Social Media Use (SMU) has been associated with increased depression in young adults. Several recent studies have correlated SMU linearly with two times greater odds of depression. Compared with those in the lowest quartile, individuals in the highest quartile of SMU site visits per week and those with a higher media frequency scores had significantly…
SIDS and Safe Sleep Environment
Bedsharing in the US is rather common. 25% of mothers report bedsharing with their breastfed babies. Unsafe practices related to bed sharing/co-sleeping: Environmental smoke exposure and maternal smoking Sharing sofas, couches, or daybeds with infants Sharing waterbeds or the use of soft bedding materials Sharing beds with adjacent spaces that could trap an infant Placement…
Sibling Rivalry Is a Common Parental Worry
Sibling Rivalry when you are expecting a new baby Your child’s personality has a biggest effect on how they react to a new baby. Your child’s developmental stage affects how well they can share your attention. Two-year-olds have trouble getting used to a new baby, if their needs for time & attention from their parents…
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a medical condition that causes severe, long-lasting negative emotions or thoughts in the months after the birth of your baby. The feelings associated with PPD can be so strong that you find yourself unable to do normal daily tasks like caring for yourself & your baby. PPD symptoms usually appear between…
Marijuana Use During Pregnancy – General Overview
Kaiser Permanente of Northern CA screened at 8 weeks prenatal visit (waived consent) from 2009 through 2016, prevalence of prenatal marijuana use based on self-report or toxicology (urine drug screens) increased from 4% to 7%, and was higher based on toxicology than self-report each year. CA study showed 22% of pregnant females younger than 18…
Fun Facts About Newborns’ Sensory and Neurological Development
Sleep wake states: Synchronization of cyclic motor activity with HR and REM occurs by 28 weeks gestation. Distinct active sleep (AS) & quiet sleep (QS) states present by 27-30 weeks gestation. More AS earlier in development. Less QS earlier in development. Patterns of AS – QS brain activity change in utero and postnatally. Sleep wake…
A Prescription for Pain: Burnout Plus Fear
Coverage of the current COVID 19 pandemic has highlighted our dependence on frontline healthcare personnel in emergency departments and intensive care units (ICUs). These clinicians are typically high achievers who are passionate about their work. They usually take pleasure in possessing the energy and enthusiasm that their jobs require and having the knowledge to make…
As a new mom, I was lucky: I knew babies, and I knew biology
I was showing some previously unseen pictures to my daughter the other day. One photo captured her look of complete rapture just as she was handed her newborn daughter after delivery over three years ago. Then Anne said to me, “Oh mom, look how terrified I was!” I never saw any panic on her face…
