tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24465643132584942612024-03-13T03:35:49.798-07:00OB•GYN North BlogOBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-70677210130003783202015-09-04T18:48:00.001-07:002015-09-04T18:48:11.827-07:00Getting to Know Jessica Good, CNM<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Recently we asked Jessica a few things about her journey into midwifery and here's what we learned...</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>When did you know you wanted to be a midwife/physician?</b> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I knew I wanted to be a midwife after the birth of my first child. It was a traumatic experience even though I felt prepared going into it and I felt like no one gave me the information I was looking for. Midwifery perfectly marries patient-focused care with education and I knew then that it was the career for me. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>What’s your favorite part of your job? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Seeing the faces of women and their partners when they have seen how amazingly strong they are in bringing a baby into the world. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>How do you see the birth community changing in the years to come? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I see midwifery becoming more and more the norm for healthy pregnant women. i see collaboration becoming essential. OB/Gyn North has such an amazing collaborative model and I see that model spreading. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>What are your favorite resources for women in Austin? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Austin has great breastfeeding support and an amazing breast milk bank! I am such a supporter and champion for breast feeding and I think the resources here are amazing. </span></div>
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<b>What’s your favorite way to exercise or where do you spend time outdoors in Austin? </b></div>
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<span class="s1">I'm a runner. I love to trail run and hike with my family all around Austin as there are so many great areas. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>How would you encourage women or what would you say to them about the process of pregnancy and delivery? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Pregnancy is the most life changing event you will go through. It's tough and you learn and grow so much through pregnancy and birth. It's important to have great support in this journey, great care and good preparation. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>How many babies have you delivered? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">I stopped counting after 200, probably in the 400 area. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>What was one of your favorite moments in a birth? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The moment when a woman realizes she is the strongest being on earth!</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>How long have you been in practice? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">5 years</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned lately? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">That babies have fingerprints at just 13 weeks gestation!</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>How is your view on birth different now that you’ve experienced it so many times?</b> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I feel like I have gained a good sense for normal through my experience. I have learned how to be a strong and calming presence. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>What is something that surprises you about deliveries?</b> </span>They come in so many shapes and sizes and can be so different for everyone.</div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-88464716354315274432015-04-17T08:09:00.003-07:002015-04-17T08:19:15.292-07:00OBGYN North Welcomes Dr. Mary Mirto to the Practice<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have had a lot of changes to the practice lately and we couldn't be happier to add so many incredible women to our staff. We are so thrilled to have Dr. Mary Mirto join us and we look forward to introducing her to our patients, along with the four new midwives who have already become a part of our OBGYN North and Natural Beginning Birth Center family!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="line-height: 23.7999992370605px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dr. Mirto is an obstetrician-gynecologist in Austin and is affiliated with St. David's Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for 21 years. </span></span></span>OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-18800094859901259262015-04-10T07:49:00.001-07:002015-04-10T07:49:09.835-07:00OBGYN North and Natural Beginning Birth Center Introduce Kathleen Hewitt<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Our staff has had the opportunity to get know Kaye over the past month, but if you haven’t had a chance to meet her we hope you will soon! We’re so glad she joined us and look forward to having her experience on staff to serve our patients. Here’s a little more about her background, as with all of us, if you’d like to know more, please just ask!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Kaye received her BSN from Old Dominion University while her husband was stationed in Virginia in the Navy. With ten years’ experience as an L&D nurse in Virginia and Wisconsin, she began post-graduate studies at University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio and received her MSN in Women’s Health and certification as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner. She accepted a position as provider and clinic manager at the University of Texas Medical Branch rural clinics in Beaumont, Orange and Port Arthur providing obstetrical/prenatal and gynecological care to low-income women in Southeast Texas for 3 ½ years. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">In 1995, she left UTMB to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a nurse in the US Navy. While stationed at Portsmouth Naval Hospital, she was deployed to the aircraft carrier, USS John C. Stennis, and provided acute Well Woman care to approximately 400 active duty females. She was then stationed in Rota, Spain, where she became interested in the cultural diversity of how women’s health care is viewed and provided in, not only Europe, while caring for Spanish dependent wives and daughters, but also in East Africa, while deployed to Tanzania, providing medical care to the women of the Maasai.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">While stationed at Parris Island, S.C, her pregnant mothers frequently asked her if she would deliver their babies, and she had to say that WHNPs do not deliver babies. Midwifery became the culmination of her passion to provide education and empowerment to women in their health care choices. She was accepted into the Navy’s Duty Under Instruction program to attend Philadelphia University Institute of Midwifery, receiving her certification as a Certified Nurse Midwife in 2004, and began her midwifery practice at the US Marine Corps base in 29 Palms CA, and continued providing evidence-based, holistic , empowering midwifery care in Okinawa, Japan, and Bremerton, Washington. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Following her retirement from active duty, she worked as a locum tenens provider for the Indian Health Service in South Dakota, Oklahoma, and Arizona, ingraining an even greater knowledge and appreciation of the beauty, strength, and diversity of women in childbirth when they “listen to their bodies”. After a year and a half teaching the midwifery model of care to OB/GYN medical residents at San Antonio Military Medical Center, Kaye longed to return to clinical practice and is very excited to be part of the OBGNorth team of physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and CNMs who embrace “being with women and their families throughout the life span.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">She is happy to be back in Texas, closer to her family and enjoys the time she spends with her sons and grandchildren. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, hiking with her dog, and world traveling.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Please help join us in welcoming Kaye to OBGYN North and Natural Beginning Birth Center!</span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-64055266705966701792015-04-08T07:53:00.000-07:002015-04-08T07:53:52.686-07:00OBGYN North and Natural Beginning Birth Center Introduce Michelle Hughes <div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Last month, Michelle Hughes joined our staff and has already begun delivering babies at NBBC. We’re so glad to have her and look forward to introducing her to all of our patients. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Michelle began her passion for caring for women while in nursing school during the early 1990s. She found her calling during her first obstetric rotation, when she witnessed her first birth. She was lucky enough to receive primary training at a hospital that provided evidenced-based care with strong collaborative relationships between the physicians and nurse-midwives. This set the tone for how she believes obstetric care should be provided.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Upon graduating with a Bachelors of Science for nursing, Michelle moved to Memphis, TN, where she worked for 3 years as a labor and delivery nurse, providing care to inner city, at risk women. When her husband's career brought them in Austin, she went searching again for a place she could serve the neediest, and became a labor and delivery nurse at Brackenridge Hospital for the next 11 years. While there, she worked with nurse-midwives, physicians, and doctors in training. She worked with both Kathy Harrison-Short, CNM and Tesa Miller, MD while there, and is happy to be reunited with them.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">It was during her time at Brackenridge that Michelle and Stephen began their family. She birthed her first child with one of the wonderful midwives she worked with, in what was then called the Alternative Birthing Center at Brackenridge. The power that this birth gave Michelle fueled her drive to assist women in achieving the birth they desire. Her second child was another unmedicated hospital birth with a caring physician colleague because there was a medical indication for a hospital birth and there were no hospital-based midwives in Austin at that time. While this doctor supported her birth choices completely, a desire to become a midwife and to help give women more midwifery options grew.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Michelle waited until her youngest daughter started school before going to graduate school herself. In 2011, she graduated with a Masters of Science in Nursing, specializing in Midwifery. She became a CNM at Ft. Hood, where she caught almost 500 babies in four years before coming to OBGYN North. She is so excited to be in Austin again, at a practice that offers women choice in childbirth, with physicians and midwives who feel as passionately about that as she does.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Michelle grew up an Air Force brat, moving many times before landing in Vermont, which is where she met and married Stephen 22+ years ago. They have been in Austin since 2000, and love it here! They have two beautiful daughters, a cat, a bearded dragon, and two guinea pigs. She enjoys spending time with family, reading, knitting, and is training to run her first 5K.</span></div>
