Deliveries During COVID-19

Written by Patient Kimberly Fambrough

It was worth it….

December of 2019 and we see those two pink lines. She was our secret from the world until we heard “there is a heartbeat and everything looks great”. We were around 8 weeks. We waited until we reached 12 weeks to tell our families.

It was worth it… Then March 2020 hit. An unprecedented pandemic where no one knew what to believe. I remember having so many mixed emotions, but hope being the biggest. Desperate hope that the pandemic would disappear come August. I’d go to doctors visits alone and thinking “this won’t last the whole pregnancy, we will be okay.” As the months continued and new protocols were put into place, I began to get nervous. It was worth it.

I’d think of all the questions I needed to ask. I’d try hard to remember all details and report back to my family. It was overwhelming on my own. Having a second person there to support or help me remember information was supposed to be a given, yet suddenly I missed it and wanted it desperately.

It was worth it.

Ultrasound after ultrasound and scan after scan, I was alone. I looked forward to getting my temperature checked and masking up to see this sweet girl. By July, we are still battling this virus and reality sinks in that it will indeed “still be a thing” when I deliver.

It was worth it.

I find out only my husband can be with me. I was anxious.

It was worth it.

The big morning comes. It’s 5 am induction time and I was nervous about the process, the Covid test, not having my family waiting to rush in to meet her. I was sad knowing that they would meet her through a hospital window. I was worried that her sister would feel less important not being able to see us or meet this new baby for days during our hospital stay.

It was worth it.

She makes her arrival, my husband announces that she is here and we are all doing well. As soon as my family rushes to lay eyes on her, I realize in that moment, it was all worth it. Seeing their tears and smiling faces was the most heartwarming moment. I realized it was never just me. My daughter was with me the whole time and we helped each other get through delivery until our final introduction.

My pandemic baby was perfect and healthy. Had it not been for my amazing doctors, midwives and nurses, this experience would have been truly traumatic. Their support and love made it…truly worth it.

Lesley Clark…More than an Employee

By Cathy T. Larrimore, MD

I’m inspired by a quote I read about a certain couple which is, “many people know what they did, but only the two of them know how it felt.”  I feel this way about Lesley because for people to know she works here does not come close to describing her relationship with me and knowing what she has meant to me.

At times Lesley has been a mother to me, a sister, a friend, a daughter, and my cheerleader.

Sister

It’s common to think of your close friends as sisters, but when you have to go to bat for the other woman, is when you know if those feelings are true.  I was definitely in big sister mode when I supported Lesley as she cared for her ailing father in his final weeks, I admired her strength and knew if I could have had just 15 more minutes with my mom or my dad, I would have taken the opportunity.  Lesley went to her dad’s home each morning to care for him, administer his medications, and lift his spirits.  I had to defend her tardiness to work to her coworkers on an almost daily basis.  I was glad she could spend these minutes with her dad, and she was able to do all of her work when she got into the office without any problems.  I stand in awe of Lesley’s dedication to her family.  

Cheerleader

Outside of the office, Lesley is tirelessly advocating for our practice, finding new patients, and representing our practice with grace and pride.  While at church or the grocery store, Lesley always has us in mind when women need the services we provide.  We’ve spent many summers and falls at the Fuzz Run and other community events together meeting the public and seeing our patients.  I am always amazed when I see that Lesley truly knows everyone in our community, and the people she doesn’t know, she’s related to!  

Friend

We laughed about BobbyQ and shared our concerns for characters on the Walking Dead!  But when we lost Tyreese, Glenn, and Herschel, I think we lost a little of ourselves!  And Noah! In the revolving door, we still get horrified looks on our faces when that scene is mentioned; we didn’t ‘hate Chris,’ really!  Comparing our feelings about characters on serial shows, plot predictions,  and the like was always fun and taught us how we liked to pick the other’s brain.  More recently we’ve shared our “thoughts” on Rio from Good Girls!!  Enough said there!   And although Lesley tried, she was never able to teach me how to dance.  I know that watching me try to even do the YMCA at Christmas parties was very painful to her because Lesley can make the Chicken Dance look good!  

