Newborn Screening Tests

Dr. Max Izbicki Chicago IL OB/GYN provides highly personalized care to women with high and low risk pregnancies and Delivers at Norwegian American Hospital. Although most babies are healthy when they are born, every U.S. state requires that newborn screening tests be performed on all babies to identify those that may look healthy but have a rare and serious health problem. 

If problems are found early, treatment can help prevent serious medical problems.Before you leave the hospital, a nurse will take a few drops of blood from your baby’s heel. The hospital will send the blood sample to a newborn screening lab. In addition, your baby will be screened for hearing loss with one or two quick noninvasive tests using a tiny earphone, microphone, or both. A painless pulse oximetry test using skin sensors also will be performed to measure the oxygen levels in your baby’s blood. Low blood oxygen levels can be a sign of a serious heart defect that can be corrected with surgery.
How will I get the results of the test?

The results of some tests (eg, hearing and pulse oximetry) may be available before you leave the hospital. Blood test results will be available from your baby’s health care provider after you leave the hospital. You will be notified by your baby’s health care provider or state health department if further testing is needed. Ask about results when you see your baby’s health care provider. Make sure that your hospital and your baby’s health care provider have your correct address and phone number.

Your baby may need to be retested if you leave the hospital before the baby is 24 hours old. Some states require a second test on all babies. Some babies need to be retested because not enough blood was collected, the results of the test were unclear, or the first test showed a possible health problem. Retesting does not necessarily mean that your child will have a health problem.

Your baby’s health care provider or the state health department will contact you if your baby needs to be retested. They will tell you why your baby needs to be retested and what to do next. If your baby needs to be retested, get it done right away.Ask your baby’s health care provider if you have questions or concerns. There may be other tests that you would like your baby to have besides those required in your state. For more information, contact your state health department’s newborn screening program, or visit Baby’s First Test online at www.babysfirsttest.org.

Preparing for Surgery

Dr Max Izbicki Chicago Il OB/GYN provides comprehensive obstetric and gynecologic care in Chicago including a wide range of gynecologic surgeries and procedures. Outpatient surgery, also called ambulatory or same–day surgery, does not require an overnight stay in the hospital, meaning that you can go home the same day if your condition is stable. You will need someone to drive you home. Outpatient surgery may be done in a hospital, health care provider’s office, surgical center, or clinic. Inpatient surgery takes place in a hospital and requires an overnight stay. Nurses will assist your doctor during surgery, perform special tasks, and help make you more comfortable. A resident or fellow may help during your surgery. The anesthesiologist is the person who is in charge of giving anesthesia and checking its effects. 

If you smoke, try to stop smoking before your operation. General anesthesia affects the normal function of your lungs. If you are taking medication, ask if you should keep taking it before or after the operation. Make sure your doctor knows all of the medications you are taking, including those that have been prescribed for you and those that are bought over-the-counter, such as vitamins, herbs, or other supplements. If you have diabetes, controlling your glucose levels before surgery may improve healing.

Steps may be taken to help prevent deep vein thrombosis. You may be given special stockings to wear, or inflatable devices may be put on your legs. You will be taken to an area to wait until the surgical team is ready for you. An anesthesiologist will discuss which type of anesthesia you will receive during the operation. An intravenous (IV) line may be placed into a vein in your arm or wrist. You may be given medication to help you relax. You also may be given antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection.

After you have been taken into the operating room, you will be moved to the operating table. Monitors will be attached to various parts of your body to measure your pulse, oxygen level, and blood pressure. A final review of medical records and tests may be done. If you are having general anesthesia, it will be given through your IV line. After you are asleep, a tube called a catheter may be placed in your bladder to drain urine.

Once the operation is over, you will be moved into the recovery area. Many patients feel groggy, confused, and chilly when they wake up after an operation. You may have muscle aches or a sore throat shortly after surgery. These problems should not last long. As soon as possible, your nurses will have you move around as much as you can. You may be encouraged to get out of bed and walk around soon after your operation. You may feel tired and weak at first. The sooner you resume activity, the sooner your body’s functions can get back to normal.

