Facebook Baby Photo Contest!

Join us in our new Facebook Baby Photo Contest!!

The contest is running May 1, 2011 until July 1, 2011, here is how to play:

1. Log on to www.Facebook.com/CompOBGYN
2. Upload your cutest baby photo to our wall (it will upload automatically to our album)
3. Share the photo, get your friends and family to 'like' it
4. Photo with the most 'likes' by July 1st will get a $50 AMEX gift card!

We're looking forward to seeing you adorable photos!

-Comprehensive OB-GYN of the Palm Beaches
www.comprehensiveobgyn.net

Introducing Your Pet to the New Baby

Introducing Your Pet to the New Baby

Worried about how Fido and Fluffy will react to the new baby?  Here are some quick tips from the Humane Society of the United States for introducing your newborn to the family pet.

Before Baby’s Arrival:

• Take your pet to the veterinarian for a routine health exam and necessary vaccination.
• Spay or neuter your pet.  Sterilized animals are traditionally calmer and less likely to bite.  Also, they have fewer health problems associated with their reproductive system.
• Consult with your veterinarian and pediatrician.  By working with these experts before your baby is born, you can resolve problems early and ease your mind.
• Get help from an animal behavior specialist if your pet exhibits fear and anxiety.
• Trim your pet’s nails regularly.
• Consider enrolling in an obedience training class with your dog.
• Ask friends with infants to visit your home to accustom your pet to babies. Remember to supervise all pet and infant interactions.
• Familiarize your pet with baby-related noises. For instance, play recordings of a baby crying or turn on the mechanical infant swing. Make these positive experiences for your pet by offering a treat or playtime.
• Apply double-stick tape to the furniture to discourage your pet from jumping on the baby’s crib and changing table.
• Block the entrance to the baby’s room with a sturdy removable gate high enough to keep your pet from jumping over it. By doing this, you will teach your pet that the baby’s room is off limits.
• Talk to your pet about the baby, using the baby’s name regularly if you’ve selected one.
• Sprinkle baby powder or baby oil on your skin so your pet becomes familiar with these new smells.
• Plan ahead and make sure your pet is cared for properly while you’re at the birthing center.  Call a friend, neighbor or relative months in advance to set up arrangements.  Don’t wait until the last minute!
• Carry around a swaddled baby doll to help your pet get used to the real thing.

• Have someone else carry the baby into your home so you can properly great your excited pet. That way, your pet won’t think he is being neglected in favor of the new arrival.
• Encourage your pet to sit calmly with you next to the baby. Reward your pet with treats for appropriate behavior.
• Never force your pet near the baby, and always supervise any interaction. If the first introduction does not go well, don’t force it.  Wait a while, then try again.
• Shower your pet with affection. Schedule at least 5 to 10 minutes a day to pet, groom and play with your pet. Animals live by routines and can become upset or irritable if their schedules changes dramatically, so be sure to give them proper attention and care.
• Refrain from giving your pet toys that resemble baby toys. Your pet may become confused and anxious if it sees the baby playing with a familiar toy.
• Use strong verbal commands to teach your pet that it is not OK to nip, growl or hiss at the baby.
• Do not let your pet sleep in the same room as the baby. A pet can inadvertently smother an unattended infant.

All Adjustments Take Time
Caring for a new baby can be rather hectic, but try to maintain regular routines as much as possible to help your pet adjust. Spending some one-on-one quality time with your pet – even if it’s only for five minutes – will make the transition easier and, no doubt, help relax you, too. Remember, try to always keep interaction between baby and pet positive, and reward your pet for good behavior. With proper training, supervision and adjustments, you, your new baby and your pet should be able to live together safely as one big happy family.

The latest "viral" baby video phenomenon

Happy Friday from Comprehensive OBGYN! Here is the latest viral baby video phenomenon to brighten up your weekend!

Going to the Gynecologist 101

When to See Your Ob / Gyn

By Tracee Cornforth, About.com Guide

Updated January 06, 2011

Have you ever been to an obstetrician/gynecologist or Ob/Gyn for a pelvic exam and Pap test? If your answer is "no" and you are 21 or older, pick up your phone today and make an appointment with your doctor or a family planning clinic in your area. On the other hand, if your answer is "yes," then how long has it been since your last Pap smear and pelvic exam? All women should have annual Pap smears beginning at age 21, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Women 21 to 29 should get a Pap every year, then every other year (or as often as your doctor recommends) from ages 30 to 64.

See: How To Prepare For Your Pap Smear

When Do Women Need Pelvic Exams?

