Jennifer Butt MD, FACOG

Making Sense of Miscarriage During the Coronavirus Crisis

April 2020

Often the result of chromosomal abnormalities, as many as 10 to 20% of confirmed pregnancies in the United States end in a miscarriage—a statistic that has not changed, even as coronavirus cases in the U.S. grow, and hospitals are overrun with patients seeking emergency medical care. As a result, many women are now left to navigate the ramifications of this traumatic experience in an environment of overwhelming uncertainty and omnipresent fear.

“Often, it’s helpful for women to get out there and go back to their normal lives after a miscarriage,” says Jennifer Butt, M.D., a Manhattan-based OB-GYN, adding that engaging in simple routines, like going to work, exercising, meeting with friends and family, can help ease the emotional toll of pregnancy loss. “Obviously,” she continues, “many of these activities are currently severely restricted and discouraged due to the coronavirus pandemic.”

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The Postpartum Care Tips OB/Gyns Wish You Knew

February 2020

But while there's so much information about pregnancy (how many week-by-week pregnancy guides did you read?), and even tons of advice about how to get through labor, we fall short when it comes to information about postpartum care. Maybe it's because every parent who goes through it is in a new-baby fog, and maybe it's because it can be difficult and not-fun to talk about, but these postpartum conversations tend to happen on a smaller scale in whispers with only our closest, most trusted advisors.

"Everyone's story — pregnancy, labor, delivery, postpartum — is different, so try to avoid comparing yourself to others. And for everyone else, be kind, be supportive, and lift one another up," says Dr. Butt. 

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Can You Go Through Labor Without Pain? Experts Explain

January 2020

"In early labor, a woman will typically have mild and irregular contractions that are often not painful," says Butt. "She may have slight pink or bloody discharge or pass her mucus plug. This is normal, and we typically want women in early labor to stay at home unless her water has broken."
Active labor, however, is a different story: "Active labor is when contractions become stronger, regular, and much closer together, causing cervical dilation to progress from 6 to 10 cm. These contractions are typically very painful." 

Which Trimester Is the Longest, Explained by Experts

October 2019

Though each trimester is equal in theory, this breakdown assumes that you carry for at least 40 weeks, which is not always the case; individual pregnancies can be shorter or longer. The shortest trimester is most likely to be the third, however, because some people have their baby before they hit the 40-week. “Depending on if delivery occurs before or after the due date, the length of the third trimester can vary for each patient,” Jennifer Butt, MD, FACOG, tells Romper.

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So, if you’re wondering which one will feel the longest, it’s most likely the second. This is probably a good thing because, for many women, "the second trimester can be 'the best trimester'," Butt tells Romper. "The nausea, fatigue, food aversions have most likely resolved by this point and patients are feeling physically better."

Why Is Laughing Gas for Labor Still Not the Norm in the U.S.?

October 2019

Nitrous oxide has long been a go-to labor pain management tactic in countries like Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the rest of Europe, says Jennifer Butt, M.D., FACOG, an ob-gyn at Upper East Side Obstetrics & Gynecology. It was also relatively common in America until the 1970s, when epidurals became commonplace. 

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“The scientific literature looking at nitrous oxide use for labor pain is poor, so many of the recommendations come from clinician experience and expert opinion,” elaborates Dr. Butt. “The general consensus is that neuraxial anesthesia, like an epidural, is more effective.”

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The medication can also make you feel drowsy and disassociated, which isn’t ideal for women who want to stay alert throughout labor and delivery. “There is a dose-dependent relationship such that the more a patient uses it, the more drowsy they can feel,” explains Dr. Butt. 

The Complete Guide to At-Home STD Tests

August 2019

Fear and anxiety over the results are some of the main reasons people don't get tested more often, and the process itself can leave you feeling embarrassed and just uncomfortable.

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"I think these home kits will provide access to some individuals, who for various reasons, may not be able or comfortable going to a doctor's office or clinic to get tested," says Dr. Butt.

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"Nothing should replace an actual doctor's visit," says Dr. Butt. "A thorough health history and physical exam are key elements in the evaluation of a problem. Symptoms that might trigger concerns of an STI could actually be something else that would be otherwise be missed."

Sorry, This Exfoliating Herbal Stick Won’t Rejuvenate Your Vagina

March 2019

Anything besides warm water and mild soap can irritate the vagina further, creating an imbalance of the pH levels, explains Jennifer Butt, M.D., a gynecologist and founder of Upper East Side OB/GYN. This seems more of a way to introduce bacteria into your vagina and that can actually cause, not prevent, an imbalance in the vaginal pH and foul-smelling discharge," she says.

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As for claims it can restore women to their “former tightness” in just seconds, that's also bogus. As Dr. Butt explains, the idea of a "loose vagina" is largely a myth; the vagina is elastic, which basically means it's able to stretch and withstand different shapes and sizes, both entering and exiting. 

Getting Pregnant After a Miscarriage: What to Know

March 2019

A first-trimester miscarriage can be asymptomatic, Butt explains. Meaning that you can still feel pregnant (nausea, breast tenderness, tiredness) because the pregnancy hormone is still regulating in your body.

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Butt also recommends talking to other women in your life about their own experiences. Because miscarriages are so common, being open about it with others and learning about their experiences can make you feel less isolated.

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If you have experienced a first-trimester miscarriage and do feel emotionally and mentally ready to try again, Butt says you can begin as early as when you get your next period. However, if you have had a second-trimester miscarriage, you’ll have to discuss options with your doctor.

Caribbean Says Zika No Longer an Issue. Doctors Say Not So Fast

November 2018

Curious what everyday practitioners were advising on the heels of WHO’s new messaging, I called my own OB-GYN, Dr. Jennifer Butt, who owns a small private practice on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. “It’s too premature for me to change my recommendations,” she told me, citing that no reputable group—not the Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, not the Society for Maternal and Fetal Medicine, nor the CDC—has changed its stance on Zika.

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“The WHO is saying that the disease is less traceable, not that it’s any less of a threat,” she explained. “I would be very hesitant to jump the gun.”

Could Telemedicine Be the Future for Women’s Health Care?

November 2018

“I think the concept of providing medical care through telemedicine for women who otherwise would not have access to health care because of cost is an exciting one,” said Jennifer Butt, a renowned gynecologist at Upper East Side OB/GYN in New York City. “OB/GYNs are often times the only physicians women see and rely on as primary care physicians, so it is important that all women, regardless of medical coverage, can go to an OB/GYN when they need to.”