www-totalwomenswellness-com-v2

Women's Wellness Center's Holiday Specials

Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:05:36 GMT

Unwrap the Gift of Health This Holiday Season!

Take care of yourself this holiday season. Nourish your wellbeing, connect with yourself, regain your energy, renew and rejuvenate for the new year.

Our Exclusive Specials* include:

MonaLisa Touch
$1,200 for a package of 3
$500 maintenance treatments**

(**for returning patients)
(Purchase now and redeem at any time in 2025)

Holiday Self Care Specials

Pellets for Women only $300
(Purchase now and redeem at any time in 2025)

20% of all supplements, including DIM ($36 per bottle)
Can call and purchase over the phone.

*Sale expires December 31, 2024. We reserve the right to change or alter this special at any time. Sales items require full payment before the expiration date of December 31, 2024 but can be scheduled at any point in the remainder of 2025.

MonaLisa Touch Special

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 02:36:12 GMT

MonaLisa Touch Special | Women's Wellness Center | Boca Raton

Mona LisaTouch Special

Millions of women experience changes to their gynecologic health that affect their personal lives as a consequence. MonaLisa Touch® is a simple, safe, and proven laser treatment to help you feel like yourself again.

MonaLisa Touch is hormone free and safe for Menopausal Women and Breast Cancer Survivors!

Call (561) 826-3800 today to schedule your consultation!

Call 561.826.3800 for this exclusive offer.

$1200 package of three internal treatments

$500 single internal treatment

$100 external add-on

Purchase now & schedule anytime.

• Clinically Proven In-Office Procedure

• Only 3 Treatments
• Less Than 5 Minutes
• No Anesthesia
• Virtually Pain Free
• Immediate Results
• Safe and Hormone Free

Women's Wellness Center
2500 North Military Trail, Suite 111
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
(561) 826-3800
www.wwcboca.com

Thousands of women have chosen MonaLisa Touch since 2012

Virtually no downtime

Fast: <5 minute in-office procedure

Non-hormonal, chemical free

Rejuvenate In July

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 14:14:59 GMT

Enjoy our exclusive specials for July | Women's Wellness Center

It's the perfect time of year to Refresh, Renew, & Rejuvenate in July!⁠

⁠

Our exclusive specials* include:⁠

⁠

Buy 1 Syringe of Filler for $650⁠

Get 1 Area of Dysport for Free ($250 value)⁠

⁠

BioIdentical Hormone Pellets for Women $300⁠

(Purchase in July, use all year - no expiration)⁠

⁠

20% OFF SUPPLEMENTS⁠

⁠

20% OFF ACUPUNCTURE SESSIONS⁠

(Purchase in July, use all year - no expiration)⁠

⁠

Call 561-826-3800 to reserve!⁠

Spring Dysport Special

Sat, 26 Mar 2022 01:35:58 GMT

Spring Dysport Special Women's Wellness Center Boca Raton

Dysport Special

1 area $230 • 2 areas $400 • 3 areas $550

Spring is a time to be fresh and fabulous. It's an opportunity for you to feel and look younger!

Our Dysport Special will erase wrinkles and fine lines between the brow lines.

Dysport is an injection used to temporarily improve the look of your moderate to severe frown lines without changing the look of your whole face. The untreated facial muscles still work normally, allowing you to freely show facial expressions, such as smiling, in untreated areas.

Dysport is a formulation that has been shown to deliver temporary improvement in moderate to severe frown lines, even with repeat treatments. So, the effect of repeat treatments with Dysport may be comparable to your first use.

How Does it work?

With just a few injections between and over the eyebrows, Dysport blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscles, ultimately resulting in a reduction of muscle activity and temporarily preventing contraction of the muscles that cause frown lines. You should not be treated with Dysport more frequently than every 90 days.

Reserve today and schedule anytime during this year!

Spring MonaLisa Touch Special

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 01:00:47 GMT

MonaLisa Touch Special | Women's Wellness Center | Boca Raton

Mona LisaTouch Special

$1200 package of three internal treatments

$500 single internal treatment

$100 external add-on

Spring is a time of renewal, hope, energy and positivity. It's an opportunity for rejuvenation,

especially for women who experience changes in their gynecologic health. With MonaLisa Touch we can help you feel like yourself again.

MonaLisa Touch uses a gentle laser treatment to stimulate collagen production of the tissues

within the vaginal wall. The virtually painless treatments last about 5-10 minutes.

Reserve today and schedule anytime during this year!

Thousands of women have chosen MonaLisa Touch since 2012

Virtually no downtime

Fast: <5 minute in-office procedure

Non-hormonal, chemical free

Exclusive Holiday Self Care Specials

Fri, 03 Dec 2021 23:58:04 GMT

A Present for You: Holiday Self Care

Make Self-Care A Priority This Holiday Season

Take care of yourself this holiday season. Nourish your wellbeing, connect with yourself, regain your energy, renew and rejuvenate for the new year.

Exclusive Holiday Self Care Specials

BUY 1 SYRINGE OF FILLER FOR $650

GET 1 AREA OF DYSPORT FREE ($250 value)

PELLETS FOR WOMEN $300

(Purchase now, use all year - no expiration)

20% OFF SUPPLEMENTS

Mona Lisa Touch Specials

$1500 for a package of 3 treatments

$500 maintenance treatments for return patient

Call 561-826-3800 to Reserve | wwcboca.com

Boca Raton Midwife Answers Your Pregnancy Questions

psteiner29@gmail.com (Paul Steiner) — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 14:48:34 GMT

Pregnancy Questions and Answers with Boca Raton Midwife Lindsay Leider

You've got questions and Boca Raton Midwife Linsday Leider has the answers for you! Let's take a look at some of the most common questions we get from patients. Boca Raton midwife Lindsay Leider is a certified nurse midwife and advanced practice registered nurse.

A University of Central Florida and University of Florida graduate, Lindsay has bee a practicing midwife at Women's Wellness Center in Boca Raton for several years now.

The role of the midwife has expanded over the years. Modern midwives like Lindsay are true partners to their patients, helping to guide and being a direct part of the care team for the entire pregnancy. Midwives are also indispensable to patients during postpartum period.

Can you get Botox or fillers when pregnant? Breastfeeding?

Botox and fillers are a contraindication while both pregnancy and breastfeeding. We would suggest having both done at least 1 month prior to conceiving and as soon as you finish your last feeding pump session.

Do I just stop taking birth control? Will I ovulate normal with no period?

Typically you will start ovulating once you stop your birth control. There is some thought of “cleansing” your body to prepare for pregnancy and being off the pill for 3 months before conceiving. However, this is optional, not necessary.

How hard is it getting pregnant with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

With PCOS the biggest “problem” with getting pregnant is lack of or unpredictable ovulation. If you don’t know if or when you’re ovulating, you may have difficulty timing intercourse. As long as we can get you to ovulate (using diet, exercise, medication) and you are able to have regular and consistent intercourse during your “fertile window” there shouldn’t be much to worry about!

Can you start trying to get pregnant again when you’re still breastfeeding?

Absolutely! I have women who come in pregnant while still breastfeeding. As long as you are not at an increased risk for preterm labor. You can safely breastfeed throughout your entire pregnancy.

What are the best over the counter prenatal vitamins?

Ideally vitamins with clean and organic ingredients. You should be on a prenatal vitamin about 3 months before conception and until breastfeeding has totally stopped. Important ingredients to look for: DHA/EPA, Folate (Not Folic Acid), and Iron.

Can I color my hair while pregnant?

Yes! We generally recommend for women to wait until the end of their first trimester (13 weeks) just to be on the extra safe side. Mani's and pedis are also ok but there are some "non-toxic" options if desired!

Is drinking kombucha while breastfeeding ok?

This is another one that ‘technically’ is probably no, due to the amount of alcohol that may be present from the fermentation process. But the amount of alcohol in Kombucha in negligible when purchased from a store so I'd consider this to be ok. If you're DIYing it, I'd make sure you don't let it ferment too long!

Can you take allergy medication when pregnant?

Yep! Zyrtec, Allegro and Claritin are all considered safe in pregnancy

Thoughts on placenta encapsulation?

As of now, there have not been any research studies done on this. So all info we have is anecdotal. However-women report a decrease in postpartum depression rates when ingesting their placenta. However, there have also been reports of deceased milk supply with ingesting the placenta. We think this happens because the placenta is full of pregnancy hormones and it changes that hormonal shift that happens after delivery. I don't recommend it for women who are GBS positive, have meconium stained fluid, or develop chorioamnionitis!

Can you really not have any sushi when pregnant?

