Graduate Education
UNC-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Internship/Residency
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Certifications
Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Call today to book your appointment!
131 Medical Park Road, Suite 102
Mooresville, NC 28117
704.663.1282 Phone
704.663.1413 Fax
Office Hours:
M-Th: 7:30am-5:00pm
F: 7:30am-2:00pm
Lab Hours:
M-F: 8:00am-11:00am
& 1:00pm-4:00pm
Specialty: Gynecology, Obstetrics
Our team specializes in providing comprehensive medical care to women in a comfortable, caring setting. PHC Lake Norman OB-GYN provides complete obstetric and gynecological services, utilizing the most technologically advanced equipment and procedures available. All practice physicians are fully trained, Board-Certified/Board-Eligible, and Fellows of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. With the addition of Midwife Services, the experienced physicians and staff of PHC Lake Norman OB-GYN provide a full spectrum of services focused on the unique healthcare needs of women.
Favorite OB/GYN Practice and Favorite Med Spa of Iredell
Please download the following forms, print, fill out and bring with you to your appointment to speed up your check-in process:
We’ve put together a useful list of resources for additional information about important topics.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
by Arlene Eisenberg
Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mothers Soul
by Jack Canfield
The Four Seasons of Marriage
by Gary Chapman
Graduate Education
UNC-Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC
Internship/Residency
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC
Certifications
Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Undergraduate Education
Queens College
Queens, NY
Graduate Education
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Bronx, NY
Internship/Residency
Winthrop University Hospital
Mineola, NY
Undergraduate Education
The Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Graduate Education
Bowman Gray School of Medicine at Wake Forest University
Winston-Salem, NC
Certifications
Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Internship
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC
Undergraduate Education
Davidson College
Davidson, NC
Graduate Education
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Columbia, SC
Certifications
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Residency
Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University
Augusta, GA
Graduate Education
Ohio State University College of Medicine
Columbus, OH
Residency
Memorial Mission Hospital
Asheville, NC
Carolina’s Medical Center
Charlotte, NC
Certifications
Fellow, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Undergraduate Education
Sandhills Community College
Pinehurst, NC
Winston-Salem State University
Winston-Salem, NC
Graduate Education
Wake Forest University School of Medicine
Winston-Salem, NC
Meharry Medical College
Nashville, TN
Certifications
Fellow, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Residency
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, TX
Undergraduate Education
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Graduate Education
Master of Science in Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
Chamberlain College of Nursing
Undergraduate Education
Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC
Graduate Education
Lenoir- Rhyne University
Hickory, NC
A woman’s health needs change throughout her stages of life. We specialize in helping women focus on healthy choices and lifestyles from young women to older adults. Some of the visits as relating to women’s health include physical examinations, thyroid and hormonal tests, mammograms (at age 40+), breast exams, Pap testing, HPV testing (at ages 30-65 on average), pelvic exams, STD testing and more. Discuss setting up your preventative care plan with your PHC Lake Norman OB-GYN professional.
There are many different kinds of birth control (contraception) made available to women today. Options can include hormone shots, pills, patches, IUDs (intrauterine devices) and permanent sterilization. If you no longer want children, tubal ligation is also a simple surgical procedure that is an effective form of preventing future pregnancies by sealing off the fallopian tubes. The providers at Piedmont HealthCare’s Lake Norman OBGYN can discuss all available options for birth control and go over the best method that would work with your body’s chemistry.
Kyleena and Mirena are available for same-day insertion during your scheduled appointment.
There are two main types of urinary incontinence. These are stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and urge urinary incontinence.
First, talk to your provider. With your help, he or she can determine the type and cause of your incontinence, which is the first step toward finding the best treatment for you.
Your provider will probably examine you and will possibly suggest urodynamic measurement tests, which can easily be performed in our office. To learn more information about urodynamic measurement tests, please check out this web site.
If you are having symptoms of urinary incontinence, please feel free to discuss these with any of the providers at Piedmont HealthCare’s Lake Norman OB-GYN.
Infertility is a woman’s inability to get pregnant after an extended period of time of attempting to get pregnant, or the inability to keep a fertilized egg in the uterus once pregnant. The causes of infertility can vary widely, so discussing your situation with a PHC Lake Norman OBGYN provider can help you on your journey to becoming pregnant. Although risk factors for infertility for women and men can include smoking, alcohol, poor diet, obesity, age, disease and other health problems, only a thorough exam can help diagnose issues affecting fertility.
The shift into menopause is a difficult time for a woman, but our medical team is educated and experienced in helping make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. Mood swings, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, memory instability and even bone density loss all tie to menopause. While some of these symptoms can be helped with lifestyle changes (which can also be discussed with our physicians), the overall effects of the hormone shift may be eased with Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) that involves progesterone and estrogen hormones to steady out the process. It’s important to talk to your doctor to find out if this option is best for you given your current health situation.
