As mothers-to-be develop a birth plan, there are many options to consider, including pain relief. If you plan to deliver vaginally, there are more supportive tools than ever to help manage pain. One of the most popular options is epidural anesthesia, commonly called an epidural. Kris Ellen Barnsfather, M.D., OB/GYN with Norton Women’s Care, answers…
Reducing the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, is one of the many benefits of breastfeeding. SIDS is the most common sudden unexplained infant death — the death of a child younger than 1 year with no obvious cause. In 2017, SIDS accounted for approximately 1,400 deaths, according to the Centers for Disease…
What does a midwife do? Delivers babies Emphasizes natural, unmedicated birth as part of personalized labor support Can order an epidural if the mother chooses one Is different from a doula: A doula offers labor support but does not have the medical training nor the responsibility of delivering the baby. Is a nurse practitioner highly trained…
Breastfeeding and going back to work Create a breastfeeding plan with your boss Locate your child care options Practice expressing milk before returning to work Create a pumping schedule Find a strong support system of women Scout out where you plan to pump and plan the quickest route After a few weeks, consider proposing changes…
It has been a busy July at Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital. The hospital’s labor and delivery team delivered 537 babies, the highest number of any month on record. That’s 283 boys and 254 girls — an average of 17 babies a day. The highest previous number of deliveries had been 534 in September 2015….
Breastfeeding provides loads of well-documented benefits for babies and moms. One common question many moms have about breastfeeding is, “How can I tell if my baby is getting enough milk?” It’s a fair question. After all, it’s not like you’re using a bottle with ounces marked clearly on the side that let you see exactly…
Women who choose to have a natural birth still face the challenge of how to relieve pain. That’s where some familiar tools, and some unusual ones, can provide alternative pain relief methods during a natural delivery. “The right natural pain relief tools allow the body to work effectively and enhance the labor process,” said Tara…
At age 38, Kristin Tribble and her husband were ready to have children together. With her two daughters from a previous marriage, the family was preparing for a growing household. Kristin worked with her obstetrician, and while she was of “advanced maternal age,” she had planned everything out. Getting pregnant wasn’t easy, but after a…
Breastfeeding may come easy for some, but others struggle. Some of mothers’ biggest concerns are about latching on, supply, whether baby is eating enough, and issues with the breast including mastitis, engorgement and clogged ducts. If you have a MyNortonChart account, you have access to free, face-to-face secure video visits with a provider for breastfeeding…
If you have erratic periods and have tried — and struggled — to get pregnant, you could be living with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) but not realize it, according to R. Paige Walker, M.D., an OB/GYN with Norton Women’s Specialists. Early diagnosis could significantly reduce your chances for lifelong health problems. PCOS is a common…
Emergencies can happen at any hour. That’s why at Norton Hospital and Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital, OB hospitalists are standing by to help women who are pregnant or have just given birth. OB hospitalists are physicians whose primary role is to care for pregnant women while they’re in the hospital and their obstetrician isn’t…
Pregnancy is an exciting time as you await your little one. Your body will go through many changes, and you’ll have a lot of questions. As you near your due date, you should know what symptoms could be signs of serious pregnancy complications. According to Kris Ellen Barnsfather, M.D., OB/GYN with Norton Women’s Care, there are…