It's ALL about the quality. I probably wouldn't risk it for Publix sushi But if either the fish is cooked OR it is very fresh, I'd say it probably fine. Also, if you're eating sushi, just watch your other seafood intake for the week. Aka, no tuna, mackerel, and other high mercury fish that week.

Can I have one glass of wine here and there while in my 2nd and 3rd trimester?

‘Technically’ AGOC states that not alcohol in pregnancy can be considered safe. However, a rare glass of wine for special occasions (Birthdays, Anniversaries, etc.) later in pregnancy is probably okay.

Feel Like Yourself Again! Self-Care MonaLisa Touch Special

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 13:41:54 GMT

MonaLisa Touch Special | Women's Wellness Center | Boca Raton

Feel Like yourself again

Post-COVID Self-Care Mona LisaTouch Special

Your gynecologic health can affect healthy aging. Start the intimate conversation with your doctor today! MonaLisa Touch is a simple, safe, effective and pain-free solution for many vaginal issues. Our patients are calling MonaLisa Touch "life changing!"

Now through September 30, 2021, receive our absolute best savings ever on MonaLisa Touch packages!

$1200 Package of 3 internal treatments

$500 Single internal treatment

$100 External add-on

Fast: <5 minute in-office procedure

Virtually no downtime

Thousands of women have chosen MonaLisa Touch since 2012

Non-hormonal, chemical free

Rejuvenate In July

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:06:18 GMT

Enjoy our exclusive specials for July | Women's Wellness Center

It's the perfect time of year to Refresh, Renew, & Rejuvenate in July!⁠

⁠

Our exclusive specials* include:⁠

⁠

Buy 1 Syringe of Filler for $650⁠

Get 1 Area of Dysport for Free ($250 value)⁠

⁠

BioIdentical Hormone Pellets for Women $300⁠

(Purchase in July, use all year - no expiration)⁠

⁠

20% OFF SUPPLEMENTS⁠

⁠

20% OFF ACUPUNCTURE SESSIONS⁠

(Purchase in July, use all year - no expiration)⁠

⁠

Call 561-826-3800 to reserve!⁠

Women's Health: 4 Common Gynecology Issues & What You Can Do About Them

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 13:53:14 GMT

There are many different gynecology issues that can befall women throughout their lives. Here are some common ones and how to deal with them!

Let's face it: It's not always easy to visit your OBGYN and discuss your vaginal health.

But the truth is that many women are living with a host of treatable gynecology issues. As one example, 30% of women regularly suffer through painful sex.

Have you recently had some strange symptoms "down there?" You're not alone! Here are four common gynecology issues women face, along with what you can do to feel better.

1. Pelvic Pain

One of the most common reasons that women visit their gynecologist is to discuss pelvic pain. This refers to any pain that occurs in the lower part of your abdomen between your belly button and groin area.

Pelvic pain can result from a number of different conditions such as:

Menstrual cramps
Ovarian cysts
Fibroids
Endometriosis
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Your gynecologist can perform an exam and order blood tests or diagnostic imaging (if necessary) to pinpoint the cause of your pain.

2. Uterine Fibroids

Women of any age can develop non-cancerous growths in the uterus called fibroids. However, they're most common in women as they move through their 30s and 40s.

Sometimes fibroids don't cause any symptoms, but when they do, you might notice things like:

Severe menstrual cramps
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Increased urination frequency
Pelvic pain

Fibroids themselves aren't dangerous, but over time they can lead to conditions like anemia. If they grow in certain parts of the uterus, they can also affect your ability to get pregnant.

3. Abnormal Bleeding

Bleeding is considered abnormal when it occurs outside of your normal menstrual cycle. The "normal" menstrual cycle is approximately 28 day s long , although anything between 21-45 days may still be considered normal.

Abnormal bleeding refers to bleeding between periods, excessively long periods, or irregular periods. Endometriosis, fibroids, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS) could be culprits. As you move closer to menopause, it's also normal for your periods to become irregular.

The good news is that most causes of abnormal bleeding can be identified, diagnosed, and treated by your OBGYN.

4. Vaginal Infections

This is another broad term that includes bacterial infections (such as UTIs) as well as fungal or "yeast" infections. Symptoms might include painful urination, burning, itching, and discharge.

There's also the possibility that you've contracted a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as herpes, gonorrhea, or chlamydia. Aside from the symptoms mentioned above, STIs may also cause pelvic pain and vaginal rashes or warts.

