Jennifer Butt, MD
Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist
wikiHow's Editorial ProcesswikiHow partners with over 1000+ experts from a wide range of fields to ensure our content is accurate and based on well-established research and testimony. Content Managers conduct interviews and work closely with each expert to review information, answer reader questions, and add credible advice. Learn more about our editorial process and why millions of readers trust wikiHow.
Co-authored Articles (16)
How to
Tell if You're Pregnant with a Girl or Boy
So, you’re adding a new member to your family—congratulations! Figuring out if your little one is male or female is one of the most exciting parts of being an expectant parent, and you probably want to know as soon a...
How to
Check a Cervix for Dilation
Cervical dilation happens as a pregnant person gets closer to their labor and delivery. The cervix dilates to unblock your baby’s path from your uterus to the birth canal and finally to your arms. The cervix needs to d...
How to
Measure Fundal Height
When you're pregnant, one of the ways you and your doctor check whether the pregnancy is progressing normally is to determine the growth of the uterus. This can be done by 1 of 3 ways: via a sonogram, by palpating the ut...
How to
Use a Home Pregnancy Test
Home pregnancy tests work by detecting the presence of the hormone HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) in a person's urine. Known as the pregnancy hormone, HCG is only found in pregnant people. Home pregnancy tests are av...
How & When to Perform Perineal Massage to Reduce Labor Pain
A step-by-step guide to self-perineal and partner perineal massages If you're pregnant, you might be hearing a lot about the benefits of perineal massage. This technique helps to relax and soften the perineum, the area b...
How to
Tell a Baby's Gender from an Ultrasound
During pregnancy, many doctors are able to help parents with an ultrasound to determine the baby's gender, which is very exciting! Once you find out whether the baby will be a boy or a girl, you can throw a gender reveal...
10 Ways to Calm a Baby in the Womb
Feeling your baby kick is a wonderful thing—in fact, your baby kicking is a sign that they’re healthy and developing normally. But when you lay down to go to sleep, you might notice that your baby kicks more than usu...
Everything You Need to Know About Having Sex After a Hysterectomy
If you're planning to have a hysterectomy, you may have a lot of questions about what your sex life will be like afterward. It's true that you might notice some changes after the surgery, but that doesn't mean sex is of...
How to Open the Cervix: Natural & Medical Ways to Induce Labor
Speed up labor with these medically-approved methodsCervical dilation occurs during active labor, making room for the baby to travel through the birth canal. The cervix dilates naturally when the body is ready to give bi...
How to
Do a Pap Smear
A pap smear is a routine screening test that checks for cancers or pre-cancerous cells in your cervix, which is the bottom part of your uterus. Most doctors recommend that women or people who were assigned female at birt...
How to Use the Birth Control Sponge
Birth control sponges are a great way to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy, but they might be a little hard to get used to. Don’t worry! These sponges are really simple and easy to use; plus, you can find the...
How to
Use Mudra for Regulating Your Menstruation
If you’re looking to get back in touch with your inner peace or center your feminine energy, you may benefit from mudras. Mudras are symbolic hand gestures designed to stimulate your senses, calm your breathing, or art...
How to
Dress for When You’re in Labor
Once you learn that you're expecting a child, it's hard not to let your mind race ahead to the big day. These thoughts can cause a lot of anxiety, especially for first-time mothers. If you prepare your clothing ahead of ...
How to
Prevent Teenage Pregnancy
Everything you need to know about preventing unwanted pregnancyTeen pregnancy rates have been falling over the last couple of years, in large part because parents and schools have been better than ever before about givin...
How to
Prepare for a Pap Smear Exam
A pap smear is part of a standard pelvic examination performed by a gynecologist. It only takes a few minutes and is typically done whenever you go in for your yearly checkup. It’s important to get one every year to ch...
How to
Know the Earliest Pregnancy Signs
During the first two weeks of pregnancy, it can be difficult to determine whether you're pregnant. Signs may be subtle. However, if you notice any unusual changes, you may be pregnant. Taking a home pregnancy test may co...