Healthy Pregnancies

Healthy children begin with healthy pregnancies, and healthy pregnancies often begin before the woman even becomes pregnant.  “In the past, thinking about a pregnancy before actually getting a positive pregnancy test was uncommon,” explains Jeri Tegtmeier with Women’s Clinic of Lincoln, PC.  “However, in the past decade, clinical trials and medical research have shown pre-conception care can reduce the incidence of malformations in infants, can reduce the strain on the mother’s body and have a better outcome for the mother and the baby.  Twenty years ago, if a woman would have entered her health care provider’s office with a history of having a seizure disorder, blood clots, heart attack, cystic fibrosis, multiple sclerosis or other chronic medical condition and wanted to talk about a pregnancy, her provider would not have been able to give her options.  Now, with advanced medical technology, new medications, and better management of chronic conditions, obstetrical providers now have a better grasp on care during pregnancy.  In more recent years, doctors have seen successful pregnancies by patients with a history of a heart transplant, cystic fibrosis, or seizures.

A complete history and physical exam three months to a year before planning to conceive will help a woman take steps she may need to achieve good health.  A complete history will include a lot of questions about your gynecological history, including the length of your cycle and the number of days between cycles.  It may be recommended to keep a menstrual calendar to track these menstrual cycles.  Important history would also include abnormal pap smears or history of STD’s.  STD’s may be “silent” meaning they may not cause any symptoms, but they may cause fertility problems.  It is recommended to be tested for HIV as there are medications that can be taken during a pregnancy to decrease the risk to the baby of contacting the virus.

A lifestyle history is very important.  If a woman drinks, smokes or uses drugs there will be an effort at stopping or changing behavior prior to the pregnancy, as all of these may have bad outcomes for the pregnancy.  Children of women who drink alcohol may develop Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Babies of smokers are often smaller (due to the effect of nicotine on the placental function) and can be more irritable.  Some studies are linking attention deficit behaviors to smoking during pregnancy.  There is also some research that shows babies of overweight women with an elevated body mass index have an increased risk of developing diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy.  These studies are suggesting an increased risk of anomalies with babies.”

If you are in the high-risk category due to a health condition or other reason and become pregnant, it’s vitally important for you to get the proper care during your pregnancy.  Deb Chambers with Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and Director of their High-RIsk Pregnancy unit says, “As we know, a pregnant woman’s body undergoes numerous physiologic changes when pregnant.  On occasion, problems can arise as the mother is adapting.  If the mother has underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes or heart conditions), pregnancy can be an added stress to this condition.  Other problems can stem from the pregnancy itself and can result in complications such as preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, high blood pressure bleeding complications.  The high-risk aspect of the pregnancy can be at different levels.  Some women may have to quit work, but are able to continue with normal daily activities around home; others may be restricted to bed rest, but allowed up several times a day while yet others may be confined to continual bed rest. Some mothers are hospitalized for care requiring continual assessments of her status and that of her baby. This hospitalization can range from several hours to several months, so there are many individual needs to be addressed with the high risk obstetrical patient.”

If you are, or may be, experiencing a high-risk pregnancy, Deb suggests the following: “First of all, keep your appointments with your obstetrical provider.  Good communication with the provider and their team will enable the mother to understand all aspects of her pregnancy.  You should also ask questions as this will provide information on those aspects of your pregnancy you can still control.  Try to maintain as much normalcy as possible with respect to daily activities as allowed.  Do your exercises if you’ve been given them by your doctor and be around positive people who can encourage you through this difficult time.”

Choosing the right provider for your pregnancy and subsequent birth of your baby is extremely important, especially if you are in the high-risk category.  “We are nationally recognized for our high-risk care,” Deb Chambers points out.  “Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center was the first hospital in the nation to receive the new, Gold Seals of Approval™,  disease-specific certification from The Joint Commission in BOTH “High-Risk Obstetrics and Neonatal Intensive Care” two years ago. The Gold Seals mean we received accreditation and certification for compliance with exceptional standards.

This confirms our expertise that results from our love in caring for the high-risk mom and her baby. We use a multidisciplinary approach that involves the nursing and medical staff as well as Case Management (Social Services), Pastoral Care, Nutritional Services, Physical Therapy, and the staff from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). We focus our entire team on meeting the physical, spiritual, and social needs of our patient and her family.”

“The WOMB Program is unique to Saint Elizabeth, continues Deb Chambers. ”WOMB is an acronym for “Working on Maturing Babies” and has many helpful resources for the high-risk obstetrical mom who is restricted from her normal daily activities due to the complications of her pregnancy. Nurses with specialized training care for these high-risk patients. Due to the length of stay for some of these mothers, there is a special bond that develops between these patients and their nurses. It is not uncommon to hear of birthday parties or baby showers for the high-risk patient, or being invited to one-year birthday parties for the baby. These nurses are always looking for innovative things to involve their patients in.”

