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  • Bed rest: When is it necessary?

    There are many recommendations for pregnant women that have little scientific evidence to support them. For example, eating dry saltine crackers followed by a sip of water to prevent and treat morning sickness. Or playing classical music to soothe the unborn baby. Or not lifting one’s hands over their head to prevent umbilical cord entanglement. These are unproven recommendations, but have little risk and are inexpensive, so many pregnant women will embrace them during their 40 weeks of pregnancy.

  • An interview with the most influential person that shaped my experience at Winnie Palmer Hospital: My labor nurse

    Winnie Palmer Hospital is a special place to me because it is where both of my children were born. In December of 2009, my husband and I welcomed a beautiful baby girl. Although it took me nearly four years to convince myself to go through it all again, we welcomed a sweet little boy this past August.

  • Is it safe to get the flu shot when you're pregnant?

    Answered by Dr. Jessica Vaught, Director of Women's Services, Advanced Gynecologic Surgery and Pelvic Medicine, Winnie Palmer Hospital

  • Summer is coming!

    As a child, those three words thrilled me to no end. As a parent, if I’m being honest, they bring anxiety, stress and frustration. My son attends a local public school. The 2014 summer vacation stretches on from June to August for TEN WEEKS. It’s wonderful for the kids, but for me it means TEN weeks that my husband and I have to arrange to take time off of work, beg family to come babysit, and find suitable summer camp options for our son to attend. My husband and I both work full time, so neither of us are available to be home everyday. It’s not easy.

  • Help! My child can’t swallow pills (but needs to)

    It seems like a no-brainer; just pop the pill in your mouth and swallow. It’s easy to forget, though, that swallowing a pill is something that has to be learned. It may feel normal and natural to us grown-ups, but it’s not normal or natural for kids. For children that need to take medications, either for an unexpected illness or a long-term problem, this seemingly small issue can produce a lot of anxiety, making it a really big issue. If you’ve ever sat on your kitchen floor with a screaming kid saying, “I cant, I can’t. I can’t do it!” you know what I mean.

  • Have you heard? The Nutrition Facts label is getting a facelift.

    I’ve seen countless news articles and blog posts encouraging people to read the Nutrition Facts label to help make better food choices, and many even explain what to look for. But if you’re like me, it can still be confusing and overwhelming at times. I mean, the food labels were created over 20 years ago and haven’t been updated since, other than to add trans fats to the labels.

  • Txting and driving among teens.

    April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month and what better way to bring awareness than to talk about the dangers of texting and driving among teens? Studies show that a large number of accidents can be attributed to distracted driving, more specifically, texting and driving. Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I am guilty of this, too. There have been several times that I have caught myself texting or emailing while driving, only to find myself barely escaping what could have been an accident. And every time, I tell myself, “That was a close one. I am never picking up my phone again while driving.”

  • It’s flu season! Here’s what you need to know.

    This post was written by Dr. Tom Ruffin, pedatric resident at Arnold Palmer Hospital

  • What every parent needs to know about concussions

    We often think of concussions in terms of sports, most commonly football and other collision sports. Concussions also commonly occur in contact sports where helmets aren’t worn like soccer, basketball, wrestling or lacrosse. However, every parent needs to know about this injury, even if your kids aren’t involved in sports. Concussions can occur from a fall from a bicycle or skateboard, running into a goalpost, or getting hit in the head by a ball or other moving object.

    What is a concussion?

    A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a blow to the body that makes the head move back and forth rapidly. The sudden force causes the brain to bounce around or twist within the skull, causing damage to the brain cells and chemical changes within the brain. These chemical changes may make the brain more sensitive to stress or other injury until it recovers. While doctors may describe this as a “mild” brain injury since it is not life-threatening, the effects of a concussion can be serious.

    What are the signs and symptoms of concussion?

    Signs and symptoms of a concussion usually appear soon after the injury occurs, but some symptoms may not show up for hours or days. If your child has sustained a bump or blow to the head and experiences any of the following, it might be a sign of a concussion: Headache Nausea or vomiting Appears dazed or stunned Feels “pressure” in head Loses consciousness Answers questions slowly Confusion Dizziness or balance problems Sensitivity to light or noise Difficulty concentrating Memory problems Double or blurry vision Feeling “foggy” or sluggish Changes in mood or behavior Trouble falling asleep Sleeping more or less than usualYou should continue to monitor your child for these signs and symptoms for a few days after the injury occurs.

    What should I do if I think my child might have a concussion?

    If you think your child may have a concussion, contact your child’s health care provider. If your child is playing sports, remove him or her from the game and don’t resume playing until evaluated by a healthcare professional who is experienced at diagnosing concussions. If your child returns to play too quickly, before the brain is fully healed, they are at risk for a repeat concussion which can be much more serious.

    How is a concussion treated?

    The best treatment for a concussion is complete rest from all physical and mental activity. Television, loud music, and use of computers should be very limited or stopped. Even a child’s school participation may need to be altered according to the child’s symptoms.

  • So, did I do it?

    Some of you may have read a post I wrote during the summer of last year, entitled “.” In case you didn’t read it, I wrote of my experiences regarding my New Year’s resolution for 2013, which was to stop eating fries for a whole year. I decided to give up French fries for my health, to set a good example for my son, and well, just to see if I could (I really wasn’t sure if I could pull it off)! See, I have always been a fry-lover. There are pictures of me as a toddler eating fries from vintage Happy Meals. It was my side item of choice for nearly every restaurant meal I’ve ever had. This love I have for fried potatoes continues, and still does. However, on New Year’s Eve 2012, I decided that it was time to give myself a break from the grease and oil, and search out healthier options.