The importance of Postnatal Care for you and your baby’s long-term health and happiness

At Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine in Katy and West Houston, Texas, we are proactive in discussing every phase of pregnancy with our patients. We understand you have a lot on your plate as an expectant mom; however, it is critical to be aware of the steps to take following your child’s birth. Such postnatal care is important — it helps to set the stage for many happy years going forward for the mother, her child, and any other close family members.

Our OB-GYNs, Drs. Jenkins, Roy, Ramirez and Ikwuagwu will generally want to see you again by no later than three weeks post-birth. This initial assessment should be accompanied by follow-up appointments as needed, including a comprehensive post-partum appointment scheduled around four months after the birth of your infant.

Components of postnatal care

The importance of postnatal visits cannot be overstated. We’ve provided just a few of the reasons why ongoing care is so vital, which also represent some of the topics we will discuss and assess with patients during these visits:

To assure you are healing properly, we will evaluate how well you are doing from a physical standpoint as well as from the standpoint of self-care. Are you nurturing your mental and emotional health?
There is no magic guide to motherhood. We want to support you with any challenges you may be experiencing, be it concerns about infant feedings or sleeping arrangements.
We will closely follow any comorbidities you may have had prior to pregnancy or gestational conditions that may have developed while you were pregnant. We can further coordinate care with family physicians and other specialists, depending on your needs and the underlying conditions that must be managed or treated.
No doubt there will be many questions about when and how to exercise, as well as what to eat in the days, weeks, and months following the birth of your baby. We encourage you to not be so focused on the number on the scale that you lose sight of what is really important, and that is your long-term nutritional needs, as well as the health of your child during those formative months. Not only can the right balance of nutrient-rich foods speed up your healing and recovery, but it can also boost the volume and quality of the milk that is available to nourish your child.

Call our office

New patients please call:
855-346-8610

Existing patients please call:
281-347-2600

Virtual Consultation

While it may seem overwhelming, we do not want to delay discussing future reproductive plans and the timing of future pregnancies, too. Generally, it is recommended to abstain from sex for around four to six weeks following birth. As with so many things in life, a little planning can considerably reduce stress over the long haul.

If we were to isolate just one takeaway as it relates to postnatal care, it’s this: What is your body “saying”? Listen! This is something to be said for intuition and instincts. If you feel something is off, even though others may insist soreness or bleeding was normal for them after pregnancy, we urge you to contact us right away at 855-346-8610. Our skilled specialty team is here for you at every life stage and transition long after the birth of your child.

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Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine
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We offer general care, gynecology, and obstetrics services that span all stages of a woman's life. Dr. Taryll L. Jenkins, MD, received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, TN. He completed his residency training at the University of Texas and Hermann Hospital, TX and is Board-certified from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with years of research experience.

Having graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Chemistry in 2011, Dr. Stephanie Roy received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2015 from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Today, she is a leading Board-certified physician who works hard to provide you and your family with high-quality services. In addition to spending time at the practice, Dr. Roy possesses extensive volunteer experience in the community. She was also a tutor at the Medical Careers Diversity Program in 2012 and, since then, has spent her free time volunteering for the St. Vincent’s Clinic.

Dr. Tiffany Ikwuagwu is passionate about caring for the diverse communities in Katy, TX. Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, her medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine, and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGovern Medical School, she worked as principal investigator on a research project with Dr. Nana Ankumah at UT Houston. A member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Ikwuagwu has served in several leadership roles and has made many contributions to the community.

Yara Ramirez, MD, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and her doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where she also completed her residency. She won the Resident Teaching Award from UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for two consecutive years.
Dr. Ramirez has researched extensively on many obstetrics-related topics. She has been a Junior Fellow Representative for the UTMB Residency Program and a Medical Student Education Committee Member at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has volunteered for various local and foreign community programs. Her fluency in Spanish and French is an asset to her organization.

Nadia Alexander is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center. With seven years of experience in women’s health and a focus on obstetrics and ambulatory gynecology (vaginitis, UTI, and vaginal bleeding), she provides quality, compassionate care to patients in various stages of reproductive life. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is the lead contact for our Telehealth service.