Maternity
Obstetric Medicine
Pregnancy and pregnancy planning are exciting times, and one of the most important journeys in life.
For women with previous or existing medical conditions, there are often many questions to be answered and additional care that can contribute to a healthy pregnancy. To support your obstetrician/gynecologist in managing medical conditions during pregnancy, Jersey Shore offers a unique Obstetric Medicine program that provides planning, education, reassurance, and treatment to women with past or current medical problems who are pregnant or contemplating pregnancy.
Michael P. Carson, M.D. is the only internal medicine specialist in New Jersey who has also completed a fellowship in Obstetric Medicine. The Obstetric Medicine program was founded in 2007 to help women maintain their existing medical conditions before, during and after their pregnancy. He wanted to create a place for women where they can learn more about their disease and how it can affect both mother and baby, and prepare for their pregnancy.
Planning for Your Pregnancy
We’ll work with your OB/GYN to address these issues, adjust treatments to decrease health risks, improve control of the disease before and during pregnancy, and develop a plan to monitor you and the baby. Finally, when appropriate, we will test to determine your risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, or diabetes, and then identify ways to decrease that risk.
There are conditions that may require special attention include.
If not managed and treated properly, the diseases listed below can be associated with pregnancy loss or preterm delivery.
- Asthma
- Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
- Clotting Disorders/History of a Blood Clot
- Diabetes/History of gestational diabetes
- Heart Disease (cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, palpitations)
- Kidney or liver Disease
- Nausea/Vomiting of Pregnancy
- Thyroid Disease (Hypo- and Hyper-)
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Preeclampsia or HELLP Syndrome
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Medical Issues That Can Affect Your Pregnancy
Medical issues that require additional planning or monitoring:
- Heart Disease (cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, palpitations)
- History of Gestational Diabetes
- Kidney Disease
- Liver Disease
- Nausea/Vomiting of Pregnancy
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
- Supplements (folic acid, calcium, other vitamins)
Questions to Ask
How could my disease affect my pregnancy?
• Risk of early delivery if not treated properly
• Risks to the baby if a mother stops medications that control her disease
• Potential medication effects on the baby
How could my pregnancy affect my disease?
• Your asthma, diabetes, hypertension or thyroid disease may get worse during pregnancy
• You may need to adjust your medication dose during pregnancy
• Possible need for increased fetal monitoring
Long term impact on your health:
• Over 50% of women with gestational diabetes will develop type 2 diabetes and up to 30% will have sugar elevations six weeks postpartum
• Women with Preeclampsia or HELLP Syndrome have an increased risk of a heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease, and that risk begins within a few months after the pregnancy
• There are ways to improve blood sugar values that don’t require medications
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