10 Questions with Dr. James Patenge – Part 2

Here is the long awaited second part of my interview with Dr. James Patenge!

Is it ok to exercise while pregnant?

James Patenge, DO, OB/GYN

In most cases it’s ok to continue with your regular exercise routine.  Keeping your heart rate below 140 bmp and avoiding abdominal workouts is a good idea.  I would also recommend lots of walking.

Do I have a choice to deliver vaginally or have c-section?

There is a great deal of controversy around this question.  It is generally recommended to trail a vaginal birth first since it is considered “less risk” overall.  However, there are some that argue a patient should have a choice.  As long as the patient fully understands the risks and benefits of vaginal birth verses a c-section, then the patient should have that option.  Many insurance companies will not pay for an elective c-section because it is more costly.  We have noticed elective c-sections increasing nationally, but it’s still a very small percentage.  The trend now is moving back to vaginal birth after a c-section. 

What reasons would I need to have labor induced?

Labor is induced for going beyond your due date, severe high blood pressure called severe pre-eclampsia, gestation diabetes, fetal growth issues of either too small or too large, multiple births and other less common issues.

Are there test that can determine any issues with my unborn child?

Commonly a quad test and fetal ultrasound is offered to look at potential genetic anomalies.  We use non-stress tests (NST) to check for fetal well-being.  We also use lab work to check for diabetes, pre-eclampsia and other issues.

How long will I have to stay at the hospital after giving birth?

Vaginal births will often stay one to two days and a c-section will often stay one to 3 nights depending on how the patient is doing.

10 Questions with Dr. James Patenge – Part 1

 

The following is the part one of a two part series.  I gathered information on what questions new parents most frequntly ask their doctors.  I was then able to have our doctor, James Patenge, DO, OB/GYN, answer each question.

Why did you become an OB/GYN?

I was working as an engineer when our first child was born.  We had a wonderful experience.  At that time I was not happy with my career choice

Dr. James Patenge

so I looked into a career in medicine.  As a medical student you spend time in all the different medical fields and I seemed to always gravitate to OB/GYN because it allowed me to care for patients in general health as well as surgery.  I always enjoyed surgery and this gave me a good mix of office and surgery time throughout the week.  As an engineer I spent most of my time sitting behind a desk.  OB is the happy part of medicine for the most part.  Patients look forward to their appointment and its fun being part of such a big event in their life.

How many babies have you delivered in your career?

My last count was summer 2011 and I had just over 3000 deliveries.

What is the difference between a DO and Midwife?

A doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) or doctor of medicine (MD) OB/GYN is trained through a medical school and fulfills residency training for the full spectrum of women’s health, including surgeries like tubal ligations, laparoscopies and hysterectomies.  A DO is also trained to do manipulative medicine to help with musculoskeletal pains which MD is not exposed to in training.  That gives us one more tool in our doctors’ bag to help with different ailments.  A Midwife can range from no training other then helping with many births, called a Lay Midwife, to a Certified Nurse Midwife who has completed training in prenatal care and childbirth.  They will sometimes work in people’s homes or in a hospital setting.  A midwife is not trained to do surgery.

Is it important for new mothers to take child birthing classes?

Child birth classes are a very good idea for new moms and dads.  Many things are explained in more detail then can be explained in the office

during a visit.  It takes away some of the anxiety by knowing what new mom’s and dad’s can expect to happen during the pregnancy.  They will see some of the equipment that is commonly used and what they are used for.  They will also discuss epidurals in detail and what to expect if a c-section has done.

What normal aches and pains should woman expect while pregnant?

Mild aches and pains are normal during pregnancy.  Some women note mild cramping early in pregnancy and then low back and hip pain in the last trimester.  Round ligament pain, which is a sharp shooting pain into the groin from a ligament stretching as the uterus grows, is common.