
  • Less urine or burning when you urinate
  • Any illness or infection
  • Anything that bothers you
  • For Headaches: Tylenol or extra-strength Tylenol
  • For Colds/Allergies:
    • For congestion: Mucinex, Sudafed or Chlortrimetron
    • For sore throat: Chloraseptic spray, drink tea with honey
    • For cough: Robitussin
    • For sinus/allergy:
      • Tylenol Cold and Sinus, Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, Flonase or Nasonex
      • Eat fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C (broccoli, strawberries, oranges)
      • Use a humidifier
  • For Nausea:
    • Ginger Tea, Emetrol, or Vitamin B6 (10mg-25mg) with Unisom Sleep tabs (Doxylamine) every 8 hours
    • Eat small frequent meals, wet to dry diet (do not drink when you eat or eat when you drink)
  • For Heartburn:
    • TUMS, Rolaids, Zantac, Tagamet, Prevacid, Pepcid, Mylanta, or Maalox
    • Eat a light supper and sleep with head elevated (try using an extra pillow)
  • For Constipation:
    • Metamucil, Milk of Magnesia or Colace
    • Increase water intake and dietary fiber intake (fruits, green leafy vegetables, prunes, prune juice)
  • For Diarrhea:
    • Imodium AD, Kaopectate, or Pepto-Bismol
    • Liquid to bland diet for 24 hours gradually resuming regular diet
  • For Leg Cramps:
    • Os-Cal one at bedtime
    • Maternity support hose
    • Bananas, prenatal vitamins, water, stretching
  • For Back Pain:
    • Tylenol
    • Warm soaks in a bathtub
    • Maternity belt
    • Sit in chairs with good back support or use a small pillow behind the small of your back
  • For Hemorrhoids: Preparation H, Anusol-HC, Colace, Sitz baths
  • What foods should I avoid during pregnancy?

    • Raw or undercooked poultry, meats, eggs, or fish
    • Unpasteurized fish, deli meats, eggs, or cheese (ex. feta, Brie, Camembert, queso fresco, queso blanco)
    • Fish with high levels of mercury, such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish
    • Refrigerated meat unless heated to steaming
  • How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

    The amount of weight gain that is recommended depends on your health and your body mass index (this is calculated using your height and weight) before you were pregnant. If you were a normal weight before pregnancy, you should gain between 25 pounds and 35 pounds during pregnancy. If you were underweight before pregnancy, you should gain more weight than a woman who was a normal weight before pregnancy. If you were overweight or obese before pregnancy, you should gain less weight.

  • I don’t feel my baby moving as much. Is that okay?

    Most women begin to feel the baby moving between 18-22 weeks. The amount of movement will not decrease over time, but the movements will be smaller as the baby grows and has less room. At any point, if you haven’t felt the baby move, eat a snack and drink some juice. Then rest on your left or right side and count the movements of the baby for two hours. Any type of movement counts, not just kicks. If you don’t feel 10 movements in those two hours, contact your doctor.

  • I am interested in creating a birth plan. How can I find out more information on this?

    Congratulations on your pregnancy! Here at AWH, we are very excited to have the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful experience. We understand that each pregnancy is different for each individual and we also understand that as mothers you are able to choose how you want to experience your labor and delivery.

    Whether you choose to have an epidural or a natural birth please feel free to discuss your labor preferences with your doctor. We are willing to help you create a birth plan that works specifically for you, provide information on lamaze classes, and refer you to a midwife or doula if you’re interested. Please visit our natural birth section for more details.

During your pre-op appointment, your doctor will go over the details of your surgery, answer any questions you may have, and you will sign the consents. Once that is completed, you will meet with the pre-op nurse to discuss what to expect at the hospital, have any labs drawn, and etc. Your appointment will be approximately an hour, unless the doctor is called out for an emergency.

You will need to arrive two hours before the surgery time of the hospital and one hour before the office procedures.

Yes. Nothing to eat or drink 8 hours prior to surgery at the hospital and nothing to eat or drink 6 hours prior to surgery for in-office procedures.

A minor procedure will take 1/2 hour to 1 hour and a major surgery will take 1 1/2 hours to 2 hours. Both types of procedures will have 1 hour or recovery time after the procedure is completed.

It will depend on what type of surgery you will have and how you do with the surgery.

We do not do a payment plan, but we do accept Care Credit, which is a finance company that finances medical charges interest free for up to 18 months, so it is similar to a payment plan if you qualify.

You must be off of blood thinners and aspirin 5 days prior to surgery. All other medications will be reviewed by your doctor and they will inform whether you need to take them or not.

As long as you are not taking pain medications you can drive.

No, we do all of the preoperative appointments at the main office

Before surgery you must have an empty stomach. The possibility of complications increases if any food or drink is in your stomach because it can cause vomiting before, during and after the anesthetic.

