FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about our services. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us directly.
Obstetrics FAQs
We recommend scheduling your first prenatal visit around 8 weeks of pregnancy unless you have a history of high-risk pregnancy or other concerns.
Typically, appointments are monthly until 28 weeks, bi-weekly until 36 weeks, and weekly until delivery
Generally, you will have:
First trimester ultrasound – To confirm the due date.
18–20 week ultrasound – A detailed scan to examine the baby’s anatomy and screen for birth defects.
Additional ultrasounds may be done if medically necessary.
This detailed ultrasound examines your baby’s anatomy, measures growth, and can reveal the baby’s gender if desired.
True labor contractions occur every 5 minutes or less, last for about a minute, and continue for at least an hour. They become more intense and are difficult to talk through.
After delivery, schedule a postpartum check-up within 6 weeks. Watch for signs of postpartum depression, excessive bleeding, or fever, and contact your doctor if needed.
It's important to avoid certain foods to ensure the health of both mother and baby:
Raw or undercooked meats and seafood: These can be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Deli meats: Unless heated until steaming, they may contain listeria, which can cause miscarriage.
Fish high in mercury: Such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish.
Unpasteurized dairy products: These can harbor dangerous bacteria.
Caffeine: Limit intake to one drink per day (200 mg/day).
Alcohol: It's best to avoid alcohol entirely during pregnancy.
For a comprehensive list and more details, refer to the American Pregnancy Association's guidelines.
Yes, exercise is generally safe and beneficial during pregnancy. Activities like walking, swimming, yoga, and light strength training are encouraged. Avoid contact sports or anything with a high risk of falling. Always get your doctor’s clearance.
Avoid the following activities to ensure a safe pregnancy:
Litter box cleaning – Due to the risk of toxoplasmosis.
Hot tubs and saunas – They can raise core body temperature excessively.
High-risk physical activities – Such as roller coasters, ATVs, mountain biking, and skiing.
Safe activities typically include walking, running, Zumba, weight lifting, yoga, hiking, and swimming, but always consult your doctor.
Pregnancy screenings can include:
Non-invasive blood tests – Such as first-trimester screen, quadruple marker screen, and cell-free DNA testing, especially for women over 35.
Invasive testing – Includes procedures like chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis.
Talk to your provider to decide which tests are right for you.
At Cottonwood OBGYN, doctors aim to deliver their own patients. However, any of the seven board-certified obstetricians may attend your birth, depending on availability. On average, doctors deliver about 80% of their own patients.
An epidural involves placing a tiny catheter near the spinal cord to help relieve labor pain. At Intermountain Medical Center, anesthesiologists are available on the labor and delivery floor seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. You can request an epidural at any time during labor, as there is no minimum dilation required. However, it's important to note that it takes about 20 minutes to reach its full effect, so if you're too close to delivery, the benefits may be limited.
Benefits:
Provides continuous pain relief during labor.
Allows you to rest and conserve energy for pushing.
Risks and side effects:
Temporary drop in blood pressure.
Possible headache afterward.
May limit mobility and make pushing more difficult.
There are two main types of epidurals:
Regular Epidural: After placing the catheter, a mix of anesthetic and narcotic (like fentanyl or morphine) is administered through a pump or periodic injections into the epidural space. This combination helps minimize the side effects of anesthesia while offering good pain control.
Combined Spinal-Epidural (CSE), also known as a “Walking Epidural”: This involves an initial spinal injection for fast pain relief, followed by continued medication through an epidural catheter. The spinal portion typically lasts 1–2 hours and is used for immediate pain relief, while the epidural continues providing relief afterward.
Yes, traveling is generally safe for women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Most doctors recommend completing any major travel before 36 weeks gestation (about one month before your due date).
To stay safe and comfortable:
Move around or stretch every 1–2 hours to prevent blood clots.
Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
Wear loose-fitting clothes and consider using compression stockings or a maternity support belt.
Pack approved medications such as stool softeners, hemorrhoid cream, or acetaminophen.
Take regular rest breaks during long drives or flights.
Yes, especially:
Zika virus: Avoid areas where Zika is active, as it can cause serious birth defects.
Cruise restrictions: Many cruise lines do not allow passengers beyond 24–28 weeks pregnant.
Emergency changes: Consider travel insurance in case of complications or cancellations.
Ensuring a proper latch is crucial for effective breastfeeding and to prevent discomfort. To assist your baby in latching correctly, consider the following tips:
Positioning: Hold your baby close, ensuring their nose is opposite your nipple.
Nipple Alignment: Aim your nipple toward the roof of your baby's mouth.
Wide Mouth: Encourage your baby to open their mouth wide before bringing them to your breast.
Chin and Nose Touch: Your baby's chin should touch your breast first, with their nose lightly touching your breast.
