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  • Pacifiers: Should you or shouldn’t you?

    I’ve found that one of the things mothers often have strong opinions about is their baby’s use of a pacifier.

  • Making a Healthy TRANSition – Removing Trans-fat from your Diet

    On June 16, 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a huge step to significantly reduce partially hydrogenated oils, which are a major source of artificial trans-fats in the food supply. Artificial trans-fats are no longer considered “Generally Recognized as Safe” or GRAS for any use in human food. These unhealthy fats have been linked to many health problems such as cardiovascular disease. FDA has set a compliance date of three years to slowly phase out the use of partially hydrogenated oils in our food supply. During this three year compliance period, manufacturers will either reformulate their products without using partially hydrogenated oils or petition for use in their product.

  • Should you be thinking about contraception for your teen?

    Why is contraception important?

    The simple answer- to prevent pregnancy. That is exactly why we need to have this discussion with teenagers. The statistics are astonishing about how many teens have been sexually active before they finish high school. Half of high school students report ever having had sexual intercourse and every year about 750,000 adolescents become pregnant. The majority of these pregnancies, a whopping 80%, are unplanned, which tells me that we need to do a better job giving our teenage population contraception.

    What are the recommended contraception options?

    The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) both recommend Long-Acting Reversible Contraception "LARCs" for adolescents. The LARC options include the implant and intrauterine devices (IUD).  Both of these options are safe and superior to the old-school daily pill. With either the implant or the IUD, our teens don't have to remember to take it every day, making it nearly foolproof. The implant is placed in the upper arm and feels like a two-inch long piece of spaghetti under the skin. The IUDs are inserted into the cervix and can be checked by feeling for the string inside the vagina. Both options last for years without needing to be replaced, which is another reason it is perfect for teens.

    What about "the pill”?

    There are other options, including the pill and the shot. The pill must be taken every day so when thinking of our teenage population and how hard it is for them to remember even to brush their teeth on a daily basis, this option is clearly not the best choice. The shot, Depo-Provera, is a good alternative but not many people are keen on getting a shot every three months.

  • The difference between a children’s emergency room and an adult emergency room that every parent should know

    No one plans to end up in the emergency room. It just happens, usually when we least expect it. When our children become sick or injured, we are faced with difficult choices. Where is the best place to get care for my child? How do I know there isn’t something seriously wrong? Can I trust these caregivers to do the right thing for my kid?

  • How to stay connected with your teenager

    How is your communication with your teenager? Do you feel like they trust you enough to share anything with you? How would you know if something bad has happened to them? Pause for a moment and think about these questions.

  • What happened when my family got head lice: a pediatrician’s perspective

    Head lice is estimated to infect six to 12 million children each year in the United States. 

  • No more heading in youth soccer, but is this enough to keep kids safe?

    Concussions are a hot topic these days, and for good reason.

  • Some advice to my younger self about being a new mother

    My husband and I are having another baby- a little boy- due in February. Our firstborn son is 10 years old, so our boys will be a decade apart. I often think about going through this for a second time, 10 years older than before. Knowing what I know now, I wish I could tell my younger self a few things.

  • How to prevent your little one from choking

    You can tell I’m the mother of a toddler. I walk into a room and I may not make eye contact with you because I am too busy scanning every nook and cranny for things that my kid is likely to put in his mouth. It’s the time in my son’s life where what looks to you like a penny or a button looks to me like a death trap.

  • When every bite is a fight - Diego’s struggle to overcome feeding difficulties

    Diego was born on May 31st, 2012, and his parents, Diana and Freddy, were overjoyed. Diego was a happy, healthy baby, and he entered into the world as part of a family that radiates light and love.