Mother

Lesley is the only person in my office who has seen me really cry.  Misty eyes don’t count!  My baby daughter went to rural India by herself for a month when she was a college student.  The trip was arduous and dangerous by American standards.  My daughter was studying the pollution in the Ganges River in Rishikesh.  Being the modern woman that I am (and possibly a control freak), I had tracking on her phone at all times, we stayed in contact via texts, and I knew how to use the airline plane tracking app.  On her last day in India, my baby contacted me as she was getting into a car for hire on her way to the Delhi airport.  The tracking on her phone stopped, and it looked like her location was in Delhi.  The plane’s takeoff was delayed.  But I wasn’t sure if she was on the plane when the plane finally took off from Delhi since the phone’s location still read Delhi.  I sent her more than 20 messages and they all went unanswered; I was frantic and fearful that she had been kidnapped or in an accident on the other side of the world.  I had no one to call, I couldn’t go there, and I didn’t know what to do.  Lesley found me crying in my office, and she knew what to do.  Lesley wrapped her arms around me and held me like I was a little child, her child, and I really needed that.  I found comfort and peace in her embrace.  I appreciated it so much.  It was not until the next day that I found out my daughter was on the plane and made it safely to Italy, and that she would be home later that day.

Daughter

Lesley was 21 years old when we met.  She was just a kid!  And now she is quite a woman!  She is wise and loving!  A woman we all look up to!  Lesley has been through a lot, and she’s always handled it with strength and grace.  My pride in Lesley’s wisdom as a mother, knowing how well her children are growing up fills me with great happiness for her accomplishments.  She always puts her children and family first.  And now, knowing she is leaving us to pursue a higher education warms my heart with the love of a mother for her daughter.  I can’t wait until she is finished with school! 

Over the last 16 years, Lesley has done it all for us!  The only job she has not done in this office is my job!  Yes, she has worked the front desk, the checkout desk, medical records, helped with audits, she’s helped out with whatever we have needed her to help us with, she has arranged MFM appointments, surgery appointments, and precepts!  Scanning in all of those ultrasound pictures, cutting and taping and scanning and scanning must have inspired her to want to be on the other end of those ultrasound pictures.  I am so pleased that she is pursuing a career in ultrasonography.  And one day, I hope she will be back home, scanning for us!

Lesley, we will miss you, I will miss you!  We wish you the best!  Never forget, we are just a call or text away!  I love you!!

Covington Women’s Health Specialists Student Spotlight: Grace Kim

Covington Women’s Health Specialists is proud to offer a student program intended to give the next best and brightest training physicians a glimpse into what it’s like working in women’s health. We created the student spotlight blog series to highlight certain members in this program to give everyone an insight into this opportunity and the amazing people who participate. 

Next up is Grace Kim, Medical Student Year 3 (“MS3”). She’s recently completed a six-week rotation with Covington Women’s Health Specialists. Learn more about Grace by reading below! 

Why did you choose to work in the field of obstetric/gynecologic medicine? 

I love the field of OB/GYN, because it’s a nice balance of both primary care and surgery. I not only get to create long-lasting relationships with patients, but I also get to do procedures in the OR. This further assists my patient, therefore allowing me to create stronger bonds with them! 

What does your daily routine look like?

It’s different each day depending on whether I’m scheduled to be at the office, in surgery, or on L&D call. This diversity is one of the parts I loved about working here.

For office days, we’d usually see a wide variety of patients, including both OB and GYN, in the outpatient setting from 8 AM to 4 PM. These visits could range anywhere from routine visits to emergent, more acute problems.

On surgery days, I’d get to the hospital around 7 am to review the day’s surgeries so I know what to expect, as well as review the patient charts. Depending on the complexity of the surgeries scheduled, each day was very different. After the last surgery of the day, I would go observe ultrasounds in the office.

On L&D call days, I stay at the hospital from 7 am – 7 pm. During that time I see triage patients, visit current patients, and assist in deliveries and C-sections.

What are your favorite past-times? 

I really enjoy spending working out at the gym and cooking up new foods to try. Many of my friends and family know me as a huge foodie! I also love to go on long hikes and watch movies.

If you have any more questions about Covington Women’s Health and our student program, reach out to our women’s health experts by clicking here or giving us a call at 770-385-8954. 

My Chart Lab Results Update

***ATTENTION***

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR LAB RESULTS

Our electronic medical records is very efficient.  You may receive your lab results before the provider has reviewed them.  We will contact you within 7 business days with your plan of care.  Please do not call the office, the nurse will not have the plan until your provider has reviewed your results.