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With a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Vermont in 1997 and a Masters of Science in Nursing, specializing in Midwifery, from the University of Cincinnati in 2011 we know Michelle will be a great addition to our team!<span class="s1"></span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-75719737314337520962015-04-07T09:39:00.000-07:002015-04-07T09:39:29.230-07:00OBGYN North and Natural Beginning Birth Center Anticipate Bridget Kenny's May Start Date<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">It’s only the beginning of April, but we can hardly wait for Bridget Kenny to join our practice next month. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">A graduate of University of Pennsylvania and Medical University of South Carolina, she has been a practicing nurse-midwife since in 2008. She has worked in a busy private practice, a birth center, and a community health clinic. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">A firm believer in the midwifery model of care, Bridget works to guide women and their families through childbirth, labor, and then later throughout their reproductive lifespan. She is currently studying to become a lactation consultant and dabbles in aromatherapy. She would like to incorporate aromatherapy in both prenatal care and during labor as she joins our practice.</span></div>
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After spending two brutal winters in Chicago, Bridget is excited to be back in warmer temperatures and closer to family. When she isn’t helping out patients at NBBC, you might find her at a yoga studio somewhere in Austin, running along Town Lake or just hanging out with her boston terrier, Hody.<span class="s1"></span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-48760780669651011332015-04-06T08:29:00.001-07:002015-04-06T08:29:34.276-07:00OBGYN North and Natural Beginning Birth Center Welcome Jessica Good<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">We are so glad to have Jessica Good join our team of midwives and hope you have the chance to meet her soon!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Jessica is passionate about the partnership between an individual and her provider, with a focus on using education and preventative care to promote health. She believes in presence, being fully available to patients, listening and using her knowledge to guide, rather than treat each individual and family.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Jessica was born and raised in Texas. She attended The University of Texas at Austin for her undergrad, with a degree in Human Biology and a nursing degree. She went on to get her Masters in Midwifery at The University of Washington in Seattle.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Jessica has worked as a midwife in several settings, including a private midwifery practice in Seattle and a high-risk full scope clinic/hospital providing care to the underserved. Her passion lies in the normal birth process, trusting and empowering women through their journey to motherhood.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Jessica spends all of her free time with her amazing husband and two boys, age 8 and 3, one of which was born at home. She also enjoys running, cooking and gardening in her spare time. </span><br /><br />As our team grows, we are increasingly thankful to have talented and experienced midwives dedicated to women’s health modeling the type of care we have always provided for our patients. </div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-58869905833921833892015-03-23T10:57:00.001-07:002015-03-23T10:57:42.856-07:00Birth Classes for 2015<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>June</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth (Two Options)</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23 </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Birth Center Orientation</i> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">June 30</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Labor Skills</i> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday, June 7 3:30-6p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>July</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth (Two Options)</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Mondays</span></div>
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<span class="s1">July 6, 13, 20, 27</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Tuesdays</span></div>
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<span class="s1">July 7, 14, 21, 28<br />
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<span class="s1"><i>VBAC </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday July 19, 12:30-3p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Labor Skills </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday July 19, 3:30-6</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>August</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth (Two Options)</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Mondays</span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 10, 17, 24, 31</span></div>
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Tuesdays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 11, 18, 25 & September 1<br />
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<span class="s1"><i>Labor Skills </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday, August 9 3:30-6p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Birth Center Orientation</i> </span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 4</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>September</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth (Two Options)</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">September 14, 21, 28 & October 5<br />
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<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sept 15, 22, 29, Oct 6<br />
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i>VBAC </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday, September 13 12:30-3p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Labor Skills </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday, September 13 3:30-6p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Birth Center Orientation </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">September 8</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>October</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth (Two Options)</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Oct 12, 19, 26, Nov 2<br />
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<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Oct 20, 27, Nov 3, 10<br />
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<span class="s1"><i>Labor Skills </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday, October 4 3:30-6p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Birth Center Orientation</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">October 13</span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>November</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
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<span class="s1">November 9, 16, 23, 30<br />
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<span class="s1"><i>VBAC </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday 11/1 12:30-3p.m.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Labor Skills </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sunday 11/1 3:30-6</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Birth Center Orientation </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">November 17</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>December</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><i>Prepared Childbirth</i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Tuesday</span></div>
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<span class="s1">December 1, 8, 15 & Thursday 17</span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-23022390550653041032015-01-09T12:15:00.002-08:002015-01-09T12:15:48.439-08:00Getting to Know Jennifer Nash, CNM<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">When did you know you wanted to be a midwife/physician? </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I received the call to be a midwife as a teenager. My best friend of 21 years was born at home with a midwife and introduced me to the idea and it is the perfect fit for me. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">What’s your favorite part of your job?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There are so many parts that are my favorite! But I think overall, the best part is building relationships with women and their families. I love watching families grow and empowering them in their transitions.</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How do you see the birth community changing in the years to come?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I am hoping we will see a greater desire and support for physiologic birth. I believe that will mean more midwives, birth centers, and family centered care. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What are your favorite resources for women in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I think there is a fantastic childbirth education and doula community in Austin, better than anywhere else I’ve lived. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What’s your favorite way to exercise or where do you spend time outdoors in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I walk my dog, Quinn, and her puppy cousins, Roslin and Seamus, almost every day on the trails by our house. I also enjoy yoga, dancing, riding my bike, running, and canoeing, but don’t make enough time for them. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How would you encourage women or what would you say to them about the process of pregnancy and delivery? </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The biggest encouragement I have for pregnancy and birth is to trust to process and yourself. It is easy to get focused on change and be afraid of it, but if you trust the process and your own strength, you can enjoy it more. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How many babies have you delivered? </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">As a midwife, 95 (I am probably the only provider in our practice who is keeping track, but I can’t wait to reach 100). </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What was one of your favorite moments in a birth?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There are little things that make every birth a little special and different. Some of the most special are when I’m wrong. It keeps me on my toes. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How long have you been in practice?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I have been a midwife for almost a year now. I have worked with childbearing families for 6 years prior to that. Mostly as a labor and delivery nurse, but also as a childbirth educator, doula, and postpartum/newborn nurse. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned lately?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I recently discovered that I love chai tea and drink it every day. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How is your view on birth different now that you’ve experienced it so many times?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The longer I work in the birth world, the more I trust the process. It is easy to over-medicalize birth in this technological world, but it is pretty amazing how well things turn out when we just keep our hands off. </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is something that surprises you about deliveries?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
Even though I’ve been at thousands of births, it is surprising that I still learn something every time. </div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-83998563302195594822014-12-08T08:23:00.000-08:002014-12-08T08:23:06.842-08:00Getting to Know Siobhan Kubesh, CNM<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is your favorite way to exercise or where do you spend time outdoors in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I love walking my neighborhood with my girlfriends and spending time boating on Lake Austin and Lake Travis with my family.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p2">
