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Your Ob-Gyn: Your Partner in Health Care
Your doctor takes care of your basic health needs and treats problems. This includes telling you about leading a healthy lifestyle and doing tests and exams to look for disease. An ob-gyn is a doctor who specializes in the care of women. Your ob-gyn offers preventive health care, too. Preventive health care includes exams and routine tests that look for problems before you are sick. Your doctor can evaluate your health and provide care for a range of medical problems, not just those of the reproductive system. For many women, the ob-gyn is their primary care physician-the doctor they turn to first for health care. The care provided by your ob-gyn can range from a basic gynecologic exam to complete health care of reproductive or other disorders. Obstetrician-Gynecologist: A doctor with special skills, training, and education in women's health care.

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Choosing Health Insurance
Women often must choose health care insurance for themselves and their families. Some plans require that you see a primary care provider-either a physician or nurse practitioner-before getting a referral to see other types of care providers, including obstetrician-gynecologists. Some health plans limit your choice of doctors. Another thing to consider before choosing your plan is the out-of-pocket costs-any money that you must pay for health care including monthly premiums. A plan may have a lifetime maximum dollar limit or an out-of-pocket maximum on each person or family covered. Health care plans differ on how the health care provider is paid for his or her services. Managed care plans pay only for care provided by doctors enrolled in the plan. Deductible: The amount you must pay first for covered benefits before your health care plan begins paying for health care services. Managed Care Plans: Insurance plans that prescribes which medical providers may be used by patients.

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Ultrasound Exams
Ultrasound, which creates pictures of the internal organs from sound waves, can be found today in every major hospital and in many doctors' offices. Ultrasound is energy in the form of sound waves produced by a small crystal. They are changed into pictures of the internal organs and-during pregnancy-the fetus. The type of ultrasound that is most often used, called real-time, combines still pictures one after another to show movement, somewhat like the single frames that make a motion picture. Ultrasound is used in obstetrics to examine the growing fetus inside the mother's uterus. Ultrasound is used to measure the flow of blood within vessels of the uterus, fetus, and umbilical cord, which connects the fetus and the placenta. Ultrasound with a vaginal probe is a painless exam that may feel like the exam you have for a Pap test. Combined with other tests and exams, ultrasound can help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and determine proper treatment for certain problems. The Murray Woman's Clinic ultrasound program is our regions only one that is fully accredited by both the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the American College of Radiology.

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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery
A cesarean birth is the delivery of a baby through an incision (cut) made in the mother's abdomen and uterus. Today, many women who have had a cesarean delivery can safely give birth through the vagina. This is called vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) delivery. VBAC is an option for many women. Of women who try VBAC, about 60-80% succeed and are able to deliver vaginally. Other women may try VBAC but need to switch to a cesarean birth. There are some good reasons to try VBAC. In deciding if you can try VBAC, a key factor is the type of incision you had in your uterus for your previous cesarean birth. Women with high vertical (classical) scars on the uterus have a higher risk of rupture. There is a higher risk for infection in the mother and baby in women who try VBAC and then give birth by cesarean.

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Later Childbearing
Most women over age 35 have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. Age need not be a barrier to a safe, healthy pregnancy. Also, medical advances have opened the door for women to have safer pregnancies in their 30s and 40s. They may have concerns about whether their age will affect their ability to become pregnant, their health, and the health of their baby. Because pregnancy puts new demands on a woman's body, the risk of complications during pregnancy is higher for these women. Women with diabetes need special care during pregnancy. Doctors rely on personal and family medical histories, physical exams, and special procedures and tests to help find those pregnant women who are more likely to have problems. Older couples may have special concerns about a healthy pregnancy. Early and regular prenatal care-care before the baby is born-may increase a woman's chances of having a healthy baby.

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Breastfeeding Your Baby
One of the most special times in a mother's life is when she is breastfeeding her baby. Breast milk is nature's perfect baby food. Breastfeeding (also called nursing) is a good choice for both the baby and the mother. The colostrum-a yellow, watery pre-milk-that your breasts make for the first few days after birth helps your newborn's digestive system grow and function. Breast milk has antibodies that help your baby's immune system fight off sickness. The protein and fat in breast milk are better used by the baby's body than the protein and fat in formula. Breastfed babies are at lower risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Bring your baby to your breast-not your breast to your baby. If you are worried that your baby isn't getting enough milk, tell the doctor right away and have the baby's weight checked. Any breast milk is better than no breast milk.