What Your Pregnancy and Postpartum Can Reveal About Your Long-Term Health

Oct 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

For many women, pregnancy is a season of appointments, ultrasounds, and anticipation. At the end of it, there is a new baby. But doctors and researchers are increasingly looking at pregnancy through another lens: as an early window into a woman’s future health.

Pregnancy asks a lot of nearly every system in your body. Your heart works harder. Your blood vessels adapt. Your blood sugar and metabolism shift. Your blood volume increases.  How the body responds to these demands can sometimes provide early clues about a woman’s risk for health conditions years or even decades later.

“Pregnancy is almost like a natural stress test,” says Joanne Stone, MD, MS, a maternal fetal medicine specialist and Chair of the Department of Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “It puts demands on the cardiovascular and metabolic systems that can reveal risks that might otherwise go unnoticed.”

That makes your pregnancy history an important chapter in your lifelong health story. It is also why Mount Sinai is introducing MyPath Moms, a comprehensive, personalized care experience.

When pregnancy sends a signal

Conditions such as preeclampsia (high blood pressure that occurs generally later in pregnancy), gestational hypertension, and gestational diabetes are often viewed as complications that end when pregnancy ends. But research increasingly suggests they can also be markers of future cardiovascular and metabolic health.

Women who experience preeclampsia, for example, have a higher risk of developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease later in life. Gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy and then resolves after birth) is associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and other metabolic problems. Preterm birth and having a baby who is small for gestational age may also signal increased cardiovascular risk for the mother.

“That doesn’t mean that having one of these complications means you are destined to develop heart disease or diabetes,” says Francesco Callipari, MD, Medical Director of the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness and Assistant Clinical Professor and Vice Chair of Operations, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science at the Icahn School of Medicine. “It means we have information we can use. And information gives us an opportunity to be proactive.”

Your pregnancy and postpartum history belongs in your medical history

Once a baby arrives, however, a mother’s health can quickly take a back seat. The routine postpartum visit is an important part of care, but recovery does not end at six weeks. Nor does the health information revealed by pregnancy and the postpartum period stop being relevant once that visit is over.

Pregnancy and postpartum experiences can provide clues about future health across several domains. High blood pressure, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and fetal growth problems can signal increased cardiovascular or metabolic risk. Depression, anxiety, or other significant mood symptoms during pregnancy or postpartum can also be important markers of a woman’s future mental health, including during later periods of hormonal change. “Postpartum care shouldn’t be viewed as a finish line,” says Melanie Lucks, MMS, PA-C, Senior Physician Associate at the Rowan Women’s Health Center. “It’s really the beginning of the next phase of a woman’s health.”

Make sure your health care team knows If you experienced any of the following during your pregnancy:

• high blood pressure
• preeclampsia
• gestational diabetes
• preterm birth
• complicated delivery
• significant emotional challenges during or after pregnancy

Turning a health challenge into an opportunity

The good news? A pregnancy complication is not a forecast. It is an opportunity to pay attention earlier.

That might mean monitoring blood pressure, checking cholesterol or blood sugar, addressing nutrition and physical activity, treating iron deficiency, supporting mental health, and connecting with a specialist when appropriate. Sometimes the most powerful intervention is simply recognizing that a woman deserves continued care after the baby is born.

This is the thinking behind MyPath Moms+, an enhanced 16-week postpartum care experience from the Rowan Women’s Health Center for women whose pregnancies revealed added complexity.

Designed for women eight weeks to one year postpartum following a delivery at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy, MyPath Moms+ combines whole-person postpartum care—including physical recovery, emotional health, nutrition, sexual wellness, and pelvic floor care—with additional specialist visits when clinically appropriate. Depending on your individual needs, that may include seeing specialists in cardiology, endocrinology, psychiatry, or maternal-fetal medicine.

Instead of navigating disconnected appointments on your own, a coordinated team shares information and helps guide your care.

Your pregnancy is not simply a chapter that has closed. It may be the earliest glimpse you will ever have of the health you want to protect for decades to come.

Ready to look beyond the six-week checkup?

