Gynecology & Obstetrics

The Women’s Center, a practice of Copley Hospital

Appointments:
8:00am-4:30pm
Monday – Friday

Copley Health Center Building, 2nd Floor
530 Washington Highway
Morrisville, VT 05661

802-888-8100

Directions

Campus Map

Our Team of Specialists in Women’s Health

History Questionnaire

Please print and fill out the questionnaire below that applies to your visit. You may scan or take a picture of the completed document and email it to us at TheWomensCenter@chsi.org; fax it to us at (802)888-9438; or mail to The Women’s Center, 530 Washington Highway, Morrisville, VT, 05661. It is helpful, and much appreciated, to receive the completed form at least one week prior to your visit. Having this important information ahead of your visit allows you to spend more time with your provider.

“How You’re Doing”

We recognize that ‘how you’re doing’ is related to more than just your health. This form asks you a number of questions on topics related to your feelings, behaviors, and other challenges you may be facing that play a role in your well-being. Please tell your medical assistant or ask our staff if you think of anything else important you’d like to share. We have the people and resources to help. Complete the form that applies to your visit ahead of time and fax, scan or mail (information above under History Questionnaire).

Forms

Prenatal Visit:

Prenatal Patient History Questionnaire

Gynecological or Other Women’s Health Visit:

Patient History Questionnaire

How You’re Doing:

Patient Screening

Prenatal Patient Screening

The Women’s Center at Copley Hospital provides care and support throughout a woman’s lifespan.

We listen and focus on you as a whole woman, partnering with you to create a healthcare plan to meet your individual needs.

Our Certified Nurse Midwives (CNMs)

The Women’s Center OB/GYNs and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) are a collaborative team, working with women during pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. However, midwives are not just for pregnancy.

See the certified nurse midwives at The Women’s Center for well woman care, contraceptive options, menopause care, and treatment of problem gynecologic conditions and diseases.

Our OB/GYNs are available for higher risk pregnancy and births as well as gynecologic care.

The Women’s Center works closely with Copley’s Birthing Center, offering moms and babies the kind of personal attentive care that only a small community-based and family-oriented hospital can offer.

Meet our team of Certified Nurse Midwives (pictured l to r) Kipp Bovey, Erinn Mandeville, Rebecca Gloss and Jennifer Walters

Areas of Care

Pregnancy from pre-conception counseling to postpartum care
Routine gynecologic care, annual exams and screenings
Contraceptive options
Comprehensive menopause care
Gynecologic conditions and diseases

Problem gynecologic care including:

Abnormal bleeding, painful sex, abnormal Pap smears, fibroid tumors, ovarian cysts, infections
Minimally invasive (laparoscopic surgeries)

Video: Why Colleen Twomey chose Copley

Gynecology/Obstetrics Videos

featuring William Ellis, MD (OB/GYN)

Below are some helpful links to learn more about breastfeeding, nutrition and postpartum:

Check out our Discharge Education Downloads:

Caring for Illness in Pregnancy

Try to avoid medication use in the first trimester (first 12 weeks of pregnancy). Use products as directed on the label; if you need help, ask the pharmacist to help you.

Don’t hesitate to call our office if you need further instructions about what to do – 802-888-8100.

For more detailed information about safe medications in pregnancy:

MotherToBaby: Medications and More During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

FDA: Medicine and Pregnancy

Allergies

Try all things listed under colds and coughs.
Eat local honey

Colds and Coughs

Get plenty of rest.
Wash your hands often.
Cover your cough.
Drink lots of fluids (Think 2-3L per day!)
Gargle with warm salt water for a sore throat.
Vitamin C – max 1000mg per day
Echinacea (no goldenseal)
Drink honey and lemon tea for sore throat, cough and cold
Rub Vicks Vapor Rub or Tiger Balm on your chest and throat
Nasal saline spray or Neti Pot and Breathe Right strips for stuffy nose
Humidifier or Vaporizer (change water daily)

Headaches

Drink lots of fluids (Think 2-3L per day!)
Eat something with protein every 2-3 hours
Neck and shoulder massage or acupuncture
Get plenty of rest
Reduce your stress level, add daily exercise
Warm rice sock/compress

Diarrhea

Try the BRAT diet (bananas, white rice, applesauce, toast)
Avoid dairy for at least 24 hours
Increase fluids
Try Pedialyte or Gatorade

Difficulty Sleeping

Have a bedtime routine: Read before bed, avoid screens, try a warm bath

Address the cause:

Mind racing – try meditation app or lavender oil
Restless legs – try magnesium, massage and stretching
Up often to urinate – limit fluid intake after 5pm
Heartburn – See handout “How Your Body Changes” for tips

Allergies

Use an antihistamine like Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin or Allegra.