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Pregnancy is an exciting time when you will experience a lot of physical and emotional changes. You will have lots of questions. Listed below are answers for some common concerns. This reference is only offered as a general guideline. Different answers may apply to women with special problems in pregnancy (e.g. twins or diabetes), and this list is not comprehensive It does contain a great deal of helpful information to be used throughout your pregnancy.
Here at Lake Norman OB-GYN we are happy to offer obstetrical care by board certified / eligible physicians as well as certified nurse midwives. The physicians and midwives work as a team to ensure that you have a quality obstetrical experience. You are encouraged to inquire about both types of obstetrical care that we offer.
The six board certified/eligible physicians have designated call days and nights. You are encouraged to schedule appointments with each doctor during your pregnancy to familiarize yourself with every member of our close-knit team.
Non-emergency questions during office hours:
704-663-1282
You will usually be able to speak directly with a nurse or medical assistant and can always leave a message. Either way, one of the doctors will respond within 24 hours and usually much sooner.
Emergency calls or onset of labor during office hours:
704-663-1282
Follow instructions guiding you directly to our office staff.
Emergency calls after business hours or on weekends:
Leave a detailed message with the answering service. If you do not get a call back within 15 minutes, call again. If you are still unable to reach your doctor and it is a true emergency, call Lake Norman Regional Labor & Delivery Department at 704-660-4866.
In pregnancy, you are not eating for two. A healthy woman of normal body weight can meet her nutritional demands in pregnancy by eating a balanced diet while adding a single glass of milk to each meal. Your elemental calcium needs are 1200 mg per day. If you do not tolerate milk, drink orange juice with calcium or take Tums with each meal.
Tums have added calcium and will also help with heartburn. Multivitamins such as Centrum or One-A-Day are adequate to meet your nutritional requirements. A prenatal vitamin with iron supplementation can also be prescribed. Eat a high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables and at least two protein/meat servings per day (fish, poultry or lean beef). Do not eat raw or undercooked meat of any kind. Pregnant and nursing women should specifically avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, albacore tuna and tilefish because of high mercury concentrations in these species. Limit consumptions of freshwater fish caught by friends and family to a single 3-6 oz serving each week. Notify your doctor if you are a vegetarian or vegan, if you have any history of an eating disorder, or if you are extremely underweight or obese.
Caffeine: 2 cups or less per day of coffee. (A standard-sized cup containing 100mg of caffeine – not a giant “super-charged” glass of Starbuck’s). Try for similar goals with soda or tea.
Nutrasweet: There are no reported adverse effects. Nonetheless, we recommend trying to limit your consumption. Women with phenylketonuria, who required a special childhood diet, should not consume Nutrasweet during pregnancy.
Ask your doctor but general guidelines for women are:
If underweight, your goal is 28-40 lbs
If normal weight, your goal is 25-35 lbs
If overweight, your goal is 15-25 lbs
The average woman gains about 8 pounds in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and about 1 pound per week in the last 20 weeks. (Remember that pregnancies last 40 weeks from your last menstrual period). Avoid gaining more than 1 pound per week in the second and third trimesters to avoid an excessively large infant and to avoid postpartum weight problems.
Joints become lax in pregnancy. You are at an increased risk for back or joint injury. Your change in size, shape and posture may make you less agile.
Moderate exercise is recommended. Warm up first. Limit exercise to 30-45 minutes, four to five days per week. Swimming, walking, stationary bikes and low-impact aerobics are ideal. Avoid more dangerous activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, and scuba diving. Work to maintain fitness – do not get overheated or push yourself to your limits. Monitor your heart rate closely during exercise. Heart rate guidelines in pregnancy depend on your pre-pregnancy level of fitness. If you were not physically active prior to pregnancy, you should generally avoid heart rates over 140 beats per minute. Otherwise, the general guideline of being able to talk comfortably during exercise is acceptable for physically fit women.
Baths or showers are fine. Avoid saunas, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, and steam rooms.
If your pregnancy is without complications (ask your doctor), you may travel up to the last month of pregnancy (36 weeks). Get up and walk around every 2 hours to stretch your legs and help prevent blood clots.
With the exception of certain pregnancy complications (e.g. preterm labor, placenta previa, twins, ruptured membranes), you may engage in sexual activity, including intercourse, throughout the pregnancy. Ask your doctor, if you have any concerns.
Consult your doctor for a fever greater than 100.0 degrees F and symptoms suggesting more than just the common cold. Nosebleeds are common in pregnancy and quite often occur with nose blowing.
Headaches are common in the first and second trimesters. You may take regular or extra strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) throughout pregnancy. Always call your doctor when headaches do not respond to Tylenol, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Eat a high fiber diet and lots of fruits and vegetables. If needed, you may use Metamucil, Fibercon, Colace or Senekot.