MyPath Moms and MyPath Moms+ may be right for you. Enrollment is based on clinical fit. The 16-week guided experience includes an $800 program fee for supplemental services and care coordination not covered by insurance; medical visits and testing are billed to insurance according to individual coverage. Full financial details are reviewed before enrollment.

Find out more about MyPath Moms or call the Rowan Women’s Health Center to make an appointment: 212-731-3609.

Answers to 10 Frequently Asked Health Questions From New Mothers

Updated on Oct 23, 2026 | Uncategorized

You’ve spent nine months preparing for your baby. But what happens to you after delivery? In the first days and weeks after childbirth, your body and emotions can change quickly—and it isn’t always easy to tell what is part of normal recovery and what warrants a call to your health care provider. Many postpartum symptoms are expected, but some shouldn’t be ignored.

“Postpartum begins immediately after giving birth, but the recovery doesn’t end at the six week checkup,” says Melanie Lucks, MMS, PA-C, Clinically Advanced Physician Associate, Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at Mount Sinai.

“For most women, physical and emotional recovery continues for months after childbirth. This period is an important time to heal, adapt, and prioritize your well-being,” she adds. “Although caring for a newborn can make self-care challenging, adequate rest, hydration, nutrition, and continued support from a health care team are critical components of recovery.”

Here are answers to 10 common questions new mothers have about their health—from bleeding and pain to exhaustion, emotional changes, and knowing when to ask for help.

1. What physical changes are normal after giving birth—and how long will recovery take?

Vaginal and vulvar soreness, cramping, bleeding or discharge, breast changes, and fatigue are all common after birth. You may not feel like yourself for weeks or even many months. What matters most is the direction of your recovery: Symptoms should generally improve over time. If something is getting worse or a new symptom develops, reach out to your obstetrician or midwife.

2. How much postpartum bleeding is normal, and when should I worry?

Bleeding and discharge are expected after childbirth. The amount and color typically changes as your body heals. Bleeding can last from two to six weeks and should gradually decrease over time. It may temporarily increase with activity or breastfeeding but should become lighter again with rest. If bleeding is getting heavier rather than tapering, and becomes suddenly very heavy, or you’re soaking through more than two pads in an hour, call your health care provider. Passing large clots (bigger than a golf ball), experiencing dizziness, or feeling faint, calls for prompt medical attention.

3. What postpartum pain is normal—and what shouldn’t I ignore?

Soreness and cramping are expected. Vaginal and perineal soreness may occur, especially if you had a tear, and it may increase slightly as you heal and gradually return to your normal activities. However, severe, persistent, worsening, sharp, or stabbing pain should not be ignored and warrant medical attention. Pay particular attention to increasing pelvic or abdominal pain, worsening pain or drainage around a C-section incision site, or pain accompanied by fever, tenderness to the touch, or redness and swelling.

4. Is it normal to be this exhausted—even when the baby is sleeping?

Newborn care, interrupted sleep, and blood loss from birth can leave you profoundly tired. Extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest shouldn’t automatically be dismissed as part of being a postpartum mom. If exhaustion feels overwhelming, persists, or comes with other physical or emotional symptoms, such as the inability to get out of bed or care for your baby, or is accompanied with weakness and dizziness, talk with your health care provider.

5. How does recovery differ after a vaginal birth versus a C-section?

Both require recovery, but the experience will differ. After a vaginal birth, pelvic soreness, stiches, and pelvic-floor symptoms, such as discomfort with voiding, may be part of healing. After a C-section, you’re also recovering from major abdominal surgery and caring for an incision. You will have different phases of recovery throughout the various weeks. In the first week, there may be slow return to bowel function and pain at the incision site. You may also have increased abdominal soreness and core weakness for weeks following surgery. Whatever your delivery experience, worsening pain, fever, or an incision that isn’t healing should be discussed with your health care provider. 

6. When should I worry about pelvic-floor problems or leaking urine?

Changes in bladder control, pelvic discomfort, and vaginal soreness can happen after childbirth. They are common, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with them or be uncomfortable. Tell your health care provider about urinary leakage—when your bladder is full, and you have the urge to go, or when you laugh or sneeze. And contact your health care provider if you have significant pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, or other symptoms that concern you. Also, ask for a referral for pelvic floor physical therapy. This can be a great option during your recovery.

