During their education, doctors learn “medical jargon.” This refers to words and phrases that are useful when communicating with other medical professionals, but may be very confusing to patients. The best doctors are careful not to overwhelm their patients with complicated terminology. They use simple language to explain what is going on (unless the patient...
Pregnancy
According to the American Pregnancy Association, dizziness and fainting are very common during pregnancy as a result of the drastic hormonal and metabolic changes the body goes through during the first trimester. These changes can lower the mother’s blood pressure and/or blood sugar, causing them to feel dizzy or faint. In the second trimester, the...
Every day, our nurses and attorneys receive calls from expectant mothers with concerns about symptoms they’re experiencing during their pregnancy. They’re curious if their symptoms are normal, and they wonder what their next steps should be. Patients should always visit a medical professional with concerns and receive appropriate care for maternal-fetal conditions and illnesses that...
Compound presentation occurs when the part of the fetus closest to the birth canal (usually the head) presents with an extremity next to it (usually hand or arm) (1). This condition is extremely rare; it’s estimated to affect less than 0.004% of pregnancies. What causes compound presentation? Compound presentation can occur as a result of...
If amniotic fluid begins leaking during pregnancy, it may increase the baby’s risk of experiencing a birth injury. Sometimes, it may be difficult to determine if a pregnant person is leaking amniotic fluid or another substance, such as urine or vaginal discharge. Consult a doctor if there is any uncertainty. What is amniotic fluid? During...
When a newborn baby begins to have seizures, parents wonder what is causing the seizures, how neonatal seizures are treated, if seizures mean the baby has a brain injury, and if the baby will have lifelong problems. Parents also want to know if the medical team did something wrong during or near the time of birth that caused the baby to have a brain injury, resulting in seizures....
When a baby requires care after birth, they will be transferred to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or the NICU. A baby may require a NICU stay if they were born prematurely, had problems during delivery, or experienced complications after birth. The cost of a NICU stay depends on a number of factors including duration,...
What is a doula? Doulas are professional birth coaches who provide emotional, informational, physical, and mental support to women during the prenatal, birth, and postpartum periods. Doulas do not provide medical care, but they are extraordinarily knowledgeable about childbirth. What is a doula’s job? The job of the Doula during delivery is to act as...