Board Certified OBGYN, Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Glendale , AZ
Mon-Thursday 8:30-5:00pm
Friday 8:30-1:30pm
We are closed Sat and Sunday
5605 W Eugie Ave Ste 102
Glendale Az 85304
Phone: 602-298-8977
Fax: 602-298-1782
Appointment Schedule
When you come to the office for your first visit, we ask that you bring your ID and insurance card. During this visit, you will have a physical exam including a pap smear if needed. An ultrasound may be done or ordered.
Between 8 and 28 weeks, we would like you to schedule a visit every four weeks. Around 30 weeks, your visits will increase to every two weeks, then once a week from 36 weeks until delivery. We will request to see you more frequently if you are high risk. During each visit, you will have your weight, blood pressure, and fetal heartbeat checked. Several additional tests are done at scheduled times throughout your pregnancy.
It is very important to follow up with our office in the postpartum period. Instructions will be given when you leave the hospital regarding when you should follow up, but it is usually between 6 weeks after delivery. Health concerns during your pregnancy, your healing process, any emotional concerns, and birth control needs will be addressed during your visit(s).
Routine Testing
We will test your blood for the Rh factor. If your blood type is Rh negative, then you may be at risk for Rh disease, which affects about 10% of people. Rh disease is a pregnancy complication in which your immune system attacks the baby’s blood and can result in a life threatening situation for the baby. Fortunately, it can be prevented with a shot called Rhogam which is given at 28 weeks or anytime if vaginal bleeding occurs. If you are Rh negative, contact our office immediately if you develop bleeding or trauma to your belly.
GBS is a bacteria that some adults carry, and it usually does not cause problems for the mom or the developing baby. But at the time of birth, the baby can become infected.To help prevent GBS infection, women are tested for GBS late in pregnancy, between weeks 35 and 37. A swab is used to take a sample from the woman’s vagina and rectum. This procedure is quick and is not painful. If results of the test are positive, showing that GBS is present, you will receive treatment with antibiotics during labor to help prevent GBS from being passed to your baby. GBS test results from previous pregnancies cannot be used during the pregnancy. You still need to be tested during each pregnancy.However, if you have an older child who had GBS infection after birth, let us know because you will be given the antibiotics and treated as if you are a carrier with each future pregnancy.
We recommend one ultrasound early in pregnancy to confirm your due date and one between 18–22 weeks to evaluate the baby’s anatomy. Additional ultrasounds will be performed based on the medical need. Insurance will only cover additional ultrasounds if there is a medical need.
Common Symptoms of Pregnancy
Feeling nauseous during the first three months of pregnancy is very common. For some women, it can last longer, while others may not experience it at all. Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals a day in order to keep your stomach full at all times. Try bland foods like plain crackers, toast, dry breakfast cereal as well as carbonated drinks like ginger ale or 7-Up. Ginger is a natural treatment for nausea. Peppermint can also be used. Some over-the-counter medications are also safe. If the symptoms become severe or you are unable to keep fluids down without vomiting for more than 12 hours, contact the office. Vitamin B6 25-50 mg four times per day is very helpful for many women, and is safe to take in pregnancy. Sea-Bands are safe and may help reduce nausea.
Discharge is an increase in vaginal discharge that is white and milky is common in pregnancy. If the discharge is watery or has a foul odor, call the office.
Spotting may be a warning sign of a miscarriage but can also occur after an examination or sex. Call the office with any bleeding and we can give you further instruction on what to look for or do.
Constipation is a common complaint which can be related to hormone changes, low fluid intake, increased iron or lack of fiber in your diet. Try to include whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and plenty of water. There are also safe over-the-counter medications. If you develop hemorrhoids, try sitz baths three to four times per day for 10-15 minutes each time. If the pain persists, contact the office.
Experiencing infrequent cramps and contractions is normal. When cramps occur, empty your bladder, drink 1-2 glasses of water and try to rest. If you are less than 36 weeks pregnant and having more than six contractions in an hour after trying these measures, contact the office.
Cramping in your legs or feet can also be common. Eating bananas, drinking more lowfat/nonfat milk and consuming more calcium-rich foods like dark green vegetables, nuts, grains and beans may help. To relieve the cramp, try to stretch your leg with your foot flexed toward your body. A warm, moist towel or heat pad wrapped on the muscle may also help. You may also take Magnesium 500mg prior to bed to help prevent cramps.
You may feel lightheaded or dizzy at any time during your pregnancy. Try lying down on your left side and drink 1-2 glasses of water. If symptoms persist, contact the office.
