Being pregnant and having a baby over the last year has definitely looked different thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Women’s Health Week, which starts every year on Mother’s Day, we wanted to talk about different topics in women’s health, including prenatal care and being pregnant during the pandemic.
We spoke with CU Medicine OB-GYN, Dr. Lisa Wynn from CU Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology - South Metro in Highlands Ranch.Even during the pandemic, it’s very important for women that are expecting to keep up with their appointments, “Prenatal care is really the key to making sure that you have a healthy pregnancy, healthy labor and delivery process and ultimately a healthy baby. There are things we look at every prenatal visit to make sure things are moving along appropriately,” said Wynn.
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic many OB visits were through telehealth. As things have progressed however, and people have been vaccinated, the clinic is doing in-person prenatal appointments and allowing a support person to come as well.
With the COVID-19 pandemic, moms-to-be also have different decisions to make including whether they want to get the COVID0-19 vaccine, “The vaccine is just a little piece of messenger RNA, it doesn’t change your DNA doesn’t change baby’s DNA,” Wynn explained, “It’s a little message to mom’s system saying ‘make antibodies. Once your body has made those antibodies it will share antibodies with the baby,” she added.
Ultimately it is mom’s decision on whether or not they want the COVID-19 vaccine but Dr. Wynn says it is safe to do so, “We do this for pertussis, we do this for flu, this is well studied, safe, good medicine.”
When to call the doctor when pregnant
You should call your doctor at any point in your pregnancy if you are concerned. Dr. Wynn outlined some reasons you should call including whenever you are bleeding, concerns about leaking fluid, around 24-28 weeks if baby isn’t moving or moving normally, and of course when you are in labor, “Contracting around every five minutes for an hour for first time moms or every seven minutes for an hour if you’ve had a baby before,” Wynn added.
Unique services at CU Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology – South Metro
In addition to prenatal care, CU Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology – South Metro also provides routine gynecologic checkups and many other services that promote wellness and optimal care for all women.
The clinic provides a unique procedure with Mona Lisa Touch, which is a gentle laser performed in office with no downtime. It’s designed to help women as they age, “It’s a vaginal laser which is used to help to increase blood flow and appearance.”