Colds and Coughs

General aches and pains: Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol)
Do not take more than 4000mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours.
If you are taking this medication frequently, talk to your midwife.
Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen in pregnancy, unless prescribed by provider, due to risk of bleeding complications
Stuffy nose: Each of these medications are very drying – use as a last resort.
Cholorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) or Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed).
Oxymetazoline spray (Afrin or Vicks Sinus) if no improvement, stop after 3 days of use.
Cough: start with cough drops
Guaifenesin/dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM)
Tylenol Cold
Sore throat: Cloraseptic spray

Headaches

Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, Extra Strength Tylenol)
Magnesium Oxide or Magnesium Glycinate 400-500mg daily
Try 1-2 cups of caffeine, avoid in afternoons and evenings

Diarrhea

Kaopectate or Imodium (only for first 24 hours)
If having diarrhea longer than 24 hours, call your midwife

Other GI upsets (constipation, hemorrhoids, heartburn), see handout “How Your Body Changes” for tips

Difficulty Sleeping

Tylenol PM, Benadryl, Unisom
Melatonin 3mg

Helping children deal with a new baby

Before the baby arrives:

Make your other children feel special!

Remind them how important they are to you and how much you love them.
Tell them about how they were born and how you took special care of them.
Set out baby photos at the eye level so they can see themselves as babies.
Let your children go to prenatal visits with you. Ask them to listen to the baby’s heartbeat and to feel the baby kicking.
Give your children a new doll to take care of so they can practice taking care of a “baby”.

Have the baby’s new room or area set up plenty early so your older children can get to use it.
Explain to them what a new baby is like including what a baby can and can’t do. There are good library books that will help you do this. Ask a librarian for good titles.
Plan in advance who will take care of your children when you go to the hospital. Discuss the plans with the children.
Let older children help you pack for the hospital. Ask them to select a special gift for the new baby to put in your bag.

Dealing with the new baby:

Have a birthday cake for the new baby, and a special gift for your older children.
Let your children help with the baby if they want to and as they are able;
Hold the baby while you watch.
Bring you diapers and other supplies.
Share a few toys with the baby.
Smile and talk to the baby, point out when they are making baby happy.
Encourage your child to be gentle with the baby
Try to read to your older child while feeding the baby.

Bathe the children together if the older child doesn’t mind
It’s okay for your older child to be curious about baby’s different body parts and body functions. Be honest and use correct terminology.
If your older child becomes close to dad or other adults during this time, encourage it.
Allow your children to express negative feelings towards their mother or baby. But do talk, hold and show love to them when you see them regressing or acting jealous.
Older children can regress around a new baby. Reassure the child if they have back tracked with eating, toilet training, sleeping or crying.
Consider using gold stars on a task chart to reward positive behavior.

Remind your older children they are special!

Plan activities for older children while you are talking care of the baby.
Spend special time alone with your older children during the day and at bedtime.
Have small special gifts for them, especially when people drop by with presents for the baby.
Have a planned activity once a week for the older child. Go to the park, restaurant or library.

How Your Body Changes and How to Help

While you’re pregnant, many changes happen in your body. These changes are caused by hormones that get your body ready for labor, birth and breastfeeding and by your growing baby which puts pressure on your organs, pelvis, lower back. Most discomforts of pregnancy are not dangerous and there are things to try to help you feel more comfortable. If you are really worried or in severe pain, you should always call the midwife.

Causes of discomforts and how to Help

Abdomen/ Pelvis

Pain: Ligaments and muscles that support your uterus are stretched and may spasm as your baby grows

Joints in the pelvis are less stable due to hormones relaxing them
During the second half of your pregnancy, you may notice round ligament pain that is sharp or dull pain on both or one side of your belly.
Pain might come with walking or turning over in bed

How to Help

Take warm bath, try gentle movements like stretching, change your position
Wear a belly band, pregnancy cradle or pregnancy belt
Use caution when rolling over in bed, you might need an extra pillow for support

Cramps: are muscle contractions of the uterus

How to Help

Drink lots of water
Exercise regularly – walking and swimming

Back

Pain: Your abdominal and back muscles can be weakened from the enlarged uterus

Increased weight can strain the low back
Your enlarged uterus can push on the sciatic nerve causing numbness or weakness in the legs

