For Patients

At Miami Obstetrics & Gynecology we believe that an educated patient is an empowered patient, which is why we aim to provide you with medical information and experienced advise. Here you can find helpful information about procedures and general advise, as well as downloadable forms so that you can be well prepared before your visit.

If you are having surgery, you may feel anxious or concerned. You’re likely to have many questions. Our doctors are here to help. Our staff will work with you before, during and after surgery so you know what to expect along the way.

Whether you’re coming in for general gynecology care, obstetrical care, surgery or preventative care we are here to help you navigate complex medical issues that arise so that you are able to take an educated and proactive role in your reproductive health.

About your Surgery About your Pregnancy

About your Surgery

Our office offers patients that need surgery comprehensive assistance. We will schedule the surgery at the hospital or outpatient service, and will work in connection with your primary care physician in case medical clearance is required. Pre-operative labs are performed in our office for your convenience. Please read our Q&A section in surgery for a comprehensive understanding of your surgery, as well as preoperative and postoperative periods. Our staff will call you after your surgery to see if we can assist you with any of your medical needs.

Before your Surgery

Scheduling your surgery can be a very stressful time in your life; our surgical coordinator will try and ease this process as much as possible. We will try and accommodate your needs for scheduling, and together we will determine a good date and place for the procedure.

We operate at the Baptist Medical Arts Surgical Center and at Baptist Hospital. Place of service varies upon each individual case and medical evaluation.

For in-patient surgeries you will have a pre-operative appointment with pre-planning at the hospital a couple of days prior to surgery. In this appointment you will sign consents for the facility, address any questions you may have, and also have blood drawn.

The day of surgery you must be accompanied by a designated driver and arrive 2 hours prior to the scheduled time. You must be fasting 12 hours prior to surgery or as indicated by anesthesiologist, whom will call you the day before the procedure for a phone interview.

Once the procedure date is set, you will need to get appropriate medical clearance if necessary, or laboratories. The surgical coordinator will be in contact with you throughout this time to inform you of your insurance coverage and any financial responsibility for the surgery.

The surgical coordinator can be reached as needed at 305-270-2331 ext 2003.

After your Surgery

Keep in mind that postoperative care is as important or even more than the surgery itself. Following the adequate recommendations will help you restore your health faster, better and stronger. Your postoperative care depends on the nature of the procedure performed. In general there are two types of postoperative scenarios, The Same Day (Ambulatory) or the In-Patient postoperative care. This information will be provided to you at the office prior to your procedure date so you can plan ahead.

In General, once the surgery is over, most likely you would be moved into the recovery area. This area is equipped to monitor patients after surgery. Many patients feel groggy, confused and chilly when they wake up after an operation. It is normal to experience a headache, nausea or even vomiting. You may have muscle aches or a sore throat shortly after surgery. These problems should not last long. You will stay on the recovery area until you are stable.

A few hours after being on the recovery area, you will be prepared to be discharged home from the ambulatory center. It is important to send you home knowing that you are able to: void without any difficulties, ambulate and tolerate some drinking fluids. As a general rule, always have someone accompanying you. It is better if you refrain from driving due to unknown effects of anesthetics and your level of comfort to drive safely right after surgery, do not operate heavy machinery, make important legal decisions or drink alcohol for the next 24 hrs. Remember that safety is first!

Before you leave the surgical center, a nurse or other health care provider will go over any instructions, you will be explained what things or activities should avoid and for how long, the type of diet to follow and detailed information.

If possible, after being discharge, call our office to schedule your postoperative appointment if you haven’t set one, call 305-270-2331.

If the postoperative plan includes for you to stay at the hospital, you will be taken to your room. You may still have an IV line for fluids, especially within the first 24 hrs after the procedure. Also a urine catheter might be in place for the first 8 – 12 hrs after procedure to monitor your hydration level and blood loss. It might take some time before able to eat solid food, once this start to happen keep in mind to start with a soft low carbohydrate diet to help your bowel function to be reestablished without any difficulties.

As soon as possible, your nurses will have you move around as much as you can. You may be encouraged to walk around soon after the operation. The sooner you resume activity, the sooner your body’s functions can get back to normal.

Once it is said by your physician that it is safe to go home, a nurse or healthcare provider will go over the detailed instructions and medication prescriptions. You should know who to call if you have a problem and what things are important to contact your physician about, such as a fever, increased vaginal bleeding or pain.

There are also a lot of medications that can cause constipation. Please ask your provider in advance of how to prevent this matter.

The 10 questions you should ask before you go home

  • In general you will be given a pain control medication or combination of them, it is important to take them as directed to decrease pain / discomfort to the minimum.
  • Unless recommended otherwise by your doctor, a general multivitamin is important to be taken daily after surgery.

