Posts Categorized: blog

Avoiding Drugs During Pregnancy – For Your Unborn Baby’s Sake

Healthy pregnant woman

While you are pregnant, everything that you do has an effect on your baby. The amount of sleep you get, the kinds of food you eat, and how much exercise you get every day all impact your baby’s health and growth. It is important to know that everything you put into your body will also… Read more

The Best Pregnancy Exercises

The discovery that you’re expecting brings many questions – especially if this is your first pregnancy. Your body is constantly changing as your baby grows; sometimes not always in the most pleasant ways. You may notice your ankles swelling, that your back aches, or that you’re far more prone to bloating than you have ever… Read more

RhoGAM Shot – What is Rh+ and Rh-?

In the early stages of your pregnancy, there are myriad tests to which you’ll be submitted. One of those tests will determine whether you have the Rhesus protein; in other words, whether you are Rh-positive or Rh-negative. This protein lives on the surface of the red blood cells of 85 percent of the population. For… Read more

How Pregnancy Affects your Sleep

Pregnancy is one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life. The changes to your body mean that a new life is taking shape. The incredible process of the growth of a child leads to many physical and emotional changes in the weeks and months ahead. One of first changes pregnant mothers notice is… Read more

New Pap Smear Guidelines

The United States Preventive Services Task Force has issued recent guidelines for screening for cervical cancer. As a woman, it is important to know how this affects you and your healthcare. At Virginia Beach OBGYN, we are committed to providing you with all you need to take charge of your health. What Causes Cervical Cancer?… Read more

What Are the Signs That You May Be Pregnant?

How do you know if you may be pregnant?

  Do you wonder if you could be pregnant? Without having a pregnancy test, it is impossible to be completely sure. Days before your first missed period, your body could send you signals, telling you that something is changing. Even if you are not trying to conceive, it is important to be aware of the… Read more

Bleeding After Sex – Causes & Concerns

                        If you find blood following intercourse and you are not menstruating, it can be alarming. Post-coital bleeding affects as many as nine percent of women of child-bearing age and may be the result of various conditions. In many cases, there is no underlying… Read more

Top 5 Things to Know Before Your First Gynecology Exam

Seeing a gynecologist is a necessary part of being a woman – and should begin sooner rather than later. As recommend by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), teenage girls should schedule their first visit with an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) between the ages of 13 and 15. Knowing what to expect ahead of time… Read more

Can Birth Control Affect Libido and Sexual Drive?

When considering birth control options, there are many factors to take into account. Hormonal birth control, in particular, can vary in terms of side effects, as you are introducing artificial hormones into your body. There are many types of hormonal birth control, including: Oral Contraceptives Contraceptive Ring (NuvaRing) Birth Control Shot (Depo-Provera) Birth Control Implant… Read more

What Should I Eat When Pregnant?

What Should I Eat When Pregnant? While pregnant, it can be tough to know what foods are best eat, and what to avoid. Suddenly, you’re not just eating for yourself but for your growing child and have concerns about making the right choices. Pregnant women are often hungrier, but it is important to eat foods… Read more

What is the Difference Between a Midwife and a Doula?

                          Many women choose to have a birthing team to manage different aspects of childbirth. The birthing team often includes a doula and a midwife – but what’s the difference? Midwife: A midwife is a trained medical professional who focuses her practice on… Read more

Reproductive Health in your 20s, 30s, and 40s

Gynecologist Norfolk VA

 The various stages of life each bring new challenges – including ones that impact fertility. Women in the USA are holding off on having children, with many waiting until their 30s or 40s to start a family. With the “biological clock” ticking, there are often worries about maintaining reproductive health. The 20s: Programmed for Childbirth… Read more

A Successful Pregnancy for a Mother with Diabetes

Becoming pregnant is a joyful and exciting time, but challenging for mothers with diabetes. Abnormal blood glucose levels can lead to complications during pregnancy, even in the first few weeks. If you are planning on getting pregnant, it is important to have a plan in place to manage your diabetes. Our Virginia Beach OBGYN works… Read more

Download and share our practice app!

Need handy directions to our office? Are you pregnant with a cold and can’t remember where you put that “safe medications in pregnancy” list?  Would you like to receive push notifications from our office with important practice announcements, such as flu shot availability, or inclement weather closings?  Want an easy way to download forms and… Read more

The Importance of Water

Moms-to-be are now drinking for two. Here are some things you should know about drinking water during your pregnancy: Water Helps Deliver the Essentials to the Fetus When taking prenatal vitamins and eating healthy foods, have you ever wonder how they are absorbed and transferred through the body? Well, it all starts with water. Water… Read more

10 Benefits of Prenatal Vitamins

Nutritional needs are higher during pregnancy. As a mother-to-be, it is important that you get the nutrients you need for a healthy pregnancy, plus the nutrients your baby needs for proper development. Even if you eat a wide variety of foods, it is difficult to get all the nutrients you and your baby need from… Read more

We Aren’t In Kansas Anymore

By Marcia Hughes I’m here to help you understand how insurance works. In this age of rising premiums and deductibles, it is more important than ever to understand your benefits and what financial responsibilities you will have prior to having medical services. HMO’s (The Good Witch) spoiled many of us years ago with small copays,… Read more

Let’s Talk About Poop!

By Ilene B. Goldstein, M.D. Happy Springtime! In the spirit of April showers and May flowers, lets talk about POOP! While a little taboo to discuss at the dinner table, bowel habits are an important topic to address with your health care providers. March is Colon Cancer Awareness month.  Aside from wearing blue and running for your… Read more

Back Pain and Pregnancy

We often see mothers eagerly waiting for the day that their bodies change enough for it to be obvious they are pregnant. Many of which do not take into consideration the amount of change that occurs to their body’s structure. Some these changes of pregnancy are weight gain, postural, and hormonal effects which create relaxation… Read more

“Ouch! I Think I Have a Bladder Infection!”

By Mary Antoinette Burns, M.D. Most women reading this title know what I mean by bladder infection! It is pretty common! It is estimated that half of all women will experience at least one urinary tract infection (UTI) in her lifetime. According to the American Urological Association, UTIs account for more than 8 million medical office… Read more