When to stop eating and drinking:

If your surgery is scheduled between 7:00 AM and noon:

DO: eat a light meal the night before

DO NOT: Eat or drink anything after midnight

Surgery scheduled between noon and 4:00 PM:

DO: Eat a light meal the night before

DO: Drink clear liquids until 6:00 AM the day of surgery

DO NOT: Eat or drink anything after 6:00 AM

Surgery scheduled between 4:00 PM and 9:00 PM

DO: Eat a light meal the night before

DO: Drink clear liquids until 10:00 AM the day of surgery

DO NOT: Eat or drink anything after 10:00 AM

If you will be staying overnight:

  • Comfortable, loose-fitting clothes/pajamas and cotton underpants with loose waistbands
  • toothbrush/toothpaste and other personal hygiene items
  • If needed, pack contact lenses case and supplies and/or glasses, your inhaler and CPAP mask
  • Unless instructed by your doctor, leave all other medications at home
  • Robe
  • Nightgown (the hospital will provide non-slip socks)

Special Equipment:

  • Bring medical assistive devices, such as walkers, canes, braces, etc
  • Clearly mark these items with your name
  • We DO NOT allow personal or home medical equipment it the hospital (nebulizers, CPAP units, etc) due to patient safety and infection control standards. We will provide this medical equipment with a doctor’s order.

If you have a question during regular clinic hours, please leave a message. Your call will be returned by the physician’s phone nurse as soon as possible.

If you have a question after clinic hours, listen to the recording on the main phone line. It will direct you to the on-call phone nurse.

For information regarding recent lab work, if you have access to the patient portal please check this first. Otherwise,  you can call and leave a message with the physician’s phone nurse who will promptly return your call with the results or current status. In the event that any of your lab results are found to be abnormal, we will contact you immediately.

Please call the pharmacy first to make sure you do not have any refills already pending or waiting for pick up. When you are ready to fill or refill a prescription, keep the following in mind:

  • Prescription refills will be filled during office hours.
  • Leave a message with the phone nurse containing your name, date of birth, telephone number, prescription name, and pharmacy.
  • If you have switched pharmacies or would like to have your prescription sent to a different pharmacy, please provide us with the updated information as soon as possible. We are not responsible if your prescription gets sent to the wrong pharmacy.
  • Depending on the type of prescription request and the date of your last visit, you may need to schedule an appointment with us. Our nurse will advise you if this is necessary.
  • Please allow up to 48 hours for us to process your refill requests.
  • You should call your pharmacy before making the trip to verify they have received and processed your order.

Essure is a permanent birth control procedure that works with your body to prevent pregnancy. During the Essure procedure, a soft, flexible insert is placed into each of your fallopian tubes. This is a minimally invasive non-hormonal procedure that can be done in an outpatient setting. Over the next three months, a barrier forms around the inserts. During this time you must continue using another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. This barrier, which is made of scar tissue, helps keep sperm from reaching the eggs so pregnancy cannot occur. The Essure procedure is 99.3% effective at preventing pregnancy in patients who were told to rely on Essure for birth control.

For additional information please visit the Essure website

NovaSure endometrial ablation is a quick non-hormonal procedure that is used to treat heavy bleeding. Novasure is designed to remove just the uterine lining (the endometrium) which is the part of your body that causes heavy bleeding. This procedure can be done in an outpatient setting and you can go home the same day.

For additional information please visit the Novasure website or Endometrial ablation

Hysteroscopy is used to diagnose or treat problems of the uterus. A hysteroscope is a thin, lighted telescope-like device. It is inserted through your vagina into your uterus. The hysteroscope transmits the image of your uterus onto a screen. Other instruments are used along with the hysteroscope for treatment.

For additional information, please click here Hysteroscopy

D&C is a surgical procedure in which the cervix is opened (dilated) and a thin instrument is inserted into the uterus. This instrument is used to remove tissue from the inside of the uterus (curettage).

D&C is used to diagnose and treat many conditions that affect the uterus, such as abnormal bleeding. A D&C also may be done after a miscarriage. A sample of tissue from inside the uterus can be viewed under a microscope to tell whether any cells are abnormal. A D&C may be done with other procedures, such as hysteroscopy, in which a slender device is used to view the inside of the uterus.

For additional information, please click here Dilation and Curettage (D&C)

Laparoscopy is a type of surgery. In “open” surgery, an incision is made in the skin. This means making an incision that can be several inches long in the abdomen. Laparoscopy is a way of doing surgery using small incisions (usually no more than 1/2 inch long). Laparoscopic surgery sometimes is called “minimally invasive surgery.”

For additional information, please click here Laparoscopy

The da Vinci System is a robotic-assisted surgical device that your surgeon is 100% in control of at all times. The da Vinci System gives surgeons:

  • 3D HD view inside your body
  • Wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human hand
  • Enhanced vision, precision and control

For additional information, please click here da Vinci surgery

Hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. It is a very common type of surgery for women in the United States. Removing your uterus means that you can no longer become pregnant.

Hysterectomy is used to treat many women’s health conditions. Some of these conditions include the following:

  • Uterine fibroids (this is the most common reason for hysterectomy)
  • Endometriosis
  • Pelvic support problems (such as uterine prolapse)
  • Abnormal uterine bleeding
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Gynecologic cancer

For additional information, please click here Hysterectomy