As women age, new adventures come. Some, like travel and new hobbies, can bring joy. Others can bring stress.

One of those stressors is perimenopause, the time you’re transitioning to menopause, when you permanently stop having menstrual periods and can no longer get pregnant.

“There’s a stigma around this time of life,” says Lindsay Orr, an advanced practice nurse at OSF HealthCare. “It’s not an illness. It’s just a natural part of aging.”

Perimenopause basics

Orr says during perimenopause, the ovaries stop producing testosterone, estrogen and progesterone regularly.

“Think of it as a short fuse or a fuse that’s not quite connected,” Orr describes. “Every month, the hormones secrete. But ovaries have a shelf life. So some months they work, and some months they don’t. It ebbs and flows during the perimenopause transition period before they go into menopause.” 

Orr says women typically notice changes that signal perimenopause at around age 40. The perimenopause period can be over quickly, especially if you have surgery that impacts your ovaries. On the other hand, Orr has seen some women be in perimenopause for 10 years. Regardless, health professionals define the perimenopause to menopause transition as over when you have not had a period for one year.

Orr says some women can have little to no perimenopause symptoms. For others, the time can bring disruptions to many parts of your life – work, sleep, relationships and more. Sudden hot flashes, mood changes, joint aches, brain fog, trouble with urination, anxiety, disrupted sleep and fatigue are all possible.

“A lack of estrogen can affect bone density,” Orr adds. “So women with smaller frames are more predisposed to bone issues if they fall. Or, a decline in estrogen can have cardio-protective effects. It can increase your risk for cardiovascular issues like heart disease.”

Anorexia, bulimia, high stress, smoking, drinking alcohol and being a high intensity athlete can also make perimenopause come sooner and be more intense, Orr says.

Treatment – proactive and reactive

Orr says if perimenopause symptoms are impacting your quality of life, it’s time to see a provider. Providers can’t make perimenopause go away, but they can help with symptoms. First, Orr asks if her patients are prioritizing what she calls the “four pillars of health”: exercise with resistance training, hydration, a healthy diet with plenty of protein and healthy sleep.

A provider might also recommend a supplement, such as diindolylmethane (or DIM, for short). Orr calls DIM broccoli in a pill. It helps keep hormones at a healthy level. Other supplements that could help include calcium D-glucarate, evening primrose oil, black cohosh and ashwagandha.

Orr also urges women to start the conversation with their primary care provider or OB/GYN before perimenopause hits. Ask what you can do now to lessen symptoms or duration. Be honest about how your body is feeling and what medications you’re on, as new medications could negatively interact with current ones. Orr also recommends women use a smartphone app to track their periods.

“The apps help you be in tune with your body. You go through your day-to-day life and kind of recognize things, but you don’t really put it all together. Then when you put the information in the app, you might say ‘Oh yeah, I am symptomatic. This is happening.’” Orr says. “You can track temperature changes, bleeding issues, hormone fluctuations and sleep. It all plays a role.”

What about pregnancy?

Yes, women can still get pregnant during perimenopause, though it’s not as common as pregnancies in your 30s and younger, Orr says. However, in general, Orr says the higher in age, the higher risk for pregnancy complications.

“Balanced hormones help maintain a good uterine lining for housing a fetus,” Orr explains, noting perimenopause disrupts that hormone balance. “So, a later-life pregnancy would require closer monitoring.” In other words, you’d likely have more trips to the doctor to make sure your pregnancy is healthy.

The bottom line

Orr reiterates: perimenopause is a part of life. Give yourself grace, take advantage of the help that providers can give and recognize that it’s about progress, not perfection.

“Some of the women I see are frazzled, disheveled and anxious. Sometimes they’re upset during the visit. It’s sad to see,” Orr recounts. “Then we start treatment, and I see them three months later. They look like a different person. They’re glowing. They have a zest for life again. It’s rewarding to see.”

Learn more

Read more about perimenopause and menopause and women’s health overall on the OSF HealthCare website.

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When talking about the good and bad of pregnancy, you might have heard terms like postpartum depression or, more casually, baby blues.

