Our Experts Respond
There are a lot of things you may not expect when you’re expecting, but our committed team of experts are here to help you through them all. From a dedicated, 24-hour nursing staff to an in-house lactation clinic, to the NYGH Midwifery Care Clinic that provides timely access to prenatal and postpartum care, we are more than equipped to help you at every stage of your journey into parenthood.
See below for responses to some of your submissions from a few of North York General Hospital’s incredible health experts.
Our Experts Respond
There are a lot of things you may not expect when you’re expecting, but our committed team of experts are here to help you through them all. From a dedicated, 24-hour nursing staff to an in-house lactation clinic, to the NYGH Midwifery Care Clinic that provides timely access to prenatal and postpartum care, we are more than equipped to help you at every stage of your journey into parenthood.
See below for responses to some of your submissions from a few of North York General Hospital’s incredible health experts.
Meet our experts
Our experts respond
Ildiko Kaszas, Registered Midwife, explains:
“I’d never heard of anyone talk about getting super itchy nipples in the third trimester, but I couldn’t stop scratching them!”
— Melissa, 36 | Brampton
Dr. Lara Rosenberg, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“I didn’t know that miscarriages are so common. Women should know it happens often and it’s not their fault.”
— Tonya, 41
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, OBYGN, explains:
“I didn’t expect my nose to blow up like a balloon while I was pregnant.”
— Marla, 31 | Vaughan
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, OBYGN, explains:
“I didn’t expect to be vomiting throughout the day without a break. Turns out that’s called Hyperemesis Gravidarum.”
— Anonymous
Dr. Kalpana Sharma, OBGYN, explains:
“No one told me I’d have so much pressure in my ears during the first trimester — it kind of felt like I was underwater.”
— Latoya, 26 | Pickering
Dr. Lara Rosenberg, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“I didn’t think I’d lose control of my pelvic floor BEFORE the baby came out. Every time I coughed I peed all over the floor.”
— Anonymous
Dr. David Eisen, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“I didn’t expect diastasis recti during pregnancy and the recovery period post-partum.”
— Sarah, 34 | Toronto
Gemma Greenberg & Ildiko Kaszas, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I didn’t expect that when the baby’s head is crowning, it feels like you need to poop!”
— Natalie
Gemma Greenberg & Ildiko Kaszas, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I didn’t expect to get the shakes during labour, but apparently it’s very common.”
— Jennelyn, 27 | North York
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, OBYGN, explains:
“I didn’t know that having somewhat high blood pressure could result in giving birth to a premature baby.”
— Anonymous
Gemma Greenberg, Ildiko Kaszas & Monique Dupuy, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I didn’t expect my baby to be vacuumed out of my body and greet me with a cone-shaped head!”
— Jenny, 31 | Toronto
Gemma Greenberg, Ildiko Kaszas & Monique Dupuy, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I had no idea the placenta would also have to be birthed. They squished my belly like a tube of toothpaste.”
— Cristina, 35 | Whitby
Dr. David Eisen, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“No one ever warned me about the pressure you feel during a c-section. Docs literally pushed so hard on my belly I lost my breath.”
— Hana, 36 | Toronto
Dr. Kalpana Sharma, OBGYN, explains:
“I didn’t expect to have contractions for 72 hours. Labour can sometimes take a loooong time.”
— Helena, 36 | Toronto
Dr. Kalpana Sharma, OBGYN, explains:
“I always thought c-sections were easy breezy. Turns out the doc just cuts through 7 layers of skin and it hurts for weeks.”
— Andi, 37 | Chicago
Dr. Kalpana Sharma, OBGYN, explains:
“I didn’t know my c-scar would keloid and look like a worm was permanently attached to my body.”
— Josephine, 38 | Pickering
Dr. David Eisen, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“No one told me that things were going to swell. And by “things”, I mean all the things you didn’t think could swell.”
— Krystle, 36 | Scarborough
Gemma Greenberg & Ildiko Kaszas, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I didn’t know there was such a thing as therapy for my pelvic floor.”
— Jenni, 35 | Toronto
Ildiko Kaszas, Registered Midwife, explains:
“I had no idea that you lose so much hair several months after having a baby. Apparently it’s normal!”
— Reena, 43
Monique Dupuy, Registered Midwife, explains:
“No one tells you that you’ll still look pregnant after delivering.”
— Josie, 47 | Toronto
Dr. David Eisen, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“Post birth, getting up for that first pee is prime fainting time. Me and my hospital roommate both fainted on our first trip to the washroom.”
— Dorothy | Toronto
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, OBYGN, explains:
“I didn’t expect breastfeeding to be so hard! I thought it would be like drinking from a straw!”
— Kavita
Dr. Lara Rosenberg, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“I had no idea my nipples would crack and bleed from breastfeeding.”
— Kiana | Richmond Hill
Dr. Lara Rosenberg, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“I didn’t know cabbage leaves would help my breasts when they were so hard and swollen from breastfeeding.”
— Kathleen, 42 | Toronto
Dr. Kalpana Sharma, OBGYN, explains:
“I didn’t expect how constipated I’d be after giving birth! The first poop was not easy — take that laxative!”
— Julia
Dr. Kalpana Sharma, OBGYN, explains:
“I didn’t expect the first baby poop to look like microwaved chocolate.”
— Henry, 42 | Richmond Hill
Dr. David Eisen, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“Didn’t know that infants can sometimes go up to 12 days without pooping!”
— Jan, 34 | Toronto
Ildiko Kaszas & Monique Dupuy, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I never knew that the fontanelle or soft spot on the top of his head would pulsate! I’ve never Googled something faster in my life!”
— Jenn | Toronto
Dr. David Eisen, Family Medicine OB, explains:
“Never heard of ‘Mommy’s thumb’ before. Wish someone had shown me how to properly hold my baby so I could’ve avoided it.”
— Anonymous
Gemma Greenberg, Ildiko Kaszas & Monique Dupuy, Registered Midwives, explain:
“I didn’t expect to be so scared to have sex with my pregnant wife for fear of poking the baby.”
— Jonathan, 36 | Scarborough
Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, OBYGN, explains:
“I didn’t expect such severe postpartum depression.”
— Elizabeth, 45 | Toronto
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Tel: 416-756-6944 | Fax: 416-756-9047 | foundation@nygh.on.ca
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