Women’s lives are more stressful than ever. And many women have turned to alcohol to cope. An addiction medicine doctor shares healthier alternatives to deal with stress, and how to get help to reduce alcohol consumption.

The rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has begun across the globe, and there’s hope that we may finally be able to get the virus under control in the coming months. However, the release of vaccines has become another source of stress for women who are pregnant, thinking about getting pregnant, or are breastfeeding, as they wonder: “Should I get the vaccine?”

Our goal as anesthesiologists is to both alleviate pain and to keep the patient and baby safe. We need to anticipate any complications that could jeopardize the safety of the patient and baby on the day of delivery. We also want patients to be aware of these potential challenges in advance so they are not caught by surprise if something changes during delivery.

Concern about the COVID-19 outbreak continues to grow, but you don't need to make drastic changes to help prevent its spread.

Five tips to help you get the most out of this important annual appointment with your doctor.