How would your encourage women or what would you say to the about the process of pregnancy and delivery?<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Surrender and trust. Years ago I was attending a birth with a midwife whom I greatly admire. The mother was laboring so peacefully and I whispered to my peer, “This is so beautiful! She is in complete control.” My wise friend said, “Siobhan, it is the opposite. She is not in control, she is completely surrendered.” Educate yourself about options for birth, surround yourself with people who believe in you, create your plan, then emotionally surrender once labor starts. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What was one of your favorite moments in a birth?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There was a beautiful birth recently at our birth center (and this mother knows how much I admire her!) As a first time mother she was on her hands and knees in the tub, gently blowing little puffs of air through her contractions. With no change in expression, she quietly said to me, “I think something is coming out.” Since she was not visibly pushing, I reached under the water, expecting to feel the tip of the baby’s head. The entire head had gently emerged as this mother so peacefully welcomed her baby! As the baby arrived, the mother rotated so she could sit back in the tub, with just the baby’s head above the warm bath water. The baby let out two strong cries, cleared her lungs, then spent the next few minutes pink and healthy as can be, blinking up at her parents. It was truly one of the most peaceful births I have ever witnessed. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How long have you been in practice?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I have been working with mothers and babies for 21 years, first as a registered nurse, and have been a nurse-midwife for 15 years.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is the most interesting thing you have learned lately?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">That crocodiles have a “v” shaped mouth, are brown and their dominant teeth protrude from the bottom jaw. Alligators on the other hand, have a “u” shaped mouth, are green and their dominant teeth protrude from the top jaw. This I learned from my six year old nephew in the car drive to school. It may not be accurate information, but it is tucked away in my brain, and now in yours. Someday it may be useful. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How is your view on birth different now that you have experienced it so may times?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There are a million right ways to birth. I am reminded of that all of the time. Each woman has her own journey and each birth unfolds differently. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What are some of the ways you strive for optimal health.</span>I am a huge advocate for healthy eating and living life in moderation. Nurturing our emotional health is just as important as physical wellbeing. I try to create time to relax with friends and family and spend time outdoors. I am not always successful in creating this balance, but I try!</div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-76474999481605561632014-12-03T09:55:00.001-08:002014-12-03T09:55:39.047-08:00Getting to Know Dr. Piparia<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">When did you know you wanted to be a physician?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I knew I wanted to be a physician in my 7th grade biology class. I remember learning that there were 206 major bones in the human body and I remember thinking I wanted to know each and every one of them and how they all worked together. Little did I know that there was much more to human anatomy...when I found out, it made my desire to learn even stronger </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is your favorite part of your job?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">My favorite part of the job is knowing that I can motive women to push their bodies to show them what they were made to do, and to show them how amazingly we were created. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What are your favorite resources for women in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I’m still a bit new to the city and I don't know Austin as well as I’d like to, but I love what the Milk Bank is able to do for our community of new Moms and their babies. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is your favorite way to exercise?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">My favorite way to exercise is to dance! Bollywood style! </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What would you say to women about the process of pregnancy and delivery? </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Believe in your self. Your body got you to where you are in this moment, and you'll be amazed at what more it can do. Just stay positive and give your body a chance! </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How many babies have you delivered? </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">More than you would expect. Even though I am young, I worked in one of the busiest centers in downtown Chicago and gained a lot of experience in a short amount of time! </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How is your view on birth different now that you’ve experienced it so many times? </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Although it seems like we only look at things though medical eyes, I really see birth as an experience that our bodies were created to perform. It is more natural than we realize regardless of what you are getting to help contractions along or what you might need for discomfort. I view birth as a celebration of a moment in someones life, rather than a medical event that is clouded by IV poles, hospital beds and monitors. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is something that surprises you about deliveries? </span>I still get excited every time I see a new parents’ reaction to their newborn. The moment their baby is delivered surprises me every time, each individual reaction is so different. </div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-35851263049002569672014-11-24T08:16:00.003-08:002014-11-24T08:16:55.913-08:00Getting to Know Lisa Carlile, CNM<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">When did you know you wanted to be a midwife? </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">During my 3</span><span class="s2"><sup>rd</sup></span><span class="s1"> pregnancy I was cared for by CNMs in the Air Force and got to work with some in the hospital where I worked. I was already considering further education, but I began to discuss it with a CNM I enjoyed working with and she encouraged me to become a midwife. I also thought about becoming a nurse anesthetist, but I felt like I would miss interaction with people and I knew I would very much miss birth.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is your favorite part of your job?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I really enjoy seeing women year after year and getting to know them. And, I enjoy helping women work through problems. The relationships are what I love the most about my job.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How do you see the birth community changing in the years to come?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I hope to see the c-section rate drop and for women to gain more acceptance of alternative birth locations.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What is your favorite way to exercise or where do you spend time outdoors in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I work outside in my yard most weekends and mornings. Digging up rocks and building gardens is one of my favorite things to do outside.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How many babies have you delivered? More than I can remember!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How long have you been in practice? I graduated midwifery school in 1997 and practiced for about 5 years before taking a job with a hospital. That was where I met Margaret Thompson, MD in 2001 (who previously owned this practice). In 2002 she hired me to work in her office but not to deliver babies. When Christina Sebestyen, MD bought the practice in 2008 I began delivering babies again.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com91tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-51698483969496082852014-11-20T19:51:00.000-08:002014-11-20T19:51:22.405-08:00Getting to Know Dr. Sebestyen<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">When did you know you wanted to become a physician?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I thought I might want to be a physician in high school, so I got a job as a receptionist in a pediatric office to investigate the possibility. I ultimately decided with certainty in my senior year of college after completing my bachelors thesis on the manifestation of aggression in feral ponies. I loved the research but felt as though I was not helping the world with my gifts and that I would better serve others through medicine. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What</span><span class="s2"> i</span><span class="s1">s your favorite part of your job?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I love the relationships I am able to develop with women over the course many years. Watching families grow and change offers a special window into their world which is precious. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How do you see the birth community changing in the years to come?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I am hopeful that evidence-based medicine will prevail causing induction and c-section rates to decline. This will require a change in the financing of birth (which unfortunately is not apt to change soon). </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What are your favorite resources for women in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Special Addition </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Stroller Strides</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Central Texas Doula Association</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Hand to Hold</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Planned Parenthood</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What</span><span class="s2"> i</span><span class="s1">s your favorite way to exercise or where do you spend time outdoors in Austin?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I love to walk on Lady Bird Lake with my older son. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What are some of the ways you strive for optimal health?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I wear a Fitbit which guilts me into walking more!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How would you encourage women or what would you say to them about the process of pregnancy and delivery?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Believe in yourself and your convictions. Surround yourself with people who share those beliefs and will hold you up throughout the process. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How many babies have you delivered?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Lots :)</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What was one of your favorite moments in a birth?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">There is a couple who I have had the honor to assist twice in labor who have an uncanny rhythm with each other. It is their birth and I am just a helping hand. I hope for that type of relationship for all couples. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How long have you been in practice?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Since 1999. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">What</span><span class="s2"> is </span><span class="s1">the most interesting thing you</span><span class="s2">’</span><span class="s1">ve learned lately?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">We choose our own path and need to embrace it or change the path. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">How is your view on birth different now that you</span><span class="s2">’</span><span class="s1">ve experienced it so many times?</span>We shape our own birth experience through our preparation and attitude, and need to embrace that rather than blaming others or the world around us. </div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-83230725376579694142014-11-11T06:02:00.000-08:002014-11-11T06:02:06.656-08:002015 Childbirth Classes at OBGYN North<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Prepared Childbirth (4 Classes)</b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i>6:30-9:00p.m.</i></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><i></i></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">January 5, 12, 19, 26</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">January 13, 20, 27 & February 3</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">February 2, 9, 16, 23</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">February 17, 24 and March 3, 10</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">March 2, 9, 16, 23</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">March 24, 31 & April 7, 14</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">April 6, 13, 20, 27</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">April 28 & May 5, 12, 19</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Mondays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">May 4, 11, 18 (no class 5/25) & June 1</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Tuesdays </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">June 2, 9, 16, 23</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Mondays<br />