It’s critical new mothers get help in this area, says Tiffany Waters, a birthing center charge nurse at OSF HealthCare. She says up to 80% of moms experience the so-called baby blues. But when talking about maternal mental health, experts prefer the umbrella term: perinatal mood, anxiety and depression (PMAD). Perinatal refers to the time between conception and one year after delivery.

PMAD basics

Waters says for two to three weeks after delivery, most women experience hormone changes, a lack of sleep and general stress related to the “new normal.” Having a traumatic birth, like an emergency caesarean section, can compound mental health impacts. Waters says around one-third of women fall into this category.

All these factors can lead to a variety of longer-lasting PMAD symptoms, including brain fog, weeping, sleep changes, anxiety, depression, obsessive or compulsive behavior and even suicidal thoughts.

“There’s no one single cause that leads to a person experiencing these issues. It’s a combination of psychological, societal and biological factors,” Waters says. “There’s nothing a mom has done to get or deserve this experience. The best we can do is help her work through it.”

Screening and treatment

Waters says health care providers should screen a woman for depression and other mental health issues during and after pregnancy.

“There are commonly used tools,” Waters says. “The woman answers 10 questions. It gives us a rating on how their emotional and mental well-being is.”

She’s referring to the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Each question is scored 0 to 3, with 3 being the response that most signals a possible mental health issue. That’s 30 total points, and a final tally of 10 or higher would warrant further evaluation.

Waters also says research is ongoing into whether certain biological markers in a woman are a sign of mental health issues to come.

“It can be difficult to admit or even recognize that a person is having depression or anxiety symptoms,” Waters says. “There are lots of reasons for that. There’s societal pressure to be a great mom. Moms might feel like if they admit how they’re feeling, their children might be taken away.”

Waters says journaling or talking to a trusted adult can help a mom document the issues she’s facing, opening the door for her to get help.

If a mom is diagnosed with PMAD, a provider will talk with her about resources like support groups, counseling, spiritual care and medication. Daily things like improved diet and exercise and exploring new hobbies can also help. And Waters says mothers should not be afraid to prioritize themselves. It’s OK to ask for a break from daily housework, for example.

Why it’s important

Waters says untreated PMAD can have consequences for the whole family and the people around the family. Substance abuse and domestic violence can increase. But if treated, it means a better life for everyone.

“It will improve the whole family dynamic,” Waters says. “It will lessen stress for everybody and lead to a happier unit.”

Learn more

Read more about pregnancy and birth and behavioral and mental health on the OSF HealthCare website. If you are in crisis, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 9-8-8.

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As the stigma around mental health continues to improve, people are more likely to seek treatment. A woman who has just learned she’s pregnant may wonder: should I stop taking medicines like Zoloft or Prozac? Will they hurt my baby?

Sarah Shoemaker, a certified nurse midwife at OSF HealthCare, says first of all, you’re not alone. She says around one in five women experience a mental health concern during pregnancy, and many of those women are taking medication for things like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Shoemaker says most of the time, you can and should stay on your medication. But it’s a conversation you should have with your health care team.

Shoemaker implores women to talk about medication with their provider early Ideally, it’s before they conceive. Shoemaker says don’t change or stop your medicine routine until you have that talk. You may have your child’s best interest in mind, but a change could compromise your or your child’s health.

“There are some women who take years to find the perfect combination of medications that keep them stable and healthy. We don’t want to mess with that. Very rarely do we have to completely disrupt somebody’s medication regimen,” Shoemaker says. “Nothing in our field is black and white. There’s no such thing as bad medication or strictly dangerous medication. We weigh the pros and cons and decide what’s best for each patient.

“If you look online, you’re going to find all kinds of information. You’re going to find conflicting sources, old studies and poorly written studies,” Shoemaker adds, referencing the temptation to rely solely on your own research.

Shoemaker says a provider may order one or more ultrasounds before making a decision on medication. If a provider advises that a change is needed, you could go on a supplement. For example, Shoemaker says a medicine like valproic acid (a seizure medicine sometimes used for bipolar disorder) may increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs) in your unborn child. Spina bifida, or the abnormal development of the spinal cord, is a common NTD. In this case, a provider may advise adding a folic acid supplement at a high dose. Shoemaker adds that for medications like valproic acid, drugmakers and doctors are vocal up front: don’t start taking it if you’re trying to get pregnant. That way, you don’t have to possibly make a change mid-pregnancy.

