As you pursue a healthy life, you should check in with a health care provider who can let you know how you’re doing, help revise your plan for healthier living, and offer advice on anything you’re wondering about. This generalized type of care – when you see someone for regular or routine care instead of a specialist for one particular…
Getting and staying healthy is a lifelong journey. There are many actions you can take to live a healthier life today and help lower your chances of encountering health problems or diseases later in life. Changes that you make can also positively impact your whole family! If you are ready to commit to living a healthy life, or are just…
Preeclampsia, in all of its forms, can mean a lot of testing, both during and after pregnancy. Have you ever wondered why your healthcare provider is running so many tests? Or what those tests mean? This guide explains what tests may be done during and after pregnancy, when, and why. DURING PREGNANCY Preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that can…
Most women have a very good chance of experiencing a healthy journey through conception and pregnancy. But sometimes, special issues arise that call for extra care and informed decisions. Don’t be afraid to discuss these issues with your health care provider. Your midwife can be an invaluable source of information and support as you work through your unique challenges. Infertility…
It’s never too early to start preparing for birth and motherhood. Learning as much as you can now will help you feel more confident in making decisions like selecting a health care provider, choosing where to give birth, and finding a childbirth education class. Caring for Yourself Pregnancy is an excellent time to prioritize taking care of yourself. It is…
For the majority of women, pregnancy is a normal, healthy, low-risk life event. Midwives view pregnancy and birth as normal life events during which you need special attention, support, guidance, and care to prevent problems. For most women pregnancy is a time of wellness. It is a time of change when you and your baby should be supported so you…
If you’re trying to conceive or hoping to become pregnant, there’s never been a better time to pay attention to your health. Actions you take now can maximize your chances of a healthy pregnancy and birth and can establish positive habits that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. Midwives can help you navigate the important decisions…
Healthy, physiologic birth means allowing your body to go through labor under its own innate power. It is the optimal functioning of childbirth, and is a safe process that includes labor, birth, and the first hour after birth for both you and your baby. Healthy birth does not routinely require medical intervention. Characteristics of healthy labor, birth, and the first…
What is Gestational Diabetes? Gestational diabetes happens when your pregnancy hormones stop insulin (the hormone that lowers blood sugar) from doing its job of moving sugar out of the blood and into your cells. Th is can cause your blood sugar levels to get too high. If you have gestational diabetes, you will change your diet to help your blood…
What Is Diabetes? Diabetes is a health problem that results in too much sugar in the bloodstream and not enough in cells where it can be used for energy. The problem occurs when the body is not able to make the hormone insulin (type 1 diabetes) or the insulin that is made doesn’t work very well (type 2 diabetes). Gestational…