Teenage girls should see an OB/GYN between the ages of 13 to 15. While pelvic exams are rarely required during this first visit, this visit helps to establish a relationship with the doctor of your choice and to go over your medical and sexual history (even if you have not had sexual intercourse.) This is a good time to ask questions about sexually transmitted diseases and contraceptives.
Should I Be Tested For STDs?

You should always see your gynecologist if you experience:

• any unusualy and/ or persistent vaginal discharge,
  
• bleeding between periods,
  
• or bleeding after sexual intercourse.

While a yearly Pap smear is not, in most cases, necessary after age 30, all women still require an annual pelvic exam to check for any other changes or infections. If you've had an HPV test that was negative that doesn't mean you don't need to have a yearly pelvic exam. The ACOG established these guidelines with full knowledge that HPV causes cervical cancer.

Did you know that with each new sexual partner your risk of getting HPV increases by 15 percent? This means that having multiple sex partners raises your risk of HPV substantially. According to the ACOG guidelines for Pap testing women diagnosed with HIV or other diseases or conditions that lower immunity should continue having annual Pap smears after age 30.


Fact: The greatest single reason for the occurrence of cervical cancer is not having Pap smears according to recommended guidelines.

The majority of women diagnosed with cervical cancer have not had a Pap smear in five or more years. Sadly, these women are usually at an advanced stage of cancer when they receive diagnosis.

To read this entire article, please visit About.com by clicking here: http://womenshealth.about.com/od/gynecologicalhealthissues/a/gyn101.htm

Top Ten Causes of Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

All women, from time to time, experience what we feel is unusually heavy bleeding during our menstrual periods. Fortunately, most often what we think is abnormal uterine bleeding is not excessive enough to be diagnosed as menorrhagia.


How do you know when bleeding during your period is abnormally heavy? The easiest way to know if you are experiencing menorrhagia is to take note of how often you need to change your pad or tampon. If your period is heavy enough to require changing more often than every one or two hours, or if you have a period that lasts more than a full week, you may be experiencing menorrhagia.
Let’s take a look at the most common causes of menorrhagia or heavy menstrual bleeding:

1. A hormonal imbalance during adolescence or menopause is the most common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding. During adolescence after girls have their first periods, and for several years before the onset of menopause when menstruation ceases, our hormones levels are fluctuating which often leads to excessive uterine bleeding during our periods. It’s often possible to treat menorrhagia caused by hormonal imbalances with birth control pills or other hormones.
   See also: Very Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
   
2. Uterine fibroid tumors are another very common cause of excessive menstruation. It’s important to understand that fibroid tumors are usually benign (non-cancerous) tumors that often occur in the uterus of women during their thirties or forties. While the cause of uterine fibroid tumors is unclear, it is clear that they are estrogen-dependent. Several surgical treatments are available for treating fibroid tumors of the uterus including myomectomy, endometrial ablation, uterine artery embalization, and uterine balloon therapy, as well as hysterectomy. Non-surgical pharmacological treatments for fibroid tumors include GnRH agonists, oral contraceptives, androgens, RU486 (the abortion pill), and gestrinone. Some women find natural progesterone to be an effective treatment for uterine fibroid tumors. Often, when symptoms are not severe or troublesome, a “wait and see” approach is taken. Once menopause occurs, uterine fibroid tumors typically shrink and disappear without treatment.
   See also: Fibroid Tumors

To finish reading this article, please visit About.com: http://womenshealth.about.com/od/abnormalbleeding/a/causemenorrhagi.htm

Article by Tracee Cornforth, About.com Guide

Hospital Birth versus Home Birth

Unexpected Risk Factors Leave Little Room for Managing Home Births Safely

The debate about the safety of home birth versus hospital birth has been going on for decades and is not likely to be settled anytime soon.

Go to a delivery room at a hospital or birthing center and you'll find a large amount of equipment and supplies that are supposed to provide the safest environment for a mother to give birth to her baby. Giving birth in a hospital has many advantages, yet some women are fearful. They have sometimes heard negative stories relating to certain medical interventions that cause them concern, and some have concerns about mom and baby not being able to bond right away.

"As doctors, we want the same thing that our patients and their families want: a safe delivery for mom and a healthy baby," says Dr. David Adler, D.O., a Board Certified OBGYN of Comprehensive OB-GYN of the Palm Beaches in Loxahatchee (www.comprehensiveobgyn.net). "While home births with a midwife can be fine if nothing goes wrong, the problem is how do you see into the future and know nothing will, in fact, go wrong? If there is a complication, we have the tools readily available in the hospital to get the baby out in less than 5 minutes if need be. New babies can take 10-15 minutes of strenuous conditions, but not an hour or two while you figure out whether you need to get to a hospital, and then actually travel there."