June 8, 15, 22, 29</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>Labor Skills (1 Class)</b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i>3:30-6:00p.m.</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
Sunday, January 4</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sunday, February 1</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sunday, March 1</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sunday, March 29</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sunday, May 3</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Sunday, June 7</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b>VBAC Preparation (1 Class)</b></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><i>12:30-3:00p.m.</i></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sunday, January 4</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Sunday, March 1</span></div>
<div class="p1">
Sunday, May 3</div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-81305114430854037712014-09-15T08:35:00.002-07:002014-09-15T08:35:47.583-07:00What is a Cesarean Section?<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">(Tips to Avoid) Cesarean Delivery </span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">According to legend, Julius Caesar was born surgically, thus lending his name to the well-known practice of Cesarean section or C-section for short. In this past, this was done for a truly life saving purpose for the mom or baby. Fortunately, today's modern C-section techniques are safer, but when do you really need one? At OBGYN North, our midwives and physicians strive to avoid c-sections unless medically necessary. We invite all mothers to be proactive throughout pregnancy by maintenance of a healthy weight, healthy diet, exercise, and childbirth preparation.</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">The national C-section rate is nearly 1 in 3 births. At OBGYN North, we think this is too high of a number. Our practice average is about 1 in 5, including planned repeat C-sections. For a first time c-section our rate is 1 in 7. Additionally, we are excited to support women with vaginal birth after C-section, known as VBAC with one or two prior cesarean deliveries. After obtaining the documentation of your previous cesarean scar(s), we provide consultation with our physicians to help you determine if this is a good option for you. (This is not common at many other practices). Our VBAC success rate is over 80%!</span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">How is this possible? At OBGYN North, we will do our best to help you avoid a C-section. This blog post will focus on how we as a team (midwives, doctors, mothers-to-be, and their support team) help avoid this surgery. </span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1">A common reason for a C-section is dysfunctional labor or failure to progress. One of the common reasons for a failure to progress is the result of induction of labor when the body is not ready. For this reason, we induce only for medical indications (fetal or maternal health risks). It is best to allow moms to labor without intervention when none is needed. To avoid a medical induction of labor we may suggest herbals, ambulation, nipple stimulation, and encouraging doula support of your labor. Should induction be medically necessary, we will walk you through the process and proceed slowly as the body intended helping you get into labor.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Labor preparation is also very important. We offer many options for preparation classes so that you will find one that fits your personality and philosophy of labor best. Our physicians and midwives want to help support your birth plan; therefore, we recommend discussing all your pain management options with your providers. Epidurals are safe, but sometimes they slow the normal labor process. We have other options available.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Our next most common reason for a C-section is a breech delivery (baby's head not turned down). Our strategy to avoid this outcome is to identify the position of the baby early. Your assistance is important here: such as identifying where the baby is kicking and discussing any concerns to your providers during your visits. A quick ultrasound late in the third trimester can be very helpful as well. Regular exercise, acupuncture, and the Webster technique (chiropractors typically perform this) are helpful to turn the baby's head down. </span><span class="s2">Spinningbabies.com</span><span class="s1"> is great resource for mothers with breech babies and other less optimal positions for labor. Finally, at 37 weeks, about 5% of babies are still breech. At this point, our physicians will offer to turn the baby head down.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The majority of pregnancies are healthy and normal, and do not need intervention. Our mission is to support our moms through a safe pregnancy and delivery. Sometimes in labor, contractions lead to baby heart rate changes. This is probably the result of cord compression or a problem with the placenta. To help avoid placental problems, we recommend a healthy diet and regular exercise throughout pregnancy. If it is an issue of cord compression, then we may ask you to change positions as you labor to help your baby maintain heart rate and get enough oxygen. Some other methods to improve the baby's situation include oxygenation, hydration, and an amnioinfusion (replace fluid around the baby). </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Unfortunately, there are times when C-sections are necessary for you and your baby. If we can't resolve one of the above issues like persistent breech positioning or if your baby still doesn't tolerate labor, we may need to do a C-section. One other reason for a C-section may on occasion be a placenta previa (placenta over the cervix). A suspected "large" baby is rarely an indication for a cesarean delivery in a low risk mother. If we are recommending a cesarean section, then we will counsel and involve you in the decision making process. If you are having a scheduled C-section, we can offer a family-centered (otheriwse known as a gentle C-section). See this <a href="http://www.obgmanagement.com/home/article/mother-baby-and-family-centered-cesarean-delivery-it-is-possible/c7b9785850d30024ef49873129f4d8d8.html"><span class="s2">link</span></a> for more information. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">If we recommend a C-section, please know it is after we have exhausted all our other options. Our physician midwife team will work together to help your birth experience to be a joyous occasion. At OBGYN North from the time of your pre-conception visit throughout your pregnancy, we strive to offer the highest quality pre-natal care. By doing so, we can reduce your risk of C-section and avoid unnecessary labor interventions. We want to encourage moms'-to-be and their family's participation throughout the process, leading to a healthy and happy outcome for you, your baby, and your whole family.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Best wishes for a happy and healthy labor! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">April Schiemenz, MD</span></div>
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OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-84981341324934522932014-08-27T13:04:00.001-07:002014-08-27T13:04:56.370-07:00Get to Know Dr. Maansi Piparia<div class="p1">
Hi there everyone! I'm Dr. Maansi Piparia, and even though I have been here at the practice for a year now, I am still the newest doctor of the group!</div>
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I am sure some of you have met me already but just to give you a little background, I was born in Canton, Ohio but was mostly raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Growing up in Tulsa was great but Texas always seemed a little more appealing so I made it my goal to move here someday. I finished high school and was accepted to a six year combined BA/MD program in Kansas City, Missouri. The program is an accelerated path for young adults who a sure they want to become a physician, and I knew at a pretty early age! Although I didn't have a normal college experience, it was six years of bonding with friends who were also going to school all year-round with intensity and stress! After medical school, I journeyed up to Chicago where I completed my residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I found a love for teaching and laparoscopy and found my husband while we were early in training! </div>
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After residency, my husband and I moved to Austin. We were starting fresh, as we didn't know anyone here, and just hopeful it would be a good experience. We have been extremely thrilled with our choice! Since we have been here we have had a great time in the city, experiencing the music, the culture and the amazing Mexican food! We recently bought a house in Round Rock and we are hoping to start a family very soon!</div>
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If we ever get off topic in a clinic visit there's a good chance I might be talking about how much I love the OU Sooners (of course better than the Longhorns, haha) or about my big fat Indian wedding that I had almost 1 year ago!<br /><br />I will never forget a quote that was presented to me in my early years, <i>"Choose a job you love and you will never work a day in your life."</i> Of course we all know that Obstetrics is hard work for all of us, the patient and physician, partners and families all included, but this quote is true. Essentially, if you are doing something you truly love in life, then even if it takes sleepless nights and stress, its still enjoyable and worth every second. That is in a nutshell why I am here and why I am doing what I do! I hope that I get to meet all of you sometime and thanks for reading a little about me!</div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-58471611740803068742014-08-19T20:13:00.001-07:002014-08-19T20:13:45.893-07:00Lessons for a Labor Coach (reposted from the Sacramento Bee)<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The article below, by Adrian Kulp, was originally written for TheBump.com and was posted today on the Sacramento Bee. The article quotes our very own, Dr. Sebestyen, in an informative article for expecting Dads!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Lessons for a Labor Coach</span></div>
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<span class="s1">When it was my turn to coach my wife through the birth of our first, I wish I'd been better prepared. Case in point: As I rode the hospital elevator with another expectant dad, he asked me if I knew about "the bathing suit thing." What!? (More on that below.) Since I've been down that road three times now, allow me to share my experiences with you, along with some advice from the experts.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE A PLAN</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And I'm not talking about an escape plan! (It's too late for that.) Before labor, sit down with your partner to map out how you want delivery day to go. To get started, research different hospitals, consult a doula or take a childbirth class together. Discuss what will make her feel positive and negative during a vulnerable time, says Latham Thomas, a doula and founder of MamaGlow.com. She recommends positive affirmations and guided imagery to help calm mom in the delivery room.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU SHOULD PACK A FEW SURPRISES</span></div>
