Skip to main content
Search
Search

Filter By

All Search Results

  • What is preterm birth? Who is at risk, and how can it be prevented?

    Being pregnant can be one of the most exciting times in a woman’s life, as they anticipate the birth of their little bundle of joy. The hope for all women is that their pregnancy will go to full term, which lasts 40 weeks. However, in some cases, a woman goes into labor and delivers earlier than expected, which is called a “preterm birth.” Preterm birth can be described as any delivery that occurs between 22 and 37 weeks gestation. Preterm birth affects about 12% of pregnant women, a number that has remained essentially unchanged for the past 30 years, despite multiple interventions.

  • Does Consuming Your Own Placenta After Childbirth Deliver the Benefits Some Celebrities Claim?

    Are you aware of the latest trend in childbirth? Several Hollywood celebrities have claimed recently that consuming their own placenta after the birth of their child was wildly beneficial to their health. Just how was it beneficial to their health? The claimed benefits include: improved iron levels, hormone levels, lactation, sleep, energy, reduced postpartum bleeding, and a reduction in the “postpartum blues,” a self-limiting form of depression. This practice has been observed in other mammals and human cultures, giving those who advocate this trend a reason to believe in such benefits.

    What exactly is placentophagy?

    First, let’s discuss the role of the placenta. The placenta is an organ made from the cells of the embryo, which supplies the fetus with all of the necessary elements to grow and develop. It is essentially the fetus’s source of nutrition, respiration, protection, and most function for 280 days during pregnancy, as well as during labor and delivery.

  • New Mom? Watch for These 10 Things That Can Happen After Giving Birth

    Many new mothers leave the hospital expecting to look and feel like their pre-pregnancy selves. The reality is that the hormonal and physical changes that continue to occur during the six to eight weeks following childbirth can be just as unpredictable as pregnancy itself. 

  • Best Exercises To Slow Osteoporosis

    Exercise can help slow osteoporosis. But before you start working out, it helps to know which bone-strengthening exercises deliver the greatest benefit. 

  • You're pregnant! Now what?

    Becoming pregnant is an important time in a woman’s life. Virtually all components of her life will be affected and she will have many changes that will require planning and adjustments. A caring and committed healthcare team can help the pregnant woman with many of the challenges she may face.

  • Should Pregnant Women Get a Flu Shot?

    As flu season approaches, you’ve likely seen and heard a lot of encouragement to get your flu shot and for a very good reason. Getting vaccinated is one way you can help protect yourself, your family and those around you. Influenza vaccines are available at your doctor’s office, and some workplaces even provide them.

  • When Is It Time To Induce Labor?

    In a perfect world, your pregnancy would end on – or at least close to – the date you circled on the calendar when you learned you were expecting. But what happens when your baby decides to linger past that due date? Or if a complication arises? 

  • Keeping Bones Strong as We Age

    From the time we are born, our bone tissue is continually being replaced through a process called bone remodeling. In our mid-20s, we reach peak bone mass, which stays fairly stable until we hit our 40s. At that point, bone cells start to die faster than replacement cells can be produced. 

  • Frances P Crespo Bonilla, PsyD

  • Christina Dudley, MMSc, PA-C

    Christina Dudley is a certified physician assistant (PA-C) with the Orlando Health Heart and Vascular Institute specializing in interventional and general cardiology. With more than 20 years of experience, her expertise includes: