Welcome to Dublin OB/GYN Associates, P.C.

During your pregnancy, we will run several blood tests on various things:

• At your new OB workup visit, we will run a urine drug screen, check for sexually transmitted diseases, a pap smear, type, screen and match, and offer a prenatal test.
• Around 15 weeks, we offer genetic screening.
• At 28 weeks, you will do a glucose tolerance test to check for gestational diabetes and CVC.  We will run an RPR (syphilis) and HIV test at 36 weeks. If you fail your GTT, you will be asked to come back for a 3-hour glucose test.
• At 36 weeks, you will be tested for an abnormal growth of the normal bacteria in your vagina called group b strep.

In women who are low risk, visits usually occur:

• Every 4 weeks until 28 weeks
• Every 2 weeks until 36 weeks
• Every week until delivery

Frequency of visits may increase if a pregnancy is determined to be high risk.

It is recommended that you wait at least 6 months between deliveries for your body to recuperate, lose weight, and breastfeed adequately. If your pregnancy was complicated by diabetes, high blood pressure, or premature labor or if you delivered by cesarean section, you should wait at least a year before trying to conceive again.

The birth control that you choose after delivery will depend on several factors:

• If you are currently breastfeeding
• If you are planning a pregnancy in the next 12 to 18 months
• If you are finished with childbearing
• Your general health status

Your birth control plan can be discussed prior to delivery or at your 6-week postpartum visit. See our birth control page to review different options!

Most women stay in the hospital for 2 days after a cesarean section. You will be discharged with prescription pain medicine (narcotic and anti-inflammatory). During your first week at home, you should not participate in any strenuous activity. You may not have an appetite, but you need to drink a lot of water to stay well hydrated.

You should have a bowel movement within the first week after a cesarean section. Unfortunately, the narcotic medicine that you are prescribed may slow down your bowel function causing constipation. To decrease constipation, you may decrease narcotic use and / or use a stool softener / laxative such as:

• Colace (Docusate): 1 tablet 2-3 times a day
• Pericolace (Docusate + Sennosides): 1 tablet 1-3 times a day
• Laxatives: Milk of Magnesia, Correctal, Fleets enema, Miralax

Your incision will be tender and swollen for 2-4 weeks. As the pain subsides, you can increase your physical activity. Refrain from heavy lifting — do not lift anything heavier than your baby in its car seat.

Do not drive for 3 weeks after your cesarean section. Do NOT drive even after the 3 weeks if you are still taking narcotic pain medicine.

You will come to the office a total of 3 times before you are released to normal activity. You will return at week 1 for staple removal, week 3 for a tummy check to ensure that the incision is healing properly and week 6 for a tummy check, pelvic exam, to discuss what you want to use for birth control, and to be released to go back to work. You are also allowed to return to normal activity after this office visit, but pace yourself and listen to your body.

You should call your doctor if you:

• Have a fever >100.4 on two occasions in the same day
• Have drainage from your incision
• Have an increase in vaginal bleeding or pain (even with using pain medication)

• Severe headache unrelieved by Tylenol
• Blurred vision
• Severe abdominal pain or cramping
• Sudden increase in swelling
• Vaginal bleeding (stay calm — all bleeding is NOT bad!)
• Gush of water fluid coming from the vagina – appears like you can’t stop peeing
• Decrease in fetal movement
• Persistent fever or fever that will not break with Tylenol – over 100.4 °F