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<span class="s1">She's giving you a child, the least you could do is give her a couple of lollipops, right!? You'll win major points if you show up with some unexpected extras to comfort her, like her favorite music, some bottled water, mints or hard candies to alleviate dry mouth, and some <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/lip+balm/"><span class="s2">lip balm.</span></a> You have no idea how dry her lips and mouth can get during labor, Thomas says. Plus, the more prepared you are, the more relaxed everyone will be.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU MAY NEED A BATHING SUIT</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Huh? As I mentioned, this one caught me off guard. Why? Am I headed to the hot tub with the nurses clocking out from the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/day+shift/"><span class="s2">day shift?</span></a> Nope, sorry. Even if you're not planning on a water birth, there may actually be a time during the rigors if early labor when water therapy could be used to alleviate some of the pain and stress on mom. Many hospitals have a tub or whirlpool available in the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/maternity+ward/"><span class="s2">maternity ward</span></a> (the shower can be used too), and it's not uncommon for a coach to jump in (no cannonballs, please!) and offer some physical and emotional support.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET INTO POSITION</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Wait, isn't that what got us into this mess to begin with? But seriously, delivery isn't just exhausting for her; coaching can be labor-intensive for you too. As a coach, it's important to help the process progress as much as possible, says Christina Sebestyen, MD, a physician and owner of OBGYN North in Austin, <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/texas/"><span class="s2">Texas.</span></a> Part of that includes suggesting that your partner switch positions when she seems to be "hitting a wall." Changing positions can bring some relief and rejuvenate her mental state, Sebestyen says. So prepare to bend or squat behind her or even squeeze into the bed with her - whatever you need to do to help support and comfort her while she's experiencing pain.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU'RE ALLOWED TO TAKE A BREAK</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I'm not going to lie, seeing your partner in pain can be tough to take, and it'll be even tougher to leave her side. But as much as you need to focus on her, you also need to take care of yourself. An exhausted, nauseated or panicked coach won't do mom any good. A lot goes on during labor, and you could be in it for the long haul. To start, bring a few changes of comfortable clothes and your toiletry kit (or in my case, a gallon-size zip-top bag with my toothbrush and random bathroom gear). If you need to step away for a break - whether it's to grab coffee or to collect yourself if you get queasy - don't feel bad. Just have a pinch hitter on standby, like her mom or sister, to relieve you for a bit.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU MIGHT HAVE TO SKIP TACO TUESDAY</span></div>
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<span class="s1">"Please, please, no eating in the labor or delivery room," is a common refrain dads hear. This one drives doctors crazy - you can't imagine what people do. In fact, Sebestyen once found some family members sitting around eating take-out while the mom-to-be was mid-contraction. General Tso's chicken with a side of grunting and screaming? Not a good idea. Instead, you want to help create a serene environment throughout the entire process. You never know when a certain smell, sound or action could upset your partner. Translation: Go eat in the lounge!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU'LL WANT TO WATCH YOUR P'S AND Q'S</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Unless you want to get slapped across the face with a bag full of IV fluid, try to keep your complaining in check. Avoid any negative triggers, warns Linda Perry, a home birth midwife, who has been working with families for 23 years at Complete Woman Midwifery. I'm fairly certain these triggers could be physical actions - for instance, breathing through my mouth or cleaning my teeth with my tongue - but verbal too. Inappropriate banter includes: "Hon, how long do you think we'll be here?" and "This stupid hospital guest chair is uncomfortable; it's kind of digging into my back a little." Seriously? Nothing you're going through is anywhere near as bad as her situation, so suck it up and repeat after me: "This day is all about her!"</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME</span></div>
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<span class="s1">No matter how much you've planned in advance, you never know what might happen next in this whole crazy process. Regardless of whether or not labor and delivery takes two hours or turns into a 48-hour marathon, or if this is your first child or even your fifth, you'll want to be prepared for the unexpected. The birth plan you come up with beforehand may all work out, but there's a chance it will fall by the wayside, and if so, you'll need to go with the flow. Get a good night's rest during the weeks leading up to the due date, so you can be as present as possible for whatever may get thrown your way. Your job is to help maintain some semblance of peace and calm during the height of the storm, Thomas says.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">YOU NEED TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR YOUR PARTNER</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There may be times throughout labor when mom won't be in the best frame of mind to ask for what she wants or needs. Instead of constantly repeating questions like "How are you doing?" try taking a more proactive approach. Go down the hall and get her a cup of ice chips, find a pillow or a sock full of <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/tennis+balls/"><span class="s2">tennis balls</span></a> that she might want to put behind her back, or call a nurse to come adjust the <a href="http://topics.sacbee.com/pain+medication/"><span class="s2">pain medication</span></a> if she's using it. Oh, and don't be afraid to speak up if the doctors and staff aren't following the plan you and your wife discussed. There may be a good reason why they're veering from the original instructions, but you won't know unless you remind them of what you want.</span></div>
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OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-21490110221751923512014-07-23T07:57:00.001-07:002014-07-23T07:57:28.325-07:00Upcoming Childbirth Classes and Natural Beginning Birth Center Orientation<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Shelley Scotka, ICCE, ICD is a certified Childbirth Educator and Birth Doula and has been helping families prepare for birth since 1998. She has training in ICEA, Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, Bradley, and Birthing From Within, and her classes reflect a mixture of the various styles. As a doula, she has supported hundreds of women through labor. Her classes teach real life, hands-on skills which will help women and their partners have a positive and empowering birth experience.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Classes are for both mom and her support person. Dress comfortably in clothing they can move around in (no short skirts), bring water and/or snacks, a yoga mat or blanket and 2 pillows for relaxation/practice sessions. Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early, so you have a few minutes to get settled. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Childbirth Class Sessions (classes are 6:30-9p.m.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 4, 11, 18, 25</span></div>
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<span class="s1">September 8, 15, 22, 29</span></div>
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<span class="s1">October 6, 13, 20, 27</span></div>
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<span class="s1">November 3, 10, 17, 24</span></div>
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<span class="s1">VBAC Skills Sessions (one-day course, 12:30-3:00p.m.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sept 7 VBAC</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Labor Skills Sessions (one-day course,3:30-6:00p.m.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 14</span></div>
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<span class="s1">September 18</span></div>
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<span class="s1">October 16</span></div>
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<span class="s1">November 20</span></div>
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<span class="s1">December 18</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Natural Beginning Birth Center Orientations</span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 19, September 23, October 28</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>To register for your birth classes, please call our office at 512-425-3825.</b></span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-24383870700596873562014-06-04T11:41:00.001-07:002014-06-04T11:41:48.963-07:00First Quarter Birth Stats for 2014<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><u>January</u></span></div>
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<span class="s2">56 deliveries </span></div>
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<span class="s2">45 vaginal, 11 cesarean sections (5 primary, 6 repeat)</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><u>February</u></span></div>
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<span class="s2">57 deliveries</span></div>
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<span class="s2">45 vaginal, 12 cesarean sections (7 primary, 5 repeat)</span></div>
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<u><span class="s1">March</span><span class="s2"> </span></u></div>
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<span class="s2">58 deliveries </span></div>
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<span class="s2">45 vaginal, 13 cesarean sections</span></div>
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<u><span class="s1">April</span><span class="s2"> </span></u></div>
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<span class="s2">48 deliveries</span></div>
