The health concerns do not stop after you give birth according to Door County Medical Center’s Dr. Elizabeth Gaida.
While much of the attention around women’s health centers around breast and cervical cancers, the number one killer of women is actually heart disease. Gaida says a lot of it is because the health needs of women often take a back seat to that of their families, especially if they recently gave birth.
Gaida says many doctors are now emphasizing the need for “fourth-trimester” care, the time after a woman gives birth when their physical and mental well-being may be fragile, but hidden behind the joy of a child.
May is National Women’s Health Month, an annual observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office on Women’s Health to help them understand the steps they need to take to stay healthy. You can listen to our full interview with Dr. Gaida by clicking this link.