We’ve seen many of our friends and colleagues experience pregnancy and birth, which may be why its in our nature to check in on them and how they’re doing (and not just the baby) after the fact – but for the medical community, this is a new phenomenon.

We’ve heard and seen countless stories from women lamenting on the postpartum phase - many of them wishing and hoping they had gotten more care, support, and guidance from their doctors – whether dealing with anxiety and/or depression or physical issues like strengthening your pelvic floor, there’s a lot more than can be done to make sure mommas are taken care of.

How else can we take care of ourselves and each other? We’re reminding you today of a few other routine check ups to keep you healthy and well.

- Maggie Ruvoldt & Stephanie Majercik

The Tasting Menu

Healthy Gums - Happy Life
What to Know About Ovarian Cysts
Postpartum Care - The Fourth Trimester

Healthy Gums - Happy Life

Estrogen and progesterone increase blood flow to our gums, which can cause swelling and irritation. That can cause dental health changes across our lives. It’s good to know when not to worry and when more serious attention is needed.

You may notice your gums bleed more or feel more sensitive around your period - that’s no big deal. It’s called menstruation gingivitis.

With the hormonal changes during pregnancy, you are at increased risk for developing gum disease and pregnancy gingivitis. Important to keep an eye on so it doesn’t develop further into more serious conditions.

During menopause, you may produce less saliva and experience dry mouth. If you develop osteoporosis, that bone loss can affect your teeth and accelerate gum disease. Very important to address if it develops.

While some of those are temporary and minor, almost half of people over 30 have periodontal disease of some type. So, if that extra sensitivity and inflamed gums are constant, you need to up your daily dental game and get regular checkups to avoid serious issues from periodontal disease or other dental issues including:

Increased risk for heart attack
Periodontitis in pregnancy and other dental issues can cause preterm labor
New studies show a link between a bacteria that causes common oral issues and Alzheimer’s
Advanced periodontitis can lead to deep pockets around your teeth and eventual tooth loss.

You may be asking yourself what you should do.

Because of the hormone and gum connection, you should be talking to your dentist if you notice bleeding gums, red gums, increased sensitivity, sore jaw, if you are taking birth control pills, or if you have a family history of gum disease.

Believe it or not, a study from 2018 showed that flossing before brushing was more beneficial.

Consider getting an electric toothbrush. For the interdental spaces consider a water flosser or interdental brushes. Pro-tip there is a learning curve on the waterpik (water, water, everywhere) but it’s worth it.

And most important - get dental cleanings every six months. When was your last appointment?

What to Know About Ovarian Cysts

We’re going to have to start making a list of the generally harmless things that can grow and develop inside of our body. After covering uterine fibroids a few weeks ago, we’re now looking at ovarian cysts.

Like many things, we first heard about ovarian cysts via conversations with our friends. One reported developing ovarian cysts after she got an IUD put in. Turns out, for a few of the hormonal IUDs, like Mirena, Skyla, and others, ovarian cysts are a common side effect. 12% of users on Mirena and 14% of people on Skyla report developing a cyst. Like many other side effects however, the development of cysts will go away after 2-3 months once your body adjusts to the IUD.

But aside from being a side effect of an IUD - what causes them? The culprit? Our menstrual cycle…cysts usually form during or as a result of ovulation. And is a sign that your ovaries are functioning as they should. Most of us develop an ovarian cyst each month and don’t experience symptoms or even realize they’re there. Cysts can also be caused by endometriosis, pregnancy, or pelvic infections.

Pain can arise if a cyst ruptures - but this is also relatively rare and shouldn’t happen more than once a year. There are certain types of cysts - dermoids and endometriomas - that may require more treatment - your doctor will be able to identify whether you have one of these rarer cysts and the treatment plan.

Like uterine fibroids, the existence of cysts is not necessarily an indication of bigger issues - like cancer or infertility, but depending on your age and type of cysts you get, it may indicate something more serious. For example, cysts that develop after menopause have a greater likelihood of being malignant and a sign of ovarian cancer - so no matter what your age, its important to have routine pelvic exams to identify any issues.

Postpartum Care - The Fourth Trimester

In 2018, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists updated their guidance on postpartum care. Rather than one visit at 6 weeks, they recommend a series starting at 3 weeks and transitioning at 12 weeks to “well-woman care”.

As one friend put it, “During pregnancy, it’s all about ‘Mom and baby.’ and as soon as I left the hospital it’s like the medical professionals forgot I was even involved.”

Can we talk about why it took until 2018 for that update? Ok, that’s another topic.

Let’s talk about some unexpected postpartum changes to know about:

Hair loss or change in hair texture - if the hair loss continues after a few months, ask about having your thyroid checked.
Emotional changes and swings are normal. If depression or anxiety are more serious conditions, we’ll discuss below
Hot flashes and lots of sweating due to hormonal changes
Shaking and shivers in the first hour after birth

Support for After the Baby Arrives

We spend lots of time and effort planning for caring for the baby after birth. We need to plan for taking care of the mother as well. Here are some tips for your care plan:

Let other people do for you. They will be offering and you should accept help on everything from laundry and dishes to watching the baby so you can nap.
That said say no to visitors if you aren’t feeling up to it, simply want to cherish this time or they will be as much a burden as a help.
Consider adding a lactation consultant to your care team. Breastfeeding is hard!
Add recovery items to your shopping list along with diapers.

The best thing you can do to take care of your newborn is to take care of yourself!

That includes your mental health. We’ll be talking about mental wellness and the fourth trimester next week.

Medical Term of the Week

There are two types of functional cysts that may develop during our cycles. A follicular cyst occurs when the follicle that develops to release an egg, fails to release it. If the egg does release, sometimes, the opening gets blocked and a corpus luteum cyst develops. Functional cysts usually resolve on their own.

The Latest

ICYMI, Serena Williams announced she will be retiring from tennis in a heartfelt and honest piece in Vogue magazine. Her reflections on the demands of tennis and her growing family and other interests had us thinking all week. (From Vogue)

In our search for companies doing great things in women’s health, we just had to share an article on 5 companies making periods easier. (From Women in Business)

A recent study showed an alarming gap in what women know about our hormones and how some companies are working to fix that. It demonstrates how much work needs to be done to educate women so they can recognize when they need to seek help of healthcare professional and how to advocate for themselves. (from Marie Clare)

If you’re looking for a more positive perspective on menopause, look no further than Dr. Jennifer Gunter and her views on how to reframe it on your mind. (from Good Housekeeping)

The Fourth Trimester - Taking Care of Yourself