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<span class="s2">37 vaginal, 11 cesarean sections</span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-80694629142596192502014-05-29T09:39:00.002-07:002014-05-29T09:39:50.039-07:00Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females in the United States and the second most common cause of cancer death in women. Approximately one-half of newly diagnosed breast cancers can be explained by known risk factors, such as age at menarche, first live birth, menopause, and proliferative breast disease. An additional 10% are associated with a positive family history. Risk factors for breast cancer may be modified by demographic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>So, what increases our risk? What can we change? What do have no control over? </b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Age: </b>the risk of breast cancer increases with older age. In recent surveillance risk stratifies as such: Birth to age 39 - 1 in 203 women; Age 40 to 59 - 1 in 27 women; Age 60 to 69 - 1 in 28 women; Age 70 and older - 1 in 15 women; Birth to death - 1 in 8 women.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Female gender</b>: Breast cancer occurs 100 times more frequently in women than in men. In the United States, over 200,000 women are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer each year, compared with approximately 2000 cases that occur annually in men. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Caucasian race: </b> the highest rate of breast cancer occurs among white women, although breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women of every major ethnic group. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Weight</b>: Obesity (defined body mass index ≥30 kg/m2) is associated with an overall increase in morbidity and mortality. However, the risk of breast cancer associated with BMI appears to depend on the menopausal status of women. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Postmenopausal women</b>: A higher body mass index (BMI) and/or perimenopausal weight gain have been consistently associated with a higher risk of breast cancer among postmenopausal women. The association for risk can be explained by higher estrogen levels resulting from the adipose tissue to estrogen. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Premenopausal women</b>: Unlike postmenopausal women, an increased BMI is associated with a lower risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women. The explanation of this finding remains unclear.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Tall stature</b>: Increased height is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The mechanism underlying this association is unknown, but may reflect the influence of nutritional exposures during childhood and puberty. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Estrogen levels</b>: High endogenous estrogen levels increase the risk of breast cancer (particularly hormone receptor-positive breast cancer) in both postmenopausal and premenopausal women. For postmenopausal women, the correlation between an increased risk for breast cancer and increasing hormone levels (eg, estradiol, estrone) has been consistent. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Benign breast disease</b>: A wide spectrum of pathologic entities is included in the category of benign breast disease. Among these, proliferative lesions (especially those with histologic atypia) are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Dense breast tissue</b>: The density of breast tissue reflects the relative amount of glandular and connective tissue (parenchyma) to adipose tissue. Breast density is a measure of the extent of radiodense fibroglandular tissue. Women with mammographically dense breast tissue, generally defined as dense tissue comprising ≥75 percent of the breast, have a 4 to 5 times risk of breast cancer compared with women of similar age with less or no dense tissue. It is unclear whether screening recommendations should differ for women with dense breasts in the absence of other risk factors. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Bone mineral density</b>: Because bone contains estrogen receptors and is highly sensitive to circulating estrogen levels, bone mineral density (BMD) is considered a surrogate marker for long-term exposure to endogenous and exogenous estrogen. In multiple studies, women with higher bone density have a higher breast cancer risk.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Androgen</b>s: Elevated androgen (ie, testosterone) levels have been associated with an increased risk of postmenopausal and premenopausal breast cancer. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Insulin pathway and related hormones</b>: Although diabetes is not considered a breast cancer risk factor, a large pooled analysis drawing from 17 prospective studies suggested that insulin growth factor-1 was associated with breast cancer risk in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>In utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol</b>: Before 1971, several million women were exposed in utero to diethylstilbestrol (DES) that was given to their mothers to prevent pregnancy complications. Whether these women are also at an increased risk for breast cancer is unclear. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Exogenous hormones</b>: Much of the available evidence supports a causal relationship between menopausal hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer. The duration of use and type of hormone formulation seem to be important factors in the risk for breast cancer. While long-term use has been associated with the highest risk, short-term use of combined estrogen-progestin therapy (<3 administration="" an="" appear="" as="" associated="" breast="" cancer.="" clearly="" contraceptives="" does="" estrogen="" exogenous="" for="" hormones="" however="" in="" increase="" increased="" induction="" is="" nbsp="" not="" of="" or="" oral="" ovulation="" premenopausal="" previous="" purpose="" risk="" significantly="" span="" the="" to="" users="" with="" years=""></3></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Earlier menarche or later menopause: </b> Early age at menarche is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. Women with menarche at or after age 15 years of age were less likely to develop estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor positive breast cancer compared with women who experienced menarche before the age of 13 years. Women with menarche at or after age 15 years also had a 16 percent decreased risk of estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor negative breast cancer.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Nulliparity</b>: Nulliparous women are at increased risk for breast cancer compared with parous women, however, the protective effect of pregnancy is not seen until after 10 years following delivery. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><b>Increasing age at first pregnancy: </b> Women who become pregnant later in life have an increased risk of breast cancer. One study showed when compared with nulliparous women at or near menopause, the cumulative incidence of breast cancer (up to age 70) was 20 percent lower, 10 percent lower, and 5 percent higher among women who delivered their first child at age 20, 25, or 35 years, respectively. A later age at first birth may confer a greater risk than nulliparity because of the additional proliferative stimulation placed on breast cells that are more likely to be fully developed and perhaps more prone to cell damage.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1"><b>Personal history of breast cancer</b>: A personal history of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive breast cancer increases the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer in the contralateral breast. A 2010 study using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) data that included almost 340,000 women with a primary breast cancer found the incidence of invasive contralateral breast cancer was 4% during an average follow-up of 7.5 years.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Family history of breast cancer</b>: The risk associated with a positive family history of breast cancer is strongly affected by the number of female first-degree relatives with and without cancer. In addition to a family history of breast cancer, the age at diagnosis of the affected first-degree relative also influences the risk for breast cancer. Women have a threefold higher risk if the first-degree relative was diagnosed before age 30, but only 1.5-fold increased if the affected relative was diagnosed after age 60. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Inherited genetic mutations</b>: Specific genetic mutations that predispose to breast cancer are rare; only 5 to 6 % of all breast cancers are directly attributable to inheritance of a breast cancer susceptibility gene such as BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, ATM, and PTEN. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Alcohol</b>: Alcohol consumption in early life as well as later adult life is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer development. There appears to be a significant dose-response relationship between alcohol consumption (eg, beer, wine, liquor) and an increased risk of breast cancer, which begins with alcohol intake as low as three drinks per week compared with abstainers. The risk appears to increase with greater alcohol consumption and additive with the use of menopausal hormone therapy. There does not appear to be a difference by type of alcohol (wine versus beer versus liquor). </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Smoking</b>: The relationship between cigarette smoking and breast cancer is complicated by the interaction of smoking with alcohol and endogenous hormonal influences. Although results have varied widely, multiple studies suggest there is a modestly increased risk of breast cancer in smokers. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Night shift work</b>: Night shift work is recognized by International Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization (IARC/WHO) as a probable carcinogen. This association may be related to nocturnal light exposure, which results in the suppression of nocturnal melatonin production by the pineal gland. Evidence to support this comes from the finding that low levels of 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (the major melatonin metabolite) are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>Exposure to therapeutic ionizing radiation</b>: Exposure to ionizing radiation of the chest at a young age, as occurs with treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma or in survivors of atomic bomb or nuclear plant accidents, is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. The most vulnerable ages appear to be between 10 to 14 years (prepuberty), although excess risk is seen in women exposed as late as 45 years of age. After age 45, there does not appear to be any increased risk. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>So what can we do to help ourselves?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">In addition to modifying some of the risk factors above and spreading awareness, some protective factors that may also reduce breast cancer risk are breastfeeding, soy/phytoestrogens (such as soybeans, legumes and lignans) and increased physical activity. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Let us be your resource for concerns or questions about your breast health--that is what we are here for! </span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Here are some other reliable resources too:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">National Cancer Institute (<a href="http://www.nci.nih.gov/"><span class="s2">www.nci.nih.gov</span></a>)</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">People Living With Cancer: The official patient information website of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (<a href="http://www.cancer.net/portal/site/patient"><span class="s2">www.cancer.net/portal/site/patient</span></a>)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">National Comprehensive Cancer Network (<a href="http://www.nccn.com/"><span class="s2">www.nccn.com</span></a>)</span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">American Cancer Society (<a href="http://www.cancer.org/"><span class="s2">www.cancer.org</span></a>)</span></div>
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<span class="s3">National Library of Medicine (<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html"><span class="s4">www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html</span></a>)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (<a href="http://www.komen.org/"><span class="s2">www.komen.org</span></a>)</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p3">
