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

What to know about prenatal vitamins

By Jonathan Schaffir, MD

An Ohio State expert explains how prenatal vitamins protect pregnant people and babies on the way.

Ob/Gyn

When is the best time to take a pregnancy test?

By Amber Bondurant-Sullivan, MD

Think you might be pregnant? Our expert explains why you should wait until you've missed your period to take a home pregnancy test.

Ob/Gyn

Can you get pregnant with heart disease? Yes, but know your risks

By Lauren Lastinger, MD

During pregnancy, your heart rate will increase, and your blood pressure will drop as your blood volume increases up to 50%. If you have a heart condition, it can become dangerous. But healthy pregnancies are possible.

Sexual Health

Can menstrual cups help you get pregnant?

By Loriana Soma, MD

Some people are posting on social media that using a menstrual cup during sex helped them get pregnant. Does it really work? An Ohio State gynecologist unpacks this strategy.

Women's Health

What increases the odds of having twins?

By Jonathan Schaffir, MD

What increases your chance of getting pregnant with twins? An Ohio State expert explains the factors that make a multiple birth more likely.

Ob/Gyn

Does daylight saving time affect birth control pills?

March 11, 2022

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.

General Health

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

By Allen Pena

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

Ob/Gyn

Is pregnancy nose real? Explaining ear, nose and throat issues when you’re expecting

By Kathleen Kelly, MD

In addition to the long list of common pregnancy concerns, many have added a swelling “pregnancy nose” to the list. An Ohio State otolaryngologist describes this phenomenon and how long it might last for a pregnant person.

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.

Dental Health

What to know about pregnancy and dental health

By Kim Hammersmith, DDS, MPH, MS

While some oral changes of pregnancy are common and should be no cause for real alarm, dental problems can and should be addressed while pregnant.

Research Advances

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

January 19, 2023

“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.

Women's Health

Morning sickness: Is it a sign of good health?

By Megan Quimper, MD

Morning sickness can be a debilitating pregnancy symptom. Learn why it happens and what it means, from an Ohio State obstetrician/gynecologist.

Animal Health

Are litter boxes safe during pregnancy?

By Missy Matusicky, DVM, MPH

An Ohio State veterinarian Missy explains what you should know about cats if you’re pregnant.

Women's Health

Nutrition tips for morning sickness

By Liz Weinandy, MPH, RDN, LD, Olivia Small, RDN, LD, CLC

Ohio State dietitians offer a cheat sheet on taming morning sickness while maintaining a nutritious diet.

Women's Health

What can cause your pregnancy due date to be wrong?

By Patrick Schneider, MD

Sometimes your due date is wrong. Here’s why and what steps you can take to get the most accurate date.

Mental Health

Is it safe to take antidepressants while pregnant?

September 17, 2024

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

Ob/Gyn

You can still have a healthy pregnancy with gestational diabetes

By Mark Landon, MD

About 100,000 pregnant people are now diagnosed with gestational diabetes each year. But with diet changes and sometimes medication, it’s still possible to have a healthy pregnancy. An Ohio State maternal fetal medicine expert explains.

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.

Ob/Gyn

Should you sleep on your back while pregnant?

By Miranda Kiefer, DO

Pregnant people should avoid sleeping on their back after 20 weeks. Ob/Gyn specialist Miranda Kiefer, DO, explains why it’s important to sleep on your side.

Childbirth and birth decisions

Ob/Gyn

What are some advantages of a water birth?

By Elizabeth Austin, APRN-CNM

Ohio State Nurse-Midwifery patients have the unique option of using hydrotherapy for labor and birth, which has some evidenced benefits for birthing parents.

Family Health

Benefits of delayed cord clamping — now the norm in many hospitals

By Patrick Schneider, MD

“Delayed” cord clamping has clear benefits for newborns and no apparent harm for the person birthing the baby. Ohio State’s medical director of Labor and Delivery explains.

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

Emergency delivery: What to do when baby comes before you can reach the hospital

By Megan Quimper, MD

Unplanned out-of-hospital births don’t happen often, but what would you do if this happened to you or someone you’re with? An Ohio State expert gives step-by-step instructions.

Women's Health

Can a new device calm worries about opioids after C-section?

By Mary Ellen Fiorino

A new device being tested at Ohio State may help reduce the use of opioids to manage pain after C-section.

Women's Health

Why does squeezing a comb help with labor pains?

By Cassandra A. Sampsell, APRN-CNM

Squeezing a comb just might help you get through the pain of labor. An Ohio State midwife explains how and offers other tips for coping.

Women's Health

Writing a ‘birth plan’ can be simpler than you think

By Helen Dale, APRN-CNM

You can’t plan every detail of your baby’s entrance to the world, but you can write a list of your preferences to share with medical staff. An Ohio State midwife explains.

Ob/Gyn

How does breastfeeding or pregnancy change breast tissue?

By Rebecca Rudesill, MD

Breast tissue can change during pregnancy and breastfeeding. But how much does breastfeeding alone permanently change the shape and feel of breasts?

Postpartum

Ob/Gyn

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

September 19, 2023

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.

Watch

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.

Family Health

It’s not that easy to ‘just breastfeed’

By Shannon Gillespie, PhD, RN

For parents, there are many barriers to successfully breastfeeding, even when a formula shortage makes it seem like an easier option. An Ohio State maternal-infant researcher explains.

Ob/Gyn

Vaginal prolapse and urinary incontinence: How a urogynecologist can help

By Lisa Hickman, MD

Despite what many think, urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse aren’t just something people with vaginas have to “live with” as they age.

Ob/Gyn

What to know about IUDs

By Courtney Kerestes, MD

Does IUD insertion hurt? How likely is it to get pregnant while using one? What if it moves or falls out? An Ohio State Ob/Gyn answers these questions and more.

Ob/Gyn

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

September 7, 2023

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.

Watch

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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

Early pregnancy

Second and third trimesters

Childbirth and birth decisions

Postpartum

Join the family of Buckeye Babies

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