Because of the increased production of blood and body fluids, normal swelling, also called edema, can be experienced in the hands, face, legs, ankles and feet. Elevate your feet, wear comfortable shoes, drink plenty of fluids and limit sodium. Supportive stockings can also help. If the swelling comes on rapidly, or is accompanied by headache or visual changes, contact us immediately.
You may experience heartburn throughout the pregnancy, especially during the latter part of your pregnancy when your baby is larger. Try to eat 5-6 smaller meals a day and avoid laying down immediately after eating. Some over-the-counter medications are also safe for use.
As your baby grows, backaches are common. You may also feel stretching and pulling pains in the abdomen or pelvic area. These are due to pressure from your baby’s head, weight increase and the normal loosening of joints. Practice good posture and try to rest with your feet elevated. You may also treat with heat and warm Epsom salt baths; avoid hot baths.
Your Baby’s Growth
Your baby’s body now has three distinct layers from which all of his organs will develop.
Your baby’s time fingers and toes start to develop.
Your baby’s facial features continue to become more defined, particularly his nose and chin.
Your baby’s skeletal system and nervous systems start to coordinate movement.
Your baby’s movements can reveal to your doctor more about your baby’s development.
Your baby is starting to take 20- to 30-minute naps.
Although your baby’s bones are hardening, his skull remains soft and flexible for birth.
A surge of hormones in your baby’s body could play a part in initiating labor.
Safe Medications
Colds/Allergies
Nutrition and Pregnancy
Overweight and obese women are at an increased risk of several pregnancy problems. These problems include gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia,preterm birth, and cesarean delivery. Babies of overweight and obese women also are at greater risk of certain problems such as birth defects, macrosomia with possible birth injury, and childhood obesity. On the other hand, underweight women are at increased risks for having small babies or preterm births.
Recommendations for weight gain during a singleton pregnancy are as follows:
The first step toward healthy eating is to look at your daily diet. Having healthy snacks that you eat during the day is a good way to get the nutrients and extra calories that you need. Pregnant women need to eat an additional 100-300 calories per day, which is equivalent to a small snack such as half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass of low fat milk.
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NUTRIENT |
REASON FOR IMPORTANCE |
SOURCES |
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Calcium (1000mg) |
Helps build strong bones and teeth |
Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Sardines |
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Iron (27 mg) |
Helps create the red blood cells that deliver oxygen to the baby and also prevents fatigue |
Lean Red Meat, Dried Beans and Peas, Iron-Fortified Cereals |
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Vitamin A (770 mcg) |
Forms healthy skin, helps eyesight, helps with bone growth |
Carrots, Dark Leafy Greens, Sweet Potatoes |
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Vitamin C (85 mg) |
Promotes healthy gums, teeth, and bones. Helps your body absorb iron |
Oranges, Melon and Strawberries |
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Vitamin B6 |
Helps form red blood cells, helps body use protein, fat and carbohydrates |
Beef, Liver, Pork, Ham, Whole Grain Cereals, Bananas |
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Vitamin B12 (2.6 mcg) |
Maintains nervous system, needed to form red blood cells |
Liver, Meat, Fish, Poultry, Milk (only found in animal foods, vegetarians should take a supplement) |
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Folate (600 mcg) |
Needed to produce blood and protein, helps some enzymes |
Green Leafy Vegetables, Liver, Orange Juice, Legumes and Nuts |
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Vitamin D3 (1000-2000 IU) |
Works with calcium to help your baby’s bones and teeth develop; essential for healthy skin and eyesight |
Milk fortified with vitamin D,fatty fish such as salmon; exposure to sunlight also converts a chemical in the skin to vitamin D |
Foods To Avoid In Pregnancy
Raw meat – Avoid uncooked seafood and undercooked beef or poultry due to risk of bacterial contamination, toxoplasmosis and salmonella.
Fish with mercury – Avoid fish with high levels of mercury including shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. For other fish, limit consumption to two servings per week.
Smoked seafood – Refrigerated, smoked seafood should be avoided due to risks of listeria contamination.
Raw shellfish – including clams, oysters, and mussels can cause bacterial infections. Cooked shrimp is safe.
Raw eggs – Raw eggs or any foods containing raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella. This includes some homemade caesar dressings, mayonnaise, and homemade ice cream. Cook eggs thoroughly, until the yolk is firm.
Soft cheeses – imported soft cheeses may contain listeria. Soft cheeses made with pasteurized milk are safe.
Unpasteurized milk – May contain listeria which can lead to miscarriage.
Pate – Refrigerated pate or meat spreads should be avoided due to risks of listeria.Caffeine – Limit caffeine intake to the equivalent of 1½ cups of coffee a day or less (or 200mg of caffeine). More than 200mg of caffeine may increase certain risks for pregnancy complications, but the effects are unknown.
