Article taken from “Winter 2018 Wellness Together with Signature“ You’re pregnant. Once you processed that stunning fact, one question probably jumped straight to the top of your mind: Now what? Over the coming months, you’ll have many plans to make and things to do. But what do you need to handle ASAP? Put these steps … More 9 Things to Do When You First Find Out You’re Pregnant
By: Keith Merlin, MD, Chief, Department of OBGYN Ovarian cancer will affect about 1 in 80 women in their lifetime. Early diagnosis of the disease can be challenging as there is no screening test like a Pap smear for cervical cancer. Family history can sometimes provide a clue. If you have multiple relatives–mother, sisters, aunt, grandmothers–with … More Ovarian Cancer Awareness
Article taken from “Winter 2018 Wellness Together with Signature“ Menstrual cycles vary from woman to woman. What’s a normal cycle? And what’s something you should get checked out? Here’s how to tell the difference. What’s Normal, What’s Not You count the length of your menstrual cycle from the first day of one period to the … More Are My Menstrual Cycles Normal?
By: Keith Merlin, MD, Chief, Department of OBGYN Patient safety has become a national buzzword and it is critical to improving outcomes for moms and babies. It is concerning that the United States has a significantly higher maternal mortality rate than most industrialized countries. The reasons for this are complex but in many cases relate to a … More Make Patient Safety a Personal Priority
By: Sally Howland, RN, Nurse Manager You might be thinking, of course it is; Signature Healthcare is a great place for moms and babies! Now, you’re not the only one who thinks so. Recently, Signature Healthcare received international recognition as a Baby-Friendly Designated birth facility from Baby-Friendly USA. Baby-Friendly USA, Inc is the U.S. authority … More Signature Healthcare is Officially Baby-Friendly
By: Cheryl Maguire When you read the word PANDAS, you probably envisioned a cute, cuddly animal native to China. Unfortunately, there is nothing cute or cuddly about the acronym PANDAS which stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. The disorder was first identified in an article by Dr. Susan E. Swedo … More PANDAS Disorder Isn’t Cute or Cuddly
By: Deirdre Littlefield I want you to know that I see you. I can see deep into your soul, and I know that you are not your addiction. You are the small child your mother remembers, the soccer player your teammates recall, and the protector your siblings miss desperately. The decisions you make are … More A Love Letter To Those Addicted
By: Keith Merlin, MD, Chief, Department of OBGYN Last month was ovarian cancer awareness month. This disease remains a serious illness for women everywhere. Sadly, we do not have a screening test to identify the disease early like we do with the Pap smear for cervical cancer. Unfortunately, routine use of blood tests such as the … More Do You Know Your Ovarian Cancer Risk?
By: Priyanka Venkataraman, MD Pregnant or trying soon? Planning to travel? Please read before you travel. Dear Readers, A lot of people are unaware of the ZIKA virus that can cause lifelong, devastating problems for your child. This is a concern for pregnant women and those women getting pregnant soon as Zika virus infection can cause … More Zika and Birth Defects
By: Keith Merlin, MD, Chief, Department of OBGYN Regular exercise is important for overall health and wellbeing. It also helps keep your weight down and lowers risks for high blood pressure and diabetes. I encourage all women to engage in regular exercise for at least thirty minutes, three to four times weekly. There are certain modifications … More Exercising During Pregnancy
Community Voices for Health 