Healthy Births and Infant Care

Of course, the ideal is to have a full-term baby that is the picture of health at birth.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  When a baby is born with a medical challenge, it’s crucial to get them the right car.  Susan Walsh with Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center and Director of their NICU says, “Our Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is for babies born with serious medical challenges.  When people think of the NICU, they often picture premature infants and indeed we do take care of 200 to over 300 premature infants every year, some as early as 17 weeks (23 weeks gestation) and smaller than a pound at birth.  Their problems include immature lungs, difficulty feeding, infections and apnea, among others.  Unfortunately, babies born on time can suffer some of the same problems, as well as other lung disease, heart disease and unexpected complications of labor and delivery.

What is done for these infants and how quickly appropriate interventions are started can impact these infants for the rest of their lives. For example if an infant is without appropriate oxygen during the later stages of labor they may be faced with serious developmental challenges and delays. Prompt recognition and initiation of treatment may lessen these long-term issues. Infants born prematurely may also face similar challenges. Appropriate and early recognition and treatment of medical conditions may improve the lives of these critical infants.  Some developmental problems that are related to newborn illness are not apparent upon discharge from the NICU.  Fortunately, Saint Elizabeth has a Developmental Follow-Up Clinic that sees our high-risk “graduates” until age 3 to help the babies’ doctors identify developmental problems and intervene as early as possible to ensure the best outcome.”

Susan continues, “We have a dedicated staff of experienced neonatologists, NNPs (Neonatal Nurse Practitioners), NICU nurses, respiratory therapists, social workers, dieticians, radiologists, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists who all work together with the ultimate goal of providing the best possible outcome for your infant within a faith-based hospital setting.  Recognition of this team effort is apparent by the over 800 years of shared NICU experience among our personnel and how well the babies do who are cared for in our unit.  Further evidence of this high level of care is in our award by The Joint Commission of 2 Gold Seals of Approval™, for our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and High-Risk Obstetrics.   Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center is the     first hospital in the nation to receive this dual accreditation and certification, which signifies compliance with exceptional standards of care and a dedication to continually improving that care. Most importantly we are prepared for the “unexpected” – those infants who need immediate attention because suddenly something goes wrong.  When seconds count, we have an extremely qualified team that can respond anytime day or night.”

Health Through Chiropractic Care

Dr. Corey Dousharm with Mosier Timperley Chiropractic says, “By creating a healthy, fully functioning nervous system, the body is better able to handle the everyday traumas many kids encounter.  These traumas come in the form of the birth process for a newborn, an infant learning to set up/crawl, a toddler learning to walk, a child falling down on a playground and so much more.  Chiropractic helps keep the nervous system free of interference by utilizing a very specific adjustment to the vertebrae of the spine.  With kids, it is important to use a very light and gentle contact.”

“There is an old proverb that states, ‘As the twig bends, so grows the tree’,” explains Dr. Tiffany Leonida with Healthy Start Chiropractic.  “Chiropractors treat subluxations of the spine that result in spinal wear and tear as well as affecting the delicate nerve system.  Unresolved issues that originate during childhood can remain unnoticed until adulthood and continue to cause distress in their later years.  With chiropractic care, those issues can be addressed early, ensuring that they do not become chronic, life-long debilitations.  It is especially important to have a child checked for subluxations because not only are children extremely active, but most of the physical and neurological development of a life occurs during this precious time.”

“At our office, we see kids with allergies, asthma, chronic ear infection, scoliosis, and bedwetting to name a few conditions,” Dr. Corey Dousharm says.  “In addition, our office focuses on neurosensory integration therapy for children with sensory processing disorder, including ADHD and Autism spectrum disorder.  Children are better equipped to handle the stressors of the outside world with chiropractic care.”

When choosing a chiropractor, Dr. Tiffany Leonida suggests, “Find a chiropractor who is a member of the ICPA  (International Chiropractic Pediatric Association) at www.icpa4kids.org. Make sure the Chiropractor has had extra specialized training in adjusting children. Do a consultation with the Chiropractor you choose. This allows you to see how they interact with your child prior to starting their care. This way, you know you are getting the best possible care for your family! “

Healthy Activity

Childhood obesity is becoming a problem with today’s youth, and it’s important to incorporate exercise and activity into your child’s life to keep them healthy.  “New technology and Internet activities have kept children sedentary as they stay inside to play the newest game rather than getting up and moving their bodies,” explains Marian Pegler, owner of My Gym Lincoln.  “We have become a population that is constantly on the go and always busy with multiple activities.  Instead of preparing a meal at home, people believe that it is easier to run through a drive-through and pick up something quick rather than taking the time and sitting down to eat as a family.

