OB/GYN

Unthinkable choices in childbirth emergencies

Conditions

September 18, 2023

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. …

I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

Nandini Erodula

Education

September 14, 2023

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 …

Navigating chronic diseases and menopause: healthier habits for aging

Susan J. Baumgaertel, MD

Conditions

September 12, 2023

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 …

Balancing medical guidelines and personalized care [PODCAST]

Alan Lindemann, MD & The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

September 5, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

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 …

Zurzuvae: a beacon of hope for postpartum depression or a superficial solution?

Sonal Patel, MD

Conditions

September 5, 2023

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 …

5 things that are helping us through a miscarriage

Maria Petty, NP

Conditions

September 2, 2023

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 …

Essential postpartum care: lessons from 30 years in OB/GYN

Theresa Mahon, MD

Conditions

August 24, 2023

Almost 30 years ago, as an OB/GYN intern at a large urban medical center, I was privileged to learn from exemplary doctors and midwives. After 4:30 a.m. postpartum rounds one day, a midwife said, “I saw your note. You listened for bowel sounds and examined her abdomen.” I replied, “I did.” She asked, “Did you also check her bottom?” I responded, “No. Why?” She explained, “She delivered the baby through …

The harm of the “just do it” culture in medicine: a story of postpartum depression

Jennifer Lycette, MD

Physician

August 15, 2023

“There’s no such thing as postpartum depression.”

These were the unsolicited words from my obstetrician in the third trimester of my first pregnancy.

“It’s only sleep deprivation,” she explained.

As an MD, I’d been taught there was indeed such a thing as postpartum depression. But as the patient in that interaction, a pregnant woman, I didn’t feel in any position to challenge her words. They would, however, stick in my brain forever. Even …

Personalized hypertension care in pregnancy: Beyond evidence-based thresholds

Alan Lindemann, MD

Conditions

August 11, 2023

There has always been a research bias against the case of one. A success story that isn’t part of a research pool is called “anecdotal.” The implication is that no doctor should base treatment on a story of one. Then we devised the term “evidence-based” to reinforce the notion that physician decisions should be based entirely on numbers in research studies. However, the physician’s prerogative has always been to read …

Understanding nipple discomfort in breastfeeding [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

August 8, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

Join Cindy Rubin, a pediatrician and breastfeeding medicine specialist, as she discusses the common challenges of nipple discomfort during breastfeeding and the controversial use of all-purpose nipple ointment (APNO). Learn about evidence-based approaches to diagnose and treat …

The surprising power of lifestyle and diet changes to prevent infertility

Nicole Avena, PhD

Conditions

July 12, 2023

An excerpt from What to Eat When You Want to Get Pregnant.

I know firsthand how hard infertility can be to talk about. Personally, I struggled conceiving my second daughter, and I am an advocate for taking control of your own fertility through lifestyle and diet changes. Infertility has been seen …

Navigating the abortion debate: How physicians foster healing and bridge societal divides

Anonymous

Policy

July 6, 2023

Weighing in on abortion invites scorn and derision from all sides. However, physicians should help frame the medical context with the aim of therapeutically healing the gaping societal wounds that the abortion debate has opened.

Our Declaration of Independence identifies an individual’s unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The question arises: Who defines when a human life begins? At what point does a fetus become an “individual” …

Understanding pelvic congestion syndrome: insights and treatments [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

June 23, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

In this insightful podcast episode, we sit down with guest Gloria Salazar, a radiologist, to shed light on a common yet often misunderstood condition affecting women: pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS). Join us as we explore the challenges …

Breaking the chains of medical burnout: How physicians are reclaiming their well-being and transforming patient care

Kristin Yates, DO

Physician

June 22, 2023

When I was an OB/GYN intern, I made the mistake of admitting that I was able to get a short nap during my night shift. I was immediately met with comments that made it clear that rest during downtime was not something to be proud of. I felt so ashamed that once I became an attending, I was always afraid to admit when I had a relatively “easy” call shift …

Revolutionizing postpartum care: Transforming breastfeeding support for families

Dr. MILK

Conditions

June 17, 2023

An open response to “Breast or Bottle: The Illusion of Choice” by Amy Kennedy, MD.

We see and hear you and are so sorry you endured these experiences. We are physicians practicing breastfeeding and lactation medicine, and we acknowledge the overwhelming lack of support for families after birth. Many of us have come to this field after experiencing our own similar challenges, and we would like to offer a different …

An obstetrician-gynecologist reveals the truth about reproductive planning and how to navigate society’s expectations

Yuliya Malayev, DO, MPH

Conditions

May 26, 2023

Judging a book by its cover is easy. I just did it. There was a title at my library last week, So When Are You Having Kids?, and I judged it. That’s a loaded question: Am I even able to have kids? Do I want kids? If I do, when is a good time, personally or professionally? Who could ever be ready? Yet, how many times a day do …

Overcoming stigma and finding hope in infertility, pregnancy loss, and childlessness [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 25, 2023

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Join us for a thought-provoking episode as we sit down with life and wellness coach Gail Miller, a maternal-fetal medicine physician. We dive into a topic that is often kept silent but affects so many – infertility, …

From cancer survivor to health care advocate: a touching tribute to an irreplaceable radiologist [PODCAST]

The Podcast by KevinMD

Podcast

May 17, 2023

Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Catch up on old episodes!

Join us on this emotional episode as we hear the touching story of a patient’s journey with cancer and the irreplaceable radiologist who played a crucial role in her care. Our guest Kim Downey, a physical therapist …

From womb to burnout: a physician’s reflection on the impact of maternal burnout on her journey

Amna Shabbir, MD

Physician

May 14, 2023

I was driving in the rain, taking in all the abundant Carolina greenery around me, reflecting on how wonderful it was to be out of the hospital and experience this current moment. I started to wonder when was the first time I ever felt burned out in my journey as a physician, and then it hit me like a ton of bricks. Like a scarring memory deeply suppressed, rising to …