If you experience pain or your baby seems unsatisfied after feeding, consult a lactation specialist for personalized guidance.
To boost milk production, consider the following strategies:
Frequent Feeding: Nurse your baby often to stimulate milk production.
Pumping: Use a breast pump between feedings to encourage additional milk supply.
Stay Hydrated and Nourished: Drink plenty of water and maintain a balanced diet rich in nutrients.
Rest: Ensure you're getting adequate sleep to support overall health and milk production.
If concerns about milk supply persist, seek advice from a healthcare provider or lactation consultant.
Many medications are safe during breastfeeding, but it's essential to consult your healthcare provider before taking any new medication. They can provide guidance on safe options and advise on any necessary precautions.
For more detailed information and personalized advice, consider reaching out to a lactation consultant or your healthcare provider.
Yes, leg swelling (also called edema) is common during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. It occurs due to increased pressure on your veins from the growing uterus and hormonal changes that cause your body to retain more fluid.
To minimize swelling:
Elevate your feet whenever possible.
Avoid standing for long periods.
Sleep on your left side to improve circulation.
Wear compression stockings to help prevent fluid buildup.
Stay hydrated and limit salt intake.
Engage in light exercise like walking to improve blood flow.
You should contact your doctor if:
The swelling is sudden or severe.
It only affects one leg.
It's accompanied by pain, redness, or warmth.
You experience shortness of breath or chest pain.
These may be signs of a more serious condition such as a blood clot or preeclampsia.
The CDC has a list of selected guidelines and some recommendations for managing various illnesses or conditions during pregnancy. Please see their list here. The CDC has also provided a very helpful infographic that illustrates the challenges that women face during pregnancy in regards to taking medications and medicines. Please view and download that information here.
Also, to check which medications and medicines are safe call the Pregnancy Riskline from 8am-5pm weekdays at (801) 328-2229 (Utah locals ) or (866) 626-6847 if you are out of state.
You’ll find people who say it’s unsafe and others who say it is safe. What we know: it has small amounts of caffeine and alcohol in it and it’s never been specifically studied during pregnancy. We know a small amount of caffeine in pregnancy is safe. There’s no known quantity cut-off for safety of alcohol in pregnancy. In general when talking about safety in pregnancy, we tend to stay on the conservative side and use research to guide our recommendations. So for now, we’re on Team No Kombucha during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Delayed cord clamping is the practice of waiting 30 to 60 seconds (or more) after birth before clamping and cutting the umbilical cord. This allows more blood to transfer from the placenta to the baby, which can increase the baby’s iron stores and improve circulation. It’s especially beneficial for preterm infants but is also recommended for full-term babies unless there are complications requiring immediate care.
Yes! As a baby gets closer to the due date, they start running out of space so you may not feel the big kicks and jabs you’re used to.
The movements often change to a shimmy or more rolling movements. Any size movement counts as reassuring—big or little, but if you’re worried, count the kicks.
Drink or eat something sweet, then go to a room without distractions and lay on your side with your hands on your belly. You should feel at least 4 movements in an hour. If you don’t, you should call your doctor or head to labor and delivery to check on your baby. If you do feel those movements you can feel reassured.
But trust your gut: if you really feel like something’s not right, just go to Labor and Delivery to get checked out.
Gynecology FAQs
Annual exams are recommended for most women. Pap smears are typically done every 3 years, or every 5 years when combined with HPV testing, depending on age and medical history.
We provide a range of options, including birth control pills, patches, IUDs (hormonal and copper), and implants. Discuss with your doctor to determine the best choice for you.
Schedule an appointment if you experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, or changes in menstrual cycles.
Menopause is the natural end of menstrual cycles, typically occurring around age 50. Hormone therapy, lifestyle adjustments, and certain medications can help manage symptoms like hot flashes and mood changes.
For annual exams, light bleeding is usually not an issue, but heavy bleeding may affect Pap smear results. If you suspect a vaginal infection, it’s best to wait until your period is over.
The cervix is the opening of the uterus that extends into the vagina. It’s a little plastic brush that we sweep across the front of the cervix to pick up some cells. The cells are then examined by a pathologist who reports whether your cells appear to be normal, precancerous, or other.
The most common results are “negative”, ASCUS (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), LGSIL and HGSIL (low grade and high grade precancerous lesions).
Sometimes the Pap smear also tests for the presence of HPV (human papilloma virus). This virus is sexually transmitted and can lead to precancerous or cancerous changes. The virus is extremely common and as long as you are having regular check-ups, the chance of that virus causing a cancer is low.
If you are skipping a period, especially for more than 3 months at a time, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor.
If your body routinely skips multiple periods, it can cause overgrowth of the lining of the uterus and could eventually lead to a uterine cancer. But what if you are using birth control to skip periods, is that okay? Yes! Progesterone-based birth control thins the lining of the uterus so there isn’t anything that needs to come out for a period.
