Selected Podcast
Pregnancy: It's Complicated
Pregnancy is not a disease and usually, it's fairly straightforward but not always. Dr. June Ng discusses complex pregnancies, ways we can address the challenges that arise, and more.
Featured Speaker:
Learn more about June Ng, MD, MPH
June Ng, MD, MPH
Dr. Ng is board-certified in both general Ob/Gyn and Complex Family Planning. She has authored numerous research studies in maternal health. She has also written for Slate magazine on IUDs and abortion. Dr. Ng has a history of community service and teaching, and has received awards for humanism in education and patient care.Learn more about June Ng, MD, MPH
Transcription:
Pregnancy: It's Complicated
Amanda Wilde (Host): Pregnancy is not a disease and, usually, it's fairly straightforward, but not always. Dr. June Ng is here to talk about complex pregnancies and ways we can address those challenges. Dr. Ng is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, and a leader of the new Early Pregnancy Assessment Center.
This is Maimo Med Talk. I'm Amanda Wilde. Dr. Ng, welcome and thanks for having this conversation.
Dr June Ng: Thanks for having me.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Now, here's a two-in-one question, how often are pregnancies complicated? And what are those complications that might make things challenging?
Dr June Ng: Well, the majority of pregnancies are uncomplicated and uneventful, and that is a good thing. The frequency of complications during pregnancy varies, but it can be affected by things like the number of weeks a patient is, preexisting medical conditions or surgeries, genetics or even issues with the pregnancy or the placenta itself.
In the first trimester, common complications include things like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which can result in severe bleeding or abdominal pain, and can be very dangerous. In the second and third trimesters, some common conditions we see are hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia or chronic hypertension, diabetes, preterm labor or rupture of membranes and placental abnormalities due to prior C-sections.
Amanda Wilde (Host): So, Dr. Ng, if you find out you're pregnant, what is the next thing you should do, and then what comes after that? Can you walk us through that process?
Dr June Ng: So, the first thing you should do is probably reach out to find a healthcare provider. When someone has an early pregnancy, I always tell my patients that they should take the time they need to lean on their support people, whether that's family, friends, or loved ones, to help them decide what to do about it. I tell them to trust their gut because I believe that they know what the best decision is for their own lives. I also reassure them that I am here to help them regardless of what they want to do with the pregnancy. And whether this is an unwanted pregnancy or a desired pregnancy, getting in touch with a healthcare provider can help you make that decision.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Yeah, I was going to ask, what are the options for women who are facing an unwanted pregnancy?
Dr June Ng: Generally speaking, there's three options for an unwanted pregnancy. A patient can always choose to continue the pregnancy, deliver, and then parent. They can also choose to deliver and explore adoption options. And they can also choose to terminate the pregnancy. But having a doctor who is well-versed in these options can help a patient guide their way throughout that process.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Yeah, I mean, you have to know all the factors involved in each of these possible decisions, so a doctor can really help with that.
Dr June Ng: Definitely.
Amanda Wilde (Host): You just started the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center in Brooklyn. What are the services provided by the center?
Dr June Ng: Well, we provide a range of services that serve all early pregnancy needs, whether someone has an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or a normal early pregnancy. So, we can diagnose any of those types of pregnancies and treat them medically or surgically. We also provide all services to support patients through the choices of parenting, adoption, or termination. We can provide pregnancy confirmation and counseling on these options and then follow up with prenatal care, miscarriage treatment, or termination. And we also provide the full range of contraceptives, including IUDs and implants.
Amanda Wilde (Host): That's a wonderful range of services. And what was the importance of getting a center that was focused on just pregnancy and those surrounding options?
Dr June Ng: Well, I think a lot of patients, when they first find out they're pregnant, feel like they have nowhere to go. Oftentimes there's backlogs for ob GYNs to get an appointment, and so it might be weeks before that patient can actually see a doctor. In the case of something like an ectopic pregnancy, which is a dangerous pregnancy or a miscarriage, which should require counseling and treatment, several weeks is too long of a delay. In addition for someone with an unwanted pregnancy, waiting that long can put additional psychosocial and financial stressors on that patient's life. So, it was really important to us to offer this option to patients to keep them out of the emergency room, but also give them a timely appointment when they otherwise might be waiting weeks to find a doctor.
