Family Planning

The 33rd Annual Midwest Infertility and Adoption Family Building Summit, a daylong event with speakers, information and resources to help those struggling to get pregnant, took place Nov. 17. Clinic Sofia’s Dr. David Clay had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion, “Infertility 101,” as well as a couple of TV interviews leading up to the event.

The signs of endometriosis, where the uterine lining begins to grow outside the uterus, can include painful menstruation, low back pain, discomfort during intercourse, fatigue and gastrointestinal issues – all of which can be mistaken for other issues such as fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease or irritable bowel syndrome.

While there is no specific scientific evidence on the benefits of placenta encapsulation, some moms report that it aids in recovery, reduces the baby blues, increases energy and even enhances milk supply. The placenta contains both hormones and iron, which leave the body with childbirth, and proponents of placenta encapsulation believe that the pills can support more balanced hormone levels, leading to faster healing and decreased stress.

The Zika virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes, which generally breed in warm climates. For most adults, the symptoms are relatively mild and short-lived; they can include headaches, fever, red eyes (conjunctivitis) and joint pain. However, the virus can lead to microcephaly in babies, a condition where the head is smaller than expected, and babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains due to lack of development during pregnancy. Microcephaly has also been linked to seizures, developmental delays, hearing loss, feeding issues and vision problems.

Allie recently joined Clinic Sofia as a Physician Assistant and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team. Allie previously practiced as a Physician Assistant for Allina Health at the Family Health/Urgent Care clinic in Minnetonka as well as a Nursing Assistant and Bionutrition Intern for the University of Iowa Hospital. While participating in the Maternity Observation for Medical Students (MOMS) program, Allie honed her interest in family medicine with a focus on prenatal wellness. She brings her gifts of insight, focus, compassion and wellness to each patient she sees at both the Edina and Maple Grove locations.

A miscarriage of a pregnancy can happen for a variety of reasons, and early pregnancy loss, in particular, is more common than most people realize: it happens in 10 to 30 percent of pregnancies, and is more common as women get older. About 80 percent of miscarriages occur in the first trimester, chiefly due to abnormal chromosomal development in the baby, something that is pre-determined at the time of conception. This means that nothing you could have done would have changed the outcome of the pregnancy.