FAQs

Maternal Immunization Patient Education Videos ACOG’s Immunization department is pleased to share our short maternal immunization patient education videos—including a new COVID-19 patient education video—now available for viewing on ACOG’s patient website!

• Get Your Recommended COVID-19 Vaccine during Pregnancy

• Get Your Recommended Vaccines during Pregnancy

• Get Your Recommended Tdap Vaccine during Pregnancy

• Get Your Recommended Flu Vaccine during Pregnancy

Through a cooperative agreement with the CDC, ACOG created these patient-facing videos to reach pregnant patients and help support obstetrician–gynecologists and other women’s health care practitioners in recommending and advocating that pregnant individuals receive all recommended vaccines at the appropriate time during each pregnancy. Clinicians are highly encouraged to feature the patient videos on their trusted web platforms, patient portals, and social media pages associated with their practice.

For additional information, clinical guidance, patient and physician resources on COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 vaccine tools page and COVID-19 web page.

Yes.

Yes, after 1st trimester.

Yes, it is recommended to have routine dental exams, if X-rays are needed then please make sure your abdomen is covered with a lead apron. If dental work is necessary please do not use Nitrous Oxide gas, we recommend Novocain injections and no Epinephrine.

The answer would depend on the medication and how far along you are in the pregnancy. Please refer to the information sheet in your New OB Packet titled GUIDELINES FOR COMMON PREGNANCY CONCERNS. Please know that ALL physicians are knowledgeable on the safety of medications in pregnancy and have the ability to research if necessary.

Please refer to the GUIDELINES FOR COMMON PREGNANCY CONCERNS sheet which can be found in your New OB Packet or on the web page.

Yes, traveling is allowed in pregnancy but each physician has her own protocol regarding this. Generally, traveling by car or plane is okay up to 30 weeks of pregnancy. When traveling by car it is recommended that you drink plenty of water, stop to stretch your legs, and empty your bladder every 1-2 hours.

It is safe to paint with Latex paint only in a well ventilated area. No climbing ladders or painting above your head. We do not recommend that you remain in the same area as any chemical odor or remodeling fumes.

Yes, it is safe to use but consider using lower DEET.

We recommend that you don't life anything greater than 20 lbs.

The only time that we would make recommendation to alter the weight restrictions would be if you were having problems in the pregnancy or after delivery. If there are problems in the pregnancy and your physician determines that you need to reduce your weight lifting limit she will advise you of this and provide you with a note to give your employer. Typically, at this point you are limited to lifting 5-10 lbs.

Yes, it is recommended that you exercise during pregnancy but do not diet. If you have a regular exercise routine in place then you may continue working out but listen to your body and stop when you need to. Do not allow your heart rate to go above 160 beats per minute and maintain good water intake during exercising. If any pain or vaginal bleeding occurs stop immediately and call the office.

If you notice any vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain once you have a POSITIVE pregnancy test please call the office. Bleeding and/or pain does not always represent a Miscarriage. The nurse will get additional information from you and determine if you need to have blood test done, which provides the Physician information pertaining to the pregnancy hormone level in your blood, schedule you an appointment with your doctor/Maternal Fetal Medicine, or send you to the Emergency Room for evaluation.

Yes, we have the ability to collect cord blood.

Each Obstetric patient should talk with their Doctor regarding the frequency of contractions and when they should call the office.

Time your contractions from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. The duration is how long the contraction lasts. Usual contractions last 25-60 seconds. You may feel a tightening in the abdomen or pressure in your back. Some women feel a sensation in their upper thighs. Regardless of how you feel, check the contractions by pushing in on your abdomen with your thumb. If it is hard, even “rock-like”, then it is probably a contraction. Contractions of true labor have three characteristics. They get longer, stronger, and closer together. False labor goes away with rest and fluids.

You do not need to call if you have a “bloody-show” or if you pass your mucus plug. As the cervix ripens and the canal flattens out (effacement), the honeycomb structure known as the “mucus plug” often comes out. This may happen all at once or slowly resembling a discharge. It may be yellowish, whitish or even blood tinged. The loss of the mucus plug or bloody show is not a true sign of labor. Blood running down your leg would be abnormal and should be reported. In summary, heavy vaginal bleeding should always be reported.

