WHA Blog
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Can labor induction increase the chance of C-section?
Labor induction is the medical term for stimulating the onset of labor. A “successful” induction is considered to be one that leads to vaginal delivery. A common question we hear from pregnant patients is whether labor induction will increase the chance of having a Cesarean section delivery (C-section). The short answer? It depends. The relationship […]
Prenatal Ultrasound
Ultrasound is an important tool to help patients and doctors navigate through pregnancy. The clinical use of ultrasound in pregnancy began in the 1970s. Initially, its usefulness was limited. However, the technology rapidly improved and now it is difficult to imagine not having this remarkable window into a developing pregnancy. Not only is ultrasound an […]
Prenatal Health: Common Pregnancy Food Cravings & Possible Causes
It is very common for women to experience food cravings while they are pregnant. Food cravings range in intensity, frequency and type. They typically occur during the first trimester, are often less severe by the fourth month and can be sudden and sometimes unusual. Sweets, salty snacks and spicy foods are among the most common […]
Seeing Double: The Medical Facts About Twin Pregnancies
Getting pregnant with twins is simultaneously a double blessing and double trouble. While twin pregnancies most often result in a healthy if not harried mom and two delightful babies, they can also be riskier than singleton pregnancies. Twin or triplet pregnancies occur in approximately 3% of births, and that number may be increasing. While assisted […]
Bittersweet Diagnosis: Gestational Diabetes
With so many news stories about diabetes recently, the word loses its impact until a pregnant woman hears that she has it. Suddenly, diabetes is in your medical chart and your baby may be at risk. It’s common for women to be shocked and even depressed at the news, as some of you noted on our […]
Pain Control During Labor and Childbirth
On Monday, we posted a survey on our Facebook page asking how women approached their pain during labor. The responses have been fairly evenly distributed, highlighting the fact that there isn’t a single answer that’s right for everyone. There are a few things in life that you can never really understand from an emotional perspective without experiencing […]
A Portland OB/GYN on Caffeine in Pregnancy
One of my earliest memories of coffee was a warning from my mom not to drink it. “It will stunt your growth,” she said. Somewhere along my path to adulthood, however, I discovered Starbucks (and Stumptown and Coffee People and Peet’s and countless quirky independent coffee shops). Now, I love the stuff. Many of my […]
More on the Challenges of Breastfeeding: Dealing With Breast Pain
Several months ago I posted about sore nipples, one of the most common complaints of breastfeeding mothers. Another relatively common complaint is breast pain. Breast pain can involve the entire breast or it can be localized to one area. The three primary causes of breast pain are engorgement, plugged ducts and mastitis. Breast Engorgement Engorgement refers […]
Planning Your Delivery After a Prior C-Section: A Look at VBAC
Many of my pregnant patients ask about the cesarean section rate at our practice. Everyone has heard in the media about the staggering number of cesarean births in the United States. It is true; the c-section rate in our nation has increased dramatically in the past 40 years from 5% in 1970 to 32.3% in […]