7. What are the warning signs that I need medical attention right away?

Some postpartum complications can quickly become serious. Seek emergency care for chest pain, trouble breathing, seizures, confusion, or thoughts of harming yourself or your baby. Heavy brisk bleeding, fevers, a painful or swollen leg, or a severe headache uncontrolled by medication—especially with vision changes—also require prompt medical attention.

8. How do I know whether I’m experiencing “baby blues” or postpartum depression or anxiety?

Mood changes are common after childbirth including crying, anxiety, irritability, and feeling overwhelmed. The symptoms often are the worst within the first week after giving birth and should improve with time—feeling a little better every week. Postpartum depression or anxiety may be more intense, last longer, and make it difficult to function or care for yourself or your baby. Persistent hopelessness, withdrawal, ruminating scary thoughts, or intense anxiety are reasons to seek help. Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby require immediate, emergency attention. Don’t be afraid to tell someone; asking for help is a strength not a weakness.

9. What should I eat and drink while I recover?

Your body needs fuel and fluids as it heals. Focus on regular, nutritious meals and staying hydrated rather than putting pressure on yourself to immediately return to your pre-pregnancy diet or weight. Well balanced meals with adequate protein intake and iron-rich foods can help mitigate postpartum fatigue, anemia, and enhance tissue repair. Eat the rainbow, meaning a wide mix of fruits and vegetables.  (Natural fruits and vegetables provide the most vitamins and minerals). If you are breastfeeding, it is especially important to hydrate and increase caloric intake as well. If you’re struggling to eat or drink enough, or have questions about nutrition while breastfeeding, seek guidance from a registered dietitian.

10. When can I return to normal activities—and when should I have my postpartum checkup?

There’s no single timetable for resuming exercise, driving, sex, or other activities. Your recovery depends on you, your body, your birth, and any complications or persistent symptoms. Ask your health care provider when it’s appropriate for you to resume specific activities. Care does not end at the six-week appointment. That is why the Rowan Women’s Health Center developed MyPath Moms and MyPath Moms+.  A curated, comprehensive, and personalized care journey designed to optimize your recovery and help you heal and thrive. Learn more 

One final piece of advice

“Give yourself time and be kind to yourself,” says Ms. Lucks. “Your body has just gone through an enormous physical experience, and motherhood is an incredible emotional adjustment, whether it is your first baby or your fourth. Rest when you can, accept help, nourish yourself, and reach out to your health care team if you have any concerns. Remember to lean on others for support. You’re already doing a great job, and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.”

Postpartum Pelvic Floor Health: What’s Normal, What’s Not, and How to Heal and Feel Strong Again

Oct 12, 2026 | Uncategorized

You gave birth—and that’s a big deal.

Bringing a new life into the world is incredible, and your body has been through a lot. It’s normal to feel different physically and emotionally as you adjust. Your body needs time, care, and grace to heal. Your postpartum journey won’t look like anyone else’s.

Pregnancy and childbirth can significantly affect the pelvic floor, whether you had a vaginal birth or C-section. These muscles, connective tissues, and nerves support your bladder, bowel, uterus, and sexual function.

“After pregnancy, the pelvic floor may feel weakened, stretched, irritated, or tight. Giving these muscles extra attention can help your body heal and regain strength,” says Chin Wai Aka Kiko Li, PT, DPT, known as Kiko, a physical therapist and pelvic floor specialist at the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness at Mount Sinai.

What’s normal after giving birth?

During the first weeks, it’s common to experience:

• Pelvic heaviness, pressure, weakness, or fatigue
• Temporary urinary leakage or needing to urinate more frequently
• Period-like cramping, especially while breastfeeding
• Constipation, gas, hemorrhoids, or bowel changes
• Vaginal bleeding gradually becomes lighter and changes color
• Perineal soreness, swelling, or bruising
• Vaginal dryness, reduced sensation, or discomfort with sex

These symptoms often improve as tissues heal and hormones settle. Recovery isn’t always linear—some days may feel better than others.

What shouldn’t be ignored?