If you’re on a medication that’s new to the market, that’s also a definite “must talk about” with your provider. That’s because we don’t know a lot about how new medications impact pregnancy. Shoemaker points out that scientists typically don’t do intense studies on pregnant women so they don’t disrupt the pregnancy. Rather, the research is done after birth.

“We discuss what the woman is on, how we can counteract the risk and what the actual risk is for her specific situation. Then we can make a shared decision about what is best for her and her family,” Shoemaker says. She adds that the woman’s entire care team – their primary care provider, their mental health provider and their OB/GYN or midwife – should be working together.

Shoemaker admits all this can be a tough task. But there are tried-and-true ways to get to the root of a pregnant woman’s mental health concern. Providers also build extra time into appointments to talk about mental health. Shoemaker says she often uses humor to break the tension. She can also use personal experiences to relate to the mom-to-be. And she’s also not afraid to ask a lot of questions: are you sure there’s nothing else we can talk about? How are you doing emotionally?

“If you continue to ask in new and different ways, women eventually open up. They say ‘yeah, this is really bothering me. I wondered if it was normal. I was afraid to talk about it,’” Shoemaker says. “Once you make it clear that the provider is a safe person to talk to and mental health is really important, women will open up.

“More women need to talk about how difficult it can be to be pregnant, to be a mother and to be going through this huge life transition,” Shoemaker adds.

Learn more about how you can a successful pregnancy and birth on the OSF HealthCare website.

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Gym moms, if your child is a future Olympic athlete, you'll always be able to say you were their first-ever gym partner. 

Becoming pregnant doesn't mean you have to toss your exercise plan to the side, says Mfowethu Langeni, DO, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare who specializes in Obstetrics. 

In fact, it's the opposite!

As your baby sits and kicks in the womb for nine months, Dr. Langeni says core exercises and strength training like lifting weights are great ways to prioritize both mom and baby's health.

"(Labor) does take a lot of stamina, strength and core strength. But all women are different," Dr. Langeni says. "Some women push for hours during labor; some don't need to push much at all. Either way, strength conditioning and core training before and during pregnancy will help overall."

 Are you a marathon runner? That doesn't have to stop either. 

Dr. Langeni says high intensity cardio and even power squatting are recommended for pregnant moms. 

He recommends talking any exercise plan over with your OB/GYN before getting started, and to make sure you avoid any exercises that could cause trauma to your stomach.

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It’s a season of emotions when you’re having your first child.

Excitement and happiness lead the positive charge, nervousness settles right there in the middle and fear and anxiety creep into the mix as well.

Who knew two tiny pink lines on a pregnancy test could lead to something so earth shattering?

You’ve probably got a lot of questions running through your head, and it’s natural to run to Google for a lot of things. But Mfowethu (mm-FOE-eh-too) Langeni, DO, a family medicine physician who specializes in obstetrical care with OSF HealthCare, has a kickstart list of what to expect when you’re expecting.

First trimester | Increased hormones, morning sickness, first appointment!

Pregnancies are broken up into three trimesters, and Dr. Langeni says the best way to start things off is to schedule a first trimester appointment with a local obstetrics & gynecology provider (OB/GYN).

"Your first trimester is between the first week to the 13th week of pregnancy. During that time, you can expect to have your initial OB visit. It usually takes a little longer than subsequent visits, but it's one of the most important visits to have. During it, we'll talk about your family history, medical history, if you've been pregnant before,” Dr. Langeni says.

You’ll need to get some blood work done to figure out your blood type and make sure everything looks OK. You can also expect to undergo a pelvic exam, checking the anatomy.

You can also talk to your doctor about genetic screening to find out what things your baby may be at-risk for. These are things like cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, or Down syndrome.

One major change that comes with pregnancy is hormonal. This can lead to what’s well-known as “morning sickness,” which varies from mother to mother.