Unwashed vegetables – Wash all vegetables well to avoid exposure to toxoplasmosis which may contaminate the soil where vegetables are grown.Avoid spilling fluids from raw meat and hotdog packages on other foods, utensils, and food preparation surfaces. In addition, wash hands after handling hot dogs, luncheon meats, delicatessen meats, and raw meat (such as, chicken, turkey or seafood or their juices.)
Deli meat/hot dogs – heat to steaming to kill Listeria bacteria.
Be sure you are getting enough protein. You will probably need to take supplements, especially iron, B12 and vitamin D.
During pregnancy, symptoms of lactose intolerance often improve. If you are still having problems after eating or drinking dairy products, talk with us. We may prescribe calcium supplements if you cannot get enough calcium from other foods. Remember, calcium can also be found in cheese, yogurt, sardines, certain types of salmon, spinach, and fortified orange juice.
These are OK to use but we would recommend limiting it to 1-2 servings per day. If you have diabetes, the artificial sweeteners are better than sugar to help control your blood sugars.
Common Questions
When will I feel my baby move?
Why am I so tired? What is the best sleep position?
Can I use a Jacuzzi?
Can I travel?
Zika Virus is passed to humans by bites from mosquitoes infected with the virus, or by sexual contact with someone infected with the virus. Zika infections have been associated with certain birth defects. It is advised to avoid travel to areas of the world that have Zika infections. To help prevent mosquito bites, use a repellent that contains Deet or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control website for Zika at www.cdc.gov/zika. If you plan to travel while pregnant, please discuss plans before you travel for specific recommendations
Can I care for my pets?
What do I need to do about dental care?
Can I go to the salon for treatments?
Can I have sex?
– You can have sex unless you are having complications or sex becomes too uncomfortable. There are times when exercise and sex should be avoided. This includes vaginal bleeding, leaking amniotic fluid, preterm labor, chest pain, regular uterine contractions, decreased fetal movement, growth restricted baby, headache, dizziness or general weakness.
Exercise
Exercise is a key part of staying healthy. Everyone needs daily physical activity — including pregnant women who are healthy and do not have limitations. Regular exercise during pregnancy benefits both you and your baby!
If you are healthy and your pregnancy is normal, it is safe to continue or start regular physical activity. Physical activity does not increase your chances of miscarriage, low birth weight, or early delivery. However, it is important to discuss exercise with us during your prenatal visits.Pregnant women should get at least30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise every day. Moderate-intensity means you are moving enough to raise your heart rate and start sweating. You still can talk normally, but you cannot sing. Examples include brisk walking and gardening (raking, weeding, or digging). If you are new to exercise, start out slowly and gradually increase your activity. Begin with as little as 5 minutes a day. Add 5 minutes each week until you can stay active for 30 minutes a day.
Stop exercising and call your obstetrician or other member of your health care team if you have any of these signs or symptoms:
Some types of exercise involve positions and movements that may be uncomfortable or harmful. While pregnant, do not do any activity that puts you at increased risk of injury, such as the following:•Contact sports and sports that put you at risk of getting hit in the abdomen, including ice hockey, boxing, soccer, and basketball
In the coming months, your growing uterus will put more pressure on your bladder. Even if your bladder is empty, it may feel like it is full. The weight of your uterus on your bladder may even cause you to leak a little urine when you sneeze or laugh. Doing Kegel exercises can help improve bladder control. Here is how they are done:
Breathe normally. Do not hold your breath as you do these exercises. You can do Kegel exercises anywhere—while working, driving in your car, or watching television—but do not do them when urinating.
Alcohol and Smoking
There is no safe amount of alcohol so we recommend avoiding all alcohol during pregnancy. Drinking alcohol can cause birth defects, mental retardation and abnormal brain development.If you smoke, so does your baby. This is a very important fact of pregnancy. Here are some known complications from smoking during pregnancy:
Ways to Quit Smoking
No matter what your approach to quitting, a conversation with us can make the difference between success and failure. Quitting cold turkey is a great way. If you want to try a quitting aid such as a nicotine patch, gum, or the medication Zyban or Wellbutrin, we can help you choose a method right for you.
The March of Dimes recommends women stop smoking prior to becoming pregnant and remain smoke-free throughout pregnancy and once the baby is born. The more a pregnant woman smokes the greater the risk to her baby. However, if a woman stops smoking by the end of her first trimester (first three months), she is no more likely to have a low birth weight baby than a woman who never smoked. Even if a woman is not able to stop smokingduring her first or second trimester, stopping during the third trimester (the last three months) can improve her baby’s growth.
