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Assisting You Through Your Pregnancy

Dr. Charon Gentile and Heather Fanguy, FNP in Houma, LA, provide evaluations, guidance, and assistance through all stages of pregnancy, from prenatal to postpartum.

What to Expect During Your Pregnancy and Delivery

It's important to remember that each pregnancy is unique, and experiences can vary not only among individual women but also during each pregnancy.

During pregnancy, a woman's body goes through numerous changes as it nurtures and supports the growth of a baby. Pregnancy is not only a physical experience. It is also an emotional experience.

Our goal is to provide mother and infant friendly care. Your pregnancy is the start of a life-long partnership. Although, a healthy mother and a healthy baby is the ultimate goal, prenatal care needs to meet the goals and health issues of the individuals involved. We work with our expectant mothers to reach these goals.

There is no experience that compares to childbirth. You are the star as you bring in a new life. We are there to assist you during the pregnancy, birth and postpartum period.

What to eat:

Fruits and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Aim for at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.
Whole grains: Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat bread provide complex carbohydrates and fiber, which help to regulate blood sugar levels.
Lean proteins: Choose lean proteins such as chicken, fish, beans, and lentils. These are important for the development of your baby's muscles and organs.
Dairy: Dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt are a good source of calcium and vitamin D, which are important for developing your baby's bones.
Water: Staying hydrated is important during pregnancy. Aim for at least 8-10 glasses of water per day.
Get enough folic acid: Folic acid is a B vitamin important for developing your baby's neural tube. Good sources of folic acid include leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, and fortified cereals.
Eat small, frequent meals: Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day can help to prevent nausea and maintain stable blood sugar levels.
Pay attention to food safety: In addition to avoiding raw or undercooked meats, it's important to wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly, avoid unpasteurized dairy products, and practice proper food handling and storage to prevent foodborne illness.
Get enough iron: Iron is important for developing your baby's red blood cells. Good sources of iron include lean meats, beans, fortified cereals, and dark leafy green vegetables.
Stay within a healthy weight range: Maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy is important, as being overweight or underweight can increase the risk of complications. Your healthcare provider can advise you on what weight range is healthy for you.
Don't skip meals: Skipping meals can lead to low blood sugar levels, fatigue, and dizziness, which can be harmful during pregnancy.
Take prenatal vitamins: Prenatal vitamins can help ensure that you are getting all the necessary nutrients for your baby's development, even if you cannot get them from your diet alone.

What to Avoid

Raw or undercooked meats can contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli.
Certain fish: Some types of fish, such as shark, swordfish, and king mackerel, can contain high levels of mercury, which can harm your baby's development.
Deli meats and hot dogs can also contain harmful bacteria such as listeria.
Raw eggs: Raw or undercooked eggs can contain harmful bacteria such as salmonella.
Alcohol and caffeine: Both alcohol and caffeine should be limited or avoided during pregnancy as they can negatively affect your baby's development.

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Weight Gain: Guidelines per the Institute of Medicine:

Underweight (BMI less than 18.5): 28-40 pounds (12.5-18 kg) total weight gain during pregnancy.
Normal weight (BMI between 18.5-24.9): 25-35 pounds (11-16 kg) total weight gain during pregnancy.
Overweight (BMI between 25-29.9): 15-25 pounds (7-11 kg) total weight gain during pregnancy.
Obese (BMI greater than 30): 11-20 pounds (5-9 kg) total weight gain during pregnancy.

Each woman is different, and her weight gain may be different. Multiple gestations (twins, etc.) may need to gain more weight than the above recommendation. The most important thing is to eat a healthy diet low in carbohydrates and exercise 30 minutes per day. Women with an initial BMI greater than 30 may lose weight during pregnancy due to a healthy diet. If you have concerns about your weight gain during pregnancy, please discuss it with us.

Mommy/Baby Friendly Obstetrical Services:

Prenatal testing
Routine comprehensive care through all stages of pregnancy
Pre-pregnancy visits
Prenatal care
Infertility services
Multiple pregnancies
Postpartum care
3D ultrasound

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Office Policy Regarding Children

Most providers of women's healthcare went into this field because they wanted to help women. The most enjoyable part is assisting in the birth of a loved child; however, taking care of normal pregnancies and deliveries is not all that is involved. Women present with different problems - pregnancy loss, fetal demise, infertility, pain, severe infections, cancer, marital and social issues, etc. Frequently, some of the women are scared or in pain. Many of the issues deal with emotionally and physically sensitive areas. When asked not to bring children to the office, it is for the safety and comfort of all our clients.

My office does make exceptions for medical emergencies and newborn infants (due to the inability to find a caretaker). On rare occasions, that female child sitting in the waiting room is the patient.