For the best chance of having a healthy baby, you want to have a healthy pregnancy. Luckily, there are plenty of resources in Western New York that can help pregnant women do just that. Here are a few options:
Catholic Health’s WomenCare program offers a wide variety of prenatal classes, given at either Mercy Hospital or Sisters of Charity Hospital, including:
- Prepared Childbirth – Designed mostly for the first time mom, these classes cover relaxation and breathing techniques and more.
- Prepared Childbirth Refresher – This class refamiliarizes you with what to expect during and after pregnancy.
- Preparing to Breastfeed – Learn about the initial breastfeeding experience and what to expect at home.
- Twinformation Classes – These cover the special needs of twin pregnancy.
- Baby Talk – Topics discussed include common newborn concerns such as bathing, breastfeeding, bottle feeding and more.
- Sibling Classes – introduces pre-school and young children to the exciting role of being a big brother or sister
Kaleida Health holds prenatal classes at both Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital and Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Their classes cover topics such as:
• Labor and delivery
• Breathing techniques
• Exercises
• Caesarean births
• Recovery
• Parent classes
• Infant feeding and care
• Sibling classes
• Infant safety and CPR
• Infant development and stimulation.
If you are interested in natural childbirth, you can explore the options presented by WNY Childbirth Education and Doula Services. They offer an 8-week series of natural childbirth classes that promise to teach students about the labor process and help to create a set of skills and techniques to use in labor instead of medication. They also offer a “One Day Crash Course” for moms that have already been through labor and birth before, or for anyone with a quickly approaching due date that doesn’t have eight weeks. The crash course lasts about five hours and covers the stages of labor, labor coping techniques, coaching skills, and birth choices.
Other options include BlueCross BlueShield’s Right Start Prenatal Program for its members in Erie County and the Young Parents Program sponsored by Catholic Charities of Buffalo, which provides services both in the home and at the Ken-Ton Family Health Center and Mercy Hospital.
Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello is an OBGYN practice in Buffalo where we are committed to helping our patients achieve a healthy pregnancy. We believe in supporting the total health of our patients and our community. If you have any questions about how to have a healthy pregnancy, please call or contact us anytime.
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It’s International Prenatal Infection Prevention Month, which many of you have probably never heard of.
But it’s important to spread the word about some conditions that can cause serious problems for both you and your unborn baby:
Group B Strep
If you are pregnant, you need to know whether you have group B strep. About 25 percent of all women carry the bacteria that can cause group B strep infection. These bacteria are usually not harmful to you and won’t make the people around you sick—but they can be very dangerous for your newborn.
Babies can get very sick and even die if their mothers pass group B strep bacteria to them during childbirth. Ask your healthcare provider for a group B strep test when you are in your third trimester, at around 35 to 37 weeks pregnant. If you test positive, your doctor can give you an antibiotic during labor to prevent the bacteria from spreading to your baby.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
A pregnant woman infected with CMV can pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy. Most babies born with CMV infection will be fine, but some may be born with problems such as hearing or vision loss or mental disabilities, or develop issues later on.
How can you avoid getting cytomegalovirus? CMV is passed from infected people to others through body fluids, such as saliva, urine, blood, vaginal secretions and semen, but it doesn’t spread very easily. For pregnant women, the two most common ways they contract CMV is through sexual activity or contact with the saliva and urine of children who already have a CMV infection.
If you’re pregnant and have contact with a CMV-infected child, wash your hands soap and water after changing the child’s diapers, wiping their nose or mouth and touching their toys, pacifier, or other objects. Don’t share food, drinks, eating utensils or a toothbrush with the child and disinfect all toys, countertops or other surfaces that may have the child’s saliva or urine on them.
Listeriosis
Listeriosis is a rare but serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria called Listeria. Pregnant women are about 10 times more likely than the general population to get listeriosis. Listeriosis during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or infection in newborns.
To prevent contracting listeriosis, avoid certain foods during pregnancy, such as:
- hot dogs and lunchmeats unless they have been heated/reheated to more than 160 degrees F
- raw (unpasteurized) milk
- soft cheeses such as feta, Brie, Camembert, blue-veined cheeses and Mexican-style cheeses unless they are made from pasteurized milk,
- raw or undercooked seafood, such as sushi or sashimi
- refrigerated pates and meat spreads
- refrigerated smoked seafood.