"A lot of times moms will experience morning sickness the most in the first trimester. It's usually because of the pregnancy hormone (human chorionic gonadotropin, or hCG) that spikes really high," Dr. Langeni says. "Then it starts to taper off, so those symptoms start to go away. You can get some nausea or vomiting throughout the whole duration of your pregnancy, but it's usually going to be the first and early second trimester."

Medications are available to ease the nausea and vomiting, but it’s important to have that conversation with your OB/GYN on when it’s safe (for you AND the baby) to take any medication. Dr. Langeni says he prefers to focus on diet recommendations first before jumping right into meds. He recommends eating smaller portions of food more often during the day as a starting point.

Second trimester | Grow, grow, grow!

"It's week 14 to week 27. This trimester is where your baby's internal organs are actively growing really fast," Dr. Langeni says. "This trimester is where you may see your baby bump grow and feel baby moving. It's also where an ultrasound will be performed to check the anatomy of the baby to make sure the baby is doing OK and the arms, legs, heart, brain and all the organs look OK." 

Arguably the most exciting part of the second trimester is finding out the sex of the baby and getting those adorable ultrasound photos.

You’ll keep seeing your OB team and at the end of the second trimester, you’ll get testing done to see if you have gestational diabetes.

Third trimester | It’s almost baby time!

In the third trimester, mothers’ office visits become more frequent. You’ll see your care team every two weeks from week 28-36, and then once a week from weeks 36-40.

"This is the part of the pregnancy where you start to talk about 'how am I going to deliver my baby?' There are different methods, vaginal delivery vs. C-section," Dr. Langeni says. "If we need to get baby out a little early, for whatever reason. We'll also talk about the things we're going to do once you're at the hospital. Are you going to have medicines? Do you want no medicine? We'll talk about pain management and things like that so you can get acclimated on what to expect when baby is right around the corner."

Dr. Langeni says it’s extremely important to have a conversation with your OB about water breaking scenarios ahead of it actually happening.

"If you feel like your water broke, it's always recommended to come to the hospital or your primary obstetrician," Dr. Langeni says. "They'll do some tests to make sure your water is truly broken. But sometimes your water doesn't break, and then a scenario pops up where 'I'm past due and my water hasn't broken. I'm not going into labor, what should I do?' Those are really good discussions most providers will have with their patients before something like this happens. Then at least when something like this may happen, it's not the first time you're hearing about it."

Some OB teams will tell the mother she needs to be induced by a certain date, due to health and wellness of mother and baby.

"It depends on what your primary OB has in place for you. From my experience, a plan may be set in place that says when you hit a certain gestational age, for any reason, then we're going to go ahead and induce. Or if you haven't gone into labor by a certain point, we'll have you come to the hospital to start that labor process, so you can have a natural delivery."

If you’re in your third trimester and you haven’t scheduled a hospital visit to learn the lay of the land, you probably should! Dr. Langeni says this is a great way to see what a birthing suite will look like where you plan to deliver, learn more about the process and figure out specifically where to go in the hospital.

You can reach out to OSF HealthCare hospitals around the Ministry by filling out this form for a birthing tour. A Mission Partner will get back to you shortly and help set up your walkthrough!

Now, it’s baby time! OSF has a “hospital bag essentials” checklist for the mother, baby and support person during your stay you can find here. Birthing classes before you head to the hospital are important as well. Find those resources here.

OSF has OB/GYNs and care teams throughout the Ministry. You can find a list of providers here, along with locations and additional resources to help you on your journey to parenthood!

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This commitment will ensure many community members and OSF Mission Partners alike have access to high-quality, affordable care. The OSF Medical Group OGBYN office, located at 9128 N. Lindbergh in Peoria, opens March 11^th, and will be staffed Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM through 4:30 PM.

There will be at least one physician on-site four days per week, and at least one midwife on-site all five days per week. The clinic will offer on-site ultrasound and non-stress test services.

The many patients currently receiving care through Teverbaugh, Croland and Mueller practice will be able to make appointments to the OSF Medical Group clinic by calling the clinic’s main phone number, starting March 4^th, 309.692.2025.

OSF HealthCare pastoral staff blessed the clinic on Friday, February 23^rd.

At OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, a team of OB/GYNs and certified nurse midwives from Advanced Women’s Healthcare will see patients for well-woman, prenatal and postpartum care at the medical office building on the OSF Heart of Mary campus (1405 W. Park St.). This is in addition to the existing team at the clinic, including nurse midwife Kelli Daugherty, APRN, who sees patients in Urbana and Danville.

Dele Ogunleye, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist, and Brittany King, APRN, will see patients initially, with three other certified nurse midwives (Lindsay Bustle, CNM, Laura Muehling, CNM, and Lilly Ott, CNM) joining the team in the coming weeks.

Clinics with Advanced Women’s Healthcare providers and OSF Mission Partners (employees) will also serve patients in Forsyth (845 US Route 51), with an expected opening in February, and in Lincoln (602 Woodlawn Road), with an expected opening in April.

“This new select service offering is in alignment with OSF’s long-standing tradition of helping women access high-quality, compassionate clinical care where they need it,” said Jennifer Ulrich, interim president of OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington. “Our relationship and all services offered in our hospitals and clinics align with our OSF Mission, Values and our ethical commitments as a Catholic health care ministry and ensure holistic and caring obstetrics care for all women in the area communities.”

Services at OSF Medical Group – Obstetrics & Gynecology will include typical care offerings at OSF HealthCare locations, such as well-woman visits, prenatal and postpartum care, pelvic floor disorder treatments and general gynecologic care.

“We continue to see a shortage of obstetricians and gynecologists across the nation. This model of midwife care is an answer, allowing for a superior patient experience with more time for each woman,” said Dr. Ogunleye. “We are pleased to collaborate with OSF to expand this service.”

The expanded clinic serving the Champaign-Urbana area is expected to begin February 12. Hours will be Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“OSF HealthCare remains committed to women’s health,” said J.T. Barnhart, president of OSF Heart of Mary. “We know mothers want quick answers about their care, and this new collaboration allows well-educated midwives to form trusted relationships with the women they serve.”

People interested in an appointment can call:

Urbana: 217-337-2010
Forsyth: 217-443-5697
Lincoln: 217-828-6111

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It’s important for women to keep track of health screening recommendations. Early detection of issues like breast cancer can mean a better outcome.

Since everyone’s situation is different, you should talk to your health care provider about what screenings are right for you and when to get them. But Deena Brown, a board-certified family nurse practitioner at OSF HealthCare, says there are a few screenings every woman should know.

• Breast cancer: Brown says women aged 40 and up should talk to their provider about a yearly mammogram that looks for breast cancer.

For adult women of any age, mammograms should be combined with monthly breast self-checks. Brown suggests doing a self-exam a week after your menstrual cycle. If you’re no longer menstruating, you can choose the same day each month (the first of the month, for example) to help you remember. You should feel for changes or other abnormalities like lumps, bumps, one breast being larger than the other, any nipple discharge and swelling or soreness under the armpit. Make an appointment with your provider if you notice any of those changes.

• Cervical cancer: Brown says cervical cancer screenings typically begin at age 21 and occur every three to five years.

“Those screenings involve a pap smear, which takes a cell sample from the cervix and looks for any abnormal cells that need to be addressed,” Brown says.

• Osteoporosis: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says osteoporosis is a bone disease that develops when bone mineral density and bone mass decrease or when the structure and strength of bones change. This can lead to a decrease in bone strength and an increased risk of bone fractures.

Brown says women over age 65 should be checked for osteoporosis. The NIH says the screening is typically a simple X-ray, and it should be done every two years.

“If the bone density is low, we can initiate treatment with medication to help increase the strength of the bones,” Brown says. “This helps prevent future fractures and debility for women.”

• Colon cancer: Screenings starting at age 45 can help detect colon cancer and other serious issues. A once-a-decade colonoscopy involves a doctor using a tube and camera to check for polyps or cancer in your colon and rectum. Another option is to take a stool sample at home, send it to a provider and they will look for abnormalities. Talk to your provider about which option is best for you.

How things can change

Brown says some women may need these screenings more frequently or earlier in life based on a family history of a disease or your own history.

“It’s all individualized,” she says.