The effects smoking has on your baby continue when you take him/her home. Children exposed to smoke in the home have higher levels of lung problems such as asthma, pneumonia, or bronchitis. They also suffer from more ear infections than children not exposed to smoke. Even more troubling is the increased incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) found in children exposed to smoking in the home. A child exposed to smoking in the home during the first few years of life are at an increased risk of developing asthma.
Great Start (1-866-66-START) is a national pregnancy specific smoker’s quit line operated by the American Legacy Foundation.
When To Go to the Hospital
If you experience any of the following, please go to the hospital immediately as these are considered emergency:
If you experience any of the following, please go to the hospital immediately as these are considered emergency:Please use this chart to determine how you should treat certain illnesses or symptoms throughout your pregnancy. If in doubt, go to the hospital.
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ILLNESS |
CALL THE OFFICE IF: |
GO TO HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY IF: |
HOME TREATMENT: |
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Bleeding/Cramping
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Vomiting
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Decreased fetal (baby) movements after 28 weeks |
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Labor |
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Urinary urgency and/or pain with urination
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Swelling |
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Cold and flu |
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Rupture of membranes |
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If you have preferences for your baby’s birth, please share these with your provider. If desired, there are several options to provide pain relief while you are in labor. We are supportive of whatever you choose.
Your baby’s blood is a valuable source of cells that could be used by your baby or another family member to treat some life-threatening diseases. It can easily and safely be obtained immediately after delivery. Parents can choose to have their baby’s blood saved; however the decision must be made before birth. Insurance does not generally cover this. If interested, you can order a kit and bring it with you to delivery. Ask your provider for information.
You must have a car seat installed in your vehicle before taking baby home. By law, children must be in a federally approved, properly installed, crash-tested car seat for every trip in the car beginning with the trip home from the hospital.
Human milk is perfectly designed nutrition for babies. Babies who are breastfed get fewer infections and are hospitalized less. Mothers that breastfeed burn 500 calories a day which can help lose extra weight and reduce a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. After delivery, the nurses and a lactation specialist are there to help you learn the art of breastfeeding.
Packing for the Hospital
The chart below will help determine if you are in labor. If you have signs of true labor or if your water breaks, you may go to labor and delivery directly, day or night.
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TRUE LABOR |
FALSE LABOR |
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Contractions are regular, get closer together and last 40 to 60 seconds. |
Contractions are irregular, do not get closer together and last 20 to 40 seconds. |
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Contractions continue despite movement. |
Contractions may stop when you walk or rest or may change with change of position. |
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Pain/discomfort usually felt in back and moves around to front. |
Pain/discomfort often felt in abdomen. |
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Contractions steadily increase in strength. |
Contractions usually are weak and do not get much stronger. |
|
Cervix dilates. |
Cervix does not dilate. |
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Bloody show may be present. |
Usually no bloody show is present. |
Postpartum Instructions
Postpartum Depression
40-80% of women experience mood changes after their delivery. This most commonly starts 2-3 days after delivery and usually goes away by 2 weeks. It is important to eat properly, get adequate sleep and reduce stress during this time to help with the symptoms. Sometimes the symptoms require treatment especially if mom is not bonding or enjoying her baby; unable to care for herself or the baby; feeling excessive sadness, depression or anxiety. Please schedule an appointment if you feel a problem is occurring. We are known for our compassionate care and have effective treatments for postpartum depression.
Reading List and Resources
The childbearing year is one of the most transformative times in a woman’s life. We strongly encourage you to use the following as resources to help you along this journey.
The Healthy Pregnancy Book by Dr. William Sears
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide by Penny Simpkin
The Birth Book by Dr. William Sears
Breastfeeding: Keep It Simple” by Amy Spangler
The Baby Book by Dr. William Sears
ChildbirthConnection.org – National Partnership for Women and Families
KellyMom.com – Pregnancy, Breastfeeding and Parenting information
Postpartum.net – Postpartum Support International.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Questions
If you have additional questions, or need information on another topic, please take note and ask the nurse or doctor at your next appointment. We ask that when you call the office at 602-298-8977 or if you have an emergency and need to speak to the doctor on call that you please have a pharmacy number available so that prescriptions can be called in if necessary. It is also important that we speak to you directly if at all possible.
Board Certified OBGYN, Obstetrics & Gynecology located in Glendale , AZ.
Glendale Obstetrics and Gynecology, PC in Glendale, Arizona, delivers the highest quality, personalized care in a professional, efficient, comfortable environment.