You may take an over the counter medication called Emetrol, vitamin B6 25 mg 3 times a day, or 1 gram/day of gingerroot supplement from a natural food store. Unasom at bedtime can also help. For persistent Nausea/Vomiting your doctor may recommend medication.
Ultrasounds are used for dating pregnancies, assessing growth of the fetus, checking for twins, and checking for certain types of birth defects. Your doctor will discuss the need for an ultrasound during your pregnancy. In general patients will get at least one ultrasound between 16-21 weeks of pregnancy to visualize development of major fetal structures and to confirm the gestational age. There may be additional need for ultrasounds at earlier and later gestations. Not all insurance companies pay for routine ultrasounds.
At 24 – 28 weeks of pregnancy, you will be screened for gestational diabetes (diabetes that is first diagnosed during the course of a woman’s pregnancy).
The following are general guidelines to assist you when you think you are in labor.
All of the above are general guidelines that could help you as you approach your due date. Please feel free to talk to your doctor or midwife about labor and delivery issues as you approach 36-37 weeks. We always welcome questions from you, as well as the family members who accompany you to appointments. We always try to meet your individual needs as long as it ensures safety for both mother and fetus.
There are many different kinds of birth control (contraception) made available to women today. Options can include hormone shots, pills, patches, IUDs (intrauterine devices) and permanent sterilization. If you no longer want children, tubal ligation is also a simple surgical procedure that is an effective form of preventing future pregnancies by sealing off the fallopian tubes. The providers at Piedmont HealthCare’s Lake Norman OBGYN can discuss all available options for birth control and go over the best method that would work with your body’s chemistry.
Counseling is helpful when planning to become pregnant. During preconception counseling, our providers may ask questions about obstetric history (previous births, miscarriages or abortions), gynecological history, medical history, genetic concerns and even any mental health issues that need to be considered before attempting to conceive. Our doctors may order blood tests as well, to help confirm a woman is at her physical, emotional and mental best to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. Your partner’s health and genetics are also taken into account when making the decision to try and conceive.
Infertility is a woman’s inability to get pregnant after an extended period of time of attempting to get pregnant, or the inability to keep a fertilized egg in the uterus once pregnant. The causes of infertility can vary widely, so discussing your situation with a PHC Lake Norman OBGYN provider can help you on your journey to becoming pregnant. Although risk factors for infertility for women and men can include smoking, alcohol, poor diet, obesity, age, disease and other health problems, only a thorough exam can help diagnose issues affecting fertility.
Regardless of your route of delivery, you will likely continue to experience some discomfort after discharge from the hospital. Initially, the pain may increase at home when you become more active than you were in the hospital. After the first few days, the pain should get progressively better. Please note that pain from cesarean and forcep deliveries may last longer. Until your pain is resolved, you may use the following for pain relief:
All of the above medications are safe to use when breast feeding!
Just as you did during pregnancy, you should continue to strive for a well-balanced diet. Good nutrition enhances wound healing and is also important while breast feeding. Though you may desire to quickly lose the weight you gained during pregnancy, dieting should not be an immediate priority.
All post-partum patients should continue taking vitamins as these are an excellent source of iron and can help prevent anemia. If you had a cesarean section or excessive blood loss with your delivery, your doctor will check for anemia. If you are anemic, your doctor may recommend that you take additional iron supplementation.
Breast feeding typically requires 500-600 calories per day in addition to your normal requirements. You will also need 1000-1200mg of calcium daily. This is equivalent to 4-5 healthy servings of dairy daily. It is also important to stay well-hydrated to ensure adequate milk production.
Lower extremity swelling (edema):
You may notice an increase in swelling even after you are discharged from the hospital. Swelling of the hands, ankles and feet typically peaks 7-14 days after delivery. It will gradually improve thereafter. It can be normal for tingling sensations to accompany swollen hands and feet.
You should call your doctor if you notice swelling that is predominantly in one leg and associated with pain.
Vaginal Bleeding (lochia):
You may have heavy vaginal bleeding for up to two weeks following your delivery. Sometimes light bleeding can last until 9 weeks post-partum. After a vaginal delivery, bleeding may wax and wane, but in general will steadily decrease as you move further away from delivery. Bleeding after a C-Section is generally lighter and of shorter duration. You should call if you begin passing large clots (larger than a golf ball) or are soaking more than one pad per hour.
Do not use tampons and do not douche until after your 6-week checkup!
Resuming Intercourse:
Avoid intercourse until your post-partum visit unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
When you do resume intercourse, you may have some initial irritation. Some women experience this for several weeks; sometimes it can last for a few months. This is often the result of vaginal dryness which is commonly associated with breast feeding as well as healing changes. To decrease your discomfort, you may use a water-based lubricant such as Astroglide or KY Jelly.