Pregnant women should also take extra precautions not to get fluid from delicatessen meat or hot dog packages on other foods or food preparation surfaces.
At Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello, we believe an informed patient is a healthy patient—and healthy patients are our goal! To make an appointment with one of our doctors, please call us. We are a top OB-GYN practice in Buffalo.
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Are you thinking about trying to have a baby? Before you take that leap, take the time to evaluate your current health and habits. Taking care of your body and your health before you try to get pregnant will not only help you get pregnant. It can also improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy and baby. How?
1. Visit Your Doctor
Tell your doctor your plans, so the two of you can discuss your personal and family health histories and any medical conditions you currently have that could affect a pregnancy, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, thyroid disease, phenylketonuria (PKU), seizure disorders, high blood pressure, arthritis or eating disorders. You’ll need to review which medicines you’re currently taking, vaccinations that you might need, and steps you can take before pregnancy to prevent certain birth defects. If you’ve been pregnant before, the two of you can go over any previous pregnancy-related problems.
2. Quit Birth Control
This one sounds like a given, but depending on what form you use, you may need some time. If you use an IUD, your doctor will need to remove it. If you take the Pill or use Depo-Provera, you might not ovulate for month. Give your body time to adjust and restart its own monthly cycle.
3. Take 400 Micrograms of Folic Acid Every Day
Folic acid is a B vitamin. You’ll want to have enough folic acid in your body for at least 1 month before pregnancy, then during pregnancy, to help prevent major birth defects of the baby’s brain and spine.
4. Stop Drinking Alcohol, Smoking, and Using Street Drugs
If you smoke, regularly drink alcohol or use street drugs, be honest with your doctor. These habits can cause many problems during pregnancy for you and your baby, such as premature birth, birth defects and infant death. Your doctor can help you quit, or find someone who can.
5. Avoid Toxic Substances and Contaminants
Both at work and at home, stay away from potentially harmful materials like synthetic chemicals, fertilizer, bug spray and cat or rodent feces (have someone else clean the litter box or do your weeding). Any of these substances can hurt your reproductive system and make it more difficult to get pregnant. And exposure to even small amounts during pregnancy, infancy, childhood, or puberty can lead to diseases.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight
If you are overweight or obese, you run a higher risk for many serious conditions, including pregnancy complications, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. If you are underweight, you’re also at risk for serious health problems. If you are underweight, overweight, or obese, talk with your doctor about ways to reach and maintain a healthy weight before you get pregnant.
Once you are pregnant, be sure to keep up all of your new healthy habits and get regular prenatal care from your doctor. If you have any questions about planning a pregnancy or are newly pregnant, please call Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello. Your health is our top priority!
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IUDs are one of the least common forms of birth control in this country—only 2 percent of American women use them—although their success rate is high. Why? Possibly because there is so much misinformation about them.
Basic Information
An IUD, or intra-uterine device, is an object that is placed inside the uterus by a physician. There are three different kinds of IUDs manufactured in the United States today. One type is hormonal and lasts up to five years; the second type delivers a lower dose of hormones and lasts up to three years; and the third uses copper as a spermicide and lasts up to 10 years.
How they work
Non-hormonal IUDs are made from copper, which acts as a natural spermicide. Hormonal IUDs gradually release small doses of synthetic hormones. Both types thicken your cervical mucus, which creates a hostile environment for embryo implantation and prevents pregnancy.
The two main types of IUDs
The two hormonal IUDs are Mirena and Skyla. Mirena lasts up to five years, while Skyla delivers a lower dose of hormones, is slightly smaller, and lasts up to three years.
The copper-coil IUD, ParaGard, slowly releases copper ions for up to 10 years.
IUDs: Busting the Myths
Myth #1: Getting an IUD will make me infertile.
The truth: No, it won’t!
IUDs got a bad rap in the 1970s due to a product called the Dalkon Shield. This plastic IUD’s was badly designed and led to septic miscarriage and even death for some users. IUDs began to be associated with higher risks of infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Doctors know that today’s IUDs do not affect fertility.
Myth #2: IUDs cause infections like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
The truth: No, they don’t!
Although IUDs do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they can’t cause them. This fear came about due to the lack of rigorous STI testing in previous decades. People would get an STI—or have one prior to the IUD’s insertion—then blame the infection on the device. You still cannot get an IUD if you already have an STI. If your STI status is negative, getting an IUD is extremely unlikely to cause any kind of infection.