Dr. Greg Latchaw, also of Comprehensive OB-GYN of the Palm Beaches, stresses the importance of being in a hospital for childbirth to manage any unexpected complications during delivery. A Board Certified OBGYN as well, Dr. Latchaw has witnessed firsthand the tragedy of home births gone awry.

"In one case of a home birth that resulted in disaster, I was called emergently from one of the hospitals where I was on call and had to perform an emergency cesarean section where there was a complication known as a cord prolapse. Unfortunately, they arrived at the hospital when it was already too late," said Dr. Latchaw. "The tragedy is that the situation went unrecognized initially and by the time it was recognized, an ambulance called, the patient brought in, and the baby delivered, the baby had been oxygen deprived for a long enough time period that there was severe brain damage from oxygen deprivation. The baby only made it three days."

Dr. Adler and Dr. Latchaw have outlined several complications of childbirth that necessitate a rapid response as well as four myths about giving birth in a hospital. They believe educating women and dispelling myths is very important in our community and it will ultimately lead to healthier moms and babies.

Complications of Childbirth

Prolapsed cord

This is a condition where the cord protrudes through the cervix in front of the baby's head. In this situation, the cord is compressed because of the baby's head pressing down, made worse with each contraction. Hence, the oxygen supply to the baby becomes restricted and likely even completely cut off. This condition is dangerous and requires an emergency cesarean.

Long second stage of labor (pushing stage)

Lack of progress of second stage of labor can be an indication for measures only available at a hospital. At the hospital, an obstetrician may assist by using forceps or vacuum. Alternatively, an emergency c-section might take place if it gets too difficult or takes too much time, as this can compromise the baby's condition.

Hemorrhage

Post-partum hemorrhage is one of the more common complications of childbirth. In case of hemorrhage in which placenta is not detaching, there are medications that can be administered to stimulate contraction of the uterus and detachment of the placenta. Being in a hospital will allow for drug administration via an IV, blood transfusion or even operation in the case of non-detaching placenta.

Baby needs resuscitation

In case of the baby needing resuscitation, hospitals have tools necessary for advanced treatment, and the baby can be hooked up to a ventilator in the most serious situations.

Cord around baby's neck (nuchal cord)

The baby having a nuchal cord is a common occurrence which occasionally creates a complicated situation. In most cases, the cord is not tight, thus enabling the baby to be born vaginally. However, if the cord is very tight, the baby may have restricted blood flow through the cord, particularly with contractions,. In this situation, a baby may show signs of distress as indicated by a decrease in the heartbeat. If the distress continues, then the mom may need to be in a hospital for an emergency c-section.

Shoulder dystocia

Shoulder dystocia is a condition where the one of the shoulders may get stuck behind the pubic bone after the head is delivered. This situation is dangerous because the baby cannot breathe with the lungs until it's completely delivered and the cord clamped. At the same time, it may not get oxygen from the cord because the cord can be compressed in this situation.

Below are 4 common myths about giving birth in a hospital

A woman will not be allowed to walk around during labor. This is usually not the case in most hospitals. In fact women are encouraged to walk to speed up labor. It is true that many facilities will want to check the baby's heart rate by hooking mom up to a fetal monitor. However this can be done intermittently. If a patient chooses an epidural they would most likely not have enough feeling in their legs to walk safely. Some hospitals do offer a walking epidural that allows more feeling and the ability to walk around. This may be an option. Women who do not have any type of epidural are usually free to walk around, use a birthing ball, and use a tub if available.

A woman will be pressured to receive pain medication such as an epidural. It is true that a woman giving birth in a hospital will be offered pain medication but will not be pressured to accept any. A woman decides for herself what level of pain she can tolerate without getting pain medications. If she wants to go through the entire labor and delivery without any pain medication, the hospital will certainly not stop her. However, many moms-to-be decide they do want an epidural after feeling how severe the pain can be. The good news is when giving birth in a hospital, pain medication is available if a woman does have a change of heart.

A woman will give up all control when giving birth in a hospital.  Avoid this by opening up communication with your doctor and talking about your concerns. Perhaps discuss putting a birth plan together with your OB-GYN in advance. Hospitals will try their best to accommodate a woman. It is important to remember patients have rights. A patient can refuse a procedure. A woman still has a great deal of control over her labor and delivery. Occasionally unexpected things happen during labor that make following a birth plan not possible. Changes take place to ensure the health and safety of mom and baby.

