OB/Gyn, Midwife or Doula?
Explore birthing partners to find the ideal person to support you through delivery.
Prenatal Trimester Checklist
Review this checklist to make sure you’re on track for each trimester.
Do’s and Don’ts During Pregnancy
Check this list of do’s and don’ts for what to do or avoid during pregnancy.
Ask an Expert
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
What are the risks of having a baby if I am 35 or older?
About 10 percent of all pregnancies occur in women 35 or older. The age of 35 being defined as "advanced maternal age" was created to describe when the risk of a having a fetus with Down syndrome surpasses the ... continue reading about What are the risks of having a baby if I am 35 or older?
Deborah Quinn-Chen, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I am 51 years old. What is my chance of still getting pregnant, and how should I handle birth control as I move through menopause?
Women commonly believe that after a certain age they cannot conceive because they are too old. That is not entirely true. As a woman ages her fertility declines. A 45-year-old woman is less likely to conceive t... continue reading about I am 51 years old. What is my chance of still getting pregnant, and how should I handle birth control as I move through menopause?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?
Most of the studies on the use of fertility drugs have examined hormonally sensitive tumors such as breast, ovarian and uterine malignancies. There does not appear to be any association between fertility drugs ... continue reading about Is a woman undergoing fertility treatments at higher risk of getting cancer than a woman of the same age who has not taken these drugs?
Ask the Expert Team
Sutter Health
My husband and I are trying to get pregnant and I have a few questions that I'm kind of embarrassed to ask our doctor. Does an orgasm help you get pregnant? Should I try and keep the sperm in for awhile, and is there a best sex position for conception?
It is not clear if having a orgasm increases the chance of conception. Contractions of the muscles and elevation of the cervix may indeed enhance efficiency of sperm transport. We do know with certainty that or... continue reading about My husband and I are trying to get pregnant and I have a few questions that I'm kind of embarrassed to ask our doctor. Does an orgasm help you get pregnant? Should I try and keep the sperm in for awhile, and is there a best sex position for conception?
Jodi J. Winemiller, CNM, R.N.
SPMF San Francisco HMO Network
What is postpartum care and why is it important?
The postpartum (after birth) period, sometimes called the fourth trimester, is the time your body recovers from pregnancy, labor and delivery. It typically lasts six to eight weeks but can last longer.“Th... continue reading about What is postpartum care and why is it important?
Robert Altman, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Does recovery time after a C-section differ from a vaginal birth?
Yes, the recovery time for C-section births is generally longer than that of vaginal births. For example, time in the hospital for vaginal births is generally between one to two days. On the other hand, C-secti... continue reading about Does recovery time after a C-section differ from a vaginal birth?
Susan Maayah, M.D.
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
I'm a women in her 50s who is going through perimenopause. I have only had one menstrual period this year. Is there still a possibility that I could get pregnant?
Pregnancy is very unlikely at this age and stage of minimal ovarian function. Ovulation is so rare and the egg quality is probably so poor that fertilization would not likely result in pregnancy. However, this ... continue reading about I'm a women in her 50s who is going through perimenopause. I have only had one menstrual period this year. Is there still a possibility that I could get pregnant?
P. Adam Dodd, M.D.
Sutter Gould Medical Foundation
I've been trying to conceive for three months now and no luck. Is something wrong with me?
No, you don't need to be worried yet. Seventy percent of all couples trying to have a baby don't conceive within the first three months. The standard would normally be to have a medical evaluation after 12 mont... continue reading about I've been trying to conceive for three months now and no luck. Is something wrong with me?
Jill D. Foley, M.D., FACOG
Sutter East Bay Medical Foundation
How likely is it for a woman to get pregnant after having her tubes tied?
Good question. The terms tubal ligation, tubes tied, tubal sterilization, and female sterilization can all be used interchangeably to describe the same process. In the U.S., up to one third of women use sterili... continue reading about How likely is it for a woman to get pregnant after having her tubes tied?
More Resources
Healthwise Resource Library
Look up helpful health information.
Patient Information
Practical info for Sutter patients.
Tools and Quizzes
Online tools to help you make decisions about your health.