At My Gym, we provide a fun, successful and entertaining atmosphere where we get children moving for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on their age.  We promote healthy living and habits early on in life, hoping to set good examples for children who then take it home and share with their families.  Regular exercise gets children into a routine and it forms healthy habits for them.  Exercise releases endorphins, a hormone in your body that makes you a happier person.  Also, when a child is succeeding at something, they become a more confident, happier person.”

Healthy Education

Choosing the right school for your children is an important part of their overall health.  When they are young, you may be looking for a choice of childcare for when you return to work.  One option, if your child is at least 18 months old, is Montessori schools. Andrea Kvasnicka with Children’s Circle Montessori explains, “The most obvious different between Montessori schools and traditional schools is the mixed age classrooms.  At Children’s Circle, we have two classrooms.  The younger classroom is designed for children 18 months to 3 years and our older classroom meets the needs of children ages 3 years through kindergarten.  The mixed age group is vital to the Montessori community as they allow the oldest children (who have been in the classroom the longest) the opportunity to be models and teachers to the younger children.  They have a great responsibility to the group and are looked up to by the younger children.  The younger children learn a great deal by watching the older children work.  The children are not denied the opportunity to work with advanced materials due to their age.  If they are ready for the material it is presented to them.  Each child learns at their own pace and not at a pace set up through a curriculum.”

If you are considering Montessori, Andrea’s advice is not to wait.  “Some parents wait until their child is almost four because they call because they think it’s an academic program.  In fact, they have already missed a very large part of our work–building confidence in themselves by doing things on their own, making good choices, communicating positively with others, self-discipline, building concentration, etc.  We begin working on all of these at 18 months!  These are not built through academic activities and they are all vital to success later in life (not just in the classroom).  Because of the mixed age grouping we rarely accept children older than 3 and 1/2 years.”

If your child is in middle or high school, you might want to consider alternatives to public school.  “A school should provide a safe and caring environment for students to develop physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually,” says Amy Jurgens with Lincoln Lutheran.  “In grades 6-12, students are going through some of the most significant changes of their life.  They are also forming a spiritual blueprint to navigate through the decisions they face.  Relationships with teachers and staff have a profound impact on the type of adult they will become because of the hours spent together.  We enjoy our opportunity to partner with parents to equip students during their middle and high school years.

We believe strongly in our efforts to push students in the area of academic excellence while framing all instruction and interaction in the context of a Christian Worldview. Our effort to nurture the faith of our students does not stand in the way of their academic learning or vice versa.  It can be tough for faith-based schools to strike a good balance but we believe in how we accomplish this blend at Lincoln Lutheran.  It’s how we approach our ministry of “Christ-centered Preparation for College and Life.”  A common public perception is that non-public education will cost too much.  In our case some families also believe they cannot attend if they are not Lutheran.  We do all we can to make our school accessible while not sacrificing excellence.  We welcome the opportunity to work with families who are interested in a smaller environment and a faith-based education.  We want to be seen as a resource to our community and a partner for building our future leaders for service.”

Our children are the most important people in our lives.  It’s important to prepare them for their lives in the best way we can, from pre-conception to their school years and beyond.  We are lucky to live in a city with amazing resources to help us with this seemingly overwhelming task, so make sure you take advantage of the resources available.  Pair that with plenty of love and your children will have an amazing head start on healthy adulthoods!

To maximize you children’s health be sure to visit with these great people.

Women’s Clinic of Lincoln – Meeting the ever changing health needs of women. Visit us today.

Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center – Exceptional outcomes for our tiniest patients… ; )

Lincoln Family Chiropractic – See Dr. Corey And Empower Your Body’s Self Healing Power!


My Gym – Children’s Fitness Center. Gymnastics and Birthday Parties. Now Open in Lincoln!


Childrens Circle Montessori – Help your child reach their full potential. Now enrolling 18mo-2yrs


Lincoln Lutheran – Providing students a strong education & Christian worldview for life.


Tiger Rock Academy – Fitness, Fun, Self Defense. Develop Lifeskills & Character. Start for $29


Lincoln Racquet Club – Now Open Saturdays! Free Unlimited Boot Camps For a FREE Pass Click!


Pioneer Gymnastics – Beginner to Advanced Classes are forming Now. Click for details.