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The Importance of Regular Monitoring for Gestational Diabetes

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If you’ve been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, you’re not alone—this condition affects many pregnant women! While it can sound and feel overwhelming at first, with the right care and regular monitoring, most women with gestational diabetes have healthy pregnancies and babies. Below, we dive into why regular monitoring for gestational diabetes is so crucial and how it can help keep you and your baby safe.

Why Is Monitoring Gestational Diabetes Important?

Gestational diabetes occurs when your body can’t produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels during pregnancy. Left unchecked, high blood sugar can lead to complications for you and your baby, including:pregnant woman.

  • Excessive fetal growth
  • Premature birth
  • An increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes

Regular monitoring of your blood sugar levels is key to managing the condition and preventing these complications.

Monitoring can empower you by helping you stay on top of your blood sugar levels. By tracking your glucose levels daily, your doctor can determine if your treatment plan is working or if adjustments need to be made. Common alterations can include modifying your diet, exercise routine, or insulin therapy.

How Is Gestational Diabetes Monitored?

Monitoring gestational diabetes usually involves checking your blood sugar levels at home using a glucose meter. Most women check their blood sugar levels four times a day—once in the morning before eating and again after each meal. The results of these checks help your doctor get a clear picture of how well your body is processing sugar throughout the day.

In addition to self-monitoring, you’ll likely have regular check-ups with your OBGYN. These appointments are an opportunity for your doctor to review your blood sugar logs, assess your overall health, and monitor the growth and development of your baby. Ultrasounds and non-stress tests can also help ensure your baby isn’t affected by elevated blood sugar levels.

Benefits of Regular Monitoring for Gestational Diabetes

There are several advantages of regular monitoring for gestational diabetes.

Prevents Complications

Regular monitoring of your blood sugar levels allows for early detection of any issues, so your doctor can quickly adjust your treatment plan if needed. Keeping your blood sugar within the recommended range can prevent complications like preeclampsia, a condition marked by high blood pressure that can be dangerous for both mother and baby.

Supports a Healthy Pregnancy

By monitoring your gestational diabetes, you’re more likely to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Controlling your blood sugar helps reduce the risk of delivering a larger-than-average baby, which can lead to complications during labor and delivery.

Promotes Long-Term Health

Managing your blood sugar during pregnancy can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Regular monitoring helps you establish healthy habits that can last beyond pregnancy, benefiting your long-term health.

Helps You Feel in Control

One of the most important benefits of regular monitoring is that it empowers you. Having a clear understanding of your blood sugar levels helps you make informed decisions about your diet, exercise, and medication, giving you more control over your pregnancy journey.

Tips for Managing Gestational Diabetes

  • Follow a balanced diet: Work with a nutritionist to develop a meal plan that helps keep your blood sugar stable.
  • Stay active: Gentle exercise, like walking or swimming, can help lower blood sugar levels.
  • Take medications as prescribed: If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to control your blood sugar, your doctor may recommend insulin or other medications.
  • Keep track of your levels: Use a journal or app to record your blood sugar readings, so your healthcare provider can review them at each appointment.

Gestational Diabetes Care for Pregnant Women in Overland Park, KS

Regular monitoring is essential for managing gestational diabetes and ensuring a healthy pregnancy. By staying on top of your blood sugar levels, working closely with your healthcare team, and making certain lifestyle changes, you can protect yourself and your baby throughout your pregnancy.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to Women’s Care OBGYN at (913) 384-4990 if you have any questions or concerns about your gestational diabetes management plan. Remember–your condition is not uncommon, and you are not alone!

High Breast Cancer Risk: When to Begin Screening

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Some people will debate whether too much of a good thing is a good thing. We say yes, it’s especially a good thing when talking about screening for high-risk breast cancer. It is recommended that women with a high breast cancer risk screen for breast cancer earlier and more often than women with a normal breast cancer risk. For those women with a high breast cancer risk, when should you begin screening?

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What Is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing and How Does It Work?

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When you are having a baby, there are many scenarios that go through your mind. What will the child look like? Will they have my eyes or my partner’s smile? Is it a boy or a girl?  These are among the many happy possibilities parents consider, but many future parents are concerned about the more serious prospects like whether their child will be born with certain conditions or birth defects. What is non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and how does it work?

What Is Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing?

Non-invasive prenatal testing, or NIPT, is a safe screening test to determine if your developing child has risks for conditions like chromosomal disorders or genetic conditions like Dopregnant woman looking out window.wn Syndrome. It is a screening test. It does not diagnose the condition. If the results show an elevated risk then further testing can be done. The mother can have the test beginning at 10 weeks of pregnancy.

NIPT is done by taking a sample of the mother’s blood which has fragments of DNA from the baby. This is also known as cell-free DNA or cfDNA screening.

To Test or Not to Test?

Having this test is purely optional, and there is no risk to the baby like some more invasive diagnostic tests. As a bonus, you can find out early the sex of your child instead of waiting for the 20-week ultrasound.