It is a good idea to begin considering birth control options. Barrier methods include condoms and diaphragms. Hormonal methods include birth control pills, the patch, vaginal ring, and Depo Provera. The best hormonal method to use while breast feeding, to optimize your milk supply, is the pill containing only progesterone. If your milk supply is good, however, traditional birth control pills are a reasonable option. Infra-uterine devices, or IUDs, are other reversible, but effective options that can be placed after your post-partum visit. Permanent forms of sterilization include tubal ligation or tubal occlusion. These require a surgical intervention. Don’t forget about vasectomy as a form of permanent sterilization.
Breast feeding:
Breast milk is an ideal source of nutrition for your newborn, and breast feeding can be a special experience for you and your baby. Though breast feeding is a natural process, not all babies catch on right away. It is important to be patient and persevere. The nurses on the post-partum floors will help you. Additionally, there are lactation consultants available in the hospital to help you with nursing strategies.
Your milk supply will generally come in between days 3 through 5 following delivery. You will likely experience significant cramping with breast feeding; the hormones that help secrete milk also help the uterus to contract to minimize bleeding. Keep in mind that cramping with breast feeding often worsens with successive children.
If your nipples become sore and cracked, you may rub expressed milk into the surrounding tissue. Additionally, you may apply Lansinoh ointment or glycerin pads to protect chafed nipples. Avoid using soap as it can worsen dryness.
If you have breast feeding questions, please call Lake Norman Lactation Services Department:704-660-4373
Blocked milk ducts:
If you develop a firm, tender area on the breast with no overlying redness, this may simply be the result of a blocked milk duct. Warm compresses applied to the area, as well as massage and frequent breast feeds/pumping can help to relieve the discomfort and occlusion. If there is any overlying pink or red discoloration, it may be a breast infection (mastitis) and you should call your doctor.
Mastitis:
Between 5 and 10% of nursing mothers develop breast infections or mastitis while breast feeding. Initial symptoms typically mimic “the flu” and include aches and chills. The breast may become warm, tender and engorged. The overlying skin may become pink or red. These symptoms are usually accompanied by high fevers (100.4 or greater). You should continue breast feeding if you develop an infection.
You should call your doctor if you notice any of the ABOVE symptoms.
Breast concerns for non-breast feeding mothers:
If you choose not to breast feed your baby, there are many excellent formulas to choose from. Talk to your baby’s pediatrician about specific recommendations.
In order to minimize the discomfort from breast engorgement, wear tight-fitting bras or athletic bras immediately after delivery and continue for at least one week after your milk comes in. Wear them 24 hours per day for about one week. You may also bind your breasts with an ACE bandage or sheet to minimize symptoms. Avoid direct stimulation of the breasts during this time, such as expressing milk or pumping.
NSAIDs or Tylenol will help with the pain. Additional comfort measures include cold compresses or ice packs. Bags of frozen peas can be used as a substitute for ice packs; they conform nicely to the shape of the breast and are not as harshly cold as larger blocks of ice.
Bladder and Bowel Function:
Empty your bladder as soon as you have the urge to void or at least every 3 hours. When your bladder is overly distended, it can cause abdominal discomfort.
Some women will experience leakage of urine immediately following delivery. This usually improves over the six weeks following delivery. Start Kegel exercises as soon as you can after delivery to help strengthen the pelvic floor. Start by contracting the muscles you normally contract to stop your stream of urine. In order to do Kegels properly, you should contract these muscles ten times each set, and do three sets per day. Your goal should be to hold the contraction for 2-3 seconds each.
Bowel function should return within 5 days of delivery. Keeping well-hydrated and active will help facilitate normal bowel function. You may also use stool softeners and fiber supplements as needed. If you have not had a bowel movement by the fifth day following your delivery, call the office for instructions. Do not use a rectal suppository without your doctor’s approval; this may interrupt the healing process.
Hemorrhoids:
Hemorrhoids should improve in the weeks following delivery, however, they may cause some discomfort throughout your recovery period. For relief of pain caused by hemorrhoids, you may use topical remedies such as Tucks pads, Preparation H or Anusol HC. Soaking in a Sitz bath (bath filled with plain warm water) can also be soothing.
You can help prevent worsening of your symptoms by minimizing the need to strain with bowel movements. Staying well-hydrated is very important. In addition, you can also employ the following:
Colace (docusate sodium) is a stool softener that works by drawing more water into the stool. You may take up to 100mg every 12 hours as needed. Colace, as well as its generic version, are available over the counter and are compatible with breast feeding.
Fiber helps to bulk up the stool, which make bowel movements easier to pass. Fruits and vegetables are high in fiber. You can also use fiber supplements: FiberCon, Metamucil, Citrucel and FiberChoice are all available over the counter and are compatible with breast feeding.