Bowel function is always decreased due to the nature of surgery and the anesthetics, it can take up to a week to have your bowel function restored completely. To help with this and the recovery in general follow the next recommendations at least for the first week:

  • No alcohol or sodas
  • Make small meals every 3 hrs instead of big meals.
  • Avoid Fried, processed, spicy food as well as bread, pasta and rice
  • Encourage vegetables, whole fruits, legumes and lean animal protein
  • Drink plenty of fluids

  • It depends on what type of surgery, but in general suspicion symptoms for a possible infection are: worsening incisional pain despite the usage of pain medication, redness or thickening of the skin surrounding the incision, drainage of fluid/blood through incision.
  • Call the office or the doctor on call if: fever greater than 100.4, worsening pain, nausea/vomiting, not passing flatus or having a bowel movement for more than 72 hrs after being sent home, swelling and pain on your lower extremities or sudden sensation of shortness of breath.
  • The most common complications after a surgical procedure include but are not limited to fever, nausea/vomiting, constipation, urinary retention, cough/pneumonia, blood clot in the leg.

Every doctor and procedure is different. This information should be given to you prior to your discharge or it might have been discussed with you in your last doctor’s appointment.

  • Stitches will dissolve on their own unless told otherwise. In average will take 4 – 6 weeks for them to dissolve.
  • Staples are removed one week after surgery.

  • After 24 hrs of the surgery, the wound is water sealed and you can shower. Let water run through the incision with soap, do not rub the incision, just let water and soap run through and Make sure you keep it dry after each shower. Humidity at the level of the incision creates a risk for wound infection.
  • No Bathing or going to the pool/Jacuzzi until no vaginal discharge is present, to decrease infections and postoperative complications.

No greater than 7 – 10 pounds, but ask your doctor for each particular procedure, because this may vary.

  • Have in mind that at least the first week you might be refraining from driving in a minor / ambulatory case.
  • Again, this is something that changes from one type of surgery to another.
  • Discuss this with us prior to your surgery.
  • We will see our patients within the first 2 weeks after any mayor surgery to tailor these issues accordingly.

This will be specified in your discharge instructions; in general 4 to 6 weeks after in any gynecological / obstetrical procedure is the rule.

This info will be addressed prior to discharge. The proper documentation will be given to you to help you in this delicate and important matter.

We all have been patients and had surgery at least once in our lifetime. We know what it feels and is to be post-op. We want you to accommodate you in any way possible during this period. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any of the questions that might come up at this time.

About your Pregnancy

What to bring to the hospital

A few helpful tips on what to take to the hospital for the big day.

  • A picture ID (driver’s license or other ID), your insurance card, and any hospital paperwork you need
  • Eyeglasses, if you wear them. Even if you usually wear contact lenses, you may not want to deal with them while you’re in the hospital.
  • A bathrobe, a night gown or two, slippers, and socks. Baptist provides gowns and socks for you to use during labor and afterward, but some women prefer to wear their own. Choose a loose, comfortable gown that you don’t mind getting dirty. It should be either sleeveless or have short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily. Slippers and a robe may come in handy if you want to walk the halls during labor.

For you:

  • A fresh nightgown, if you prefer to wear your own
  • Your cell phone and charger. After your baby’s born, you or your partner may want to call family and friends to let them know the good news. Bring a list of everyone you’ll want to contact so you don’t forget someone important when you’re exhausted after delivery.
  • Toiletries: Pack a few personal items, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, a brush and comb, makeup, and a hair band or barrettes.
  • Comfortable nursing bras or regular bras. Whether or not you choose to breastfeed, your breasts are likely to be tender and swollen when your milk comes in, which can happen anytime during the first several days after delivery. A good bra can provide some comfort, and breast pads can be added to help absorb leaks.
  • Several pairs of maternity underpants. Some women love the mesh underwear usually provided by the hospital, but others don’t. You can’t go wrong with your own roomy cotton underpants. The hospital will provide sanitary pads because you’ll bleed after delivery. Make sure you have a supply of heavy-duty pads waiting at home!
  • A going-home outfit. Bring something roomy and easy to get into (believe it or not, you’ll probably still look 5 or 6 months pregnant) and a pair of flat, comfortable shoes.