Amanda Wilde (Host): That sounds crucial to health. Does the retraction of Roe vs. Wade affect your services at the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center? You deal with both medical conditions and unwanted pregnancies. How are you affected by that decision?
Dr June Ng: I mean, what a great question. You know, we are so lucky to live in New York state where state laws don't restrict our ability to provide the full spectrum of care. In fact, just last year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the second round of state funds that would be used to support safe abortion care.
But even in states like New York, the impact of the Roe v. Wade overturn is very evident. More independent abortion clinics are seeing surges in patients coming from out of state for care. And what makes me sad is that these patients are the ones who had the resources and the means to travel. There are so many more that could not travel to get care and will therefore be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. Abortion restrictions also disproportionately affect communities with less resources, which historically have been communities of color. And so, I have no doubt that the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the state restrictions in half of the country are worsening that disparity and limit these patients' abilities to determine their own reproductive futures.
Amanda Wilde (Host): It's a really fraught time. I'm just curious why you chose this specialty. You see this whole range of everything from, I'm sure, happy delivery to really struggling to health issues. So, I imagine that is fully taxing on you as a doctor, but what attracted you to this specialty?
Dr June Ng: You're right, it definitely can be taxing. But I chose this specialty because I think it's amazing. It's an honor to be part of a patient's most intimate moments, whether those are extreme highs or extreme lows. Pregnancy in any trimester can be extremely stressful, even if there's no issues. And so, it's such a privilege to be able to support and advocate for someone who is pregnant and help them during a very vulnerable time.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Well, Dr. Ng, thank you for your good work and thank you for caring for pregnant patients, providing community service through the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center and for having this important conversation.
Dr June Ng: Thanks so much for having me.
Amanda Wilde (Host): To make an appointment at the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center, call 718-283-8959. For more information, visit maimo.org. This has been Maimo Med Talk. I'm Amanda Wilde. Be well.
Pregnancy: It's Complicated
Amanda Wilde (Host): Pregnancy is not a disease and, usually, it's fairly straightforward, but not always. Dr. June Ng is here to talk about complex pregnancies and ways we can address those challenges. Dr. Ng is an obstetrician and gynecologist at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, and a leader of the new Early Pregnancy Assessment Center.
This is Maimo Med Talk. I'm Amanda Wilde. Dr. Ng, welcome and thanks for having this conversation.
Dr June Ng: Thanks for having me.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Now, here's a two-in-one question, how often are pregnancies complicated? And what are those complications that might make things challenging?
Dr June Ng: Well, the majority of pregnancies are uncomplicated and uneventful, and that is a good thing. The frequency of complications during pregnancy varies, but it can be affected by things like the number of weeks a patient is, preexisting medical conditions or surgeries, genetics or even issues with the pregnancy or the placenta itself.
In the first trimester, common complications include things like miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, which can result in severe bleeding or abdominal pain, and can be very dangerous. In the second and third trimesters, some common conditions we see are hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia or chronic hypertension, diabetes, preterm labor or rupture of membranes and placental abnormalities due to prior C-sections.
Amanda Wilde (Host): So, Dr. Ng, if you find out you're pregnant, what is the next thing you should do, and then what comes after that? Can you walk us through that process?
Dr June Ng: So, the first thing you should do is probably reach out to find a healthcare provider. When someone has an early pregnancy, I always tell my patients that they should take the time they need to lean on their support people, whether that's family, friends, or loved ones, to help them decide what to do about it. I tell them to trust their gut because I believe that they know what the best decision is for their own lives. I also reassure them that I am here to help them regardless of what they want to do with the pregnancy. And whether this is an unwanted pregnancy or a desired pregnancy, getting in touch with a healthcare provider can help you make that decision.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Yeah, I was going to ask, what are the options for women who are facing an unwanted pregnancy?