Mood:
It is normal to experience the “Baby Blues” in the first several days following delivery. You may have a depressed mood, a sense of feeling “let down” or experience more tearfulness. Most women will experience these symptoms to some degree, and they pass fairly quickly.
Symptoms of post-partum depression can occur anytime within the first year following a delivery and may occur in up to a third of all women. Women who have a personal or family history of depression are at greatest risk.
Rest and sleep are particularly important for your body during the post-partum period. Lack of sleep can certainly worsen symptoms. Try to rest when you can, and if possible, recruit others to assist you with household chores and errands.
If you find that your “baby blues” are not resolving and if you experience the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks, please call your doctor immediately: – feeling tearful, sad, depressed – lack of feeling pleasure from normally pleasant activities
Episiotomy/Lacerations:
You should expect cuts or lacerations to be sore for several days after delivery. Larger lacerations may be sore for up to 34 weeks. Your stitches will dissolve on their own; they are usually completely dissolved by 6 weeks post-partum.
It is very important to keep the area clean by rinsing everytime you use the bathroom for about 2 weeks. You may use the hospital-provided squirt bottle for this purpose. The water helps to dilute the urine and prevent burning and stinging and is sufficient to keep the area clean. Use pain medications as noted above for discomfort. Additional comfort measures include soaking in a plain warm bathtub. Do not use bath salts or bubble baths, which can be irritating. Pat gently or blow the area dry with low heat when you get out of the tub. You may use stool softeners and fiber supplements to prevent constipation and straining. Colace (docusate sodium) is a stool softener that is available over the counter. You may take 100 mg up to every 12 hours. Supplementation with fiber may also be beneficial to prevent constipation. Senekot, Metamucil, Citrucel, Fiber-choice, FiberCon are all safe alternatives that are compatible with breast feeding.
You should call your doctor if you experience pain not relieved by pain medications and tub soaks, fever greater than 100.4 or any foul-smelling discharge from the incision.
Exercise and Lifting:
Walking is always good exercise for any woman, but more rigorous exercise may cause a laceration to pull apart. Talk with your doctor prior to resuming your normal exercise regimen.
In general there are no lifting restrictions after a vaginal delivery. If you have a large tear, however, your doctor may recommend that you avoid excessive lifting. Check with your doctor prior to discharge.
Stairs:
There are no restrictions regarding stairs following a vaginal delivery. If you are having a significant amount of pain, however, you should move up and down the stairs slowly.
Incision:
Your staples will be removed in the hospital prior to your discharge. You will have steri-strips placed over your incision. You can get them wet in the shower. Let soapy water trickle over the incision and pat it dry. You do not have to scrub the incision. Pull the steri-strips off in 7 days; if they fall off in less than 7 days, there is no need to worry.
You may take baths. Just be sure to pat your incision dry afterwards.
It is very important to keep your incision dry when you are not bathing. If you notice that it is becoming warm and moist, you can place a gauze pad over the incision to absorb some of the moisture.
A healthy incision may have some areas of firmness or hardness as the underlying tissue heals.
You should call your doctor If you notice any redness around the incision, drainage from the incision or any fever greater than 100.4
Expect to have a slight pulling sensation within the wound for several weeks to months. You may also experience some numbness or tingling around the incision site for several weeks.
Exercise and Lifting:
Walking is always good exercise after surgery. It helps to minimize infra-abdominal adhesions, or scar tissue, and helps to restore normal bowel function. It is also helpful in preventing blood clots from developing after surgery. More strenuous exercise may disrupt your healing wound; it is best to resume your normal exercise regimen after your 6-week post-partum visit.
You should not lift anything heavier than the baby (or ten pounds) for 6 weeks. Premature straining may cause a hernia.
Stairs:
Climbing stairs is fine after surgery, but take them slowly. Try to minimize the number of times you must go up and down stairs each day while you are still having pain.
Ultrasound scanning (sonography) is technology used to scan the tissues and organs inside the body which. Sound waves create images of organs and tissues. The process is completely painless. It’s most commonly used to track fetal development inside the womb and to examine pelvic organs and ovaries for the presence of any other abnormalities. The specialists at the PHC Lake Norman OBGYN are trained in this technology and use it for the betterment of your health.
Menorrhagia occurs in 1 out of every 5 women and is defined as unusually heavy and/or long-lasting menstrual periods. Many women do not seek treatment because they are embarrassed to discuss their periods; they think their bleeding is normal because it has always been that way; or they are afraid of the treatment options. If your period lasts a long time or is so heavy you need to change pads or tampons every 1 or 2 hours, then you may have monorrhagia.
There are several different ways to treat your heavy periods, including hormones, hormone-releasing lUD and D&C; and for women who are finished having children, hysterectomy and endometrial ablation are also options.
