Information and guidance around the current strain of COVID-19 (coronavirus) is rapidly evolving, and we understand that this may prompt some questions regarding the safety of expectant mothers. We are here to provide you with answers. What Is COVID-19? Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can spread from person to person. Symptoms […]
By Cheri Hinshelwood According to the Adult Congenital Heart Association, if one parent has a congenital heart disease (CHD), the risk of having a child with CHD is 3-6 percent — and even higher if the parent is the mother. Advanced heart care has turned the impossibility of motherhood for women born with heart defects […]
By Elizabeth Holmes, MS, RD, LDN, CSOWM Postpartum weight loss is similar to weight loss at other times in your life. The major difference is the change to your body and life after having a baby. What worked to lose weight and stay healthy before the baby may not work the same after baby. Losing […]
By Trisha McBride Ferguson Winter weather means cooler temperatures and an increase in the occurrence of colds and influenza (the flu). For pregnant women and those breastfeeding, these common ailments bring special considerations. Knowing what to do if you catch a cold or the flu is important to keeping both mother and baby healthy. Safety […]
By William Allen, MD Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is an umbrella term used to describe the range of effects that can occur in an individual who was prenatally exposed to alcohol. FASD is not a clinical diagnosis, rather a term that includes a group of developmental disorders resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure. There Is […]
Most expectant parents don’t prepare for their newborn to go into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit [NICU] after labor,” said Caroline Twiggs from Weaverville. “Now I tell friends they should tour the NICU.” High blood pressure and a prolonged delivery were hard on Twiggs and her husband, Michael Whetsell. But when baby Josephine showed distress, […]
Baby Owen was due to enter the world in August of 2016. His mother, Amanda Bauman, 35, of Waynesville, had experienced a healthy pregnancy, and all was going as planned…until an obstetrics appointment in late June led to an emergency C-section. Bauman’s August baby arrived, surprisingly, on June 21. A Sudden Turn of Events “I […]
Grace Rice, CNM (certified nurse midwife), at Mission Women’s Care, sheds light on common midwife misconceptions. Rice emphasizes that whether you choose a doctor or midwife, your comfort level comes first: “The best caregiving relationships happen when communication is open, decisions are shared and mutual trust has been established.” MYTH 1: Doctors are safer than […]
The first 24 hours of parenthood are precious. While it’s a whirlwind of wonder, one thing many of us remember is baby’s first bath. However, research shows that waiting just one day before your newborn’s first bath can make a huge difference in their overall health. Joni Lisenbee, RN, the nurse manager of Mission Hospital’s […]
By Taylor Alef, RN To be a mother-baby nurse is to feel like a witness to the art of womanhood. We are with you in the first few days of your baby’s life, supporting you and your family through the most intense physical and emotional experiences of your lives. We see the pain that comes […]
