News & Events

New Patient Registration and Check-in Process starting 5/28/2025

Faster check-in? Yes, please!
We’re rolling out a new registration and payment system to make your check-in experience smoother and quicker. Say hello to Clearwave (replacing Phreesia) for appointment reminders and annual updates, and Rectangle Health for secure, easy payments. Our goal is to make things more user-friendly and hassle-free for you.

Lines at check-in? Not anymore.
You can now check in right from your phone! Just scan the QR code on the check-in window when you arrive—available at all Bedford Commons OBGYN locations.

Online scheduling is here!
Booking your next visit just got easier. Head to www.bcog.com and click “Schedule appointment”. Most visits (except pregnancy visits and procedures) can be scheduled online, and you can reschedule or look for earlier openings there too.

Gynecology

Hot Flashes and WTF Moments: Navigating Perimenopause in Your 40s

Christina Haag, APRN

Ah, your 40s. The decade where you’ve finally figured out how to say no without apologizing, you own more leggings than jeans, and you’ve accepted that “going out” now means leaving the house by 5 p.m. But just as you start feeling semi-sorted, your body decides to throw you a hormonal curveball called perimenopause—aka nature’s not-so-subtle reminder that she still runs the show.

Let’s talk about it. Because while everyone warns you about menopause, no one quite prepares you for its chaotic little sister: perimenopause, the transitional phase that can begin as early as your late 30s and likes to party well into your 40s.

The Hormone Rollercoaster from Hell

First, the hormones. Estrogen and progesterone start doing a weird on-again, off-again thing like a couple that definitely should’ve broken up years ago. One month you feel fabulous, the next you’re crying because your toast burned and obviously this means your life is falling apart. Mood swings become so unpredictable, even your cat is keeping a safe distance.

Periods: Choose Your Own Adventure

Perimenopause turns your cycle into a twisted game of “Guess When I’ll Bleed!” One month it’s a light whisper of a period. The next, it’s Niagara Falls and you’re Googling “how much blood loss is too much before I go to the ER?” Oh, and PMS? That now stands for Perimenopausal Mood Storm, and it comes with bloating that rivals third-trimester pregnancy.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: The Unwanted Guests

There’s nothing like waking up at 2 a.m. in a puddle of your own sweat to make you question your life choices. Your partner, wrapped in blankets, is shivering while you’re flinging off sheets like a deranged rotisserie chicken. Daytime hot flashes? They hit mid-meeting, mid-coffee, or mid-sentence—often while you’re trying to seem like a composed adult.

The Brain Fog is Real

Remember when you could multitask like a boss? Yeah, not anymore. Now you walk into rooms and forget why, lose your phone while you’re holding it, and find your sunglasses in the fridge. It’s not early-onset anything—it’s just your brain on estrogen withdrawal.

Libido: Missing, Presumed Napping

Your sex drive may be taking a sabbatical. It’s not that you don’t want intimacy—it’s just that sleep sounds better, bras feel like a personal attack, and frankly, you’re too busy trying not to stab someone over loud chewing.

So, What Now?

The good news: you’re not alone. Millions of women are quietly sweating through Zoom calls, stockpiling pantyliners, and crying over dog food commercials right along with you. Talk about it. Laugh about it. Rant if you need to. And most importantly, get support—whether that’s from friends, a health professional, or a decent fan. Ready to tame the hormonal chaos? Click here to make an appointment and let our menopause specialists work their magic.

Perimenopause may be a bit of a dumpster fire, but you, my friend, are still absolutely on fire. Just… bring a towel.

Gynecology

Looking for a new OBGYN provider in Bedford?

We are excited that you are considering Bedford Commons OBGYN for your healthcare. We know it can be difficult to change providers or meet someone new. To select the provider who is right for you, check out our provider videos on our website. All of our providers are currently accepting new patients.

When you are ready to set up an appointment, you can schedule most appointments using our online scheduling or by talking with a patient care specialist by calling 603-668-8400. If you’re newly pregnant or need immediate care, please be sure to call us.

Although having your records isn’t required to make an appointment, it can be very helpful to have a copy of your last GYN office visit, your last pap test, and any routine labs that you have had within the last year. To facilitate this process, complete an online medical records release for your previous healthcare provider. Click here to complete the medical records release.

Bedford Commons OBGYN accepts most major health insurance plans. However, it is important for you to verify whether we accept your specific health plan at the time you schedule an appointment. We may require a referral for certain plans. Please note that we do not currently accept the Anthem BCBS Pathways Plan from the New Hampshire Marketplace.

We have offices in Bedford, Windham, Manchester, and soon will open a location in Londonderry, NH! In addition, we are anticipating our Derry location to reopen in Summer 2023! We look forward to seeing you at a location that’s convenient for you.

If you have questions about becoming a new patient, please feel free to give us a call 603-668-8400. We would love to meet you!

News & Events

I just tested positive for COVID-19 and I’m pregnant! Now WHAT?!?!

Christina Haag, APRN

With rising COVID19 cases in New Hampshire, we are getting calls daily from our patients reporting a positive COVID-19 test. We are here to support you with the latest information about pregnancy and COVID19. We know that you are worried and have lot’s of questions. We are updating this information as new guidance becomes available.

If you think you may have symptoms of COVID19, you should be tested. Symptoms include: cough, fever, shortness of breath, headache, cold-like symptoms, sore throat, or loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. There are many options for testing including at-home test kits (only should be done if you are symptomatic), state test sites, and pharmacies. For a full list of testing sites, click here. New Hampshire is also offering free COVID19 test kits. To get your test kit, follow this link.