Untreated infections can lead to long-term complications. If you suspect you have any type of vaginal infection, make an appointment to see your doctor ASAP.

Struggling With Gynecology Issues?

Your health needs will change as you get older and move through different phases of your life. At some point, you'll experience one or more of these common gynecology issues.

If you're not sure what's causing your symptoms, it's time to speak with an OBGYN in your area. The Women's Wellness Center offers women's health services in Boca Raton.

Call us at (561) 826 - 3800 to get in touch. We're happy to answer any questions you may have.

COVID-19 AND YOUR WELLNESS SEPTEMBER 2021 UPDATE

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 14:33:01 GMT

At The Women’s Wellness Center, we hope you & your family continue to be safe & healthy as we all navigate together through the Covid -19 pandemic. At The Women’s Wellness Center, we continue to follow the recommendations of the CDC as well as federal, state, and local government agencies. Our office continues to follow very strict infection control practices.

Policies currently in place:

Masks are required for any person entering the office.
If you have been exposed to Covid, live with someone who has tested positive, have a fever, sore throat, cough, or any respiratory symptoms, we will reschedule your appointment to a telemedicine visit.
All patients will be screened at the check in desk.
Each exam room will be completely disinfected and sanitized after each patient.

Telemedicine Appointments Are Also Available

Consult your provider right from your smartphone, computer, or tablet. Face to face consults with your provider are available now. Appointments are billed through your insurance.

Here are just a few examples of consultations:

General gynecologic issues
Hormone consultations
Birth Control Options
Surgical consultations
Lab results
Preconception counseling

Benefits of Mona Lisa Touch

psteiner29@gmail.com (Paul Steiner) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 19:00:26 GMT

Why Should You Want a Vaginal Rejuvenation Surgery?

Many women’s experience changes in their vaginal health over time. Vaginal issues can develop for a variety of reasons. For instance, Life events such as Childbirth or the inevitable process of aging can cause the loss of vaginal muscle tone, which can lead to problematic symptoms like urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness, and more. The aging process produces a number of changes in the body and leads to muscle fatigue and tissue laxity. Significant changes in weight can also produce changes in the vaginal area.

How can nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation help?

A vaginal rejuvenation has many positive qualities that go far beyond improved sexual satisfaction, though that is an incredible benefit too. Nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation won't change their body's appearance, but it can have a large impact on a woman's overall happiness and quality of life.

Here are 7 other excellent reasons why you should consider scheduling a vaginoplasty:

It increases your partner’s sexual experience as well as your own
Restores tightness and functionality of the vaginal area
Patients can elect for vaginal rejuvination via laser treatment or platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injections
Treats a wide range of issues and medical conditions caused by weakened vaginal tissues
Patients can resume regular activities extremely quickly
Remarkably improves your self esteem and quality of life
The particular treatment method chosen can be customized to the individual patient and their needs

MonaLisa Touch: What to Expect

MonaLisa Touch uses a laser that slightly penetrates the walls of the vagina. The laser was developed specifically for this procedure. The laser makes micro-scratches on the vaginal wall. It is virtually painless. When the vaginal wall is "scratched" it encourages and stimulates collagen production. Collagen refers to a family of proteins that makes up the structural components of connective tissue and skin. Though the aging process we lose some of the ability of the body to produce collagen. However, the MonaLisa Touch process promotes it within the vaginal walls.

The complete procedure takes less than five minutes and is performed in our office at Women's Wellness Center in Boca Raton. A typical treatment regimen entails three procedures over a number of weeks. We encourage you to speak with your doctor to firm the schedule and to know what's required.

MonaLisa Touch: How it Works

The WWC staff will perform preliminary procedures and get you setup in a room to yourself. Once comfortable and we've answered any questions you may have, we can begin the usually short procedure (generally less than 5 minutes). A probe is inserted into the vagina, which emits gentle laser energy to the vaginal wall.

Within the next 30 days or so, you should notice your results start to develop, with gradual improvements continuing to form over the course of about three months. For most women, nonsurgical vaginal rejuvenation is a one-time treatment that could last 12 months or longer before a touch-up session might be required to keep the same level of results.