Myth #3: IUDs are really expensive.
The truth: IUDs are cheaper than pills in the long run—but must be paid for up front.
It’s hard to estimate what your IUD might cost because there are so many factors, the most significant one being insurance coverage. But research has shown that out of five popular contraceptives, IUDs are the cheapest over five years for both insured and uninsured users.
Is an IUD the right method for you?
Birth control is not one size fits all. Your age, health and other factors come into play. If you would like to discuss your options, please call Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello. We always work with our patients to create the most successful course of care!
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By admin
13 Jan, 2014
Pregnancy, Women's Health
calcium when pregnant, Dr. Adel Chouchani, Dr. Carola Bagnarello, Dr. Christian Chouchani, Dr. Gabriel Chouchani, Dr. Magdi Sayegh, how much calcium do I need, WNY OB-GYN, women and calcium, women's calcium intake
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body, but you also lose it every day through your skin, nails, hair, sweat, urine and feces—and our bodies cannot produce new calcium on their own. If you don’t get enough for your body’s needs, calcium is taken from your bones, causing osteoporosis.
Calcium plays many vital roles in your body, including:
- building healthy bones and teeth and keeping them strong as you age,
- sending messages through the nervous system,
- maintaining healthy blood vessels,
- regulating blood pressure,
- preventing insulin resistance (which could lead to Type 2 diabetes),
- helping your blood clot, and
- regulating your heart’s rhythm.
Obviously, if you want to enjoy good health, you need to make sure you have enough calcium in your diet. And once you understand the basics, it’s not that hard to include it in your diet and get the calcium you need.
Supplements vs. Food
Your body can absorb more calcium from food than it can from supplements, so your calcium intake should come primarily from the food you eat. People who get most of their calcium from food have stronger bones.
Calcium from food often comes with other beneficial nutrients that help calcium do its job, like Vitamin D.
Doctors advise that you get as much of your daily calcium needs from food as possible and use supplements only to make up any shortfall. Older women who get high amounts of calcium from supplements seem to have a higher risk of kidney stones and strokes. And using high-dose calcium supplements may increase your risk of heart disease.
How much calcium is right for you?
The healthiest or safest amount of dietary calcium hasn’t been definitively established. Different scientific approaches have yielded different estimates. To ensure that 95 percent of the population gets this much calcium, the National Academy of Sciences established the following recommended intake levels:
- Age 19 to 50: 1,000 milligrams/day
- Age 50 or over: 1,200 milligrams/day
- Pregnant or lactating adult women 1,000 milligrams/day
Good food sources of calcium
So what foods can you eat to get enough calcium in your diet? You probably know about dairy products, like milk, yogurt, and cheese, but here are some unexpected sources:
- White Beans
- Canned Salmon
- Sardines
- Dried Figs
- Bok Choy
- Blackstrap Molasses
- Kale
- Black-eyed Peas
- Almonds
- Oranges
- Turnip Greens
- Sesame Seeds
- Seaweed
At Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello, we believe in supporting the total health of our patients and our community. If you have any questions about your dietary or nutritional needs, we’d be happy to help. Contact us anytime at any of our three convenient WNY locations.
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By admin
23 Dec, 2013
Breastfeeding support, Pregnancy
breastfeeding classes Buffalo, breastfeeding classes Western New York, breastfeeding support WNY, Dr. Carola Bagnarello, Dr. Christian Chouchani, Dr. Gabriel Chouchani, Dr. Magdi Sayegh, lactation consultants Buffalo, lactation consultants Western New York, nursing support WNY, WNY OB-GYN
Everyone thinks that because breastfeeding is natural, that it’s easy. But experienced nursing moms can tell you—it’s not always! If you’re planning to breastfeed, you’re probably going to need some support. Where are your best resources in Western New York?
At the Hospital
When you give birth at Mercy Hospital, Millard Fillmore Suburban, Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo or Sisters Hospital, you can expect to receive support from an onsite lactation consultant. Be sure to tell the staff when you arrive that you plan to breastfeed after your baby is born, so they can help you get started correctly, right away.
Most of these facilities also offer breastfeeding classes as part of their preparation courses for new parents-to-be. These classes are taught by experienced, internationally board certified lactation consultants and are designed to help answer common questions and concerns that you may experience during pregnancy. They should prepare you for both the initial breastfeeding experience and what to expect during the first few weeks at home.