“There are these screening recommendations, but we like to take a personalized approach to care and help address issues as soon as we can.”

In other words, seeing a doctor isn’t just about treating chronic conditions. It’s about preventing them too. And screenings are the best way to do that.

For more on women’s health services, visit the OSF HealthCare website.

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For OSF HealthCare, the example set by our founding Sisters nearly 146 years ago enables us to confront change head on. Leading transformation has been and continues to be part of who we are.

Many hospitals and health care systems, especially in rural areas, are struggling to care for expectant mothers right now. This is due to several factors, including physician shortages, staffing challenges, regulatory requirements and financial hardships.

“Within the OSF HealthCare system, we are blessed to have excellent providers and clinical teams who care deeply for the patients and families who depend on us – including those who are expanding their families,” said Liz Davidson, RN, interim president at OSF HealthCare Saint James-John W. Albrecht Medical Center.

OSF HealthCare is evaluating where to provide birthing, labor and delivery units, as well as general obstetrics and gynecological services such as prenatal visits or well-woman visits.

The number of babies born at OSF Saint James has declined in recent years, which aligns with the aging population of Livingston County. Currently, Pontiac is birthing 10-15 babies per month on average, which is a sharp decline from the 500+ babies born annually at OSF Saint James in years past.

OSF Saint James will shift its services to focus on the future growth of services outside of the delivery of babies, and will streamline its labor and delivery services to other hospitals within OSF HealthCare to ensure the long-term viability of all of our hospitals.

OSF Saint James will continue its commitment to women’s health through a variety of services including, but not limited to, gynecological surgical procedures, lactation counseling, natural family planning via the Creighton Model Fertility Care System, and overall women’s health, such as 3D mammography, bone density, and wellness screenings.

In addition, OSF HealthCare will offer a hybrid model of in-person visits and digital tools for women who prefer to take advantage of some virtual offerings – whether to help busy patients with scheduling conflicts or transportation concerns. For example, we could offer a virtual visit for every other visit throughout a healthy pregnancy.

This care model is used in other OSF HealthCare markets similar to Pontiac and works well, to provide the right combination of digital tools with in-person, compassionate care.

“We want to be where our patients need us, and OSF HealthCare is committed to offering digital services to supplement our in-person care,” Davidson said. “We can offer virtual visits for most healthy pregnancies throughout prenatal care, or our remote patient monitoring program for prenatal and postpartum care is available to complement your visits to a doctor’s office, with on-demand learning based on where a woman is in her pregnancy.”

In addition, OSF lactation experts offer virtual lactation assistance to any woman, regardless of geographic location.

Patients with questions about their ongoing care, OSF Medical Group teams are available: 815-842-3567.

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“Our team is pleased to announce this return to the community,” said Ned Hill, president, OSF Sacred Heart. “We are committed to providing exceptional patient care and know the challenges our young families have experienced throughout the last few months. We are so appreciative of their patience with us.”

While the birthing unit at OSF Sacred Heart will reopen in September, outpatient prenatal care, post-partum care, general women’s health and pediatric services will continue at OSF Sacred Heart and OSF Medical Group in Danville.

“Similar to the rest of the country, staffing has been our biggest challenge. Until we were able to ensure each mother, child and family who needed us was able to have our undivided attention and a care plan that is customized to their precise wishes, we needed to transfer care to Urbana,” said Hill. “Now that we have new providers and a plan to care for our youngest patients and their parents, we are ready to resume services for obstetrics and newborn care in Danville.” 

In addition, more digital tools will now be used in Danville supplement in-person care.

OSF HealthCare will offer a hybrid model of in-person visits and digital tools for women who prefer to take advantage of some virtual offerings, whether to help busy patients with scheduling conflicts or transportation concerns. For example, OSF could offer a virtual visit for every other visit throughout a healthy pregnancy.

“We want to be where our patients need us, and OSF HealthCare is committed to offering digital services to supplement our in-person care,” Hill said. “Our remote patient monitoring program for prenatal and postpartum care is available to complement your visits to a doctor’s office, with on-demand learning based on where a woman is in her pregnancy.”

