An excerpt from From Hurting to Healing: Delivering Love to Medicine and Healthcare.
Before we speak
Many people enter a conversation with preconceived ideas of how it will go. We constantly make assumptions, and our brains often jump to conclusions based on experience, previous interactions with a particular person, our current emotional …
As time passes, we have more new names for what we used to call quality assurance, but it appears to me to now be a public relations issue and have very little to do with quality.
Years ago, I returned home about 10:00 p.m. on Sunday night. I had spent the weekend at my lake cabin for some sorely needed time off. As I usually do when I arrive home after …
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We delve into the intricate and challenging world of medical decision-making with L. Joseph Parker, a research physician. Join us as we explore the delicate balance between rapid decision-making and precision in high-pressure medical situations. Joseph will …
When I was 36 weeks pregnant with my second child, Anna, my obstetrician noted that my fetus had a disproportionately small head, or microcephaly—a condition now commonly known because of its association with the Zika virus. “We’ll just have to wait and see,” he said, meaning we’ll look for answers if the baby is affected at birth. But when my daughter was born, there were no answers then either.
Anna was …
As a physician, I am given both the gift and the burden of another’s most intimate moments or even their indiscretions. There is a cloak of invisibility that wraps around a patient and me when behind a closed door. Almost as if the concept of guilt, innocence, opportunity, loss, life, and death are all present together with us in a room, while the rest of the world goes on outside. …
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Join Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician and the author of Pregnancy Your Way: Choose a Safe and Happy Birth. We’ll delve into the critical issue of rising maternal mortality rates in the United States, exploring its causes, …
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Join Theresa Mahon, an obstetrician-gynecologist, as she discusses her transformative journey in prioritizing postpartum care and the critical importance of the often-overlooked fourth trimester. Theresa shares her experiences and insights into improving the postpartum experience for new …
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Nurse practitioner Maria Petty shares her experience with miscarriage in March 2023. She discusses the support she received from an early pregnancy assessment clinic, the importance of self-compassion, and practical tips for coping. Maria also touches on …
A phrase commonly heard is “reproductive rights,” and while there is some variability in what this entails, in most cases, this includes a woman’s right to choose not to be sexually active, to say no to unwanted sex, to access contraception, to receive appropriate and adequate care during pregnancy, and to seek abortion. By definition, rights are “a moral or legal entitlement to have or obtain something or to act …
The United States health care system is in the midst of a crisis. Despite being among the richest nations in the world, it consistently ranks among the lowest for maternal health outcomes—and that’s before you begin digging into the health disparities women of color face in this nation.
Pregnancy-related complications kill Black mothers three times as often as white and Hispanic women. Not to mention, more than half …
Our increasing maternal mortality rate is gathering attention both nationally and internationally. The U.S. is 33rd among developed nations, and the rate is increasing. Indeed, as Neel Shah notes:
Americans today are 50 percent more likely to die in the period surrounding childbirth than their own mothers.
In 1974, the U.S. maternal mortality rate was 9 per 100,000 live births. By 1980, the rate was 8 maternal deaths per 100,000 births. …
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There is an alarming health crisis happening in the U.S.–– Black women are dying at a disproportionate rate during pregnancy and childbirth.
According to the CDC, Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White women. Though childbirth complications are not exclusive to Black women, these shocking statistics underscore systemic challenges and distinct issues that other racial groups may not encounter. These …
Firefighters and doctors stand beside you on your worst days. On our best days, we help you sidestep disaster. On our worst days, we make gruesome decisions, so you don’t have to.
Andrea’s family barely survived the pandemic. Her husband lost his job and her beloved grandmother lost her life. But after years of setbacks, today was move-in day.
The seaside bungalow was not as big as she’d hoped, but still perfect. …
The major implications of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, overturning Roe v. Wade, have centered on state-based rulings to remove a person’s right to abortion, thus preventing clinicians from supplying lifesaving health care and undermining an individual’s autonomy over their body. Further, as states eliminate this essential option in providing reproductive care, another important damaging impact of the Dobbs decision is beginning to be recognized. Namely, where …
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An excerpt from The Menopause Menu.
Whether it’s heart disease or cognitive decline, arthritis or diabetes, getting older is linked to an increased incidence of many different chronic diseases. The menopausal journey adds an extra layer of health risks to some of them but is also an opportunity to fine-tune healthy …
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Join Alan Lindemann, an obstetrics-gynecology physician, as we explore the fascinating interplay between evidence-based medicine and the invaluable insights gained from individual patient stories. Alan shares his insights on navigating rigid medical guidelines, the art of personalized …
The FDA approval of Zurzuvae (zuranolone), the first oral medication, has offered new hope to mothers who have exhausted all other treatment options to cope with their postpartum depression. This is a milestone in recognizing the maternal mental health crisis that plagues our country. The benefit of this drug is that it offers a new approach to treating postpartum depression and brings postpartum health into the spotlight. With Zurzuvae …
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In March 2023, I had a miscarriage when I was 10.5 weeks pregnant. I am blessed to have a wonderful husband and loving family, two healthy sons, and supportive friends, though I still grieve at times. I share what is helping us below, in the hope of helping others:
1. Early pregnancy assessment clinic (EPAC) and caring providers at my OB office. My obstetric office has an EPAC (also called Pregnancy …
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