Are IVF pregnancies dangerous for the baby?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

IVF pregnancies are more 35% more likely to be born prematurely, 30% more likely to be born growth retarded and 4-times more likely to die in the first year of life. There is nothing wrong with IVF that causes these problems. It is the same underlying reason that causes the infertility to begin with, which is responsible for the placental ...

Is terbutaline worth using to stop preterm labor?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Terbutaline is one of the worst medications ever used in patients with preterm labor. All the studies over the last 20 years have failed to prove any significant effects in stopping labor or prolonging pregnancy. In contrast, many studies have clearly demonstrated that terbutaline is dangerous for the mother and the unborn and continuous use of it in oral and ...

I delivered my first baby prematurely because of preterm labor. Can this happen again?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Most preterm deliveries are caused directly by poor placental development, which itself is often caused by an underlying and recurrent problem in the mother. This is why patients who delivered prematurely in a previous pregnancy, are as much as 60% more likely to experience a premature delivery in the next. Chronic inflammation of the placenta due to poor placental blood ...

What are some of the reasons that labor would be induced?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Labor is usually induced for medical reasons. Reasons may relate to both the mother and the fetus. With respect to the mother some common indications are poor maternal health, severe hypertension, maternal uterine infection, rupture of the fetal membranes prior to the onset of spontaneous labor etc. With respect to the fetus common indications are growth failure, non-reassuring fetal condition ...

My first baby was delivered by cesarean section because of fetal stress and I was told that the placenta was full of clots. What does this mean?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

When the placenta has clots present either inside it (placental thrombosis) or under it (sub placental clots), it means that a portion of the placenta has been damaged, resulting in less efficient blood flow to and from the mother. In such cases, the fetus cannot receive the necessary nutrients and ultimately, the necessary oxygen for healthy development. Fetuses with such ...

What are Procardia's side effects?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Procardia is a very safe medication, and we have never been forced to terminate its use because of side effects. Use of procardia may drop the blood pressure of a normal individual slightly, but this does not affect a patient's ability to continue taking her medication. Some patients experience mild palpitations for the same reason and others complain of skin ...

What is Procardia?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Procardia (a.k.a. Nifedipine) is a calcium channel blocker used primarily as an anti-hypertensive medication (blood pressure lowering medication). Procardia achieves this by relaxing the muscular fibers, which compose the vessels, allowing the blood to flow more freely. Because the uterine muscle responds the same way to Procardia, the medication causes relaxation of the uterine muscle fibers and thus stops preterm ...

What are the side effects of Indomethacin, which should concern my unborn baby as well as me?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Use of Indomethacin does not result in any serious side effects for the mother. The most common effects are mild gastrointestinal symptoms and fluid retention. Occasionally, patients complain of headaches. It is important to note however, that most of these symptoms subside within 2-3 days. In rare cases we have been forced to reduce the dosage in order to get ...

What is Indomethacin?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

Indomethacin is a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medication, which was primarily used for treating arthritis (similar to Motrin). Because labor involves the activation of compounds known as inflammatory cytokines, Indomethacin is the most potent medication used to effectively stop the production of these compounds, thus preventing preterm labor.

What is tocolysis?

Alexander Kofinas M.D.

The word "toco-lysis" is a derivative of the Greek words toketos, which means labor and lysis, which means, Òto bring to an end.Ó Together they mean the process of ending labor. Over the years, a number of drugs were used to achieve tocolysis. The most commonly used tocolytics are Indomethacin, Procardia, Terbutaline, Ritodrine and Magnesium Sulfate. At KOFINAS PERINATAL, after ...