Call immediately if you think your membranes have ruptured (bag of water breaks). This may be a sudden gush or you may experience a slow leak of fluid. Amniotic fluid may be colorless or even blood-tinged. If you are in doubt, ALWAYS CALL. Do not walk around or travel in this condition.

You should call the office if you have noticed decreased or no fetal movement.

Call the office at (614) 734-3347 and give your name, what doctor you regularly see, what baby this is for you, your contraction pattern and due date. Also any additional information that is persistent to your care, including the following examples:

• Breech

• Scheduled for C-section

• Pregnant with twins

• Water broke

If you are instructed to go to the hospital, have someone drive you there carefully.

After Hours:

Normal office hours are from 8 am until 4:30 pm Monday through Thursday and until 4 pm on Fridays. We no longer have the ability to return your call, so please listen carefully to the instructions. For our OB patients - If you are in labor, pre-term labor or believe that your water has broken, please go directly to Riverside Labor and Delivery and the on-call physician will be notified at that time. If you are 16 or more weeks pregnant and are experiencing heavy red bleeding, pain in upper or upper right abdomen, having central blindness or headache that won’t go away with rest and Tylenol, have an elevated Blood Pressure of 140 or higher on the TOP number or 90 and higher on bottom number go to Labor & Delivery. If you are less than 16 weeks pregnant, experiencing any of the previously mentioned problems, you will need to go to the Riverside Emergency Room.

If it is after hours and you are concerned about mastitis (breast infection) you need to be evaluated in an emergency room or urgent care if you experience any of the following:

• A persistent high fever greater than 101.5°F (38.6°C) that ibuprofen or Tylenol does not decrease.

• Pus draining from the breast

• Red streaks extending toward your arm or chest

• Part or all of the breast is intensely painful, warm, tender, red and swollen

• Dizziness, fainting or confusion.

For all other callers, Due to the inability to properly evaluate and treat you over the telephone without being seen and examined, it has become necessary to refer all EMERGENCIES to RIVERSIDE HOSPITAL, as this is the only hospital we have privileges at. For other non-emergent questions or concerns, we ask that you go to an Urgent Care or call again during normal business hours. Thank you.

First check a home pregnancy test using the first urine of the day if you are not using birth control or if you have missed a dose. If last unprotected sexual activity was less than 2 weeks ago please abstain from sexual activity and check urine pregnancy test in 2 weeks, again please use first urine of the day as the pregnancy hormone level will be higher. If negative call office for further recommendations, if positive call the office to schedule Nursing Interview and New OB appointment.

First check a home pregnancy test using the first urine of the day. If negative and you have not missed a dose of Birth Control, don’t panic. It is not uncommon to miss a menstrual cycle when using Birth Control pills, patches, Nuvaring, or injections; especially if you have been taking them for a while. If no cycle for 3 months or you have additional questions please call the office. If you have missed a dose of Birth Control then review the above question and recommendations.

It will depend on your medical history and your physician’s protocol. Birth Control options include oral contraceptive pills, OrthoEvra patch, Nuvaring, Depo Provera injection, Intrauterine Conception Device (Mirena and ParaGard), and permanent elective sterilization.

There are different options available depending on your medical history and your physician’s protocol. Sometimes we use Birth Control or a medication called Provera. This is not a birth control pill. It is a progestin only tablet. It is used to help thin the lining of the uterus and will often induce a menstrual cycle. If just used to induce a cycle Provera is typically taken for 10 days and may take up to 14 days after last pill for a menstrual cycle to start. Once a cycle starts, a birth control can be initiated with approval from your physician. If using Provera to regulate your cycle (to produce a monthly cycle) your physician will instruct you when to take it. It is still taken for 10 days at a time.

There are times when it may take more than one dose of Provera to induce a cycle. Depending on your physician’s protocol you may be offered to try Provera for 3 months (taking it for 10 days each month) and blood work to follow.

Your menstrual cycle may start as early as the third day of medication. Once your cycle starts it is fine to discontinue the medication if you desire, provided you only used to induce this menstrual cycle. If using Provera to regulate your menstrual cycle then take it as directed by your physician.