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Embrace These Transformational Strategies for Your Well-Being

9/30/2024

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In today's fast-paced world, women frequently find themselves multitasking and juggling multiple roles. They often serve as working professionals, caregivers, leaders, and nurturers all at once. This constant juggling and relentless daily grind, if not managed effectively, can lead to feelings of exhaustion and imbalance, making it challenging to find peace and happiness. However, every woman has the potential to transform this daily grind into a rewarding and meaningful journey. The secret to achieving this transformation lies in embracing strategies that prioritize self-care, emotional well-being, and a balanced lifestyle. In this article Teton Women’s Health Center, we delve into a set of actionable strategies specifically designed to help women enhance their overall well-being and empower them to navigate daily challenges with resilience, grace, and strength.

Prioritize Tasks
From attending meetings to household chores to child-rearing to maintaining social relations, it's essential to discern the urgent from the important. This is where prioritizing tasks comes into play. Start by jotting down your tasks, then rank them based on their importance and urgency. By defining clear priorities, you set a course that steers clear of unnecessary burnout, ensuring that you remain energized and focused on what truly matters.

Immerse Yourself in Nature
Nature is an often-underestimated source of rejuvenation. Whether it's a brisk walk in a nearby park or a weekend getaway to the mountains, connecting with nature has profound effects. Multiple studies have shown that spending time outdoors can reduce stress, increase creativity, and provide a mood uplift. Take a moment every day or week to immerse yourself in nature's embrace, allowing it to heal and revitalize your spirit.

Return to School
If you feel unfulfilled in your current career, earning a degree online could be the perfect opportunity to pursue a new path. For example, by earning a degree in psychology, you can study the cognitive and emotional processes that drive human behavior, allowing you to support those in need of help. Online degree programs offer the flexibility to balance full-time work while keeping up with your studies. Click here for more info on how to take the first step toward a more rewarding career.

Laughter Therapy
The age-old saying "Laughter is the best medicine" remains true even today. Amid the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's easy to lose sight of the simple joy that a hearty laugh can bring. Scientifically, laughter has been proven to release endorphins, our body's natural painkillers. To inject some laughter into your life, consider watching a comedy show or sharing light-hearted moments with friends and family.

Be Kind to Yourself
It's not uncommon for women to be their harshest critics, especially in difficult times. However, practicing self-compassion can make a world of difference. Treating oneself with kindness, understanding, and patience creates an environment conducive to growth. Take time to reflect on your achievements, no matter how small, and celebrate them.

Build Your Resilience
Life is full of ups and downs, but while challenges are inevitable, how we respond to them defines our journey. Cultivating resilience means building a mental fortitude that helps bounce back from setbacks. It's about viewing challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. By nurturing resilience, women empower themselves to navigate life's storms with grace and emerge stronger on the other side.

Make Empowered Decisions
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Every decision we make, whether big or small, shapes our life's narrative. By making conscious choices that align with our values and aspirations, we reclaim our power and steer our life in the direction we want it to go. This could involve simple decisions such as choosing healthy meals, setting boundaries in personal relationships, or opting for a career path that resonates with our goals. It's important to feel confident in our decisions and to trust our intuition, even when faced with uncertainty or doubt.
 
The daily grind is an inescapable part of life, but it doesn't have to be a burden. With the right strategies, it's possible to manage, and even enjoy, the daily hustle. By prioritizing tasks, connecting with nature, embracing laughter, practicing self-compassion, building resilience, and making empowered decisions, women can significantly elevate their well-being. Exploring hobbies like gardening or embarking on an entrepreneurial journey can further enrich their lives. It's important to remember that the pursuit of well-being is a continuous journey. Each step taken towards a balanced and joyful life brings us closer to a life imbued with purpose and fulfillment.

For a variety of women’s health services in Idaho Falls, visit Teton Women’s Health Center today!
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A Few Tips to Increase Your Breast Milk Supply

9/25/2024

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First of all, the most important step is to figure out if your breast milk supply really low.  Remember if your baby is gaining weight properly and producing enough wet diapers, your milk supply is probably just fine.  However, if your baby is fussy after feedings or drinks an entire bottle after nursing there may be a problem.  Here are some tips on what you can to do to increase your supply.

1.  Nurse nurse nurse: Your breasts will try to meet the demand of your baby.  Nursing more frequently will help augment your production.  Supplementing with formula especially during a growth spurt will negatively impact your breasts ability to meet the demand of your baby.  That being said, sometimes you still may have to supplement in order to meet your baby’s needs.

2.  When you are done nursing, pump, pump, pump.   If you are going back to work, this is not easy!  It essentially means you are either nursing or pumping every couple of hours.  However, pumping regularly will allow you to produce plenty of milk for storage when you go back to work.  

