Best Tips to Prepare for 2025 Hurricane Season When You Are Pregnant
Hurricane season is starting, and for pregnant women, it’s important to take extra steps to ensure everything goes smoothly.
A Dietitian Picks the 7 Best Prenatal Vitamins for 2025
If you are trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, a prenatal vitamin can be an essential part of your healthcare routine. Here are our top picks.
Curb Walking: What Is It and Can It Help Induce Labor?
What can be done to give the birthing process a little nudge? One “natural” technique to induce labor is curb walking.
Are You Still Dealing with Back Pain After Pregnancy?
Most new moms can relate to back pain during pregnancy. What if the pain doesn’t go away after your little one arrives? Learn more about treatment options.
How a Digital Solution Detected Preeclampsia and Protected a Pregnancy
Discover how Ochsner’s Connected MOM program helped Quanee detect preeclampsia and ensure a safe pregnancy through expert, digital monitoring tools.
1st-Time Mom’s Inspiring Journey: Facing Breast Cancer While Pregnant
Brooke Pritchard was diagnosed with breast cancer at nine weeks pregnant. With the support of her family and Dr. Matthew McElveen she is now cancer free.
Important Facts You Should Know About Gestational Diabetes in 2025
Around 10% of pregnancies in the United States are affected by gestational diabetes. Learn how gestational diabetes may affect your pregnancy.
Severe Morning Sickness Treatments Pregnant People Should Know About
Morning sickness is a common pregnancy symptom, but there is such a thing as experiencing it too often. Melissa Jordan, MD, shares treatments to explore.
Why is High Blood Pressure During Pregnancy More Common for Black Women?
High blood pressure during pregnancy can lead to various health problems. While it can affect anyone, statistics show it is more common for Black pregnant people.
20 Questions I’m Too Embarrassed to Ask My Gynecologist
Visiting the gynecologist can feel awkward, but it's a great chance to address your health questions. Here are answers to 20 common questions to help make your visit more comfortable and empowering.
What is Midwifery? Meet a Certified Nurse Midwife at Ochsner
Midwives encourage women and their families to actively participate in their healthcare by providing education, labor and delivery services and postpartum support.
Why Timely Preeclampsia Detection Is Crucial for People Who are Pregnant
While preeclampsia does not affect a large number of pregnancies, if it is not treated properly, it can cause some serious complications for mom and baby.
What Is the Best Way to Increase My Chances of Getting Pregnant?
Preparing your body for pregnancy can take time. Here are steps to follow to create the best environment for growing a baby inside you.
What Are the Top Signs and Symptoms to Know if I Am Pregnant?
Each woman experiences pregnancy differently, and women experience various symptoms throughout pregnancy, some ranging from standard to uncommon. It is important to know the symptoms or early signs of pregnancy.
Insomnia During Pregnancy: 9 Tips for the Best Night's Sleep
Several factors can contribute to insomnia during pregnancy. Trouble sleeping can begin as early as the first trimester as hormone levels begin to change and can persist into in the third trimester.
How to Beat Exhaustion If You Are Pregnant with Your Second Child
Many mothers pregnant with their second child experience excessive fatigue. Learn the causes and tips to help with exhaustion.
Top 10 Questions Expecting Moms Ask
From when you should let others know you are pregnant to what essentials you need on delivery day, we're answering your top questions as an expecting mom.
7 Important Questions You Want to Ask During Your First Pregnancy
First pregnancy? Here are 7 questions you'll want to ask your OB/GYN.
What Is a Nurse-Midwife and Should I Choose One?
Thinking about having a baby? Wondering what your birthing options are? A nurse-midwife may be the right choice for your maternity healthcare and beyond.
Can a Peanut Ball Reduce Labor Time?
Looking to shorten your labor time? This peanut-shell-shaped ball may help.
Is Getting the Flu Shot While Pregnant Safe?
There are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to getting the flu shot while pregnant. Learn why pregnant and nursing women should make an extra effort to get the flu vaccine.
Can My Mental Health Condition Be Passed Down Genetically?
If you've ever struggled with mental health, you might be wondering if mental health conditions can be passed down genetically. We have answers.
Why Adults Might Need the Whooping Cough Vaccine Again
Babies younger than two months old are most vulnerable to whooping cough, which is why Tdap vaccination during pregnancy is an effective way to protect infants.
The Benefits of Prenatal Massages
Prenatal massages are specifically for those expecting and can be a helpful tool in relieving common pregnancy-related complaints.
Maternal Mental Health: Why It Matters
Many new moms experience the baby blues, while still others suffer from postpartum depression. Learn how to recognize the symptoms and what to do next.
Expecting Mom Spends 50 Days in the Hospital Leading up to Delivery
Barbara Blank had a rare but serious condition that put her in the hospital at Ochsner Baptist at 29 weeks. Barbara shares her journey and the love and compassion showed to her by the Ochsner Baptist team.
Can I Take Alka Seltzer While Pregnant?
If you suffer from heartburn during pregnancy, you may be wondering if you can take medication like Alka Seltzer to help soothe the symptoms. Here is what you need to know about taking heartburn medication during pregnancy.
What Do Contractions Feel Like?
As you near your due date, your nerves may start kicking in. Every little feeling might make you think you are going into labor, and you may be wondering what true contractions will feel like. Here is what you need to know to prepare yourself.
What to Expect at Your 20-Week Ultrasound (for Pregnant Women)
A 20-week ultrasound provides a detailed look at how your baby is developing. Knowing what the ultrasound entails and what questions to ask is important in preparing.
Fertility Preservation Options for Women
Prolonging the ability to have children is becoming an increasingly popular option for many people. Whatever the reason may be, there are fertility preservations options available.
Advanced Maternal Age: What Does that Mean?
According to the National Institutes of Health, more and more women in high-income countries are delaying childbirth for lifestyle reasons and personal choice.
Tips For Keeping Your Baby Flu-Free
Pregnant or nursing women should make an extra effort to get the flu vaccine.
Should I Try Natural Childbirth?
Natural childbirth is a popular choice for many women who desire a vaginal delivery without pain medication or medical intervention.
Best Sleep Positions During Pregnancy
Doctors have updated their advice on sleep positions for expecting mothers.
Smoking While Pregnant: Learn the Facts
One of 10 pregnant women smoke, adding up to 500,000 babies per year whose health could be negatively affected.
Things You Don't Expect After Giving Birth
We often don't talk about what to expect in the days, weeks or even months after giving birth. Here are 15 things you might not expect after giving birth.
Can I Eat During Labor?
For years, pregnant women were advised to fast during labor, but is that still the case?
Signs You Are Going into Labor
If you are expecting, knowing when to go to the hospital can be a difficult decision. Here are signs you are going into labor.
Braxton Hicks Contractions vs. True Labor
Braxton Hicks contractions are the unpredictable, sporadic and usually non-rhythmical contractions that occur during pregnancy. So how do you know the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labor contractions?
Do Moms Face Work Discrimination?
It’s illegal for an employer to treat an employee unfairly. Workplace discrimination against moms is most often classified as sex or pregnancy discrimination.
Pregnancy Complications Black Women Should Know About
If you’re Black and pregnant, hoping to one day become pregnant, or have recently had a baby, being aware of the conditions that disproportionately affect you is critical to maintaining a healthy pregnancy.
Will My Chronic Hypertension Go Away After Pregnancy?
Interventional cardiologist Saira Samani, MD, discusses how mothers who develop high blood pressure during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing heart disease in the future.
Are You at Risk for Heart Disease After Pregnancy?
Interventional cardiologist Saira Samani, MD, discusses the risk factor of developing heart disease after pregnancy.
Tdap Vaccines: Do I Need to be Vaccinated for Every Pregnancy?
It is recommended that expecting mothers receive the Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy, regardless of the time interval between those pregnancies.
What is the Purpose of First Trimester Ultrasound?
Sukari Theard, maternal-fetal medicine lead sonographer, explains the purpose of the first-trimester ultrasound is to determine an estimated due date and is best performed at eight to 10 weeks of pregnancy.
Should Pregnant Women Get a Flu Shot?
OB/GYN Marguerite Demarest Sandow, MD, explains pregnant women are at an increased risk for flu-related complications, and it is important that pregnant women get a flu shot to protect themselves and their babies.
Skin Care Product Ingredients to Avoid During Pregnancy
You may be wondering "is all makeup safe to wear during pregnancy?" Check out the list of what skin care ingredients to avoid when pregnant.
Exercising While Pregnant: Do’s and Don’ts
Working out when you’re expecting isn’t just OK - it’s encouraged.
7 Unexpected Symptoms of the Third Trimester
The last months of pregnancy are often exciting, nerve-racking and physically demanding. Be on the lookout for these seven symptoms.
Heart Disease in Pregnancy
Some pregnant women with heart disease can face serious complications while they are expecting, and it can cause lifelong, adverse health effects in both the mother and child.
How to Manage Labor Pain
If you’re about to become a new mom, you’re probably busy making preparations and getting your home ready for those first few months. But have you planned for how you will manage labor pain?
7 Things That Make Pregnancy Easier
One way to make pregnancy easier is with Ochsner’s Connected MOM (that’s short for Connected Maternity Online Monitoring).
What Are Symptoms for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome?
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects 1 in 10 women. While PCOS can affect your overall health, appearance and fertility, there are treatment options your gynecologist can offer.
What to Pack in Your Maternity Bag During COVID
Packing your hospital bag may seem overwhelming with new regulations in place to protect patients from COVID-19. Check out this list for all your must haves.
Choosing the Right Doctor for You and Your Baby
What should you ask an OB/GYN when trying to decide the right doctor/patient fit?
What Medications You Should Avoid While Pregnant
It’s generally recommended to avoid medicines during pregnancy, but if you need to take something, it’s essential you know what your safest options are.
9 Early Signs of Pregnancy
If you haven’t taken a pregnancy test or had an ultrasound to confirm it yet, you might have experienced a few symptoms that have you wondering “Am I pregnant?” There are a few signs that could point to the possibility.
Coping with Infant and Pregnancy Loss
If you or your loved ones have suffered the loss of a child or pregnancy, you aren’t alone and there are resources to help you through your grief journey.
What to Expect When Having Twins
From what to expect during your visits with your obstetrician to what to eat, here are a few things you need to know.
Preeclampsia: Signs and Symptoms
Learning more about the signs and symptoms of preeclampsia can help you identify a problem early and ensure the best possible outcome.
Can You Eat Seafood During Pregnancy?
Craving seafood during pregnancy? Here are a few options that are safe to eat.
Digital Trends in Pregnancy Care
Today’s mothers-to-be have so many convenient digital tools at their fingertips.
Your First Trimester Checklist
Get your pregnancy off to a healthy start by following these five important to-dos.
Checklist: Your Birth Plan
Plan ahead for the delivery of your baby with this birth plan checklist to help ensure smooth sailing on the big day.
Fetal Echocardiogram FAQs
Answering important questions about fetal echocardiograms, or prenatal ultrasounds used to look for heart problems in utero.
What to Expect When You're Expecting at Ochsner
Check out all the must-know delivery info to learn what you can expect when you deliver at Ochsner.
Pregnancy Cravings: What Do They Mean?
We don’t know exactly what causes food cravings, but they may be related to hormones that are active in pregnancy.
7 Things to Do Before You Get Pregnant
Aside from the obvious prenatal supplements, here are a few things you should do while you are preparing to get pregnant.
Tips For Growing a Healthy Baby Bump
Essential pregnancy nutrition tips to help keep your weight gain in check, keep your baby safe and healthy, and prepare you for the demands of labor.
Cancer During Pregnancy is Treatable
Although cancer in pregnant women is not common, it is not extraordinarily rare either. The good news is that treatments are possible
Woman Living With Marfan Syndrome Gives Birth to Baby Boy
Living with Marfans syndrome, Elizabeth Smith wanted kids but also was aware that she and her husband would face some difficulties due to the genetic disorder.
Pregnancy Tests: 4 Common Questions Answered
When should you take a pregnancy test and how do you know your result is accurate?
How to Deal with Back Pain During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is full of surprises and back pain is one of them. Many women experience back pain during the course of their pregnancy. We all hear about it, but why does it happen?
Is It Easier or Harder to Get Pregnant the 2nd Time?
The answer starts with "it depends"...The younger you are, the easier it is to get pregnant and, in general, it may become harder to conceive as you age.
First Day Back After Maternity Leave
Going back to work after maternity leave is really difficult. Here's my take on returning after my second child.
Is It OK to Schedule a C-Section for Convenience?
Dr. Erin Dauterive, OB/GYN discusses whether it's okay to schedule a C-section for convenience, or if it could potentially harm you or your baby.
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