Endometrial ablation is a procedure that permanently removes the lining of the uterus through the quick delivery of radio frequency energy. Your ObGyn physician can perform endometrial ablation in the office with* or without general anesthesia that can put an end to your heavy periods and the resulting symptoms. Approximately 95% of patients experience little to no significant pain during the procedure and it does not require incisions. Patients go home the same day and are typically back to work in 1 or 2 days. Most women see a great decrease in their level of menstrual bleeding with about 91% of women reporting normal bleeding or less and 40-50% reporting no bleeding at all. Many women also had a significant reduction in painful periods and PMS symptoms.
You and your doctor can decide which treatment option is best for your menorrhagia.
Sterilization is a permanent type of birth control method. One option is severing the fallopian tubes completely and closing them off, known as tubal ligation. Another method for closing the fallopian tubes involves inserts placed inside the tubes to block them. Tissue will then grow around the inserts to keep them in place. PHC Lake Norman OBGYN is available to help discuss which sterilization option is best for you.
Infertility is a woman’s inability to get pregnant after an extended period of time of attempting to get pregnant, or the inability to keep a fertilized egg in the uterus once pregnant. The causes of infertility can vary widely, so discussing your situation with a PHC Lake Norman OBGYN provider can help you on your journey to becoming pregnant. Although risk factors for infertility for women and men can include smoking, alcohol, poor diet, obesity, age, disease and other health problems, only a thorough exam can help diagnose issues affecting fertility.
Ultrasound scanning (sonography) is technology used to scan the tissues and organs inside the body which. Sound waves create images of organs and tissues. The process is completely painless. It’s most commonly used to track fetal development inside the womb and to examine pelvic organs and ovaries for the presence of any other abnormalities. The specialists at the Women’s Center are trained in this technology and use it for the betterment of your health.
A colposcopy is an office procedure that is recommended when you have an abnormal Pap smear. This procedure should be done when you are not experiencing your menstrual period so that your cervix can be fully visualized. After placing a speculum in your vagina, a magnifying scope is used to look at your cervix for signs of abnormal cells. Biopsies are performed to sample the abnormally appearing areas. You may experience mild cramping and discomfort. Bleeding also occurs from the biopsy sites, which is controlled with a medicine called Monsel’s solution. You can expect a “coffee-ground” like vaginal discharge for 5-7 days after the colposcopy. It is okay to use liners or pads as needed. The results of the biopsies are available 7-10 days after the procedure. You will receive specific follow up instructions once your health care provider has reviewed the biopsy results. Please call the office if you have not received results of follow up instructions in two weeks.
A woman’s health needs change throughout her stages of life. We specialize in helping women focus on healthy choices and lifestyles from young women to older adults. Some of the visits as relating to women’s health include physical examinations, thyroid and hormonal tests, mammograms (at age 40+), breast exams, Pap testing, HPV testing (at ages 30-65 on average), pelvic exams, STD testing and more. Discuss setting up your preventative care plan with your PHC Lake Norman OB-GYN professional.
Instructions for Pregnant Patients
Congratulations on your pregnancy! Pregnancy is an exciting time when you will experience a lot of physical and emotional changes. You will have lots of questions. Listed below are answers for some common concerns. This reference is only offered as a general guideline. Different answers may apply to women with special problems in pregnancy (e.g. twins or diabetes), and this list is not comprehensive It does contain a great deal of helpful information to be used throughout your pregnancy.
Here at Lake Norman OB-GYN we are happy to offer obstetrical care by board certified / eligible physicians as well as certified nurse midwives. The physicians and midwives work as a team to ensure that you have a quality obstetrical experience. You are encouraged to inquire about both types of obstetrical care that we offer.
The six board certified/eligible physicians have designated call days and nights. You are encouraged to schedule appointments with each doctor during your pregnancy to familiarize yourself with every member of our close-knit team.
Non-emergency questions during office hours:
704-663-1282
You will usually be able to speak directly with a nurse or medical assistant and can always leave a message. Either way, one of the doctors will respond within 24 hours and usually much sooner.
Emergency calls or onset of labor during office hours:
704-663-1282
Follow instructions guiding you directly to our office staff.
Emergency calls after business hours or on weekends:
Leave a detailed message with the answering service. If you do not get a call back within 15 minutes, call again. If you are still unable to reach your doctor and it is a true emergency, call Lake Norman Regional Labor & Delivery Department at 704-660-4866.
In pregnancy, you are not eating for two. A healthy woman of normal body weight can meet her nutritional demands in pregnancy by eating a balanced diet while adding a single glass of milk to each meal. Your elemental calcium needs are 1200 mg per day. If you do not tolerate milk, drink orange juice with calcium or take Tums with each meal.