If you are interested or feel you may be a candidate for the procedure, we encourage you to call. Many patients find the results "life-changing" and we always want our patients to live their healthiest expression of life! For more information or for an appointment, please call 561-826-3800

Teaching Kids Self Love

psteiner29@gmail.com (Paul Steiner) — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 17:08:57 GMT

From Toddlers to Teenagers - kids can learn to be more confident, have more self-esteem and better emotional intelligence when taught self love!

Toddlers: Love thyself and they will, too

Parents are the first role models a child will have in their life. Whether you’re aware of it or not, they are going to be following behind you, absorbing everything they see. They watch and learn - even when you take a moment to smile at yourself in the mirror - do you like what you see? They will too if you teach them that message. Before asking your husband or others how you look next time, or make a self-deprecating comment consider having these moments in private, or better yet - not at all. When you express confidence, not only in your looks and feelings, but in the way you feel - kids will learn the same. It may seem difficult, but your toddler is not just observing your physical movements, they’re also listening to you speak.

Excerpt From Mothermag.com article: FROM TODDLERS TO TEENAGERS: HOW TO TEACH SELF-LOVE

Talk to your toddlers about all the positive aspects that make them unique. Talk about how exercising is good for your bones and strengthens all the muscles in the body. The more you speak positively to them about their body, the more it will reinforce your own positive self-image. And, when you are done talking, take some selfies! Taking pictures with your child demonstrates that you aren’t afraid to capture yourself on camera—that you are confident and happy with yourself and being there with them in the moment.

Young children: Establishing healthy habits

So often, food and body image go hand-in-hand. And, between work and looking after a family, caring for oneself has the ability fall lower on the list of priorities. When one doesn’t find time to exercise or cook meals that fuel their bodies and make them feel their best, negative feelings can slip in. That said, a personal struggle with food or physical activity doesn’t need to be inherited by a child. Try to find the time to take care of yourself physically and emotionally, but also make time to create multiple opportunities for your children to interact with food in a healthy way. Below, are a few specific tips:

Let them tell you when they are full
Set an example by eating your fruits and vegetables
Teach them about vitamins and minerals
Cook with your child, and learn to love the amazing flavors that can be created with healthy ingredients

Tweens: Don’t ground them before take-off

Imagine for a second the following scenario: Your daughter is preparing to enter high school, and you casually ask what she wants to do when she grows up. She replies, “I want to be an astronaut.” Back when she was five, that answer may not have been surprising. Now, she is 12, and while you didn’t necessarily think she had a clear-cut plan for her future, this answer may have caught you off-guard. If you choose to tell her that the odds are slim, or offer some alternative options, you may believe you’re navigating around what could potentially detour her from her eventual full-time career.

What your daughter may hear instead, however, is: “My parents don’t think I can do it. So, why should I?” Your child very well could be an astronaut. Someone out there is going to do it, and it could be your youngster.

That said, no matter if they are a son or daughter make sure to:

Encourage your kids to pursue their dreams, no matter what age they are.
If either you're son OR daughter is the one aspiring to become an astronaut, encourage them to take science electives in high school, or to join the math club.
Be your child's cheerleader and their advocate.
Expose them to as many opportunities as you can.

Your child is the one who gets to decide what they are and aren't capable of. Whether they actually become an astronaut or not is irrelevant. Your child is going to fall down and pick themselves back up many times throughout their entire life. The important part, as a parent, is that you don’t ground your children before take-off.

Teenagers: Money vs. self-love

When dropping your kids off at school, does it matter what car you are driving? Do you want or need that expensive item? What do you believe you will gain by purchasing it? Expensive buying habits have the ability to be an unconscious act to fill a void. An individual may be subconsciously looking to define their self-worth based on the value of material posessions. That’s not everyone, and that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve to buy themselves nice things, but one may need to consider the reasons why.

If you do decide to buy a new, high-end car, it might also be wise to think about the teenager that may be influenced by the purchase. Try and remind yourself and your child that you worked hard for this car, and that they, too, can earn the things they want. Money should be spent in a responsible manner, and material items do not define one’s self-worth. It’s an important lesson to remind both yourself and your kids, and to discuss when the time is appropriate.

Remember: parenting lasts a lifetime

Whether your children are toddlers or teenagers, chances are they won’t tell you that they look up to you, or that they care what you say. But, the odds are they still think of you as their hero, and what you say and do will continue to make an impact on their lives. So, take some time to think about your self-image and how it might affect how you parent in different situations. Remind yourself to be conscious and provide positive associations related to your own body, mind, and soul, alongside theirs. Raise your children to be a better version of yourself and chances are, it will rub off on your own personal views of self-love.

