Monthly Archives: September, 2019

Everyone strives to receive the highest quality medical help. However, sometimes it is quite difficult to decide which doctor to go to. In this article, we have provided some tips to help you choose your doctor.

INTERNET ISN’T ALWAYS HELPFUL

The internet is full of groups and pages that discuss the skills of doctors of all specialties. You can often come across conflicting opinions about the same person, which is very confusing. Our advice is to approach these materials very critically because it is not always certain how credible they are. Moreover, everyone will have a different experience depending on their attitude towards their appointment.

Instead, look for more information about additional training, qualifications, and interests that a doctor has. If they match your problem – trust them,  it is very likely that they’ll be able to help you.

DOES HEALTH INSURANCE COVER IT?

We are all required to pay for our health insurance. For some social groups, such as children, students up to 26 years and retired people, health insurance is covered by the state. This gives us the advantage of getting a referral to see a specialist. Sometimes it takes more time, but it’s a way to save yourself a lot of money.

Before you make an appointment, you need to ask if your doctor of choice has a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund. If not, don’t be ashamed to ask about the cost of the procedure you need.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOUNG DOCTORS

Recently trained physicians may not have that much experience, but they are certainly up to date with the latest innovations in medicine. They are more likely to attend conferences and additional training to learn about the most up-to-date practices. Do not underestimate or exclude them as an option for your next visit.

A DOCTOR YOU CAN TRUST

There is one popular saying that you should tell and show everything to your doctor. This means that you should not hide important details if you want the right diagnosis and treatment. When you are at the doctor’s office, pay attention to how you’re feeling. Is it easy for you to share your concerns with your doctor? Doctor-patient relationships should go smoothly, especially when you’ll have to pay multiple visits as it is with in vitro fertilization.

Miscarriage is one of the worst complications of pregnancy. Although nearly 20% of pregnancies end this way, it still remains taboo.

A miscarriage is the loss of a fetus before it is able to live outside the uterus (20 weeks). There is early (up to 12 weeks) and late (after 12 weeks) miscarriage.

 CAUSES

The main cause of a miscarriage are chromosomal defects in the fetus. They usually occur after fertilization and are not inherited by the parents.

 On the mother’s part, the cause may be related to old age, various diseases (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, thrombophilia, etc.), traumas, infections, smoking, alcohol use. There is also a risk of miscarriage when the father works with heavy metals and other dangerous substances.

Moderate exercise, sex and work (unless it involves harmful chemicals) will not  lead to a miscarriage.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

The symptoms of a miscarriage depend on how advanced the pregnancy is. Sometimes it can occur so early that it could be misinterpreted for a delayed menstruation, a.k.a chemical pregnancy. Symptoms of miscarriage include:

1. Spotting or heavy bleeding, which can range from bright red to brown;
2. Low abdominal or back pain;

These symptoms are not specific to miscarriages. Many women report mild bleeding at the beginning of pregnancy, but manage to give birth to completely healthy babies. However, if this occurs, you should contact your obstetrician immediately. Better safe than sorry.

TREATMENT

If diagnosed early enough (in the “threatened abortion” phase when the cervix is intact), treatment may be attempted. In other cases, termination of pregnancy is the standard approach. If the patient’s blood type is Rh-negative, anti-D gamma globulin is also administered. If desired, oral contraceptives can be started immediately after the procedure or during your next menstruation.

EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

Unfortunately, miscarriage can happen to any expecting mother. Losing a much-desired baby is equivalent to losing a loved one. It is completely natural to mourn despite encouraging comments from loved ones that “you will have another baby”. It is just as normal to seek support from family and friends, or to need some solitude.

Don’t blame yourself for what happened. The reasons for most miscarriages are beyond our control and cannot be predicted. The probability that this will happen again with your next pregnancy is very low – about 1%.

Give yourself plenty of time to recover physically as well as mentally before attempting to get pregnant again. Even if it seems impossible, remember that this dark period will pass at some point.

If you have any other concerns or just need professional advice and support, our psychologist at New Life Medical Center is here to help you.

Hormonal changes during pregnancy also affect libido. For some women, it goes up, while for others, sex is the last thing they would want to do. Whichever category you fall into – it’s totally normal!

IS IT SAFE FOR THE FETUS?

If your pregnancy is normal, sex is allowed. The fetus is protected by the amniotic fluid, uterus and abdominal muscles, therefore it cannot be harmed. As your pregnancy progresses and your belly grows, you will only have to experiment more. However, the most important thing is that everyone is comfortable and having fun.

SHOULD I USE A CONDOM?

Yes, if your partner has recently had a sexually transmitted infection or is currently having one. Condoms are also required when you are with a new partner. This rule applies to vaginal as well as oral and anal sex.

WHEN SHOULD I AVOID SEX?

Breast stimulation, orgasms, and prostaglandins in semen can cause uterine contractions. In a low-risk pregnancy, they are not a problem. However, in some cases, your doctor will advise you to refrain from having sex. These include – bleeding, placenta praevia, history of miscarriage or premature birth, cervical incompetence, etc.

SEX AFTER PREGNANCY

It is perfectly normal if sex isn’t a priority after childbirth. Post-delivery discomfort and new challenges of parenthood should not be ignored. Most gynecologists recommend abstaining from sexual activity  6 weeks after delivery. Of course, for every woman, this period varies because not only physical but also emotional readiness is important.

Breastfeeding can only prevent you from getting pregnant again for the first 6 months. In addition, it should be practiced frequently – every 4 hours during the day and 6 – at night. If you are not planning to increase the number of family members soon, we recommend discussing your contraception options with your doctor.