Pregnancy

Although an increasing number of women are becoming pregnant after the age of 35, this is still considered to be "Advanced Maternal Age" (AMA). While most AMA pregnancies are completely normal, we will discuss this "high risk" condition with you, as well as additional tests that you may wish to consider. You may wish to review the ACOG's helpful patient information section on Having a Baby After Age 35.

These procedures, usually performed by a perinatology specialist in the hospital, are designed to recover fetal cells that can be used to diagnose chromosomal abnormalities early in a pregnancy. 

Ashkenazi Jewish Descent Genetic Screening Options

Most insurance companies cover carrier testing for cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease, Canavan disease and familial dysautonomia to individuals of Ashkenazi descent. There are several other disorders that are more common in Ashkenazi Jews, including Bloom syndrome, Fanconi anemia, Gaucher diseases, Niemann-Pick, and more. Read more about Ashkenazi Jewsih Genetic Disorders.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends 30 minutes or more of moderate exercise per day on most, if not all, days of the week. See the following links for more information on exercise during pregnancy:

• ACOG Guidelines - Exercise During Pregnancy 
• FamilyDoctor.org Guidelinges - Exercise During Pregnancy

Fish and shellfish are an important part of a healthy, well-balanced diet. However, some fish and shellfish contain high levels of mercury that can harm an unborn baby's developing nervous system. In 2004 the EPA published a consumer advisory regarding mercury in fish and shellfish. 

Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the CDC recommend flu shots for pregnant women. 

We offer our patients "sequential screening," a two-part, pre-natal screening test that assesses your baby's risk of having certain birth defects, such as Downs Syndrome, Trisomy 18, and Neural Tube Defects (such as Spina Bifida). When used correctly, these tests are very good at detecting patients with pregnancies affected by these disorders. 

Carrier Screening can help determine if you might pass serious inherited health conditions to your child. A small sample of your saliva or blood is all that's needed. Results usually take about two weeks. 

Conditions Screened:

Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. The body produces thick and sticky mucus that can clog the lungs and obstruct the pancreas. Cystic fibrosis (CF) can be life-threatening, and people with the condition tend to have a shorter-than-normal life span.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease that robs people of physical strength by affecting the motor nerve cells in the spinal cord, taking away the ability to walk, eat, or breathe. It is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. SMA is caused by a mutation in the survival motor neuron gene 1 (SMN1).

Depending on you and your partner's medical and family history, there are many other genetic tests that can be ordered for you, although not all tests may be covered by your insurance company. 

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the CDC recommend screening for Group B Strep (GBS) at about 35-36 weeks of pregnancy, even if you are planning to have a C-section. About 20% of women will test positive for GBS, and will be treated with antibiotics during their labor. 

New Jersey law now requires HIV testing in the third trimester. We will test you for HIV during your initial pregnancy testing, and then again along with your routine blood work at around 28 weeks. 

The doctors at Advocare Premier OB/GYN of South Jersey deliver babies at Virtua Voorhees Hospital.  Virtua provides excellent services and care to our patients. This hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art LDR (Labor/Delivery/Recovery) rooms, and offers perinatology (high risk OB doctors) and neonatology (newborn intensive care) services if needed. Virtua has 24-hour anesthesiology so you don't have to wait for an epidural! 

We recommend avoiding any unnecessary medications during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. However, a time may arise when it becomes necessary to take over the counter medications. If you need to take a medication for common symptoms, such as a cold or heartburn, see our recommended list of options included in our New Pregnancy folder, provided in your first prenatal visit. Check out mothertobaby.org.

Morning sickness is nausea and vomiting that occurs during pregnancy. And, despite its name, morning sickness can strike at any time of the day or night. Many pregnant women have morning sickness, especially during the first trimester. But some women have morning sickness throughout pregnancy.

Diclegis® is a prescription medicine used to treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in women who have not improved with change in diet or other non-medicine treatments.

Pregnant women need to increase their calorie intake by about 300 calories per day. You should consume a balanced diet that includes foods from the major food groups. To ensure adequate calcium intake, pregnant women should consume at least 4-5 servings of dairy products per day.  Stay informed and read about nutrition during pregnancy.

Although you will be given a "due date," most infants are not born on this exact date. Use Genzyme's pregnancy calculator to estimate your due date.

For general information about routine pregnancy tests you can expect during your early visits, review the American College of Obstetritions and Gynecologists Routine Tests.

Smoking can cause multiple complications in pregnancy, including an increased risk of preterm birth, placental abruption, placenta previa, and low birth weight for your baby. To help protect your health and the health of your pregnancy, we recommend you stop smoking. Visit the following links to assist you in quitting:

• Mom's Quit Connection
• CDC Tobacco Use and Pregnancy 
• women.smokefree.gov/