Latest posts
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Pregnancy Nutrition: Essential Nutrients, Supplements and What Evidence Supports
The nutrients that matter most in pregnancy are folate (folic acid), iron, calcium, DHA (an omega-3 fat), and choline. Most people can meet these needs through a varied diet plus a prenatal vitamin, but the right combination depends on your health history, so a healthcare provider should confirm what you personally need. This page walks…
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Twin and Multiple Pregnancy: Types, Monitoring and Delivery Planning
A twin or multiple pregnancy happens either when a single fertilized egg splits into two or more embryos (identical, or “monozygotic”) or when two or more separate eggs are each fertilized by separate sperm (fraternal, or “dizygotic”). The type matters because it affects how many placentas and amniotic sacs the babies share, which in turn…
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Reproductive Health and Autoimmune Conditions: Lupus, RA and Pregnancy Planning
Most people with lupus or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can have a healthy pregnancy, especially when the disease is well controlled before conception. The biggest factor in outcomes isn’t the diagnosis itself — it’s whether the disease is active or quiet when pregnancy begins, and whether current medications are safe to continue. That’s why planning ahead…
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Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Diagnosis, Monitoring and What to Expect
Reviewed by the RHC Health Desk. Last verified: August 27, 2026. Medical Disclaimer: This page is for general education only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a provider-patient relationship. Talk with a licensed healthcare provider about your specific situation. If you are having a medical emergency, call…
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Placenta Previa: What It Means, Monitoring and Delivery Planning
Placenta previa is when the placenta grows low in the uterus and covers all or part of the opening to the cervix. This can block the path your baby needs to take during a vaginal birth, which is why it changes how your delivery is planned. It happens in about 1 out of 200 pregnancies.…
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Cervical Insufficiency: Diagnosis, Cerclage and Pregnancy Monitoring
Cervical insufficiency, also called an incompetent or insufficient cervix, happens when the cervix starts to soften, shorten, and open too early in pregnancy, before the baby is ready to be born. This can lead to a second-trimester miscarriage or a premature birth. It’s usually painless and often has no warning signs until a problem it…
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Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in Pregnancy: Screening, Treatment and What to Expect
Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common bacterium that many pregnant people carry without knowing it. A simple swab test late in pregnancy tells your care team whether you carry it, and if you do, antibiotics given through an IV during labor lower the chance your baby develops a GBS infection. GBS is not an…
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Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC): Eligibility, Risks and Decision-Making
VBAC stands for vaginal birth after cesarean. It means giving birth through the vagina after a past delivery by C-section. Many people who have had one cesarean are medically able to attempt a vaginal birth in a later pregnancy. The attempt itself is sometimes called a trial of labor after cesarean, or TOLAC. Whether VBAC…
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Gestational Diabetes: Screening, Management and Postpartum Follow-Up
Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar that first shows up during pregnancy. Most pregnant people are screened for it with a blood test between 24 and 28 weeks, and sometimes earlier if certain risk factors are present. This guide explains how screening works, what ongoing management may involve, and why a follow-up test after delivery…