The time has come to finally meet your precious newborn. But if you are like many first-time mothers, you are unsure what to expect from the big day. No fear, the doctor is in. ASK THE DOCTORStanley Jagielski, MD, Vice Chief of OB/GYN, Northside Hospital; Kaiser Permanente How do I know it is time? There are signs of labor that can help tell you when the time has come. • Your baby has “dropped” or moved into your pelvis. • You may begin to feel contractions (labor pains) that come stronger, faster, and between five and ten minutes apart. • Your water breaks. It ... Read the rest

Chronic hypertension is high blood pressure that is diagnosed before pregnancy or before the twentieth week of pregnancy. This type of high blood pressure does not go away after delivery. Medical experts do not fully understand what causes chronic hypertension. Family history, diet, ethnicity, and lifestyle may play a role. Hypertension may narrow or tighten blood vessels in the uterus that supply the baby with oxygen and nutrients, as well as damage vessels supplying the mother’s critical organs. Additional risks include: • Health problems for the mother, such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney damage • Slow fetal growth and low birth weight • Stillbirth ... Read the rest

Mother’s Day is a great time for expectant mothers to celebrate the miracle growing inside and to plan ahead. March of Dimes and Northside Hospital encourage expectant parents to take time to create a birth plan as baby’s due date draws near. A birth plan outlines everything from whom you want present in the delivery room to discussions about successful breastfeeding strategies. Having a plan in place will help you feel more prepared once you are in labor. The Doctor is InDr. Genevieve Fairbrother, MD, MPHChief of Staff at Northside Hospital Here are few thoughts to consider when creating a birth plan: • ... Read the rest

Born six weeks prematurely, baby Xander almost didn’t survive. His lungs weren’t ready. His brain wasn’t ready. His parents weren’t ready.When you walk in March for Babies, you give hope to the more than half a million babies born too soon or sick each year (more than 400 each week in Georgia). The money you raise supports programs right here in metro Atlanta that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies. And it funds research to find answers to the problems that threaten our babies. We’ve been walking throughout the country since 1970 and have raised an incredible $2 billion to benefit all babies. Last ... Read the rest

Are you beginning to wonder if you can get pregnant? You are not alone. Many women begin by seeing an obstetrician-gynecologist who may recommend a specialist.   The Doctor Is In Dr. Dorothy E. Mitchell-Leef Reproductive Endocrinologist, Reproductive Biology AssociatesWhen should I start thinking about fertility treatment?If you’ve been trying to get pregnant for three or four months, keep trying. It may just take more time, even longer than you think it could. You may want to consider fertility treatment if: • You are younger than thirty-five and have been trying to get pregnant for at least a year.• You are thirty-five ... Read the rest

At some point, you may have to go to work outside the home. Deciding when to go and what type of childcare is best for your baby can be difficult, especially for parents of premature babies. All babies tend to pick up germs and come down with colds and other common childhood illnesses when they start day care. Talk to your baby’s healthcare provider before you choose a type of childcare. If your baby is now healthy, you probably don’t have to worry. But if your baby was very premature or had breathing difficulties, she could become quite sick from common illnesses. Make sure the ... Read the rest