At Home
However, we all know that what works one day might not work the next. If you were doing well with breastfeeding at the hospital but things don’t seem to be going right now, or if you just want some reassurance, both Sisters and Mercy hospitals have the Baby Café, a weekly drop-in center where you can get support and guidance from certified lactation consultant nurses.
You can also ask your child’s pediatrician if they have a lactation consultant on staff. Care Connections, a lactation center located in Amherst that serves all eight counties of WNY, provides lactation consultant services for over 35 local pediatricians.
Care Connections also offers home visits by their IBC-certified lactation consultants in addition to onsite breastfeeding consultations. And if you can make the drive to their Amherst location, they rent breast pumps and sell a variety of clothing and accessories designed to make your breastfeeding experience easier.
At Work
If you’ll be returning to work and plan to continue nursing, Millard Fillmore Suburban offers a special class called Breastfeeding and the Working Mother, which will help you prepare to return to work by teaching you to use your breast pump and store your breast milk.
And if you have a question in the middle of the night, there are several great websites out there full of helpful information. Try:
At Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello, MD, we strive to prepare and support all of our patients who want to breastfeed to have a successful experience. In fact, we want any woman who wants to breastfeed to have a successful experience! Please contact us if you have any questions. Our team is here for you before, during and after your pregnancy.
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What if your doctor tells you you’re considered a high-risk pregnancy? What does that mean, and what can you do about it?
Being called “high-risk” may sound scary, but it’s just a way for doctors to ensure that you get special attention during your pregnancy. It usually means that you or your baby has an increased chance of a health problem—not that you or the baby will definitely have one.
What kind of conditions will put you in the high-risk category?
- You have a health problem such as diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart valve problems, sickle cell disease, asthma, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis or epilepsy
- You smoke or use alcohol or illegal drugs
- You are younger than 17 or older than 35
- You are pregnant with more than one baby
- You’ve had three or more miscarriages
- Your baby has a genetic condition, such as Down syndrome, or a heart, lung, or kidney problem
- You’ve had past problems such as preterm labor, preeclampsia or eclampsia
- You’ve already had a baby with a genetic condition
- You have an infection, such as HIV, hepatitis C, cytomegalovirus (CMV), chicken pox, rubella, toxoplasmosis or syphilis
Will my doctor treat me differently for a high-risk pregnancy?
You’ll have more regularly scheduled visits to the doctor, and you may have more ultrasound tests to keep an eye on your baby’s growth. Genetic testing may also be done, especially if you are 35 or older or had a genetic issue in a past pregnancy.
Can a pregnancy become high risk later?
Yes. Sometimes a medical condition develops during pregnancy for either mom or baby causes a pregnancy to become high risk. Some complications include:
- problems with the uterus, cervix or placenta
- severe morning sickness
- too much amniotic fluid
- too little amniotic fluid
- Rh (rhesus) sensitization, which can occur if your blood type is Rh negative and your baby’s blood type is Rh positive
What can I do to stay healthy during a high-risk pregnancy?
- Seek regular prenatal care so your health care provider can monitor your health and your baby’s. Visit a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine, genetics, pediatrics or other areas if necessary.
- Establish a good relationship with your doctor and with other doctors in the practice. You’ll want to feel comfortable discussing any concerns you might have and know that any of them can treat you if necessary.
- Eat a healthy diet. A daily prenatal vitamin can help fill any gaps. Consult your health care provider if you have special nutrition needs due to a health condition, such as diabetes.
- Gain weight wisely. Work with your health care provider to determine what’s right for you.
- Avoid risky substances. If you smoke, drink alcohol or do illegal drugs—quit. But get your health care provider’s OK before you start or stop taking any medications or supplements.
- Talk to your doctor about any health problems you have and any medications you are taking.
At Chouchani, Sayegh and Bagnarello, we pride ourselves on providing personal and friendly care to each and every patient. If you have any questions or concerns about your pregnancy or your prenatal or postnatal health, call us any time at 716.633.6363.
Disclaimer: The medical information provided in this article is of a general nature and cannot substitute for the advice of a medical professional.
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For the best chance of having a healthy baby, you want to have a healthy pregnancy. Luckily, there are plenty of resources in Western New York that can help pregnant women do just that. Here are a few options:
