Pregnancy
Obstetricians at UMass Memorial Medical Center answer your questions about pregnancy.
Resources:
Are you experiencing a high-risk pregnancy or do you have certain medical conditions that could make a pregnancy risky? Be assured that you have immediate access to our skilled maternal-fetal medicine team. Learn more.
- To learn more about your women’s health team, call our Physician Referral Service line at 888-358-6277 or visit our online physician search tool.
- Learn more about our high-risk pregnancy team and our Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Find Answers: Ask Our Experts! Get answers to your health-related questions through our Ask the Expert question-and-answer sessions. Learn about upcoming Ask the Expert sessions and visit our expert Q&A archives today! www.umassmemorial.org/asktheexpert
Q:
If a woman has HPV and had genital warts removed in the past, and then gets pregnant years later, should she have a c-section?
A:
Depending on the type of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, the virus can cause cervical dysplasia or genital warts. There is a small chance of the fetus contracting the virus during passage through the birth canal and showing signs and symptoms of laryngeal, conjunctival or respiratory disease in young children. The risks from cesarean delivery (c-section) far exceed the risks from neonatal infection, so the current standard of care is to encourage patients to attempt vaginal delivery in this case. Elective cesarean delivery is performed only in situations where the warts are so large that they obstruct the birth canal, interfere with delivery or there is a significant risk of bleeding from them.
Q:
I’m having trouble finding a female ob/gyn who is accepting new patients. I live in Auburn, MA – can you help? I just found out we are expecting and my primary care no longer practices in the OB area.
A:
If you would like to receive ob/gyn care on our UMass Memorial – Memorial Campus in Worcester, several female ob/gyns are accepting new patients, including Drs. Anne Garrison, Mary Herlihy, Kitsa Kondylis, Alison Madden and Dawn Tasillo (appointments: 508-334-6255). Female ob/gyns throughout the UMass Memorial system and in the community are also accepting new patients. For a personalized approach in identifying a female ob/gyn, contact our Physician Referral Service at 800-431-5151 (Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm).
Q:
I was in the ER and needed an X-ray. They asked if I could be pregnant, I said yes because my period was due right around that time and had not gotten it. They did a pregnancy test and it came back negative. Two days later I had another X-ray done thinking I was not pregnant. About a week later I had re-corrective bone surgery and I went under general anesthesia, again not knowing I was pregnant. It has been about two weeks since my surgery and about a week since I took a home pregnancy test that came back positive. My questions are A) Should I have taken a blood pregnancy test? B) If I am in fact pregnant have I put my unborn child at risk with the X-rays and general anesthesia so early in the pregnancy?
A:
The time between the first day of the last menstrual period, ovulation, fertilization, implantation and production of sufficient HCG for detection by a home pregnancy test are variable, so it is difficult to assess the exact time that you may have become pregnant. If pregnancy is suspected, a urine or serum HCG test should be repeated to confirm the diagnosis. An ultrasound is also recommended to confirm viability. In your case it would be important to review your records to determine the type of X-rays taken and the medications used during the surgery.
Generally, anesthetic agents do not disturb the growth and development of a fetus, and a hand X-ray causes a non-significant amount of radiation exposure. A high-risk pregnancy specialist would be able to review the exact type of X-rays undertaken and medications used in your case and then give you more specific recommendations.
Q:
I will be having my baby at UMass Memorial. What items do you provide for the baby?
A:
Our Maternity Center team shared that we give patients everything they need for the baby here. We supply diapers, t-shirts, blankets and formula if bottle feeding. You will need a going home outfit for the baby. Congratulations on your growing family!
Q:
I am six weeks pregnant and am expecting my first child. I would like to deliver at UMass Memorial. How does one enroll for maternity care in the UMass Memorial network?
A:
You can enroll in maternity care with an obstetrician in the UMass Memorial system. Please call our Physician Referral Service at 800-431-5151 (Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm) and one of our schedulers can assist you.
Q:
I am in my second trimester of my pregnancy. I go to UMass Memorial for regular visits and plan to deliver there. Does UMass Memorial use epidural anesthesia in the labor process? How safe is it to use epidural in labor and will I have the choice of using epidural in my labor? For example, if my labor pain is normal and I would like to tolerate the pain without epidural, can I opt for that?
A:
UMass Memorial labor and delivery has 24-hour anesthesia coverage. Epidural anesthesia is a safe and popular method of pain control in labor. Epidural anesthesia is available to patients if desired. We offer it to most of our patients in labor as long as we think it is medically safe for the patient. However, it is the patients’ choice of having an epidural, other pain medication or laboring without pain medication.
Q:
I think I'm about three months pregnant and haven't received a check up because my health insurance didn't come yet and I don't have a primary care doctor or ob/gyn. Can I still get checked?
A:
We recommend that you get prenatal care as soon as possible. You may schedule an appointment at UMass Memorial by calling 508-334-6255. We can arrange for you to meet with our financial counselors who can assist you in applying for health insurance. Coverage can usually be retroactive in pregnancy.
Q:
My wife is seven weeks pregnant and is having lower back pain, some mild cramping and some spotting. She miscarried before at about this time. Should we be worried?
A:
All of the symptoms described by you can be signs of a miscarriage, but some of these symptoms can also occur with a normal pregnancy. We recommend a check up and close follow up.
Q:
I live in Connecticut and am due in October. I would love to deliver at UMass Memorial but I currently have insurance through the state. I don’t know who to talk to about my situation. Can I use my insurance out of the state it’s issued in? Please help me to figure this out well before October.
A:
I suggest calling your insurance company with these specific questions. Our financial coordination team can also be of assistance certain situations. The team can be reached at 508-334-9300.
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