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My journey through postpartum depression: Jenn's story
Written by Jenn Stagg
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Emergency contraception: what every parent of a teenager should know
In the United States, recent news about teenage sexuality is promising. Fewer teens are having sex, down 3% since 2001. Approximately 44% of girls have sex before they graduate high school according to the 2011 data from the Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey of high school students. Teen pregnancy rates are also falling; there has been a 48% decline in teen pregnancy rates since 1988, probably due to a combination of fewer teens having sex, better long-acting contraception options such as DepoProvera, and condom use by teens. In spite of this great news, the United States still has one of the highest rates of teen pregnancy among developed countries. Nearly 80% of teen pregnancies are unplanned, a result of contraception failure or nonuse, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
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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.
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Learning to slow down and enjoy quality time with my son
About two weeks ago, my 8-year-old son was feeling yucky. The excessive amounts of pollen floating in the air caused his nose to get stuffy, his throat and head to hurt, and his eyes to water. We gave him a day off from school to rest. On that day, he lay down on my bed to chill out. He wasn’t really tired enough to fall asleep, but at the same time, didn’t really feel up to doing much of anything. I lay down next to him. We talked a little, I stroked his hair, handed him tissues. It was the first time in a long, long time that we were still together, not doing anything. Despite the fact that he wasn’t feeling well, it was really nice. It reminded me of when he was really little, and I realized that I missed doing that with him.
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Like mother, like child: How mom’s activity level influences the little ones
One of the many memories I have as a child is going to the gym with my mom, and while she worked out, I got to hang out in childcare. And boy, I did not like it! Knowing this, my mom would often let me sit on the couch in the entryway where she could keep an eye on me while I colored or read books. The gym my mom was a member of was extremely family-oriented and my parents had become friends with the owner – hence, the only way I was able to weasel my way out of childcare, opting for the cozy leather couch instead. Even though I hated being there at the time and was so bored, I realize looking back that by doing this, my mom was setting a positive example for me and what living a healthy lifestyle looks like. Fast-forward to today, and one of my biggest passions in life is health and fitness – and I credit those many (dreaded) trips to the gym to instilling this passion in me at such a young age.
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What you need to know about e-cigarettes
R.J. Reynolds Corporation (makers of Camel cigarettes) knew as early as the 1970’s that almost 90 percent of smokers start to smoke before the age of 18. In fact, Reynolds’ marketing vice president wrote that “ represent tomorrow’s cigarette business. As 14-24 age group matures, they will account for a key share of the total cigarette volume for at least the next 25 years.” He wanted to make “direct advertising appeal to the younger smokers” and Joe Camel came to life as a carefully crafted cartoon rocker. Camel sales to young people skyrocketed.
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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.”
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A miraculous first year: Myles’ story
Written by Katie Murillo
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Are we parenting from the rear view mirror?
Over the past couple of weeks, the back-to-school rush has been in full swing. New schools, new milestones, new sports activities- it’s the beginning of lots of new things for our kiddos and for us as parents. My Facebook feed has been filled with first-day-of-school photos displayed by proud parents (me included). But, along with those proud and joyful moments, there’s often a hint of bittersweet regret. Our kids are growing up too fast. Where did the time go? They aren’t babies anymore. I hear and see those phrases a lot.
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What happens when we compare our child’s illness to another?
Recently, a friend shared with me a book whose title and premise really upset her. She is the mother of a cancer survivor and friend to many cancer patients, and the title of the book offended her to the core. It’s called, “I wish my kids had cancer: a family surviving the autism epidemic.” I hesitated even to share the title of the book because it elicits such strong emotions, even to those of us who’ve never read the book. And, I’m not sure that this book deserves the attention we’ve given it, good or bad.
