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  • The one piece of advice I’d give myself as a new mother

    I’ve been a mother for nearly six years now, and it has been a wild and wonderful ride so far. As my little people grow into bigger people, I sometimes stop and think back on those first months and years as a parent. I thought parenting was all about taking care of and teaching my children. It is about that, of course. What I didn’t know, though, is that it’s also a journey for me as I learn and grow and change through this process of caring for others.

  • Dr. Simms-Cendan answers: “When should I take my teenage daughter to the gynecologist?”

    Many parents wonder when they should take their daughter to a gynecologist. Is it with their first period? Is it when they become sexually active? When do they need a pap smear? Some women dread their own appointments and worry their daughters will have a traumatic experience. Well, the good news is that gynecologic care for adolescents has come a long way, and teens can be provided with important information in a sensitive and caring way, and many girls do not even need a pelvic exam!

    What’s Normal?

    First, let me cover a bit of what’s normal. Most girls begin breast development around 10-11 years of age, and the average age girls start their periods in the U.S. is about 12.5 years. Most girls will bleed 5-7 days and cycles occur every 25-40 days. If a girl hasn’t started her period by age 14, she should be evaluated, and although some girls just need more time, others may have a real problem. Many girls have irregular menses for the first 2-4 years after they start their periods, but if a girl has been bleeding more than 10 days per month, they should be evaluated to prevent problems with anemia. I’ve seen girls who have bled for 6 months before seeing a gynecologist and some have been so anemic by then that they required blood transfusion. Most girls will notice an increase in menstrual cramps about two years after they start their periods, as this is when they start to actually ovulate. Severe cramps so that a girl is missing school are not normal and she should also be seen. Finally, if a girl has had regular menses and then the menses become irregular, skipping months or becoming more frequent, she should also be evaluated. Sometimes there is a hormonal disorder that needs to be evaluated.

  • How I chose to discipline my son when he was a toddler

    To spank or not to spank?

  • An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

    As a pediatrician, one of the most common questions I am asked this time of year is what I think about the seasonal flu vaccine.

  • Car Seat Assistance

    Three out of four car seats are used incorrectly. Is yours? Join in a FREE car seat checkpoint and learn how to properly install your child restraint. We have certified child passenger safety technicians available to assist.

  • Endometriosis Seminar

    Life shouldn’t stop when you get your period… but what if it does?  

  • Prenatal Breastfeeding – Virtual Class

    Designed for expectant parents, this virtual lecture is presented by a registered nurse lactation consultant. Learn what to expect while breastfeeding your baby during the first few days after delivery and through the first few months. Infants welcome. Partners are encouraged to participate. The class will also include the opportunity to ask questions.

  • Liver Failure Virtual Support Group

    Please join us for a virtual support group for patients with liver failure. Patients ages 13 and older are welcome to attend, along with family members and caregivers. Sessions will help patients cope with living with liver failure by providing educational information, mental health support, nutrition counseling and more. The open forum is led by a licensed clinical social worker with the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Center of Digestive Health and Nutrition.

  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Virtual Support Group

    Please join us for a virtual support group for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Patients ages 13 and older are welcome to attend, along with family members and caregivers. Sessions will help patients cope with EoE by providing educational information, mental health support, nutrition counseling and more. The open forum is led by a licensed clinical social worker with the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Center of Digestive Health and Nutrition.

  • Celiac Disease Virtual Support Group

    Please join us for a virtual support group for patients with celiac disease. Patients ages 13 and older are welcome to attend, along with family members and caregivers. Sessions will help patients cope with living with celiac disease by providing educational information, mental health support, nutrition counseling and more. The open forum is led by a licensed clinical social worker with the Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children Center of Digestive Health and Nutrition.