Dr June Ng: Generally speaking, there's three options for an unwanted pregnancy. A patient can always choose to continue the pregnancy, deliver, and then parent. They can also choose to deliver and explore adoption options. And they can also choose to terminate the pregnancy. But having a doctor who is well-versed in these options can help a patient guide their way throughout that process.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Yeah, I mean, you have to know all the factors involved in each of these possible decisions, so a doctor can really help with that.
Dr June Ng: Definitely.
Amanda Wilde (Host): You just started the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center in Brooklyn. What are the services provided by the center?
Dr June Ng: Well, we provide a range of services that serve all early pregnancy needs, whether someone has an ectopic pregnancy, a miscarriage, or a normal early pregnancy. So, we can diagnose any of those types of pregnancies and treat them medically or surgically. We also provide all services to support patients through the choices of parenting, adoption, or termination. We can provide pregnancy confirmation and counseling on these options and then follow up with prenatal care, miscarriage treatment, or termination. And we also provide the full range of contraceptives, including IUDs and implants.
Amanda Wilde (Host): That's a wonderful range of services. And what was the importance of getting a center that was focused on just pregnancy and those surrounding options?
Dr June Ng: Well, I think a lot of patients, when they first find out they're pregnant, feel like they have nowhere to go. Oftentimes there's backlogs for ob GYNs to get an appointment, and so it might be weeks before that patient can actually see a doctor. In the case of something like an ectopic pregnancy, which is a dangerous pregnancy or a miscarriage, which should require counseling and treatment, several weeks is too long of a delay. In addition for someone with an unwanted pregnancy, waiting that long can put additional psychosocial and financial stressors on that patient's life. So, it was really important to us to offer this option to patients to keep them out of the emergency room, but also give them a timely appointment when they otherwise might be waiting weeks to find a doctor.
Amanda Wilde (Host): That sounds crucial to health. Does the retraction of Roe vs. Wade affect your services at the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center? You deal with both medical conditions and unwanted pregnancies. How are you affected by that decision?
Dr June Ng: I mean, what a great question. You know, we are so lucky to live in New York state where state laws don't restrict our ability to provide the full spectrum of care. In fact, just last year, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the second round of state funds that would be used to support safe abortion care.
But even in states like New York, the impact of the Roe v. Wade overturn is very evident. More independent abortion clinics are seeing surges in patients coming from out of state for care. And what makes me sad is that these patients are the ones who had the resources and the means to travel. There are so many more that could not travel to get care and will therefore be forced to carry a pregnancy to term. Abortion restrictions also disproportionately affect communities with less resources, which historically have been communities of color. And so, I have no doubt that the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the state restrictions in half of the country are worsening that disparity and limit these patients' abilities to determine their own reproductive futures.
Amanda Wilde (Host): It's a really fraught time. I'm just curious why you chose this specialty. You see this whole range of everything from, I'm sure, happy delivery to really struggling to health issues. So, I imagine that is fully taxing on you as a doctor, but what attracted you to this specialty?
Dr June Ng: You're right, it definitely can be taxing. But I chose this specialty because I think it's amazing. It's an honor to be part of a patient's most intimate moments, whether those are extreme highs or extreme lows. Pregnancy in any trimester can be extremely stressful, even if there's no issues. And so, it's such a privilege to be able to support and advocate for someone who is pregnant and help them during a very vulnerable time.
Amanda Wilde (Host): Well, Dr. Ng, thank you for your good work and thank you for caring for pregnant patients, providing community service through the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center and for having this important conversation.
Dr June Ng: Thanks so much for having me.
Amanda Wilde (Host): To make an appointment at the Early Pregnancy Assessment Center, call 718-283-8959. For more information, visit maimo.org. This has been Maimo Med Talk. I'm Amanda Wilde. Be well.