Pregnancy Pearls

Swelling of the legs and feet after delivery is very normal. But is there ever a time when swelling can be too much or a bad sign? Well, check out this episode of Pregnancy Pearls Podcast to hear Dr. Plenty explain why swelling occurs, how long to anticipate it following delivery, and when swelling needs further attention. If you’re pregnant or recently delivered, make sure to download and listen to this episode now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the strongest indications that there might be something going on with your baby is whether the skin behind the neck is thick. In the first trimester, your provider looks at what’s called the nuchal translucency, which is a space behind the neck and back.  Half of babies with an increased measurement of this space have a chromosomal abnormality.  Once you make it to 16 weeks, your provider looks at the nuchal fold, which is the skin behind the lower part of the skull.  This is also highly associated with chromosomal abnormalities, with the most common being Down Syndrome and Turner Syndrome.  Can genetically normal babies have thickened nuchal folds and translucencies?  Of course! But this could also be a clue that there is something structurally going on as well.  Check out this episode to learn more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every pregnant woman should get an ultrasound to look at their baby’s structures at approximately 18-20 weeks.  During that ultrasound, not only are your baby’s organs closely evaluated but the placenta (or afterbirth) and the umbilical cord are also evaluated.  Did you know that the umbilical cord can tell your provider if your baby has an increased risk of having genetic abnormalities? Yep! The umbilical cord is a pretty important clue about genetic problems, growth problems, and can even be associated with other abnormalities in your baby. Download and listen to this week’s episode to learn all about the umbilical cord how it can affect your baby’s outcome. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some babies with chromosomal abnormalities can look completely normal on ultrasound. So, as a high risk pregnancy physician, I look for what’s called soft markers (or subtle hints that something’s going on). One of these hints is dilation of your baby’s kidneys during pregnancy.  Kidneys filter blood and rid waste of blood through urine. If urine is blocked inside of the kidney, they look enlarged (dilated) on ultrasound.  This can sometimes be the only hint that there could be Down syndrome or another genetic problem. Other times, this can be something completely normal that resolves over time.  Learn more about what enlarged kidneys in your baby could mean by downloading and listening to this episode now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neonatal Jaundice, also known as hyperbilirubinemia, is a yellow discoloration of the white parts of the eyes and skin found in newborn babies due to high levels of bilirubin. This can be found in both full term and preterm babies.  High levels of bilirubin can be caused by a number of factors including breastmilk, enzyme deficiencies, and medication, to name a few. To help discuss this important topic, Dr. Plenty is joined by expert guest, Dr. Jessica Daigle, board-certified Pediatric Hospitalist and NICU director. Check out this episode to learn more about the causes and treatment of jaundice and consequences if the condition goes untreated.ASee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's podcast episode, Dr. Plenty discusses bleeding after birth and miscarriages.  Dr. Plenty breaks down the definition of lochia and its types as well as how to recognize when you're having too much bleeding. If you have had a baby recently or, unfortunately, suffered a recent pregnancy loss, please listen to this episode to know what's normal bleeding and when you should seek help.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every mother and their newborn will go through adjustments as they transition from pregnancy to the postpartum period. During this time, both mom and baby must get acclimated to new sleep schedules and breastfeeding, and mom will have to deal with body changes and sometimes, wound healing. Oftentimes, this time can be met with emotional woes as well. This all happens during the ""4th trimester"" or the first 12 weeks of the postpartum period.  To talk about what to expect and how to handle the 4th trimester, this week, Dr. Plenty is joined by expert guest and OB/GYN colleague, Dr. Temitope Ekwo. Dr. Ekwo practices OB/GYN full time in the Houston area and has two children of her own, so she provides both personal and professional insight about how to conquer the 4th trimester.  If you're expecting or recently had a baby, you need to listen to this episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode of the podcast, we discuss postpartum blues, depression, psychosis, and other mood disorders affecting pregnancy and the postpartum period. More than half of women experience postpartum blues in the immediate postpartum period, and approximately 20{}re diagnosed with postpartum depression.  To help me discuss this important topic,expert guest Mrs. Whitni Toson, a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Alamo Ranch Counseling and Wellness, joined this week's podcast episode. Through the episode, you'll learn about warning signs of various mood diagnoses prevalent during the postpartum period and how they are treated. You'll also get advice on how to encourage your loved ones to seek counseling or further intervention if they exhibit symptoms of a mood disorder. If you only have one episode to listen to, this is an extremely important topic that we need to talk about more.  Go ahead and download and listen to this episode now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS is a condition that affects a woman's hormone levels leading to prolonged or infrequent periods and excess male hormone  levels. PCOS can cause issues with fertility and is also associated with other health issues. Listen as Dr. Plenty discusses the types of PCOS and how it affects childbearing. Want to know what can be done about PCOS? Subscribe and download this episode to learn more now!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.