Fully Dilated
Happy Summer!
We hope this newsletter finds you well and that you are enjoying the warm weather! With summer plans in full swing, we want to be sure that our patients who are pregnant stay healthy, hydrated, and happy and take the time to listen to their bodies to detect signs of labor.
Another topic covered this month is urinary incontinence. Sometimes traveling or being outside during the summer can be uncomfortable for those who have to frequently use the bathroom or who can’t make it in time.
Take care of yourselves!
Sincerely,
Greater Binghamton OB/GYN
607-729-5805
“Fully Dilated”
Cervical dilation is just one step of the labor process that needs to happen in order for a successful vaginal delivery. To the right is a graphic that illustrates how dilated the cervix must become before you can “push”.
There are three stages of labor:
The first stage begins when you start having contractions that cause progressive changes in your cervix and ends when your cervix is fully dilated. This stage is divided into two phases:
Early labor: Your cervix gradually effaces (thins out) and dilates (opens).
Active labor: Your cervix begins to dilate more rapidly, and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. People often refer to the last part of active labor as transition.
The second stage of labor begins when you’re fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby. This is sometimes referred to as the “pushing” stage.
The third stage begins right after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta.
We at Greater Binghamton OB/GYNbelieve that our patients know their bodies and we ask that you always keep us informed of any signs of labor which can include:
- Change in vaginal discharge
- Vaginal bleeding
- Back pain or Tightness
- Cramping/Contractions
When in doubt, it is best to call. And for more information about signs of labor, check out babycenter.com
Gotta Go
A very common complaint among patients, but not one that is always easy to talk about is leaking urine. This complaint is heard most from women who have had children, women who are overweight, or women who are postmenopausal but it can affect anyone.
There are many different causes and only some require medical or surgical intervention. Something as typical as a urinary tract infection might be to blame. Other considerations are medications, diet, or exercise practices.
If you feel as though this is a problem you don’t want to have, be sure to call us or mention it at your next visit. And if you want to read more about urinary incontinence, click here.
Zucchini Lasagna
This month’s healthy recipe uses zucchini which is fresh in season right now and therefore, inexpensive!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 cup Green Bell Peppers, chopped
- 1 cup Onion, chopped
- 1 Tbsp fresh Basil
- 1 Tbsp Parsley
- 1 Tbsp fresh Oregano, or dried
- 1 Zucchini, sliced thinly
- 1 1/4 cup white, raw Mushrooms, sliced
- 15 oz Tomato Sauce, no salt added
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 6 oz Tomato Paste, no salt added
- 1 tsp Salt and Pepper, to taste
Process
- Brown the ground beef in a large pot over medium heat, stirring frequently.
- Add in garlic, onion and green pepper, and continue to sauté for 5 minutes.
- Stir in tomato paste and tomato sauce.
- Add in parsley, basil, oregano, salt and pepper, continue to stir.
- Bring sauce to a light boil, then remove from heat.
- Grease a 9″ x 13″ baking dish with coconut oil.
- Place a thin layer (1/2 inch) of the sauce in the baking dish.
- Layer zucchini and mushrooms over sauce, and repeat, alternating layering of sauce, then zucchini and mushrooms.
- Bake lasagne at 325°F for 15 minutes, covered with foil.
- After 15 minutes, remove foil, increase temperature to 350°F, and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Notes
The zucchini and mushrooms will release water upon cooking, with that in mind, the sauce for this recipe is thicker than would be expected. The additio
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