Our expert guide to a healthy pregnancy

From trying to conceive to bringing a baby into the world and the postpartum experience, parents have a lot of questions. But our Ob/Gyn and maternal fetal medical specialists have answers.

Preparing and trying to conceive

Women's Health

Family planning: How much time should you plan for pregnancy spacing?

How long should you wait before having your next baby? Lisa Keder explains why you should wait at least 6 months.

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Ob/Gyn

Does daylight saving time affect birth control pills?

Have you ever wondered if should change the time you take your birth control pills when daylight savings time begins or ends? Our Ob/Gyn expert says that since most oral contraceptive pills maintain their full effect for at least 24 hours, changing the timing by one hour one way or another won't make a difference in effectiveness.

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Early pregnancy

Ob/Gyn

COVID-19 vaccines before and during pregnancy: What to know

By Susannah Kistler

COVID-19 infection can cause such severe complications in pregnant people, especially, and that risk is high compared to the rare and mild known side effects of the vaccine, say Ohio State experts. An obstetrician and an infectious disease expert answer common questions about COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy.

Research Advances

Why we often don’t know what medications are safe during pregnancy – and how that should change

“Do not take if you might be pregnant,” the package says, but we may not know for sure whether that means a medication is harmful for pregnant people — and that’s a problem, says maternal-fetal specialist Maged Costantine, MD.

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General Health

What is an ultrasound? Learn what to expect and other FAQs

What is an ultrasound? An Ohio State expert explains what to expect before, during and after this imaging procedure and how it’s used.

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Mental Health

Is it safe to take antidepressants while pregnant?

Meeting your mental health needs as a parent benefits you and your children – including when that means taking antidepressants during pregnancy.

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Second and third trimesters

Ob/Gyn

Can you get in shape while pregnant?

By Laura Ward, PT, DPT

Being as fit as you can during your pregnancy can help with birth recovery and ease pregnancy pains. An Ohio State expert provides advice and exercise demonstrations.

Aging

10 can’t-miss tips for modern grandparents

By Judith Ford, RN

The leader of Ohio State's Grandparenting 101 class (and a grandmother herself) offers important advice for today's grandparents, as some recommendations have changed since they were raising their own babies.

Childbirth and birth decisions

Ob/Gyn

How to choose between a midwife and obstetrician

Lily Zimmerman, APRN, CNM, discusses how to choose between a midwife and an obstetrician.

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Cancer

Should you bank your baby’s cord blood?

By Patrick Schneider, MD

You can save the blood from a baby’s umbilical cord to potentially use those cells in treating future disease, but there are limitations to its practice. Ohio State’s director of labor and delivery explains.

Women's Health

Experts in healthy pregnancies: How midwives provide empowered, holistic care

How midwives at Ohio State provide empowered, holistic healthcare from first exam to post-menopause.

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Postpartum

Ob/Gyn

What’s the difference between 'mommy tummy' and diastasis recti?

After you give birth, it’s common to have a separation of abdominal muscles and sometimes that remains. An Ohio State physical therapist explains what you can do to get rid of it.

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Ob/Gyn

A quick guide to post-pregnancy body changes

By Courtney Abshier, MD

On average, it takes 40 weeks to carry a baby to term. New parents should remember that it can take longer for your body to recover. An obstetrician-gynecologist says to extend yourself some grace with post-partum body changes.

Ob/Gyn

What to know about IUDs

By Megan Quimper, MD

How does an IUD prevent pregnancy? Does insertion hurt? Will it move or fall out? An Ohio State obstetrician/gynecologist answers these questions and more.

Family Health

Which newborns need ‘car seat tests,’ and what happens if they don’t pass

Before they can head home from the hospital with their guardians, some newborns need to pass a car seat test or car seat challenge. Here’s how that works in many American hospitals.

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Ob/Gyn

Health Talks: What to know about pelvic floor disorder and pregnancy

Our urogynecology expert explains how pelvic floor disorder can begin in pregnancy and increase in risk with multiple pregnancies. Hear about symptoms and treatment, which often includes physical therapy.

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