Does diabetes run in the family? Some risks to prevent diabetes are more in your control than others.
Rockville
Silver Spring
Fairfax
MD: (301) 279-6060 VA: (571) 730-4587
Does diabetes run in the family? Some risks to prevent diabetes are more in your control than others.
Genetic counselors are certified healthcare providers who help families understand and use information regarding genetic conditions. Conversations are personalized for each patient based on their specific goals and questions, their family history, and the risks, benefits, and limitations of different genetic screens and tests. Genetic counselors also assist families with a genetic diagnosis connect with the appropriate providers for both medical care and social support.
Greater Washington Maternal Fetal Medicine and Genetics is proud to partner with our patients to provide prenatal genetic counseling for a more comprehensive maternal fetal medicine care experience.
Why see one of our prenatal genetic counselors?
Cancer is a serious disease that can have a profound impact on a pregnant individual and their developing baby. Cancer treatment during an ongoing pregnancy is available in many, but not all, cases. It’s important to work with a team of healthcare providers who are experienced in caring for pregnant individuals with cancer. These providers can help you understand the risks and benefits of various treatment options and make the best decisions for you and your pregnancy.
Expectant and new parents have a lot on their plates: managing all of the changes in their bodies as their new babies grow, handling all of the surprises that pregnancy sometimes brings, becoming physically and emotionally ready for the birth as well as caring for a newborn and herself after giving birth. Sometimes parents-to-be also have other challenges to face that are not frequently discussed or addressed like substance use during or after pregnancy. But expectant parents need to hear that there is no shame in seeking care for pregnancy after or during known substance exposure. Continue reading →
*TRIGGER WARNING: This article discusses sexual assault.
*TRIGGER WARNING: This article discusses terminating pregnancy as a personal choice and does NOT include medical details or termination clinic information.
One of the most exciting details parents-to-be want to know is when their new addition will arrive. Due dates are, by their very nature, fluid. But when an expectant mother is given an estimated due date (EDD), it can be difficult to understand why the gestational age reflects a new or different due date. So what is the difference between the two and why are two sometimes different due dates are given to expecting parents? Let’s look at how the EDD and the gestational age are determined and what they mean for soon-to-be parents.
Being a parent is an amazing gift and experience, yet for some individuals, getting pregnant is a very difficult process. Options such as adoption and foster parenting exist, but many couples may be interested in trying in vitro fertilization as a means of having a child of their own.
All expecting mothers want their babies to be safe and healthy throughout their pregnancy. However, it can be difficult for mothers to regulate cravings, food consumption, and other intake-related symptoms that pregnancy causes. The myth that weight gain during pregnancy doesn’t count can be harmful. Gaining too much weight can increase certain health risks for the mother, the baby, or both. Continue reading →
You may have already noticed at your annual appointments, as well as visits with specialists such as your Ob-Gyn physician during pregnancy, that you are asked to report your family members’ health information. This often includes cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and known genetic conditions. All healthcare providers have some training in recognizing patterns of disease in a family that may suggest a genetic basis.