A new mom will be separated from her baby after giving birth. With a vaginal delivery, some hospitals immediately place baby on mom. Other hospitals may do so for a few moments but then assess the baby on the other side of the room while the doctor finishes with mom.  Assessing the baby includes weighing and measuring length, making sure the baby is warm and dry, and making sure the baby is breathing well. Once the baby is quickly accessed and everything is fine, the baby is given back to mom. Many hospitals have the baby stay in the same room as mom for the entire hospital stay. The baby may be taken to the nursery for brief periods of time for assessments. Mom and dad can accompany the baby if they wish and ask that this be limited.

Hospitals vary, as do their polices. When a woman is deciding if she should give birth in a hospital, she should research her options and learn the facts. Things have changed in the medical community.

Hospitals have a strong focus on patient rights and satisfaction. The most important thing to remember is that obstetricians, hospitals and women want the same outcome, which is a safe delivery for mom and a healthy baby.

About Comprehensive OB-GYN of the Palm Beaches 

Comprehensive OB-GYN of the Palm Beaches (http://www.comprehensiveobgyn.net/) specializes in the complete, comprehensive care of women of all ages. From the very first gynecological visit, to a smooth and healthy transition into menopause and beyond, our experienced physicians are able to meet a woman's needs, offering the most up to date, expert women's health care in gynecology and obstetrics, with an added special touch.

In-Office Procedure with Little Downtime Takes Away Nightmare Periods and Heavy Bleeding

Comprehensive OB-GYN uses NovaSure to Help Busy Women

Stay Active and "On the Go" All Month

Women are starting to discover an in-office procedure that can help cure their heavy bleeding with little downtime, endometrial ablation. Endometrial ablation is a procedure that destroys a thin layer of lining of the uterus. This stops the endometrium from building up each month and then sloughing off, resulting in menstrual bleeding. It's a great alternative to a hysterectomy and endometrial ablation treats heavy menstrual bleeding, which in turn reduces menstrual cramps.

The procedure can be done on pre-menopausal women of any age, but they have to be done having children and cannot desire future fertility. However, endometrial ablation is not considered contraception. While it's very unlikely to become pregnant after having the surgery, it's possible.

Unfortunately for many women, their periods interfere with their lives in a major way. Cramps can be so bad that some women spend the first day of their period in bed. Also, their bleeding can be so heavy that it is hard to do the activities they enjoy. Frequently, many women with heavy periods have to skip doing planned activities both for work and pleasure. Heavy periods can make it difficult to feel like a good mom and to be there for their children who need their mom to be active and on the go.

Dr. David Adler and Dr. Greg Latchaw at Comprehensive OB-GYN of the Palm Beaches (www.comprehensiveobgyn.net) in Loxahatchee perform endometrial ablation right in their offices, under local anesthesia. Endometrial ablation can be done several ways but the Doctors at Comprehensive OB-GYN use a device called NovaSure (www.novasure.com). The slender wand is inserted into the uterus and then expands into a triangular mesh device that touches all the walls of the uterus. Current runs through the mesh, creating a thermal destruction of the uterus' lining. It literally cauterizes the inside of the uterus. Then the physician looks inside the uterus using a device called a hysteroscope to make sure the entire lining has been destroyed.

Dr. Adler and Dr. Latchaw's goal is that patients have no more menses after the procedure, and they are usually able to achieve that. Patients can expect to be at the office for an hour for the procedure, with the procedure itself taking about 15 minutes. They may experience some cramping within the first 24 hours after the procedure, which is treated with pain medication. Usually by the 24-hour mark, it's back to life as usual, except without the debilitating period every month. Some women may experience pain for longer than 24 hours, however, the practice has also had patients who have the procedure done on a Friday and are off to the gym on Saturday.

Heavy menstrual bleeding can lead to anemia and fatigue. Comprehensive OB-GYN has found that many women's lives are severely affected by heavy bleeding. It's probably in the top three complaints Dr. Adler hears from his patients. "Many women can go much of their life without having problem periods and then suddenly start experiencing heavy bleeding in their 40s," says Dr. Adler.

The problem also can be treated by birth control or hysterectomy. A hysterectomy requires two to four weeks of down time and if the ovaries are also removed, some women may need hormone replacement therapy.

Endometrial ablation leaves the ovaries intact, and women still ovulate every month and don't have hormonal changes. The procedure is covered by most health insurance.