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:

Brittany Middleton, M.D., pediatrician, spoke with Everyday Health about protecting infants from the sun. She explained that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends mineral sunscreen rather than chemical options containing ingredients such as avobenzone or oxybenzone. "Evidence shows that these chemicals are absorbed into the body, are more likely to cause irritation or allergy, have environmental concerns and may cause hormonal defects," explained Dr. Middleton. For babies under 6 months who are not yet ready for sunscreen, Dr. Middleton suggested lightweight clothing and shade for protection. "Tightly woven, darker-colored clothing provides more protection," she said.

Tania Lopez, CNM, certified nurse-midwife, spoke with Parents about postpartum hair loss. She explained that postpartum hair loss usually begins about three months after delivery, and then re-growth begins to happen starting at about six months. "Women are typically shocked at how much hair is lost after having a baby," said Lopez. She recommended continuing prenatal vitamins to help manage postpartum hair loss as they "help with any nutrients that might be missing from your diet." A balanced diet may also support healthy hair growth, she noted. "Eat balanced foods with lots of fruits/vegetables and protein as well as healthy fats," said Lopez. Doing so helps the body replenish what it needs to function normally and can contribute to healthy hair growth, she explained.

Kimberlee Coleman, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN), spoke with Women's Health about whether women need both a primary care provider and an OBGYN. She explained that while OBGYNs may handle some primary care needs, such as reviewing blood work or checking in on mental health, these services are not their primary focus. Some don't mind doing those things, but most tend to stick to OBGYN-specific care, said Dr. Coleman. "If someone's been healthy, I don't mind doing all the annual labs that the primary care would be doing," she said. Dr. Coleman noted that if she is the only physician a patient sees, she would rather order the tests herself than have the patient skip them altogether.

Anushka Chelliah, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine specialist, spoke with Romper about some of the challenges new moms face after giving birth. Throughout pregnancy, women have regular appointments, symptom screenings and check-ins. After delivery, however, "the attention tends to move to the baby – in the household, at pediatrician appointments and even in social conversations," said Dr. Chelliah. "Mothers no longer feel they are the priority in health care, and it's a big shift from the prenatal period," she said. In addition, providers, relatives and even mothers themselves may focus on the more familiar signs of postpartum depression, like sadness or hopelessness, while less obvious symptoms – including anxiety, emotional numbness, irritability, anger and insomnia – are often missed, said Dr. Chelliah.

Sarah Jordan, M.D., OBGYN, spoke with The Bump about baby sleep in the womb. She explained that by 32 weeks of pregnancy, babies spend 90 to 95 percent of the day asleep. In utero sleep helps regulate the hormonal and metabolic processes that support growth, "which allows baby to gain a healthy weight," said Dr. Jordan. Babies may move less while sleeping in the womb, but they should not be still for extended periods. "If you feel baby isn't moving as much as normal, it's important to have this evaluated by your obstetric provider rather than simply assuming baby's sleeping," advised Dr. Jordan.

Brandi Fields, CNM, certified nurse-midwife, spoke with Parents about new findings on skin-to-skin contact and postpartum depression. "The study adds to growing evidence that skin-to-skin is known to benefit breastfeeding, temperature regulation, bonding and more, and may also contribute to a reduction in the risk of postpartum depression," said Fields. When moms practice skin-to-skin, "a cascade of scientific events occur," she said. Most of these center on the release of the hormone oxytocin, known as the "bonding hormone." "Oxytocin promotes feelings of calmness, relaxation and connection with the baby, reducing the release of cortisol, the stress hormone in both mother and baby," described Fields. "Emotions of fear and anxiety are eased and replaced with confidence and peace."

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.