Pediatrix Clinicians in the News

In addition to the highly specialized care our clinicians provide to patients across the country every day, many also serve as go-to expert sources for top national and regional media outlets. Pediatrix® and Obstetrix®-affiliated clinicians regularly contribute to news articles, sharing their expertise to help educate readers on popular and trending topics related to women’s and children’s health, as well as unique stories of innovative patient care. 

Here’s a roundup of some of the latest stories:

Jenelle Ferry, M.D., neonatologist, spoke with Parents on two topics related to new findings on pumping and breast milk. The first survey found that one in three working breastfeeding parents lack a place to pump at work, despite the 2022 federal PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act. The ability to pump is critical for a working parent trying to meet American Academy of Pediatrics and World Health Organization recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding, Dr. Ferry said. "Lack of pumping or breastfeeding spaces both at work and in public spaces also exacerbates inequality," she added.

The second study found that components in breast milk, such as melatonin and cortisol, vary over the course of the day, prompting questions about whether parents should adjust how they feed their babies pumped milk. Dr. Ferry pointed out that while the study looked at breast milk microbiology, it did not test what happens to babies who drink milk with more or less melatonin or cortisol. “We'd need more data to know if these variations result in clinically meaningful changes for babies (i.e., does the variation of melatonin in milk affect a newborn's sleep-wake cycle),” she explained.

Kyle Graham, M.D., OBGYN, spoke with What to Expect about gender predictors. Skull theory, which is popular amongst parents-to-be, suggests you can tell a baby's gender from the shape of its skull in a 12-week ultrasound, but experts say this method is not reliable. The most accurate way to tell the sex of a baby is by a blood test known as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), Dr. Graham said. At-home gender prediction kits also lack credibility and accuracy. “There are many myths regarding fetal sex, but I’m not aware of any accurate at-home predictors, so I recommend using the vetted and studied NIPT testing or a detailed anatomy scan,” he said.

Robert Quillin, M.D., pediatrician, spoke with WebMD about baby hiccups, which commonly occur after feeding due to certain eating habits. "Hiccups will likely become less frequent when an infant takes larger volumes of feeds, or has started some solids," Dr. Quillin said. He noted acid reflux can also be a cause. "If a baby is uncomfortable with hiccups, particularly after feeding, it may be a sign of reflux, and parents may want to speak to their pediatrician.”

Fadiyla Dopwell, M.D., developmental-behavioral pediatrician, spoke with Care about how to manage toddlers who frequently say “no.” Toddlers emulate what they see, and odds are they hear the word “no” pretty often, Dr. Dopwell explained. “‘No’ is a word that toddlers frequently hear when being redirected from behaviors that may impact their safety or parents do not want to encourage,” she noted. “As such, some toddlers say ‘no’ because they’ve heard the word frequently from parents and caregivers.” To help toddlers better express themselves, she recommended tailoring questions to their development. “During playtime, you may ask a child with a more limited vocabulary, ‘Would you like to read a book or play with the cars?’” Dr. Dopwell said. “However, you may ask a toddler who’s more verbose, ‘What game would you like to play?’”

Zachary Hoy, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialist, spoke with Parents about best practices for helping households recover after a period of illness. He emphasized that, beyond thorough cleaning, it is crucial to reestablish healthy lifestyle habits. This includes ensuring that family members who were recently ill stay hydrated and receive adequate sleep. Dr. Hoy explained, “Getting back into routine is important because it helps get the mind off of recent illness and usually helps regulate bed and mealtimes back to normal.” He noted that illness can disrupt daily rhythms, including circadian cycles, and resuming regular routines supports a smoother transition to wellness.

Anushka Chelliah, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist, spoke with WebMD about preparing for pregnancy with multiple sclerosis (MS). "Pregnancy may exert a short-term beneficial effect on the course of MS, including fewer, less severe relapses, especially in the third trimester," Dr. Chelliah said. A year before conceiving, experts recommend discussing pregnancy plans and long-term disease management with a neurologist. "There should also be a focus on optimizing any chronic conditions, such as hypertension [high blood pressure], diabetes, weight and environmental factors," said Dr. Chelliah. 

-To view additional news stories, visit our newsroom. 

Members of the media, we invite you to view our multispecialty media panel and request an expert source.