In addition, OSF lactation experts offer virtual lactation assistance to any woman, regardless of geographic location.

As a part of this reopening at OSF Sacred Heart, OSF HealthCare Heart of Mary Medical Center in Urbana, Illinois, will soon submit applications with the appropriate state and regulatory approvals to discontinue obstetrical care.

This decision was based on a number of factors, including access to care, travel time to hospitals and vulnerable populations. These factors combined with staffing challenges and the ability to recruit led to this decision.

The Blessed Beginnings Birthing Center at OSF Heart of Mary will transition all labor and delivery care to either OSF Sacred Heart in Danville or OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington, Illinois. This transition will also take place in September, although the exact timing is yet to be determined.

After September 2023, patients who are currently patients of OSF Medical Group – Obstetrics and Gynecology in Urbana will be referred to OSF Medical Group - Primary Care in Champaign, Illinois, or our Danville OB/GYN location.

OSF HealthCare will continue its commitment to overall women’s health through a variety of services including, but not limited to, regular well-woman annual visits, mammograms and general gynecology services, as well as bone density and wellness screenings at OSF Medical Group – Primary Care offices in the Champaign area.

For more information on the birthing center at OSF Sacred Heart, please call 217-443-5000. If patients have other questions, OSF Medical Group teams are available: 217-337-2010 (Champaign-Urbana) or 217-477-4718 (Danville).

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If you’re pregnant and looking for a New Year’s resolution, maybe take a look at the amount of caffeine you’re consuming these days.

Children who were exposed to small amounts of caffeine before birth were shorter on average than those who were not, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

The gaps in height, while not significant, were detected at age 4 through age 8, researchers said. The findings were reported even in the children of pregnant women who consumed less than 50 mg of caffeine per day on average, which is well below the current guidelines.

According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should consume no more than 200 mg of caffeine a day.

A mug of filtered coffee has about 140 mg. Caffeine is also found in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, cocoa, chocolate and some medications.

“That is about 12 ounces of coffee a day. So that would be larger amounts of tea, and tea doesn't have as much caffeine," says Dr. Jamie Plett, an OB/GYN with OSF HealthCare. "There is some caffeine in chocolate but that's a negligible amount, typically. But that's way less than what’s found in energy drinks and things.”

When it comes to growth in children there are, of course, other factors at play including gender, health conditions, nutrition and environmental conditions.

“Obviously genetics is going to be the biggest one as to the height of the child," says Dr. Plett. "But also, there have been studies before that show that nutrition during pregnancy is going to change the height of the child as well.”

According to the researchers of the most recent study, there is no way to know if the difference in height would continue into adulthood. If it did, the biggest concern would be the possibility of heart disease, obesity and diabetes, which are often associated with smaller stature.

Dr. Plett makes a point of talking with her pregnant patients about caffeine intake during an initial visit and the importance of staying around the 200 mg mark daily.

“It seems like just people are more aware of what they're putting into their bodies when they're pregnant. So they think a little bit more about ‘oh, do I really need this extra cup of coffee today?’ So I don't know that there's necessarily a decrease in a craving because I think if people are used to drinking that caffeine, they like it. Also, it's harder to sleep when you're pregnant. So people sometimes want that extra caffeine because it makes a little bit easier to get through their normal day. But I think people do think about it a little bit more before they ingest anything whether that’s food or drink or whatever during pregnancy.”

Dr. Plett cautions parents not to overthink any one study, and to talk with your provider if you have questions or concerns.

“I think some of it is taking this a little with a grain of salt," says Dr. Plett. "Knowing that there is still data pending, but knowing that this is a possibility, and all findings in science have to start somewhere. So this may be something just to keep an eye on in the future. Maybe think about that cup of coffee every morning, maybe have one every other day or a couple times a week instead. But I also have found that almost naturally people decrease their caffeine intake in pregnancy. The most common cause I’ve found in headaches early in pregnancy is caffeine withdrawal; they’re so used to having that first cup of coffee and if they don’t have it anymore, it’s pretty common to have those headaches.”

As with any major lifestyle or dietary change, remember to talk with your health care provider first, as changes can affect your mood or medical conditions.

 

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