by Kristi | Dec 4, 2015 | Uncategorized |
What follows are my thoughts on how I talk to my kid about body parts and why I think it could change the world if we all did it EARLY and without made up words. A patient of mine, in for her annual exam, had her 3.5 year old twins in tow. They quietly, meandered around the exam room while she and I talked. Then, when I did her pelvic exam and pap smear, they both wanted to know what I was doing. “What are you doing to her woo woo?” Like so many women I encounter, this sweet patient shooed them away to sit down. She mused, “How on earth do you talk to a 3 year old about THIS kind of thing?” “This” of course meaning her vagina and her gyn exam. (Note: This example is fabricated from the collective of many strikingly similar encounters I have with my lovely patients. It is NOT conveying a private, actual interaction. Any similarity to real patient encounters is coincidence.) In situations like this, I’m immediately frustrated and think, what do mean, how do you talk about this kind of thing? You use your words, lady! However, after reflecting on my reaction, I had a face-palm-obvious epiphany that made me feel sheepish: the innocent discomfort with discussing intimate body parts with toddlers isn’t a defect or one particular person’s fault. It likely evolved from generations of people not talking openly about this anatomy. The grown women I see, like so many of their peers, are often not accustomed to talking matter of factly about genitals. So, it’s absurd for me...
by Kristi | Apr 17, 2015 | Uncategorized |
I really love how this article gives clear ideas for how to navigate the newborn period. It’s great because it doesn’t go overboard with excess information. That just ends up overwhelming new parents-to-be. It just gives ways to make life with a new baby a little easier. These are tips I really wish I would have implemented with my sweetie pie. The founders of NuuNest, Cindy and Jana, put together this list based on their many years of experience working as nurses and lactation specialists with moms in the immediate postpartum period. Enjoy! -Kristi Your due date is arriving! You have everything you need, right? Diapers and wipes. Check. Sleepers, blankets and onesies. Check. Here are 11 things you may not have thought about yet! 1)Identify a helper or support person. Even if your partner plans to take time off after baby’s birth, it pays to have extra support. Someone to help with the housework, the cooking, the laundry. This could be a parent, your aunt or a trusted friend. You must feel comfortable with this person and not feel the need to “entertain” them. This person’s role will be to care for you. Having a support person will free you to focus on getting to know your baby and finding some much needed time to nap. Parents with other children often take turns napping; having a support person to help with siblings will mean both you and your partner can rest when the bay does (doubling your sleep time!). 2)Make a plan for visitors (and explain it to family and friends!) Too much company is...
I am an Ob/Gyn and I love helping people really, truly understand their bodies and live healthy lives. I believe true wellness comes from more than just a pill. When not working I love to mountain bike, cook, learn to sew, and go on adventures with my husband and our daughter.