Breast feeding

Dr. Max Izbicki DO Chicago IL OB/GYN cares for pregnant patients from the first prenatal consultation through the delivery and beyond and supports breast feeding. Exclusive breast feeding is recommended for the first 6 months of a baby's life. Breastfeeding is best for the following reasons: Breast milk has the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein, and minerals needed for a baby's growth and development. As the baby grows, the breast milk produced by the body changes to adapt to the baby's changing nutritional needs. Breast milk is easier to digest than formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from certain illnesses, such as ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illness, and allergies. The longer your baby breastfeeds, the greater the health benefits. Breastfed infants have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breast milk can help reduce the risk of many of the short-term and long-term health problems that babies face.

Breastfeeding is good for both mother and baby for the following reasons: Breastfeeding triggers the release of a hormone called oxytocin that causes the uterus to contract. This helps the uterus return to its normal size more quickly and may decrease the amount of bleeding after giving birth. Breast-feeding may make it easier to lose weight gained during pregnancy. Breastfeeding may reduce the risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Drinking caffeine is moderate amounts (200 mg a day) most likely will not affect the baby. Newborns and preterm infants are more sensitive to caffeine's effects. Consume a lower amount of caffeine in the first few days after birth or if breastfeeding a preterm baby. Wait at least 2 hours after an occasional, single, alcoholic drink to breastfeed. The alcohol will leave your bloodstream - there is no need to express and discard your milk. Drinking more than two drinks per day, especially on a regular basis is not recommended.

Most medications are safe while breastfeeding. Although medications can be passed through the milk. However, the levels are usually very low. The latest information about medications and their effects on breastfed babies can be found at LactMed a database of scientific information, at www.toxnet.nim.nih.gov/newtoxnet/lactmed.htm

Treatment of Infertility

Dr. Max Izbicki Chicago Il OB/GYN provides comprehensive obstetric and GYN services including evaluation and treatment of infertility. Infertility is defined as not having become pregnant after 1 year of having regular sexual intercourse without the use of birth control Infertility can be caused by a number of factors due to the woman or the man’s body. Treatment options depend on the cause of your infertility. Several different treatments may be combined to improve results. Infertility often can be successfully treated even if no cause is found. In many cases, it is important for patients to lose weight, exercise, quit smoking, or stop using marijuana in addition to other treatments. In some cased surgery may be needed to repair blocked or damaged fallopian tubes.

Abnormal levels of hormones can cause irregular ovulation or lack of ovulation. For example, polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which the levels of certain hormones are abnormal and menstrual periods are irregular or absent. It is a common cause of infertility. The drug most commonly used for ovulation induction is clomiphene citrate. About 40% of women achieve pregnancy with the use of this drug within six menstrual cycles. If this medication is not successful, stronger medication called gonadotropins may be used.Twins occur in about 10% of women treated with clomiphene citrate. Triplets or more are rare. The risk of multiple pregnancy is higher when gonadotropins are used.

In intrauterine insemination, a large amount of healthy sperm is placed in the uterus as close to the time of ovulation as possible. It often is used with ovulation induction. The woman’s partner or a donor may provide the sperm. Sperm that has been retrieved earlier and frozen also can be used. The likelihood of twins and higher multi-fetal gestations are higher when this is done.

In IVF, sperm is combined with the egg in a lab, and the embryo is transferred to the uterus. IVF is done for the following causes of infertility: Damaged or blocked fallopian tubes that cannot be treated with surgery, some male infertility factors, severe endometriosis, premature ovarian failure, unexplained infertility. In vitro fertilization is done in cycles. It can take more than one cycle to succeed. The sperm may come from your partner or from a donor. Sperm can be retrieved and then frozen for later use in IVF. Ovulation usually is induced with gonadotropins so that many eggs are produced. The egg also may come from a donor. Eggs that have been previously frozen can be used.
Eggs are removed from the ovaries when they are mature. Healthy sperm then are added to the eggs in the lab. The eggs are checked the following day to see if they have been fertilized. A few days later, one or more embryos are placed in your uterus. The embryo may come from a donor. Healthy embryos that are not transferred can be frozen and stored for later us.