3.  Hydrate!!  About 2/3 of Americans are chronically dehydrated.  You do not need to overdo it.  Just make sure you are drinking fluids and staying hydrated throughout the day!  If you are properly hydrated, your urine will have a clear, light yellow appearance.  If it’s dark and yellow, then drink more! 
4.  Herbal options
     A.  
Fenugreek: Fenugreek is an herb similar to clover and the herb most commonly recommended to help increase breast milk supply.  Fenugreek is used as an herbal remedy to help with diabetes, painful menstrual cycles, exercise performance, male infertility, breastfeeding and many more indications as well.  Studies have not shown a significant impact on breast milk production.  However, anecdotally many mothers find that fenugreek (whether in capsules, seeds or tincture) can help increase supply.  Side effect include sweat and urine smelling like maple syrup.  Fenugreek is most commonly discontinued for causing loose stools.  The amount of fenugreek transferred to breast milk is unknown.  If your baby develops fussiness or loose stools, you may want to discontinue it and speak with your pediatrician.  Please do not use fenugreek when pregnant as it can be a uterine stimulant.  
     B.  Milk thistle: Milk thistle is a tall flowering plant from the Mediterranean.  It is a common ingredient found in lactation teas and supplements to help increase breast milk supply.  This herb is also commonly used in patients with liver disease or gallbladder issues.  While there are no good studies showing increased breast milk production, it has been linked to breastfeeding historically.  

5.  Oatmeal?  While there are also no good studies that show that oatmeal directly impacts breast milk production, many lactation consultants will encourage moms to eat oatmeal for breakfast.  Its a good source of iron and nutrition, so why not?

6.  Prescription medications
     A.  Reglan: Reglan increases milk supply work by blocking dopamine, which results in an increase in prolactin levels.  This does not work for all women, and unfortunately reglan has lots of side effects.  The most common is severe depression; other side effects include diarrhea, sedation, gastric upset, nausea, seizures and extrapyramidal effects (twitching, etc.).  Even though it may be helpful in increasing production, because of all the side effects, especially in women susceptible to postpartum depression, it is generally prescribed very cautiously by providers.  
     B.  Domperidone: This medication is associated with increased production and fewer side effects than reglan. However, it is available in Canada and not in the US as it has not been approved by the FDA.  The FDA actually issued a statement against its use in 2004 as there was concern about its transfer into breast milk.

7.  Lactation consultants!  There are lactation consultants online (la leche leaugue), or you can meet with one of the lactation consultants at the hospital.  If you call the hospital where you delivered, they should be able to help you make an appointment with one their consultants, even after you have been discharged from the hospital.  Sometimes something as simple as poor latch can contribute to supply issues.  

For those moms who are working hard to breastfeeding and are struggling with their supply, hopefully the tips listed above will help get you over the hump.  If not, remember that breastfeeding isn’t always possible for everyone.  While there certainly are some health benefits for baby, even if it doesn’t work out for you, that doesn’t make you a bad mother.  Many healthy babies have been raised on formula, too  :)  

Dr Pam
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Postpartum Hair Loss: Am I going to go bald??

9/16/2024

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Most women will notice a change in their hair when they are pregnant- it will be thicker and more lustrous- so what is going on?  Approximately 90% of your hair is in a growth phase (anagen phase) at any given time and 10% are in a resting or shedding phase (telogen phase).  Every couple of months, hair in the resting phase falls out and makes space for new hair to grow in its place.  During pregnancy there is an increase in the level of estrogen circulating in your bloodstream and this causes your hair to remain in the growing phase and stimulates the growth of hair.  Most women notice that their hair is thicker, and for the first time they feel like they may be in a Pantene commercial :D

So you just had a baby.  You are getting use to all sorts of changes in your body and you have a newborn that requires 100% of your time.  And now one to two months later, you notice that there is hair everywhere!  Your shower drain is clogged.   Every time you comb your hair, you notice clumps coming out.  So, what’s going on?!  No you are not going bald, but it certainly does feel like it!  While you were pregnant, your body freezes hair in the growth phase (anagen phase), but as your estrogen levels decline it pushes out all that hair that should have been in the resting/shedding phase. This usually starts in the second or third month postpartum and resolves by 6 to 12 months postpartum (thank goodness!).  

What can I do to survive this hairy transition?
1. Some women will get a shorter hair cut.  Talk to your stylist about ways to incorporate the finer hairs in the front.
2. Take your vitamins: Make sure you are taking a multivitamin with biotin, vitamin B, and vitamin C. 
3. Avoid certain styles: hair weaves, braids, pigtails, cornrows can put a lot of stress on your hair and this can make the hair loss worse.  
4. Be very gentle when combing your hair when it is wet.  Your hair is extra fragile when wet.
5. Be careful with heat styling instruments like blow dryers and irons.  You can use them to style your hair but use if more sparingly if possible.
6. Make sure you use a volumizing shampoo and plenty of conditioner on your hair.
7. Using color and a volumizing mousse can help with volume especially at the hairline where thinning is most obvious. 

Just remember, this is a normal post partum change that is unrelated to breastfeeding.  Unfortunately there is no miracle cure, and it just takes time for your hair to return to normal, but it will grow back just like it was before you were pregnant :)

Dr. Pam
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2001 S Woodruff Ave #10
Idaho Falls, ID 83404









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