Thoughts on Cord Blood Banking

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 12:59:57 GMT

Cord blood holds promise for future medical procedures. Is it right for you?

Umbilical cords are comprised of 2 different types of embryonic stem cells – mesenchymal and hematopoietic cells. These cells could be used by your baby, their sibling, or even another family member to treat nearly 80 life-threatening diseases including:

Cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma
Blood disorders like sickle cell and various thalassemias
Metabolic disorders like Tay-sachs and Hunter syndrome
Bone marrow disorders like pancytopenia and congenital severe anemia
Immune disorders like Reticular dysplasia and DiGeorge syndrome
Stem cells are a huge area of research right now. Some of the conditions being studied include autism, Alzheimer’s, diabetes (both type 1 and 2), and cerebral palsy.

Umbilical cord blood can easily and safely be obtained immediately after delivery with no risk to the mother or baby. There are lots of different companies that offer private cord blood banking. If you choose to bank your baby’s cord blood, you can order a kit and bring it with you to delivery.

All of our providers here at the Women’s Wellness Center are trained on cord blood collection. If you have any questions or think this option is right for your family, please speak with one of our providers at your next visit!

Getting Better Sleep During Pregnancy

Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:16:03 GMT

Pregnant and always tired? Yet somehow you can’t seem to get a good night’s sleep?

I get this all of the time with my patients so I decided to create a blog article about it. Growing a baby is hard work and taxing on your body. Your changing body can make it difficult to get comfortable. You may even be dealing with morning sickness or heartburn. Understanding the barriers to good pregnancy sleep is a good place to start. Additionally, creating sleep rituals and prioritizing sleep is the key to getting sleep. Below are a few tips that I share with my patients.

Sleep problems by trimester

Your body is constantly changing when you’re pregnant. The sleep issues and challenges you may face during each trimester will change as each trimester changes so having an idea about what to expect can help you deal with the changes as they come.

First Trimester

During your first few months of pregnancy, your body probably doesn’t look like it’s going through a lot of changes. Most of your friends and family probably don’t even notice you’re expecting. However, you may notice some changes starting after the first few weeks. For example, the high influx of pregnancy hormones in your system can disrupt your sleep so in the beginning you may experience the following:

Nausea

Morning sickness doesn’t only happen in the morning. You can be sick any time of day or night. If you’re vomiting or feeling nauseous at 1 a.m., you’re not going to sleep well. My suggestion? Figure out what helps your nausea and keep it nearby. Nausea is often worse when your stomach is empty, so keep saltine crackers, organic ginger ale or a ginger shot on your nightstand so you don’t have to run to the kitchen during the middle of the night. Talk to your doctor if your nausea is severe.

Frequent urination

You don’t need a full-sized baby pushing on your bladder to need the bathroom more frequently. Pregnancy hormones and a growing uterus can do that for you. The fix: Stop drinking a lot of fluids late at night. Cutting caffeine later in the day will also help.

Aches, pains, and feeling tired all the time

Remember, your body is undergoing some pretty significant changes so it’s not uncommon to experience body aches. Whether your breasts hurt, or you have pelvic cramping, aches and pains can make it hard to sleep. You might also feel the need to nap during the day. The fix: Exercise early in the day (later in the day might be keeping you up), plan a sleep schedule and try to stick to it. If you nap, try to keep it to 20 minutes and try not to nap late in the day.

Second Trimester

The second trimester is generally known to be a time when pregnancy is easier, which means you should be able to get some better rest. If you’re still not getting the shut-eye you’d like, it might be because of the following issues:

Leg cramps

Leg cramps during pregnancy can start to set in during the second trimester and may worsen in the third trimester. These cramps usually happen in your calf, but can affect any part of your leg or feet.

My suggestions: If you feel a leg cramp setting in, point your toes toward your head and hold that position. This movement can ease cramping. However, avoid pointing your toes in the opposite direction or away from your head (which can make cramping worse). Massaging the area or walking around after a cramp can also ease the pain and soreness afterwards.

Dreams

Pregnant women can have some crazy and vivid dreams. This is quite normal. These dreams can be made worse by stress. My fix: Try to schedule daily relaxation at the same time each day on a regular basis. Meditation and other relaxation techniques can be very helpful. Try apps like Inscape or Calm. Breathing techniques, using a lavender neck pillow or a little lavender aromatherapy in the 2nd and 3rd trimester can help create a nice ritual too. You will look forward to these daily rituals and begin to feel the benefits from a relaxation routine or sleep ritual.

