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Maternity and Newborn Care
What Routine Tests Can I Expect During Pregnancy?
Posted May 01, 2023 by Ashley Ballester, M.D.
Regular visits and routine testing are a large part of the pregnancy journey to monitor the growth and development of your baby while helping to ensure you and your baby remain healthy throughout your pregnancy.
Summa Health breaks down various tests by trimester you can expect to undergo for routine prenatal care. The timings may vary, depending on your risk factors and individual situation, and for high-risk pregnancies, additional tests may be recommended, such as…
Midwives are Growing in Popularity. Here's What You Should Know.
Posted March 06, 2023 by Teresa Edwards, APRN-CNM
While midwives are growing in popularity in this country, there are still many who aren’t aware of the care they can provide. Many people believe midwives help moms-to-be give birth in private settings, such as in their homes, without medication or medical intervention. While this may be true for some midwives, hospital-based midwives, like the ones at Summa, provide quality care in the hospital while maintaining a “home-like” feel.
In truth, certified nurse…
Nutrition During Pregnancy: What You Should and Shouldn't Eat
Posted January 23, 2023 by Phillip Dayley, D.O.
You’re pregnant, so you can now “eat for two,” as the popular saying goes, right? Not quite. While pregnancy increases your body’s need for extra calories and nutrition, eating double the calories could cause you to gain an excessive amount of weight.
To maintain a healthy pregnancy, you only need about 350 extra calories each day — and maybe slightly more during your third trimester. That’s roughly the number of calories in a half a…
Vaccines for Pregnant Individuals [Podcast]
Posted October 05, 2022 by Meghan Mehl, D.O., FACOG
Exercises To Try — and Avoid During Pregnancy
Posted July 05, 2022 by Diana Mong, M.D., FACOG
When you’re expecting, it’s especially important to keep moving. Exercise is an important part of a healthy pregnancy and offers big benefits for both you and your baby, such as:
- Boosts energy levels and makes you feel better by releasing endorphins
- Reduces back pain
- Eases constipation, bloating and swelling
- Decreases risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia and cesarean birth
- Prevents excess weight gain, which is helpful in regaining your pre-pregnancy body more…
Maternal Health in the Black Community [Podcast]
Posted April 14, 2022 by Cheryl Johnson, MD, FACOG
Dr. Cheryl Johnson leads a discussion focusing on empowerment in the African American community, especially maternal health.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome – What You Need to Know [Podcast]
Posted February 24, 2022
Karen Frantz DeSeptis and Ericka Malone lead a discussion on SIDS, and important information you need to know.
5 questions to consider when creating a birth plan
Posted December 13, 2021 by Phillip Dayley, D.O.
Whether you’re expecting your first baby or expanding your family, when the day you give birth finally arrives, it’ll be one of the most important in your life. That’s why many expecting parents have a written birth plan ready that outlines their preferences for their big day.
It’s normal to have expectations for how you’d like your birth experience to happen. Discussing your wishes ahead of time with your partner and obstetrician, or midwife…
Safe sleep for babies: It's as easy as ABCDE
Posted November 01, 2021 by Karen Frantz DeSeptis, BSN, RNC
It’s true babies sleep a lot. In fact, they can spend up to 16 hours a day asleep in the first few weeks of life. That’s why it’s so important to make sure for every snooze — nighttime and naptime — your baby sleeps safely.
Sadly, every week in Ohio, it’s estimated 3 babies die while sleeping due to unsafe sleep practices, according to the Ohio Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. In fact, Ohio has the eighth-highest infant death…
Top Questions to Ask Your Provider When You’re Pregnant [Podcast]
Posted August 12, 2021
Dr. Stephen D’Abreau covers important questions and topics that you should be asking your healthcare provider if you are expecting a baby.
Morning sickness: What's normal and what's not
Posted June 07, 2021 by Christine Arnold, M.D.
One of the most common symptoms of early pregnancy is nausea and vomiting. Although it is common, it can have a significant impact on patients' quality of life, especially when it is severe or prolonged. Nausea and vomiting is an unpleasant reality for many women in their early weeks of pregnancy, but for some it can extend into the second and third trimester as well.
There is a wide variation amongst women who experience pregnancy induced nausea. Some women…
Pregnancy and novel Coronavirus: Facts for expectant mothers
Posted March 30, 2020 by Edward M Ferris, MD
As Coronavirus COVID-19 continues to spread, pregnant women worry not only for themselves but for their developing babies. This is a new virus, and doctors are still learning about the risk it poses to women and infants.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that it is too early in this epidemic to know if a pregnant woman can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy or delivery. However, “No infants born to mothers with COVID-19 have…
The Benefits of Breastfeeding for both Mother and Baby
Posted December 23, 2019
For mothers everywhere, making the decision whether to breastfeed or not is a very personal matter. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologistsstrongly recommend breastfeeding for 6 months. There are many health benefits to breastfeeding for both mother and baby, which we’ve outlined below to give you the latest research and information. Of course, every family is unique, and the decision is ultimately up to…