These birth control methods can also be protective for people who don’t cycle regularly to prevent overgrowth of the uterine lining.
Most of the time, yes. If it’s for your annual exam, sometimes the Pap Smear Test can be inconclusive if you’re bleeding heavily, but if it’s one of the lighter days of your period, you should be fine. We have patients apologize all the time for needing to be examined when they’re on their period. Let us assure you, your bleeding will never shock or bother your gynecologist. We deal with bleeding all day, so please don’t feel embarrassed. If you think you might have a vaginal infection, it can be difficult for us to see anything when you’re bleeding, so that may be worth rescheduling your visit until your period is done.
It’s important to know that an IUD isn’t right for everyone, but it is right for a lot of people! There are 3 different types we use in our clinic. One is the Paragard IUD which is a small plastic T with no hormones involved. It has a small copper coil around the stem which prevents pregnancy. It’s very effective and lasts for up to 10 years, but you can have it removed any time if you’re unhappy with it, or if you’re ready to get pregnant. Most women feel like they’re not using birth control with the Paragard, but some women do get heavier bleeding during their periods, and occasionally spotting between periods. This doesn’t happen often, but it can be a bit of a nuisance.
Another IUD option is the Mirena IUD. The Mirena secretes a small amount of progesterone daily to prevent pregnancy. This hormone also often makes your periods very light, or go away altogether! It lasts for 5 years. It has a small chance of hormonal side effects such as headaches, mood changes, and weight gain, but these are very infrequent due to the low dose of hormone circulating in your bloodstream.
The last option is the Kyleena IUD. It is the same as the Mirena, except it’s a little bit smaller in size and a little bit less hormone. The Kyleena IUD is great for women who haven’t had babies before.
For more info: https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Long-Acting-Reversible-Contraception-Intrauterine-Device-and-Implant
We can even run the test off your pap smear so it doesn’t require any extra testing. Never hesitate to ask for STD testing if you have any concerns at all. If you have any questions as to what insurance our practice accepts please see our Insurance Providers page. On this page, we link to the various insurance providers we accept. These pages that are linked have the contact information for the various providers.
Please reach out to your insurance provider to find out if they do cover STD testing it is most likely that they do.
Please see our Insurance Provider Page here.
If you don’t see your insurance provider on this page please feel free to call our front desk at (801) 507-1950 to see if accept your health insurance.
We are accepting new patients.
We have such incredible patients already and feel so lucky to provide care for them. If you know someone in the Salt Lake Area looking for a doctor, send them our way! We also love your referrals.
Because of different patient needs, sometimes there may be a wait for new patients. But if you need to be seen sooner than seems to be available, feel free to ask to talk to the nurse. She may be able to fit you in a little quicker if needed.
Babies are the most common reason, since they have a habit of coming in their own time.
But there are other reasons your doctor may not see you on time. An OB/gyn is unique in that we have scheduled clinic patients while also being responsible for women in labor, women who come in to the ER with emergencies like hemorrhage, acute pain, etc., and patients currently admitted to the hospital such as for complications of pregnancy, postpartum care, or postoperative care.
Clinic can offer an additional unpredictable element as sometimes patients schedule an appointment for one reason and end up with other needs. For example, a woman may come for a quick routine 12 week pregnancy visit and find that instead, she is having a miscarriage. These delicate issues require extra time and care and sometimes we may need to have an uncomplicated patient wait longer, so we can spend some extra time with the patient who needs us at that moment. The physicians at Cottonwood LOVE our patients. We respect you and your time and are so grateful for your understanding when you are asked to wait longer than is convenient. Know that in your time of need, we will be there for you as well.
Surgery FAQs
We offer laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgeries, including hysterectomies, myomectomies, and endometrial ablations, which typically result in faster recovery times.
Follow any pre-operative instructions provided, including fasting if required. Arrange for someone to drive you home after the procedure.
Recovery times vary based on the procedure. Expect some discomfort, swelling, and limited activity for a few days to weeks. Follow your post-operative care plan closely.
Pain management may include over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or prescribed pain relievers. Follow your doctor’s guidance to avoid complications.
Most patients can resume light activities within a few days. Avoid strenuous exercise and heavy lifting until cleared by your doctor, usually within 4-6 weeks.
Take Charge of Your Health - Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Your health matters, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you need a routine check-up, pregnancy care, or specialized gynecological services, our compassionate team at Cottonwood OBGYN is ready to provide expert care tailored to your needs.
Take Charge of Your Health - Schedule Your Appointment Today!
Your health matters, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. Whether you need a routine check-up, pregnancy care, or specialized gynecological services, our compassionate team at Cottonwood OBGYN is ready to provide expert care tailored to your needs.
