TOLAC (Trial of Labor After Cesarean Delivery)

You've had a cesarean section birth. Now you may wonder if you can try vaginal birth with your next baby. It's likely you can. The attempt to have a vaginal birth after cesarean delivery is called a trial of labor after cesarean delivery (TOLAC). It's often a success. To find out more about TOLAC, read this health sheet.

What Is a Tracheostomy?

A tracheostomy gives you a new pathway for air to go in and out of your lungs. To create this pathway, you need surgery to make a small opening in your neck. A tracheostomy tube is then placed into this opening.

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

The pelvic floor muscles may weaken due to aging, pregnancy and vaginal childbirth, injury, surgery, chronic cough, or lack of exercise. If the pelvic floor is weak, your bladder and other pelvic organs may sag out of place. The urethra may also open too easily and allow urine to leak out. Kegel exercises can help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles so they can better support the pelvic organs and control urine flow.

What Is Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

People who have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have digestive tracts that react abnormally to certain substances or to stress. This leads to symptoms like cramps, gas, bloating, pain, constipation, and diarrhea.

What Is a Hiatal Hernia?

This common problem occurs when part of the stomach slides up through the diaphragm into the chest cavity. Hiatal hernias aren't like hernias in your groin. Most hiatal hernias cause no symptoms and need no treatment. If you notice symptoms, usually you can control them easily.

Anesthesia Choices for Labor

Anesthetics may numb only 1 region of your body, or they may let you sleep during surgery. These medicines are given by trained specialists. Whenever possible, regional anesthesia is used so you can be awake during your baby's birth.

Understanding Hepatitis C (HCV)

Hepatitis means inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can lead to lifelong liver disease. This includes chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, liver failure, and liver cancer.

Understanding H. pylori and Ulcers

Traditionally, ulcers were thought to be caused by too much spicy food, stress, or anxiety. We now know that most ulcers are likely due to infection with bacteria known as Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

Hormone Therapy for Women

Hormone therapy (HT) increases your levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. This can help reduce symptoms of menopause.