Tums have added calcium and will also help with heartburn. Multivitamins such as Centrum or One-A-Day are adequate to meet your nutritional requirements. A prenatal vitamin with iron supplementation can also be prescribed. Eat a high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables and at least two protein/meat servings per day (fish, poultry or lean beef). Do not eat raw or undercooked meat of any kind. Pregnant and nursing women should specifically avoid shark, swordfish, king mackerel, albacore tuna and tilefish because of high mercury concentrations in these species. Limit consumptions of freshwater fish caught by friends and family to a single 3-6 oz serving each week. Notify your doctor if you are a vegetarian or vegan, if you have any history of an eating disorder, or if you are extremely underweight or obese.
Caffeine: 2 cups or less per day of coffee. (A standard-sized cup containing 100mg of caffeine – not a giant “super-charged” glass of Starbuck’s). Try for similar goals with soda or tea.
Nutrasweet: There are no reported adverse effects. Nonetheless, we recommend trying to limit your consumption. Women with phenylketonuria, who required a special childhood diet, should not consume Nutrasweet during pregnancy.
Ask your doctor but general guidelines for women are:
If underweight, your goal is 28-40 lbs
If normal weight, your goal is 25-35 lbs
If overweight, your goal is 15-25 lbs
The average woman gains about 8 pounds in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and about 1 pound per week in the last 20 weeks. (Remember that pregnancies last 40 weeks from your last menstrual period). Avoid gaining more than 1 pound per week in the second and third trimesters to avoid an excessively large infant and to avoid postpartum weight problems.
Joints become lax in pregnancy. You are at an increased risk for back or joint injury. Your change in size, shape and posture may make you less agile.
Moderate exercise is recommended. Warm up first. Limit exercise to 30-45 minutes, four to five days per week. Swimming, walking, stationary bikes and low-impact aerobics are ideal. Avoid more dangerous activities such as water skiing, snow skiing, and scuba diving. Work to maintain fitness – do not get overheated or push yourself to your limits. Monitor your heart rate closely during exercise. Heart rate guidelines in pregnancy depend on your pre-pregnancy level of fitness. If you were not physically active prior to pregnancy, you should generally avoid heart rates over 140 beats per minute. Otherwise, the general guideline of being able to talk comfortably during exercise is acceptable for physically fit women.
Baths or showers are fine. Avoid saunas, hot tubs, Jacuzzis, and steam rooms.
If your pregnancy is without complications (ask your doctor), you may travel up to the last month of pregnancy (36 weeks). Get up and walk around every 2 hours to stretch your legs and help prevent blood clots.
With the exception of certain pregnancy complications (e.g. preterm labor, placenta previa, twins, ruptured membranes), you may engage in sexual activity, including intercourse, throughout the pregnancy. Ask your doctor, if you have any concerns.
Consult your doctor for a fever greater than 100.0 degrees F and symptoms suggesting more than just the common cold. Nosebleeds are common in pregnancy and quite often occur with nose blowing.
Headaches are common in the first and second trimesters. You may take regular or extra strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) throughout pregnancy. Always call your doctor when headaches do not respond to Tylenol, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Eat a high fiber diet and lots of fruits and vegetables. If needed, you may use Metamucil, Fibercon, Colace or Senekot.
You may take an over the counter medication called Emetrol, vitamin B6 25 mg 3 times a day, or 1 gram/day of gingerroot supplement from a natural food store. Unasom at bedtime can also help. For persistent Nausea/Vomiting your doctor may recommend medication.
Ultrasounds are used for dating pregnancies, assessing growth of the fetus, checking for twins, and checking for certain types of birth defects. Your doctor will discuss the need for an ultrasound during your pregnancy. In general patients will get at least one ultrasound between 16-21 weeks of pregnancy to visualize development of major fetal structures and to confirm the gestational age. There may be additional need for ultrasounds at earlier and later gestations. Not all insurance companies pay for routine ultrasounds.
At 24 – 28 weeks of pregnancy, you will be screened for gestational diabetes (diabetes that is first diagnosed during the course of a woman’s pregnancy).
The following are general guidelines to assist you when you think you are in labor:
A hysteroscopy is a thin, flexible scope used to look into the uterus for imaging purposes. This procedure can be done in the office and involves no anesthetics and causes very little discomfort. A hysteroscopy allows our providers to obtain full detailed images of the uterus and fallopian tubes to reveal abnormalities.
There are many types of incontinence and various treatment options. Sometimes our medical providers will recommend surgery depending on the type and severity of the patient’s incontinence. Tension free vaginal obturator tape (or TVTO) can be an effective method in restoring proper bladder function in women. The tape is made of a permanent Prolene mesh and is positioned to support the middle of the urethra. This method has shown to be more effective than drug treatments and less invasive than other bladder correcting procedures that can leave one hospitalized.