Women’s Care may recommend having an NIPT performed if the pregnancy is considered high risk for a chromosomal abnormality. That can include the following:

  • The mother is 35 or older.
  • The mother has already had an abnormal prenatal screening result.
  • One parent has a chromosomal abnormality.
  • The mother had a previous pregnancy with a chromosomal abnormality.
  • An abnormality was detected on an ultrasound/sonogram.

Any woman, no matter her age, can have a baby with birth defects, and that’s why many women decide to have the non-invasive test.

However, a woman with a high-risk pregnancy may not want the test because the parents have already decided it won’t matter. They will continue with the pregnancy.

Cautions to Be Aware of

The test is not 100% foolproof. The detection rate for Trisomy 21 (Down’s Syndrome) is 99%. Although it is rare, you can get a false positive or a false negative. Talk with our experienced OBGYNs in Overland Park, KS if you have any questions or concerns you may have before, during, or after NIPT.

Parents can consider moving to a diagnostic test if they wish more clarity after NIPT.

Contact Women’s Care at (913) 384-4990 if you want to discuss the value of a non-invasive prenatal test if you have a low-risk pregnancy.

Tubal Ligation vs Salpingectomy: Which Is Best?

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Name something better than curing cancer? The answer is never getting cancer in the first place. It has been discovered that removing the fallopian tubes may prevent the development of ovarian cancer. Let’s take a deeper dive into tubal ligation vs. salpingectomy and which is best.

Ovarian Cancer Facts

  • Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecologic malignancy.
  • Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer of the female reproductive system.
  • From 2010-2019 the number of new cases of ovarian cancer declined slightly each year. There was also a slight decrease in death from ovarian cancer during 2011-2020.
  • Women with a family history of ovarian cancer or women who have certain gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2 have a higher risk than women who do not have a family history or have not inherited a gene mutation.
  • It is hard to find ovarian cancer early since there may not be any symptoms. When signs do appear, the cancer is often advanced and too late for a cure.

What Is a Salpingectomy?

Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of both fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are the tunnel through which eggs move from the ovaries to the uterus for implantation. This surgery can be performed simultaneously with other abdominal surgeries like removing the gallbladder. This is known as opportunistic salpingectomy.

When Is a Salpingectomy Recommended?

There are several reasons a salpingectomy be recommended by your doctor, including:

This would be recommended if you have an ectopic pregnancy. This is when a fertilized egg is growing outside the uterus. It cannot successfully grow and eventually the fallopian tubes will rupture causing life-threatening bleeding.

Another common reason is for permanent birth control.

Tubal Ligation vs Salpingectomy

Tubal ligation is known colloquially as having your tubes tied, in which your doctor clamps or ties the fallopian tubes closed preventing pregnancy.

While both tubal ligation and salpingectomy are effective in preventing pregnancy, recently it has been found that salpingectomy has the benefit of ovarian cancer prevention.

Reducing the Risk of Ovarian Cancer

There is no definitive way to prevent ovarian cancer, but there are now ways to lower the risk. It was thought ovarian cancer began in the ovaries, but research has recently shown that some forms of cancer actually can start in the fallopian tubes via the projections at the end of the tubes. The cancer cells then spread to the ovaries and also to the peritoneum, the tissue surrounding the organs in the abdomen.

If a woman has completed her family or wants no more children, she can have her fallopian tubes removed. A woman who has a higher risk of ovarian cancer can also have her ovaries removed at the same time. This will necessarily bring on menopause. The decision should be made in consultation with your provider at Women’s Care.  Having fallopian tubes removed is becoming the standard of care for women aged 35 to 50 who do not want any, or more, children.

The bottom line is that salpingectomy is recommended for all women regardless of their risk factors for developing ovarian cancer. All women can benefit.

Women who have average risks and no genetic abnormalities are recommended to have an opportunistic salpingectomy to decrease the risk of developing ovarian cancer.

There is ongoing research as to whether just removing the fallopian tubes will prevent ovarian cancer for those with a higher risk.

Contact Women’s Care OBGYN at (913) 384-4990 to schedule a consultation to discuss salpingectomy at one of our offices in Overland Park and Shawnee Mission.

Preeclampsia Warning Signs: Before & After Delivery

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Preeclampsia is a serious condition that may happen after the 20th week of pregnancy or after giving birth. It causes high blood pressure and other issues which can stress your heart and cause problems during and after pregnancy. Keep reading to learn more about preeclampsia warning signs before and after delivery.

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The Importance of Postpartum Check-ups

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After you give birth to that beautiful baby of yours, everything seems to be about the baby. You understood that during pregnancy, your own health was paramount in order to have a strong healthy baby. However, now that your child is born, taking care of yourself remains a priority, like focusing on the importance of postpartum check-ups.

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Practicing Self Care After Giving Birth

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You have accomplished a miraculous thing. You grew a baby inside your body for nine months, and then gave birth to a healthy new human being. Think about that! Yes, millions of women have done that for centuries, but now you did it. Take a breath and settle into an entirely new life by practicing self care after giving birth.

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