Talk with your physician or a pelvic-floor physical therapist if you have persistent or worsening:

• Urine or stool leakage affecting daily life, or blood in your urine or stool
• Pelvic pressure, bulging, or a “falling out” sensation
• Pelvic, vaginal, perineal, or tailbone pain
• Pain with sex or penetration
• Difficulty emptying your bladder or bowel
• Recurrent urinary symptoms

Don’t wait until your postpartum checkup if something feels wrong.

Your pelvic floor needs more than Kegels

One of the biggest postpartum misconceptions? Everyone needs to do more Kegels.

“Not everyone needs more Kegels,” says Ms. Li. “The pelvic floor needs to contract, relax, lengthen, coordinate with your breath, and respond to movement and pressure. Some people are weak; others are too tight or poorly coordinated. More Kegels can sometimes make symptoms worse.”

A pelvic-floor physical therapist can assess what’s happening and create a plan based on your symptoms, healing, and goals.

A gentle approach to recovery

Once you are cleared by your medical team, postpartum rehab can gradually progress from breathing and pelvic-floor coordination to core strengthening, walking and daily movement, resistance training, running, jumping, and eventually sports.

Stay hydrated, eat enough fiber, keep moving, and avoid straining.

When you’re medically cleared and ready for intercourse, go slowly, use lubrication, communicate with your partner, and stop if it hurts.

Postpartum recovery isn’t about racing back to your pre-pregnancy body. It’s about rebuilding strength, mobility, coordination, confidence, and comfort. And even if it’s been months or years since childbirth, it’s not too late to seek a consultation with a pelvic-floor rehabilitation specialist.

What You Can Do to Manage Menopause Symptoms

Updated on Jul 21, 2026 | Uncategorized

Today, women are talking about their health issues—online, in person with friends, and with their doctors. But some of the information you may be hearing could be outdated, confusing, or contradictory. In this Q&A, Candice Fraser, MD, MBA, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Mount Sinai’s Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, gives you the latest, science-backed information about what you can do about your symptoms.

What are the symptoms of menopause?

Symptoms vary widely from person to person. Most people associate menopause with hot flashes and night sweats. Because menopause affects multiple systems in the body, symptoms can be far-ranging, and many people might not associate them with menopause. Symptoms can include:

• Difficulty sleeping (very common)
• Brain fog, such as difficulty focusing or finding words
• Mood changes, irritability, and anxiety
• Vaginal dryness and painful intercourse
• Joint pain, weight gain, muscle aches, and itchy skin (less commonly recognized as menopause symptoms)

Brain fog is one symptom that can be very distressing—especially for women who are at the peak of their careers. Struggling to find the words, or losing your train of thought in the middle of a presentation can be very upsetting.

Candice Fraser, MD, MBA

What treatments are available for menopause?

Menopause symptoms are influenced by many changes happening in midlife, including hormonal changes, aging, and changes in the nervous system. The body is complex, and that’s why treatment must be individualized. At the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, we take our time understanding every patient and their needs. We gather their medical history, their family medical history, and most importantly, we get an understanding of what they are feeling and experiencing. Symptoms might not be entirely hormonal, or they may be due to a combination of factors. Every patient’s care plan might be different.

Also, it’s important to know that these symptoms can occur during the menopause transition or perimenopause—the 5-10-year period before menopause. The following treatments apply to women in these transitional years, as well.

• Currently, hormone therapy is recommended for vasomotor symptoms (such as hot flashes and night sweats), genitourinary symptoms of menopause (including vaginal dryness and bladder changes), and for reducing osteoporosis risk. The formulation of hormone therapies has changed over the years to be safer. Hormone therapy includes estrogen, and progesterone in women who have a uterus to lower the risk of cancer.
• Different delivery methods that make estrogen safer include topical forms of a patch, gel, or spray. Oral formulations may be appropriate, but those have a slightly higher risk of cardiovascular effects including stroke and blood clots in the legs and lungs. There are vaginal formulations for local delivery.