A laparoscopic hysterectomy is a procedure to remove the uterus. Our OB-GYN physicians perform this procedure by making a few incisions on the abdomen and in the belly button. A camera allows the performing doctor to remove the uterus through the tiny incisions. Laparoscopic hysterectomies are typically performed on an outpatient basis.
Counseling is helpful when planning to become pregnant. During preconception counseling, our providers may ask questions about obstetric history (previous births, miscarriages or abortions), gynecological history, medical history, genetic concerns and even any mental health issues that need to be considered before attempting to conceive. Our doctors may order blood tests as well, to help confirm a woman is at her physical, emotional and mental best to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy. Your partner’s health and genetics are also taken into account when making the decision to try and conceive.
The shift into menopause is a difficult time for a woman, but our medical team is educated and experienced in helping make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. Mood swings, hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, memory instability and even bone density loss all tie to menopause. While some of these symptoms can be helped with lifestyle changes (which can also be discussed with our physicians), the overall effects of the hormone shift may be eased with Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) that involves progesterone and estrogen hormones to steady out the process. It’s important to talk to your doctor to find out if this option is best for you given your current health situation.
Minimally invasive surgery options can be performed in office or in an outpatient setting. Advanced technologies means minimal scarring and fewer incisions. Laparoscopic practices are used to perform many different types of procedures such as hysterectomy and myomectomy (for treatment of endometriosis and ovarian cysts).
Vaginal surgery (through the vagina) is also a very minimally invasive procedure and has been proven to heal faster than abdominal surgeries.
This procedure involves removing a small sample of the lining of your uterus for testing purposes. The cells can give our doctors a clearer picture of hormone levels, as well as look for or observe abnormal tissue. Endometrial biopsies may be needed for those experiencing difficulties getting pregnant, abnormal uterine bleeding or to check for uterine cancer.
In a portion of women diagnosed with some manner of reproductive cancer such as breast or ovarian cancers, a certain percentage have inherited that increased risk for it. PHC Lake Norman OB-GYN offers screenings and testing to help determine one’s potential risk for developing cancer. Family history is a consideration for additional testing outside of normal screenings such as Pap smears and mammograms. Our providers can discuss genetic and other diagnostic testing available to those who may be at higher risk and can discuss options for addressing those potential risks.
A hard ridge should form along the incision. As it heals, the ridge will recede gradually.
Use an electric heating pad, or a warm compress to relieve incisional pain.
Shower as usual. You may wash the incision gently with mild soap. Resume tub baths after 2-3 weeks.
Don’t douche unless advised to by the doctor.
Prescription pain medication should generally be required only for 2 to 7 days following the procedure.
You may use nonprescription drugs, such as acetalminophen, for minor pain.
Resume daily activities and work as soon as you are able. Full recovery normally takes about 6 weeks.
Resume driving once you can operate the vehicle without pain, usually 1 to 3 weeks.
Avoid sexual intercourse for 4 to 6 weeks or as directed by your doctor.
No special diet.
Any of the following occurs:
Pain, swelling, redness, drainage, or bleeding increases in the surgical area.
Bleeding soaks more than 1 pad or tampon each hour.
You develop signs of infection: headache, muscle aches, dizziness or a general ill feeling and fever.
Eating a high fiber diet will help prevent constipation which is common after childbirth. Increase your fluid intake as you increase your fiber intake.
Any of the following occurs:
Pain, swelling, redness, drainage or bleeding increases in the surgical area.
You develop signs of infection: general ill feeling and fever, headache, muscle aches, dizziness.
Any of the following occurs:
Any of the following occurs:
Any of the following occurs:
Any of the following occurs:
Our office is located off of I-77, exit 33. We are attached to the back side of Lake Norman Regional Medical Center in the Medical Pavillion, 131 Medical Park Rd. Suite 102, Mooresville, NC 28117.
We participate with Lake Norman Regional Medical Center. All our admissions and/or surgical cases go through that facility.
We have online options that you can download demographic information and your medical update forms, print them and bring them with you. We have found patients feel this speeds up their registration process. This option is located on our home page under Customer Care.
You would schedule your first OB visit 4 – 6 weeks after you miss a period.
We participate with the following insurance plans: Aetna, Aetna MDCR, Cigna/Great West, Choice Care through Humana, Coventry, First Health, Health Care Savings, Humana, Humana Gold MDCR, Mamsi, Medcost, NC Inclusive through Medcost, Multiplan/PHCS, One Health, Medicare, Primary Physicians Care, Tricare Standard & Prime, United Health Care, Wellpath, United Health Care Medicare (Not Secure Horizons)
We accept Medicaid for OB care and referrals/consultations from your primary care physician. Patients may be liable for a co-pay that is determined by Medicaid. Routine annual exams should be scheduled with your primary care physician. Medicaid Family Planning waviers are not accepted. Please present your insurance card on your office visit to verify eligibility.
– Espy A.
– Brooke K.
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