<span class="s1">-Maansi Piparia, MD</span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-22376420933384343162014-05-13T08:51:00.002-07:002014-05-13T08:51:22.146-07:00It's National Women's Health Week!<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">National Women’s Health Week kicked off on Mother’s Day and yesterday was National Women’s Checkup Day. These nationwide awareness campaigns happen every year in the month of May to encourage women to schedule their annual well-women visits. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests women set aside time to discuss their health habits, family history and goals for optimal health at their annual well-women visit. During these visits, women receive preventative care and necessary screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, cervical cancer and many other conditions. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">People often confuse the well-woman exam as just a pap smear—but it is truly our opportunity as women to assess our whole health status. Well-women visits help identify diseases such as cervical precancers early, when they are easier to treat. They allow providers to teach preventative strategies that empower women to reduce their risk for illness. And now, under the Affordable Care Act, most health plans allow women to receive these services without cost.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The goal of National Women’s Health Week is to encourage women, in their busyness, to find time to schedule screenings for potentially life threatening, but mostly preventable diseases. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">To participate in National Women’s Health Week, women are asked to make a well-women appointment with their provider, learn which screenings they need during each phase of life, urge others to participate and share information on women’s health through social media. </span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-66748880254446769602014-05-13T08:49:00.001-07:002014-05-13T08:49:25.019-07:00Proper Technique and the Importance of Breast Self Exam<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Breast self exam has long been included with the standard instructions during the annual well woman exam. However, there are very few randomized trials examining the effectiveness of this routine. One large study in China compared breast self exam (BSE) to a control group who did not do them. The BSE group was instructed in proper technique and received a review of those instructions at one and 5 years. They also had supervised exams every 6 months for 5 years. The women were followed for 10 years and they found no difference between the two groups in breast cancer deaths but more benign breast lesions were diagnosed in the self-examination group. Other studies also failed to find a benefit of regular BSE in the rate of breast cancer diagnosis, death, or tumor size. These studies also found an increased rate of biopsy for benign breast disease in the BSE groups. The findings of two other case controlled studies suggest that proper BSE technique is important. Despite these studies and the findings that BSE might not change diagnosis we still recommend that women get to know their breasts so they will recognize any changes. This new approach is breast awareness...being comfortable and knowledgeable about your own body. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s2">Breast awareness and self-exam</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">At the wellness exam, all women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-exam (BSE). Starting in their 20's, women should become comfortable with how their breasts normally look and feel. They should report any breast changes to their provider as soon as they are found. Not all changes indicate cancer. Most changes are benign but should be evaluated and documented. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">A woman can choose to be aware of how her breasts normally look and feel and feeling her breasts for changes (breast awareness), or to use a systematic scheduled approach to examine her breasts with monthly breast self exam. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">If BSE is the chosen method, a step by step approach is important to follow. The best time for a woman to examine her breasts is when they are not tender or swollen, usually after their menstrual cycle. Women can choose not to do BSE or to do BSE occasionally. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or who have implants can also choose to examine their breasts regularly. There is some thought that the implants push out the breast tissue and may make it easier to examine. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">How to examine your breasts (taken from <a href="http://cancer.org/"><span class="s2">cancer.org</span></a>)</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Lie down on your back and place your right arm behind your head. The exam is done while lying down, not standing up. This is because when lying down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall and is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Use the finger pads of the 3 middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dime-sized circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Use 3 different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. It is normal to feel a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast, but you should tell your doctor if you feel anything else out of the ordinary. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse. Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Move around the breast in an up and down pattern starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone (sternum or breastbone). Be sure to check the entire breast area going down until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone (clavicle).</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">There is some evidence to suggest that the up-and-down pattern (sometimes called the vertical pattern) is the most effective pattern for covering the entire breast without missing any breast tissue.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Repeat the exam on your left breast, putting your left arm behind your head and using the finger pads of your right hand to do the exam.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, or dimpling, or redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin. (The pressing down on the hips position contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it harder to examine.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">This procedure for doing breast self-exam is different from previous recommendations. These changes represent an extensive review of the medical literature and input from an expert advisory group. There is evidence that this position (lying down), the area felt, pattern of coverage of the breast, and use of different amounts of pressure increase a woman's ability to find abnormal areas.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Resources:</span></div>
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<span class="s2"><a href="http://uptodate.com/">uptodate.com</a></span><span class="s1">. Screening for breast cancer: Evidence for effectiveness</span></div>
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<div class="p1">
<span class="s2"><a href="http://cancer.org/">cancer.org</a></span><span class="s1">. Breast awareness and self exam</span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-22239098767552658802014-04-26T20:27:00.000-07:002014-04-26T20:27:03.540-07:00Upcoming Childbirth Classes and Natural Beginning Birth Center Orientation<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Shelley Scotka, ICCE, ICD is a certified Childbirth Educator and Birth Doula and has been helping families prepare for birth since 1998. She has training in ICEA, Lamaze, Hypnobirthing, Bradley, and Birthing From Within, and her classes reflect a mixture of the various styles. As a doula, she has supported hundreds of women through labor. Her classes teach real life, hands-on skills which will help women and their partners have a positive and empowering birth experience.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Classes are for both mom and her support person. Dress comfortably in clothing they can move around in (no short skirts), bring water and/or snacks, a yoga mat or blanket and 2 pillows for relaxation/practice sessions. Plan to arrive 5-10 minutes early, so you have a few minutes to get settled. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s2">Childbirth Class Sessions (classes are 6:30-9p.m.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">-May 6, 13, 20, 27</span></div>
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<span class="s1">-June 10, 17, 24 and July 1</span></div>
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<span class="s1">-July 22, 29, Aug 5 and 12</span></div>
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<span class="s1">-August 26, September 2, 9, 16</span></div>
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<span class="s1">-September 30, October 7, 14, 21</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s2">VBAC Skills Sessions (one-day course, 12:30-3:00p.m.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">May 4 VBAC </span></div>
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<span class="s1">July 6 VBAC</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Sept 7 VBAC</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Labor Skills Sessions (one-day course,3:30-6:00p.m.)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">May 4 </span></div>
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<span class="s1">June 1 </span></div>
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<span class="s1">July 6 </span></div>
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<span class="s1">August 3</span></div>
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<span class="s1">September 7</span></div>
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<span class="s1">October 5</span></div>
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<span class="s2">Natural Beginning Birth Center Orientations</span></div>
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<span class="s1">June 3, July 8, July 15, August 19, September 23, October 28</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>To register for your birth classes, please call our office at 512-425-3825.</b></span></div>
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OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-82538127531627181712014-04-08T13:06:00.000-07:002014-04-08T13:06:21.798-07:00Prenatal Vitamins: What You Should Know<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">The best way to meet your nutritional needs is through a healthy, balanced diet. However, you may still be missing some key nutrients. Prenatal vitamins help to ensure pregnant women get the extra vitamins and minerals needed for the development of a healthy baby. They also help to meet your nutritional needs when trying to conceive and while breastfeeding.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Prenatal vitamins provide the same nutrients as standard multivitamins with extra folic acid and iron. Folic acid is a B vitamin that helps to prevent neural tube defects – abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord. There is also evidence that supplemental folic acid during pregnancy may also lower the risk of other abnormalities like cleft lip and palate and heart defects. Taking folic acid may also decrease risk factors for preeclampsia. Iron is a mineral and is often deficient in the diet. Supplemental iron aids in the production of hemoglobin, prevents anemia and decreases the risk of low birth weight babies and premature delivery.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Taking a prenatal vitamin is especially important for women with special diets and food intolerances and for women with health concerns. Women who have had gastric bypass surgery may have trouble absorbing nutrients or meeting their nutritional needs through diet alone and will require supplementation. Prenatal vitamins are also especially important for women pregnant with two or more babies or at increased risk for complications during pregnancy.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1">When considering which prenatal vitamin to take, look for a vitamin that contains 400-800mg of folic acid, 250mg of calcium, 30mg of Iron, 50mg of Vitamin C, 15mg of Zinc, 2mg of Copper, 2mg of Vitamin B6 and 400 IU of Vitamin D.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Keep in mind that prenatal vitamins do not replace a healthy diet. In addition to your daily prenatal vitamin, you may also consider adding a supplement of Omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which are important for brain, nerve and eye development.</span></div>
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Talk with your provider at your next office visit about your specific needs and concerns to determine the right supplements for you.</div>