For your baby:

  • Several outfits for your baby. After delivery the baby will go into the nursery for monitoring and bathing. Once the baby is in your room you can change him/her upon necessity. It is always good to have extra clothing for unexpected situations that could arise with newborns.
  • An installed car seat. You can’t drive your baby home without one! Have a rear-facing car seat properly installed ahead of time and know how to buckle your baby in correctly.
  • A going-home outfit. Your baby will need an outfit to go home in, including socks or booties if the clothing doesn’t have feet, and a soft cap if the air is likely to be cool. Make sure your baby’s outfit has legs so the car seat strap can fit between them.
  • A receiving blanket. The hospital will provide blankets for swaddling your baby while you’re there, but you may want to bring your own to tuck around your baby in the car seat for the ride home. Make it a heavy one if the weather’s cold.

Postpartum Care

Your newborn may be your top priority — but postpartum care counts, too. Taking good care of yourself is an essential part. Here is what to expect

If you had an episiotomy or vaginal tear during delivery, the wound might hurt for a few weeks. Extensive tears might take longer to heal. In the meantime, you can help promote healing:

  • Soothe the wound. Cool the wound with an ice pack, or place a chilled witch hazel pad — available in most pharmacies — between a sanitary napkin and the wound.
  • Take the sting out of urination. Pour warm water over your vulva as you’re urinating. Press a clean pad firmly against the wound when you bear down for a bowel movement.
  • Keep the wound clean. Use a squirt bottle filled with water to rinse the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus (perineum) after using the toilet.
  • Sit down carefully. If sitting is uncomfortable, sit on a pillow or padded ring.

While you’re healing, expect the discomfort to progressively improve. Contact our office if the pain intensifies, the wound becomes hot, swollen and painful, or you notice a pus-like discharge.

Anything that puts pressure on the abdominal area will probably be painful at first, but you’ll feel a bit better day-by-day. Be sure to use your hands or a pillow to support your incision when you cough, sneeze, or laugh.

You’ll likely be given a prescription for painkillers and a stool softener before you leave the hospital. You may need prescription painkillers for up to a week after surgery, gradually transitioning to over-the-counter pain relievers. (If you’re breastfeeding, don’t take aspirin or drugs containing acetylsalicylic acid.)

Drink plenty of fluids to help you avoid constipation. You may feel numbness and soreness at the incision site, and the scar will be slightly raised, puffy, and darker than your natural skin tone. It will feel better day-by-day, quite noticeably so after several days, though it may continue to be tender for several weeks.

Call our office if you have signs of an infection, including: warmth, redness, swelling, or oozing at the incision site, worsening pain or sudden onset of pain, any fever (even if your incision looks fine), foul smelling in vaginal discharge.

With both c-section and vaginal deliver you will have a vaginal discharge (lochia) for a number of weeks after delivery. Expect a bright red, heavy flow of blood for the first few days. If you’ve been sitting or lying down, you might notice a small gush when you stand up. The discharge will gradually taper off, changing from pink or brown to yellow or white. To reduce the risk of infection, use sanitary napkins rather than tampons. Don’t be alarmed if you occasionally pass small blood clots.

We recommend no heavy lifting for approximately two weeks and no sexual intercourse for about six weeks.

A two-week follow up after a normal delivery is done to answer any lactation or postpartum questions you may have. If you delivered via cesarean section the follow up visit should be in one week; the doctor has to check the incision. A final six-week follow up appointment will be arraigned at this time. However should you feel anything out the ordinary contact our office for an immediate appointment.

Our Office

Office Hours

Monday – 9:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Tuesday – 9:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Wednesday – 9:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Thursday – 9:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Friday – 9:00 AM – 05:00 PM

Patient Feedback

Dr. Del Boca is absolutely the best doctor in Miami, he’s so caring which a lot of physicians aren’t now a days. He delivered my second baby girl; wish I would’ve been referred to him for my first daughter. The staff is amazing and I’ve never had any issues. I recently went to get my IUD insertion (Mirena) and this was the second time I’ve gotten it and I have to say Dr. Del Boca made it very pleasant, it didn’t hurt AT ALL. I was only a little uncomfortable because my bladder was full but other than that it was quick and painless. I was very nervous because the first time I got it I did feel a little pain but this time, NO PAIN.

Sunia Costa

Dr. Bestard is amazing, highly recommend to anyone looking for an OBGYN

Jessica Gonzalez

Dr. Vazquez-Vera is the epitome of what every physician should embody. His bedside manners are impeccable – so compassionate and understanding. He is knowledgeable and informative. He has been my OB for my first pregnancy and I have had a wonderful experience being his patient.

Nicole Tavares

I had my baby with Dr. Alvarez last year. She makes you feel like family, the humblest human being ever! Thank you so much Dr for my beautiful experience.

Emily

I chose Dr. Bolet initially to help take care of my baby and I during my first pregnancy. He was amazing, reassuring, and professional every step of the way! He is so good at informing the patient and making them feel comfortable. Best decision ever!

Scarlett Ponce