What Is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

With more than 200,000 cases in the United States per year, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common medical condition that impacts women and their ovaries.

The experts at Covington Women’s Health Specialists are explaining what is polycystic ovary syndrome, describing symptoms, and listing treatment options below!

What Is PCOS?

Known as a hormonal disorder, this medical condition commonly impacts women when they are in their reproductive years. Women who experience this disease usually have infrequent or long menstrual cycles, issues reproducing, and excessive male hormone levels.

While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, there are some elements that scientists believe might be at the root of this condition. Those are:

  • Excess androgen.
  • Excess insulin.
  • Heritage and family history of the disease.
  • Low-grade inflammation.

What Are the Symptoms?

The following symptoms usually begin during a woman’s first menstrual period:

  • Excess androgen, which causes:
    • Increase in body and facial hair.
    • Male-pattern baldness.
    • Severe acne.
  • Irregular periods.
  • Polycystic ovaries, which are enlarged ovaries that surround the eggs.

How Is PCOS Treated?

If your doctor is able to positively identify that you have polycystic ovary syndrome, the treatment for this condition isn’t necessarily to get rid of the condition. It’s more focused on  fixing certain symptoms.

Here are treatment plans that go along with having polycystic ovary syndrome:

  • Laser treatments, such as electrolysis.
  • Lifestyle changes, such as increasing daily exercise or restricting certain foods from your diet.
  • Medications, such as birth control pills.
  • Progestin therapy.

If you have any more questions, reach out to the women’s health experts at Covington Women’s Health Specialists by clicking here or giving us a call at 770-385-8954.

 

 

Understanding Gynecologic Cancers

One of the biggest threats towards a woman’s health is gynecologic cancers. In fact, about 94,000 women a year will be diagnosed with one of these types of cancers.

To help spread awareness and understanding, we’re explaining the five most common types of gynecologic cancers, how to prevent these major health issues, and the biggest signs something might be developing in you. Through this effort, we hope that everyone who reads this will have a full understanding of gynecologic cancers.

What Are the Most Common Types of Gynecologic Cancers?

Though the most common definition of gynecologic cancer is a type of cancer that grows in a woman’s reproductive system, there are five major places it can begin to develop. Where the cancer begins determines the type of gynecologic cancer it is.

Here are the five types to look out for:

  • Cervical Cancer: Occurs when the cancer starts in the cervix, also known as the lower and narrow end of the uterus.
  • Ovarian Cancer: Happens in the ovaries, located on either side of the uterus.
  • Uterine Cancer: This cancer appears in the uterus, where a child develops during pregnancy.
  • Vaginal Cancer: Occurs in the vagina.
  • Vulvar Cancer: Starts in the vulva, which is the outer portion of a female’s genitals.

What Are the Symptoms of Gynecologic Cancers?

Though the symptoms for each type of gynecologic cancer vary, it’s important to know the biggest signs so you can be aware of anything developing with your own health. Here are the major symptoms:

  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding/ discharge.
  • Abdominal and back pain.
  • Difficulty eating.
  • Feeling full quickly.
  • Frequent need to urinate.
  • Itching, burning, pain, or tenderness around the vulva.
  • Pelvic pain and pressure.
  • Rashes around the vulva.
  • Sores around the vulva.
  • Warts around the vulva.

How Do I Lower My Risks?

  • Be proactive in your health. Receive regular health screenings, such as the pap test or the HPV test, and visit your OBGYN yearly to receive annual exams. Doing so can help catch cancer before it’s developed far, increasing your chances of recovering.
  • Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccine can prevent the development of HPV, which causes these major types of gynecologic cancers. If you haven’t received this vaccine yet, speak to your doctor today to see if it’s recommended for you. If you have children below 26 years of age or are that old yourself, it’s highly encouraged that this age group receives this vaccine.
  • Understand the signs. Know the symptoms above so that you can recognize when something is happening in your body. The quicker you can spot troubling signs, the more likely you’ll be able to do something about cancer before it’s spread too far to be treated successfully.

If you have any more questions about understanding gynecologic cancers, reach out to the women’s health experts at Covington Women’s Health Specialists by clicking here or giving us a call at 770-385-8954.