Ever had those burning questions you want to ask your OB/GYN but you’re too afraid to because you don’t want to sound silly or don’t want to waste their time? Well, you don’t need to worry about that anymore because we asked them for you!
We asked several OB/GYN’s that deliver at Olathe Medical Center some of the common questions readers ask about. You can learn more about our OB/GYNs here.
What do you really wish your OB/GYN patients knew?
“Pregnancy is not a disability. You can function as normal without making any major changes to your lifestyle, unless you are a professional scuba diver, then you need to avoid work for a while. Exercise is great and strongly encouraged during pregnancy, at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week.”
– Alison Blevins, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
“Don’t be afraid to ask questions!” – Ana Luina Estrada, MD, Olathe Women’s Center
“Mostly, I want patients to feel comfortable coming to me when they know something is wrong. For instance, postpartum depression is very common, but often minimized by moms. Moms feel guilty they aren’t living up to a certain standard, or think that they should just “get over it.” It’s not your fault, help is available, and you can often get better quicker than you think!”
-Logan Kracht, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
“Exercise is safe in uncomplicated pregnancies and encouraged, too! Regular physical activity during pregnancy improves/maintains physical fitness, helps with weight management, reduces the risk of gestational diabetes for obese women and enhances psychological well-being (directly from ACOG!). Make sure to discuss with your doctor!”
-Emily Mathiesen, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
“I like patients to know the importance of a flexible birth plan with unknown details, such as delivery dates.”
-Gina Petelin, MD, Olathe Women’s Center
“Medicine is not black and white. What is appropriate for one patient, may not be for another. Recommendations are specific to the patient and their needs and history. The internet can be a terrible resource when it comes to healthcare. It is filled with horror stories and worst case scenarios. You should discuss concerns with your physician as opposed to a chat group.”
-Bruce Snider, MD, Olathe Women’s Center
What are the top things patients should look for on their hospital tour?
“All labor and delivery units are equipped to handle pregnant patients and all of the hospitals in the KC metro area have been updated recently. Not every hospital has the highest level NICU, however, the chances of needing that kind of intensive care for your newborn is going to be rare. Some patients pick the hospital first and then find a doctor who delivers there but I would encourage patients to consider finding the doctor first and then delivering where their doctor has privileges. It is important for a patient to feel comfortable with their physician and trust them to care for their developing baby.”
-Alison Blevins, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
“Here is my list of top things to look for when touring a hospital, including some of the great features at Olathe Medical Center:
- Know where to go first when you are in labor… it sounds silly, but the fewer things you have to worry about the better.
The delivery room:
- Check out the layout, the size, and the view out of the floor to ceiling windows!
Dr. Logan Kracht - Bathroom amenities (Jacuzzi).
For family/guests:
- Secure waiting room.
- Kitchen/refreshments.
- Our NICU- state of the art, family rooms.
Postpartum floor:
- Murphy bed: Queen-sized and hotel quality!
- The Nursery.
- The cafeteria.
- The coffee shop. Hello! Starbucks!”
-Logan Kracht, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
“Some of the things I recommend looking at during a hospital tour are: waiting rooms and refreshments, security and lockdown units, and a bathtub or stand-up shower.”
-Gina Petelin, MD, Olathe Women’s Center
“Every patient has a different list of things that are important to them to ensure they have the best delivery experience possible. The most common things patients should look for during their hospital tour are:
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Dr. Bruce Snider Cleanliness – trash emptied, fresh linens, crib fully stocked with diapers and blankets.
- Birthing Amenities– What resources are available during labor? Is there a Jacuzzi tub, birthing ball, etc.
- Delivery & Recovery Accommodations– Where will you deliver and recover postpartum? Is there space for your support person to stay in the hospital with you, like a pull out sofa or extra bed? Can the baby stay in the hospital room with you?
- Comfort – is there a bed that accommodates multiple birthing positions?
- Infant Care – Is there an adequate set up for nursing/feeding, such as a rocking chair? Will the hospital provide a breast pump during the stay, or formula?
- Convenience – Can you request “do not disturb” times? Is food provided and delivered to room?
- Friendliness – competent, friendly nurses and staff can make a huge impact on your birthing experience.
- Guest Amenities – Are there places for your support person(s) to grab a snack or have wifi access to notify friends and family with updates?
- NICU – If your baby has health concerns upon delivery, will the hospital be able to accommodate your baby’s needs? Are parents allowed to stay with their baby in the NICU?
- Patient Education – Does the hospital offer classes to prepare you for your new arrival, such as birthing classes, breast feeding classes, and sibling preparedness” -Bruce Snider, MD, Olathe Women’s Center
DNA Testing/Anatomy Ultrasound – What does it mean and what should patients expect?
“A standard of care in pregnancy is the anatomy ultrasound completed usually around 20 weeks of pregnancy. This is an opportunity to evaluate the developing fetus to screen for things such as heart, brain, kidney, stomach, or spine abnormalities. There are some anatomical changes that are associated with genetic syndromes which can be seen on ultrasound. If any abnormalities are found, patients are referred to a perinatologist for further evaluation.”
-Alison Blevins, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
“Patients should expect the fetal ultrasound at 20 weeks. This is to make sure the fetal anatomy is large enough to see.”
-Ana Luina Estrada, MD, Olathe Women’s Center
“Non-invasive prenatal testing is a newer technology we can use to identify patients that are at a higher risk for certain chromosomal abnormalities. This is also the test that can tell you the gender – although we cannot deliver the gender without the rest of the information in the test. I think it is certainly exciting to find out the gender early, but I always talk with my patients about the other implications of the test and what they would want to do with the information if they were to found to have an abnormal result. Many of my patients choose to trust their age-related risk for these chromosomal abnormalities and forgo the testing. Another way to evaluate for abnormalities is the anatomy ultrasound – a detailed sonogram where we identify and evaluate many of the baby’s anatomic structures, as well as growth measurements, the placenta and the cervix.”
-Emily Mathiesen, MD, Women’s Clinic of Johnson County