Balance: Change in your balance due to your belly tipping you forward

How to Help

Use good posture
Bend from the waist to pick things up, bend your knees into a squat and let your legs do the work
Avoid heavy lifting
Take breaks during the day and rest when you can
Use a heating pad or warm compress
Wear a pregnancy cradle or belly band to help support the weight of your belly
Wear shoes with low heels and good support
Try acupuncture, chiropractic care or physical therapy – contact us if you need a referral

Breathing

As the uterus grows, it puts pressure on your lower lungs causing shortness of breath

How to Help

Take good deep breaths regularly
Use good posture
Rest as needed

Breasts

Breasts may become larger, firmer and more tender
Areola (area around the nipple) becomes larger and darker
Nipples might stick out more
In the second half of pregnancy, you may notice small amounts of fluid called colostrum

How to Help

Wear a supportive bra
Use nipple pads for leaking colostrum
Call if you have pain, heat, redness or a hard lump, it could be a sign of infection

Digestion

Heartburn: acid from your stomach is pushed up into your throat from your uterus putting more pressure on the stomach and from the hormones relaxing the muscle that covers the opening of the stomach

How to Help

Keep a food diary – some foods worsen heartburn for different people – common causes are spicy foods, acidic foods, greasy foods
Eat small, frequent meals – eat slowly
Drink between meals, avoid eating and drinking together – it can overfill your stomach
Do not lay down or recline within 2 hours of eating
Wear loose fitting clothing
Sleep with your head raised on pillows

Constipation: intestines slow due to hormones in pregnancy

How to Help

OTC medications/herbs: start with Tums or Maalox. If you are taking either of these multiple times per day, consider adding:

Pepcid or Zantac – Start with once per day then increase to twice per day
Papaya Enzymes – as directed on package
Do not take Alka-Seltzer, Pepto-Bismo or baking soda

Eat raw fruits, dried fruits (like prunes), vegetables, whole grains and bran
Drink 8-10 glasses of water per day
Walk every day

Hemorrhoids: caused from constipation and relaxation of blood vessels

How to Help

OTC medications/herbs: add fiber bulking agent like Metamucil or Citrucel

For gas pain, simethicone (Gas X, Mylicon)
For hard stools: use stool softener like Colace
Sitz baths in warm water– 2-3 times per day for 15-20 minutes
OTC medications/herbs: Use witch hazel pads (tucks) and use Preparation H or Anusol

Energy & Emotions

Tiredness or fatigue: hormonal changes, changes in blood flow, low blood pressure, dehydration, anemia

Dizziness: caused by change in blood volume which occurs by mid-pregnancy or by hormonal changes affecting blood pressure or blood sugar

How to Help

Take naps if you can – for some people napping can disrupt your sleep at night
Lay on your left side when resting or sleeping
Drink lots of water
Stand up and sit down slowing, move with intention
Avoid getting too hot or standing for long periods of time
Eat small, frequent meals or snacks with protein
Call if you are frequently dizzy or if you are fainting or falling

Mood changes: hormonal changes, tiredness from changes in sleep

How to Help

Talk with someone supportive or reach out for additional support – our office can help
Relaxation techniques
Good bedtime routine – turning off screens, having tea or bath at night

Legs

Cramps: caused by low calcium or magnesium in your diet, poor circulation

How To Help

Eat foods rich in calcium and magnesium
Do stretching and massage at night before bed

Swelling or edema: caused by relaxation of your veins and increased amount of blood which make it harder for your body to pump the blood back up to your heart

How To Help

Drink lots of water
Exercise daily to help with blood flow
Lie on your left side
Sit with your feet up
Wear compression stocks or stockings
Epsom salt bath or foot soaks

Varicose veins: relaxation of the veins and increased pressure, also related to genetics, more likely if it runs in your family

How To Help

Wear support stocking
Raise your feet during the day
Avoid socks and hose with elastic bands
Don’t cross your legs
OTC medications/herbs: vit E 400 IU twice a day, drink nettles tea daily
Call if you have redness, swelling, pain and heat in one part of your leg that could be a blood clot.

Urinary Tract

Frequent urination: pressure on the bladder from the uterus causes you to pee more often

How To Help

Avoid caffeine
Go to the bathroom more often
Use good hygiene
Some people avoid drinking fluids close to bedtime – make sure to drink more during the day
Call if you have frequent urination with burning, urgency or fever

Vagina

Increased vaginal discharge: hormonal changes cause more vaginal discharge and cervical mucous

Vaginal pressure: from the weight of uterus and hormonal changes

How To Help

Don’t douche or wear pantyliners daily
Wear loose fitting clothes and avoid tight fitting underwear
Call if you have a change in the discharge – yellow, brown, green or cottage cheese like in appearance or vaginal itching, burning, foul-smelling discharge