We know that when you leave our office you may have questions you want to ask your doctor or nurse. Because of that, we created this FAQ that includes 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 on 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:
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.
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.
Why breastfeeding is important?
Woman’s Hospital Breastfeeding information
Woman’s Hospital offers the following:
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:
If you are having other breastfeeding issues please visit the following for more information:
Support groups:
American Congress of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Women, Infant, & Children (WIC)
American Academy of Pediatrics
Information on breastfeeding at work:
Information about breast pumps:
What to know when buying or using a breastpump
Information about pumping breast milk:
Woman’s Hospital Breastfeeding/pumping
Women’s Health Breastfeeding/pumping and storing breastmilk
Information on breastfeeding for NICU moms:
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:
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:
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:
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.
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.
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
Please refer to the major surgery postoperative instructions above as well as the following:
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.
You should call the office or the on call nurse if you have any of the following:
What foods should I avoid during pregnancy?
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:
Special Equipment:
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:
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