If you test positive for COVID-19, please call us during office hours at 603-668-8400 to let us know. For the safety of our patients and team members, your next visit will be scheduled at least 10 days from the date of your positive test. We are also happy to convert your scheduled visit to a telehealth visit to check-in with you. You should isolate from others and stay at home for 10 days. If you live with unvaccinated family members, try to isolate yourself from them. If you are unable to isolate yourself, those family members also need to quarantine – they will need to quarantine for 20 days. If you do need to leave your house for medical care, please be sure to wear a mask and call your healthcare provider before you arrive to notify them of your positive COVID-19 test result.

Most cases of COVID-19 are mild and can be managed at home with getting plenty of fluids and rest, as well as using medication to reduce a fever. It is safe to treat a fever in pregnancy with Tylenol (Acetaminophen) 1000mg every eight hours. In addition, make sure you’re staying hydrated by drinking a lot of water. If you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19, your risk of severe illness is significantly less than those who are not vaccinated.

Primary care providers are well versed in the symptoms of COVID-19 and recommendations for treatment. We would encourage you to reach out to your primary care provider for additional recommendations. Because pregnancy is considered to be a high risk condition for COVID-19, your primary care provider may recommend that you receive monoclonal antibodies. Monoclonal antibody treatments are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for treatment of pregnant people with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at risk for complications from COVID-19. There is a limited supply of monoclonal antibodies so we are relying on insight from your primary care provider as to whether you should receive monoclonal antibodies based on your symptoms. Although monoclonal antibodies have not been specifically evaluated in pregnancy, preliminary data suggests that monoclonal antibody treatment is safe in pregnancy. Orders for monoclonal antibodies need to come from your primary care provider.

If you feel like your symptoms are worsening, please reach out to your primary care provider for additional recommendations. Watch for emergency warning signs for COVID-19 which may indicate more severe illness including difficulty breathing, confusion, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, or pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips or nail beds. If you have any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately.

According to the data available from the CDC and ACOG, people with COVID-19 during pregnancy are more likely to experience preterm birth (delivering the baby earlier than 37 weeks) and stillbirth and might be more likely to have other pregnancy complications compared to people without COVID-19 during pregnancy. Unfortunately, there are not any specific ways to prevent these risks once someone tests positive for COVID-19 other than monitoring for symptoms. Due to a risk of pre-eclampsia (high blood pressures in pregnancy), if you are less than 28 weeks pregnant, you should begin taking low dose aspirin (81mg) daily starting at 12 weeks of pregnancy, if you have not already been instructed to take aspirin. If you’re more than 28 weeks pregnant, you do not need to start aspirin. If you’ve already been on it, continue taking your aspirin until you deliver.

If you were hospitalized with COVID-19, we will schedule non-stress tests to monitor your baby’s well-being twice weekly starting at 32 weeks (and at least 14 days after you were diagnosed with COVID-19) and an ultrasound to check your baby’s growth. Please reach out to our office with any symptoms of preterm labor which include: Regular, frequent contractions or tightening of your belly, leaking fluid like your water might have broke, worsening lower back pain, and a sensation of significant lower pelvic pressure.

If you have not already received your COVID-19 vaccine or booster, once you are feeling better and it’s been at least 14 days since you were diagnosed with COVID-19, please get vaccinated. Even if you have already had COVID-19, vaccination is still the best way to protect you and your baby.

We hope you feel better soon. Again, please be sure to seek emergency medical help if you are having any severe symptoms of COVID-19.

For more information, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/pregnant-people.html

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Loss and Miscarriage

Dr. Samantha Pawlowski

Miscarriage is sadly incredibly common, occurring in approximately 10% of all pregnancies in the first trimester. It most often occurs due to an abnormal number of chromosomes in the developing embryo. In healthy women, there is little that can be done to prevent miscarriage from happening.

Symptoms of pregnancy loss

At the start of a miscarriage, many women will have bleeding and cramping, however, some women have no symptoms at all, and the miscarriage will be diagnosed on an ultrasound exam.

Treatment options

Miscarriages can be treated in three ways.

One is to wait for the pregnancy tissue to pass on its own. While this has the benefit of not having any medical intervention, it can take up to four to eight weeks to occur, so many women prefer not to have the uncertainty of waiting that long.

The second option is to take a medication called misoprostol that causes the uterus to contract and expel the pregnancy tissue. This usually happens within 24 hours of taking the medication, but can take up to several days. The medication can be repeated if it does not work after the first dose. This is effective 70-90% of the time. Management with medication has the advantage of being able to control the timing of miscarrying while still being able to be in the comfort of your own home, however, there is typically a several hour window of time that is very uncomfortable with heavy bleeding and cramping.

The third option is to have the pregnancy tissue removed surgically through a procedure called a dilation and curettage (D&C). This allows for the most control of timing and least amount of pain, however, does mean receiving anesthesia and undergoing a surgical procedure.

Follow-up

After a miscarriage, you will be seen in the office to confirm that all the pregnancy tissue has been passed and to discuss any questions you might have about the process. Your bleeding will typically taper down and eventually stop after one to two weeks. Your periods will typically resume four to six weeks later.

Planning for another pregnancy

Many women who are trying to get pregnant wonder when they can begin trying again after a miscarriage. While women used to be advised to wait a couple cycles before trying, newer data shows that there is no advantage to waiting and that there may be some advantage to attempting in the first three months after a miscarriage. The bottom line: when you feel physically and emotionally ready to try again, it is safe to do so