Pediatrix & Obstetrix 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® 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:

Howard Brenker, M.D., neonatologist, and Caroline Stella, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, were featured on WPTV NewChannel 5 for National Multiple Birth Awareness Month. Ryan, Roger and Robert Reis are the first set of triplets cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) by Dr. Brenker and team at Boca Raton Regional Hospital in at least a decade. Guided by Dr. Stella, mom Amanda delivered the triplets at 33 weeks. They spent three weeks in the NICU growing stronger each day. Now home and thriving – with each baby weighing over five pounds – Amanda and her husband are deeply grateful to the dedicated medical team that made their miracle possible.

Zachary Rubeo, M.D., MFM specialist, spoke with Romper about late onset postpartum depression. “Symptoms consistent with a major depressive episode may appear much later – some research suggests they can develop three, six or even up to 12 months after delivery,” said Dr. Rubeo. He shared that patients often report depressed mood, hopelessness and a loss of interest in activities. “Every patient’s presentation is unique,” said Dr. Rubeo. “If your mental health feels persistently altered from your baseline and it’s affecting your daily life or bonding with your baby, that’s worth paying attention to.”

Kimberlee Coleman, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist, spoke with SheKnows about how to have the first period talk with a child to help them understand bodily changes and prevent confusion or surprise when it happens. “I would recommend starting the conversation in a private area, maybe set up a lunch or dinner date,” said Dr. Coleman. Start by saying you’d like to talk about some of the changes that your child will experience as they grow older, she advised. “First ask what she knows about body changes and periods,” suggested Dr. Coleman. “Then, ask if she has any questions about what she has heard or learned at school.”

Anushka Chelliah, M.D., MFM specialist, spoke with BabyCenter about why home doppler use may cause unnecessary worry for expectant moms. A baby's fetal heart rate can be difficult to find, particularly early on in your pregnancy, said Dr. Chelliah. It's also possible, she added, that the doppler might pick up mom's heart rate (which is naturally lower). Providers can distinguish them, but most moms using a home doppler lack the training to do so. Dr. Chelliah shared that when you're at home, you have nothing to use in conjunction with the doppler. Ultrasound imaging is often used along with the doppler to provide a fuller assessment of a baby's health.

Zachary Hoy, M.D., pediatric infectious disease specialist, spoke with HuffPost about an unusual sign of flu B. According to Dr. Hoy, an itchy, red rash could be “due to the interaction of influenza virus with the body’s own antibodies (immune proteins) that can flare up during influenza infection.” He noted that “several studies found red (erythematous) rash with school children affected with influenza B during the 2013-2014 and 2009 H1N1 pandemic.” The only way to avoid the rash is to ward off the illness. “There doesn’t seem to be good prevention due to not understanding the mechanism of rash or exactly why it appears in certain patients,” said Dr. Hoy. “The best thing to do to prevent it is to prevent getting influenza.”

Sasha Andrews, M.D., MFM specialist, spoke with What to Expect about the many factors that affect bump shape and size. In general, the size of a pregnant belly depends on the size and position of the uterus, said Dr. Andrews. "If there is more room within the abdomen, either due to the person’s height, torso length, or build, then their bump may appear smaller," she explained. Core strength can also affect the appearance of a pregnant belly. Especially early in pregnancy, stronger muscles in your abdomen may prevent your bump from protruding as much, said Dr. Andrews. "In subsequent pregnancies, bump size may increase more rapidly because the abdominal muscles have been stretched previously.”

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.