Non-hormonal medications are available, including:

• Fezolinetant and elinzanetant treat hot flashes by regulating signaling paths in the brain that control body temperature.
• A class of medicines known as SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) and SNRIS (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors). These include paroxetine, fluoxetine, venlafaxine and duloxetone), which can help with mood and anxiety symptoms as well as reduce hot flashes.
• Oxybutynin is a prescription medication typically used for incontinence but has good study data for hot flashes and night sweats, as well.

For the management of vaginal dryness, and discomfort, non-prescription therapies are available, including:

• Vaginal lubricants, which are used during sex, may be an effective option for some women.
• Vaginal moisturizers, used two to three times per week, can also provide lasting hydration and improve comfort.

If lubricants and moisturizers aren’t enough, low‑dose vaginal estrogen is a safe and effective option for most women, with minimal risk of side effects. Other vaginal and oral medications may also be prescribed for management of vaginal and urinary symptoms.

In some cases, laser therapies or pelvic floor physical therapy may also be appropriate after a thorough evaluation.

What lifestyle changes can help manage menopause and perimenopause symptoms?

Lifestyle changes can be powerful in managing, reducing, and even preventing certain symptoms. Regular exercise, a balanced diet (such as the Mediterranean diet), adequate sleep, stress reduction, and cutting back on or eliminating alcohol can make a significant difference in how women feel during menopause.

The good news is that there are a broad range of options to manage the symptoms of menopause, and working with a knowledgeable clinician is essential to developing an individualized plan.

Learn more about the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness

Read more about how menopause care is evolving

How Menopause Care Is Evolving

Updated on Jul 16, 2026 | Uncategorized

Candice Fraser, MD, MBA

It used to be that previous generations of women had little support and few remedies to deal with menopause.

In this Q&A, Candice Fraser, MD, MBA, an obstetrician-gynecologist with Mount Sinai’s Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, explains how menopause care has changed dramatically over recent years.

What has changed in menopause care and treatment?

When I was training as a resident, the school of thought was to avoid hormone therapy because of widespread concerns about increased risks of cancer, stroke, and even death. Until recently, menopausal hormone therapy came with “black box” warnings about the risks. But as more data has emerged, we understand that these risks apply only for certain subsets of women. At the end of 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) removed these broad black box warnings from hormonal treatments. Today, we evaluate each woman for her risk factors, and for most women, these treatments are safe.

Another factor is that women have become more vocal about the need for better menopause care. The interest among the medical community has grown in supporting women through midlife. Clinicians, eager to better meet the needs of their patients, are enrolling in specialized training programs and earning certification through professional organizations to provide high‑quality menopause care. Residency programs are also developing dedicated menopause curricula to ensure future clinicians are well-prepared.

In addition, more research is being conducted to clarify, challenge, or strengthen the data we currently have, and this will help physicians better counsel patients on treatment options and their associated risks. We also have a new class of FDA-approved non-hormonal medications to treat hot flashes. Today, we have better information, better training, and better care.

Hospital systems—including the Mount Sinai Health System—are creating centers specifically focused on caring for women in midlife. This shift reflects a broader move toward more holistic and comprehensive care. Rather than addressing only bothersome symptoms, we’re looking at the full picture: preventive care, risk reduction, and the management of medical conditions that often emerge or change during this stage of life.

What is new about the Rowan Women’s Health Center’s approach to treating menopause?

At the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, menopause care is an integrative approach designed to address the full spectrum of midlife health. We incorporate cardiometabolic health, bone health, nutrition, digestive health, and mental and psychological well-being, as well as gynecologic and hormonal health into our care plans. We are establishing what we call “pathways” for women in various stages of life, and MyPath Balance 40+ is the first of these. This pathway brings together multidisciplinary expertise under one roof, creating a structured six-month program. And all the visits are coordinated by the Rowan Center’s care navigators, so it takes the burden off the patient.

The first visit is scheduled for 60 minutes, allowing space for patients to discuss symptoms, review their medical history, and ask questions. It allows us to understand what patient are experiencing and what their needs are. We introduce them to our care model and why we’ve developed it this way. While the program is structured, it has the flexibility to be personalized to each individual patient. And we hope this model of care becomes the standard for women’s health care everywhere.

Learn more about the Carolyn Rowan Center for Women’s Health and Wellness