Here are some helpful tips for smooth air travel from experienced nursing moms (extracted from “Dr. MILK” group on Facebook): • Organize everything so you know exactly where everything is & you’re not frazzled trying to find your ID or wallet or pacifier with a fussy baby! • Forget about that “get on plane first.”…
I was addicted to OxyContin
I was addicted to OxyContin. It took about six weeks to feel it: the day was not alright without that drug, even a tiny dose of that drug. My pain from the previous Month’s neurosurgery had subsided and I was progressing along with my physical therapy routines. But I recognized the addiction. I needed that…
Alcohol use while breastfeeding
Older mothers with higher educational levels, social class, & income are drinking alcohol while breastfeeding. Alcohol freely gets into breastmilk. When you drink alcohol, it passes into your breastmilk in similar concentrations as your blood. Whatever time you breastfeed or pump, you will have the same amount of alcohol in your blood as in your…
Caffeine & breastfeeding
Caffeine boosts energy & mood & makes you more alert. That’s helpful in the morning & when you need to work. More is not always better: too much can push you over the line from alert to jittery and anxious. Caffeine passes from the mother to infant in small amounts through breast milk, but usually…
Burnout in Healthcare Professionals
BURNOUT feels like hell! You care about neither your work nor your patients. You no longer think you are making a difference. You dread going in for your shift & you feel disconnected from your peers. I know how burnout feels because I’ve been there. After 30 years of practicing neonatology I found myself completely…
45% of moms on Instagram practice co-sleeping.⠀
In national polls, 25% of US mothers admit to bed sharing (or co-sleeping) with their baby. Do you know how to do this safely? What defines a safe sleep environment for bedsharing/co-sleeping: Always place babies in the supine position for sleep. Use a firm, flat surface, preferably a mattress on the floor. Avoid waterbeds, couches,…
Helping parents navigate the NICU
Tips for parents who must prepare for a NICU journey Expect to be afraid, worried & guilty. Shock & fear are normal. Doubts are normal, so is guilt. But, it’s not your fault! Anticipate feelings of helplessness. It’s the worst kind of helplessness you will ever feel, leaving the hospital without your baby after delivery….
Supporting a friend who is a NICU mom
Ways to offer support for your friend who has a baby in the NICU. Grocery shop for her and prepare some meals for the week. Do Laundry for her – wash, dry and fold clothes. Offer to babysit other kids while she is at hospital several days a week. Offer to Babysit one evening each…
What Successful Working Mothers Know – Part II
# 1 Self-care is mandatory. An empty cup cannot serve. Taking time for ourselves is crucial to maintain our mental, physical, & spiritual health. To stay healthy, we need exercise, a good diet & adequate sleep. That is some tall order when you are running around chasing children & a job! However, we must know…
What Successful Working Mothers Know – Part I
#1 Your job should leave you feeling fulfilled. Many working mothers reassess their job after their first child comes along. We examine our satisfaction at work because it is literally time away from our baby. As we reassess our current job, it is important to be honest about our degree of fulfillment & whether we…