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OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-72282668239953543552014-04-02T12:11:00.001-07:002014-04-02T12:11:58.561-07:00Technology in OB/GYN<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">At <a href="http://www.obgynnorth.com/"><span class="s2">OB GYN North</span></a> and <a href="http://www.natural-beginning.com/"><span class="s2">Natural Beginning Birth Center</span></a>, we see the value of the latest medical technology in improving your health and ensuring you have the safest and least invasive obstetric and gynecological care. Therefore, we continue to invest our time and resources in having access to some of the most recent improvements in technology like 3D ultrasounds, laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and wireless electronic fetal monitoring.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="s3">Ultrasound</span></div>
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<span class="s1">What is ultrasound?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Ultrasound is a technique to make images of the baby in the uterus (womb) by using sound waves (far beyond the range of human hearing). The ultrasound begins by placing gel over your abdomen to help the ultrasonographer get a picture of the baby. Then a transducer (scanning device) is moved lightly over your abdomen making sound waves that pass through the abdomen and uterus. These sound waves bounce off the developing baby and are sent back to the transducer. The information that comes back to the transducer generates pictures of the baby, the uterus and other nearby structures. These pictures can then be seen on a monitor. Gynecological ultrasound uses a special transducer that is inserted into the vagina. This is similar to having a pelvic examination and some mild discomfort may be experienced. </span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
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<span class="s1">Why is ultrasound used?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">An ultrasound is not a treatment for any condition, but is performed only for diagnostic purposes. Ultrasounds are considered part of routine maternal-fetal care. The benefits of having a diagnostic ultrasound in pregnancy are numerous. It can confirm the presence of a fetal heart beat, detect the presence of multiple babies, monitor the baby’s growth, detect some, but not all, birth defects, establish an accurate due date, evaluate placental function and position, evaluate amniotic fluid volume, and fetal presentation. Gynecological ultrasound provides the provider with information about the shape and contents of the pelvic structures including the uterus and ovaries. This is helpful for the evaluation of gynecological conditions such as abnormal uterine bleeding, pelvic masses, and infertility. New advances in ultrasound include the capability to create images that show the three dimensional view of the baby. We can also visualize the uterus in three dimensions, which helps aid the detection of fibroids (smooth muscle overgrowths), polyps, and uterine anomalies.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"></span><br /></div>
<div class="p5">
<span class="s1">Are there any risks to ultrasound use?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Currently there are no known risks to the patient or baby during an ultrasound examination when ordinary power and frequency is used. No adverse fetal effects of diagnostic obstetric ultrasound have been demonstrated in humans after decades of clinical use. In our facility, we use the lowest power level that can reasonably achieve a meaningful image and for as brief of a duration as possible. We also use this important tool only for diagnostic purposes when deemed medically necessary.</span></div>
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<br /><span class="s1"></span></div>
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<span class="s3">Minimally invasive surgery</span></div>
<div class="p7">
<span class="s4">Women with gynecologic conditions such as fibroid tumors, endometriosis, heavy menstrual bleeding, cancer, and pelvic prolapse often undergo surgery as a last resort for treatment</span><span class="s1">. The most common minimally invasive surgery is laparoscopy. Instead of a large open incision, surgery is done through a few small incisions using a tiny camera and long, thin surgical instruments. The camera takes images inside your body and those images are sent to a video monitor in the operating room, which guides surgeons as they operate.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p8">
<span class="s1">What is robotic surgery?</span></div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Robotic surgery is another minimally invasive option for women facing gynecologic surgery. Similar to traditional laparoscopy, a few incision are made on the abdomen. The robotic device, known as the da Vinci, features a magnified 3D high-definition vision system and special wristed instruments that bend and rotate far greater than the human wrist. As a result, da Vinci enables your surgeon to operate with enhanced vision, precision, dexterity and control. State-of-the-art da Vinci uses the latest in surgical and robotics technologies and is beneficial for performing complex surgery. Your surgeon is 100% in control of the da Vinci System, which translates his or her hand movements into smaller, more precise movements of tiny instruments inside your body.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><br /></span></div>
<div class="p8">
<span class="s1">What are the risks and benefits of minimally invasive surgery?</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The benefits of minimally invasive surgery include: less operative bleeding, less hospitalization stay, less pain, and an overall greater patient satisfaction when compared to traditional techniques. Procedures can be longer and can accrue higher costs when compared to traditional surgery. The usual operative risks are still present with any type of procedure performed. There is a small risk of conversion to traditional open technique (larger incision). All our gynecologists at OB GYN North are skilled surgeons in minimally invasive surgery. We perform minimally invasive procedures at <a href="http://www.stdavidssurgerycenters.com/our-locations/north-austin-surgery-center"><span class="s2">North Austin Surgical Center</span></a> and <a href="http://www.stdavids.com/locations-facilities/north-austin-medical-center/medical-services/surgery.aspx"><span class="s2">St David's North Austin Medical Center.</span></a></span></div>
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<span class="s3">Electronic Fetal Heart Monitoring </span></div>
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<span class="s1">During late pregnancy and labor, we may recommend monitoring the fetal heart rate and other functions. The average fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute, and can vary five to 25 beats per minute. The fetal heart rate may change as the fetus responds to conditions in the uterus. An abnormal fetal heart rate or pattern may indicate that the fetus is not getting enough oxygen or that there are other problems.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b>What are the types of fetal monitoring?</b></span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">Doppler: This is a handheld ultrasound device that transmits the sounds of the baby's heart rate either through a speaker. This can generally pick up heart tones after 12 weeks gestation. This is generally performed at every obstetrical visit to document the presence of a fetal heartbeat.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">External Electronic Fetal Monitoring: This is a device used during labor and birth, or during certain testing (non-stress test, contraction stress test, etc.) to record the baby's heart rate, and sometimes mother's contractions. It can be used intermittently or continuously.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">Internal Fetal Monitoring: This is an internal monitoring with an electrode attached to the baby's head to record heart tones, and a pressure catheter to record contractions. This is also used during labor and birth; however, it is not used intermittently.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">Telemetry Monitoring: It is a lot like the regular Electronic Fetal Monitoring; however, one can maintain mobility.</span></li>
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<span class="s1"><b>What are the benefits and risks?</b></span></div>
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<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">Doppler: This method is also used intermittently, requires little training to use, has a live person on the other end, and allows mother to maintain her mobility. It may also be easier to use during a contraction. This device does not provide the continuous monitoring needed for high-risk labors.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">External Electronic Fetal Monitoring: This method provides beat-to-beat view of the baby's heart tones, in relationship to mother's contractions. This may be used either continuously or intermittently. This is of benefit for the high-risk mother, but of questionable benefit to the low risk mother. This method does leave room for interpretive error, which may lead to alterations in your birth plan. . There is the potential for loss of maternal mobility, which may slow labor.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">Internal Fetal Monitoring: This is more accurate than the external electronic monitoring, does not use ultrasound, and can provide continuous monitoring for the high-risk mother. This method requires that your water be broken and is almost exclusively used in high-risk situations. This type of monitoring also has been associated with fetal injury (from the electrode) and infection for mother or baby.</span></li>
<li class="li1"><span class="s5"></span><span class="s1">Telemetry Monitoring: This is the "newest" type of monitoring available. It uses radio waves, connected to a transmitter, to transmit the baby's heart tones to the nurses' station. You can maintain your mobility. We offer this for all our high and low risk deliveries.</span></li>
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<span class="s1"><b>Which is right for me?</b></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Depending on your birth wishes, your monitoring will be tailored to your situation. If you are high-risk, are induced with medications, or choose epidural anesthesia, you will have continuous monitoring. Low risk mothers may choose intermittent monitoring in labor. </span>In most low risk pregnancies, routine continuous fetal monitoring does not improve fetal or maternal outcomes. In some situations, it may become medically necessary for you to have continuous monitoring; we are able to allow ambulation at <a href="http://www.stdavids.com/locations-facilities/north-austin-medical-center/medical-services/maternity-and-newborn.aspx"><span class="s2">North Austin Medical Center Women's Center</span></a>. At <a href="http://www.natural-beginning.com/"><span class="s2">Natural Beginning Birth Center</span></a>, we offer intermittent Doppler. Please discuss with our providers at your visits which monitoring is safest for you and your baby.</div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2446564313258494261.post-49493276737221543422014-03-24T18:36:00.000-07:002014-03-24T18:36:04.920-07:00Summer Breastfeeding Classes with Kelly Hamade<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Empower yourself with the basics to get you and your baby off to the best start! Join us for a prenatal breastfeeding workshop (a one night session) on establishing milk supply, positioning and latching, pumps and equipment, common challenges and local resources. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Class size is limited and the course is $40/couple for a 2.5 hour session. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Classes will be offered:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">May 21</span></div>
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<span class="s1">June 18</span></div>
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<span class="s1">July 30<br />August 27</span></div>
OBGYN Northhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12236295585601663923noreply@blogger.com0