Heartburn

As your uterus grows, it places pressure on your stomach, which means stomach acid moves up your throat. Lying in bed to sleep can make this worse. The fix: Avoid foods that cause heartburn (spicy, acidic, or fried). Instead of laying down right after meals, stay upright. You can also prop yourself up when you sleep to counteract the heartburn.

Third Trimester

During the third trimester you’ll probably experience more trouble sleeping than any other time during your pregnancy. This is partially because you’re larger than usual as you near the end of your pregnancy. Finding a comfortable sleep position is difficult. You may also experience the following:

Back pain

A combination of the hormones of pregnancy that relax the ligaments in your joints and lower back and your growing belly may be causing back pain that keeps you up. My suggestions: Stretch and exercise often to keep your back in good shape. Sleep on your left side and use a pillow between your knees or under your stomach.

Frequent urination

Again, your growing baby is starting to put pressure on your bladder, which causes you to get up and go frequently at night. The fix: Decrease the amount of liquids you drink starting in the late afternoon.

Restless leg syndrome

Can’t keep your legs still? About 20% of pregnant women experience this, which can make sleeping harder. My suggestion: Gentle walks and leg massages can be wonderful and nurturing. Using Yoga to tame your restless legs syndrome can be extremely helpful too. You can also stock up on foods rich in iron and folate, which can help reduce your restless leg syndrome.

Breathing issues

Congestion and weight gain can lead to snoring and even sleep apnea. The fix: Sleep on your left side. Discuss your breathing and sleep issues with your doctor or a certified sleep specialist if symptoms get worse.

Pregnancy sleep positions

When you’re pregnant, finding a comfortable position to sleep in can be challenging at best. Sleeping on your back isn’t recommended because it can obstruct blood vessels and slow blood circulation for you and your baby. But sleeping on your stomach will hurt your belly or breasts or cause stomach problems. So what should you do? Side sleeping is considered the safest for you and your baby. Most doctors and experts recommend sleeping on your left side whenever possible because it’ll improve circulation and protect your liver but either side is fine; just find the spot that’s most comfortable for you. Need ideas on how to get comfortable?

Prop with pillows. Placing a pillow between your knees or underneath your tummy can give you extra support. A full body pillow is great for this. Pillows positioned in the right way can also keep you from rolling onto your back or stomach while you sleep.
Prop up the top of your bed a few inches with books or blocks. This will elevate your head and help reduce heartburn.
Placing a pillow under your hip will allow you to lay more on your back without being completely flat.

No matter what you do, sleeping while you’re pregnant can be a challenge so setting yourself up for success can help alleviate any stress. Creating a sleep ritual by trimester can be helpful and can help you look forward to sleeping vs becoming stressed and worked up before bed. As always, talk and partner with your doctor as they may have additional solutions or suggestions. Here’s hoping you get some zzz’s in the upcoming months ahead!

Dr. Patricia Chen

The Adrenals: A Forgotten Organ

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 16:47:00 GMT

Just how important are the adrenals to your overall health and energy?

She was beyond exhausted.

She wakes up almost every day after what feels like a good night’s sleep feeling ok, but by mid-day, she’s running on fumes. She gets brain fog, and feels like she needs a nap by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. After experiencing a long day of work, she then has to give the kids dinner and get them to bed. She’s easily frustrated by their behavior – and when yelling at them doesn’t work, she gives up trying. When the kids are finally asleep, she collapses on the couch, turns on the TV or pulls out her phone to check in with Facebook, and feels like she could fall asleep anytime.

Around 10:30, she finally decides to go to bed – but then she sees the kids have left their toys all over the living room. “Gotta clean that up!” she thinks, “it’ll just take a minute.” An hour later, she’s still tidying up – and her energy has returned! She’s wired! No use wasting this second wind, right? So she quickly logs on to her e-mail, answers a few that she couldn’t get to during the day, and logs off. It’s now midnight – she still has energy, but realizes she has to wake up at 6:30am, so she goes to bed. It takes a little while to fall asleep, and after 6 hours of sleep, the cycle starts again.

Sound familiar? I hear variations on this story a few times a day from patients, friends, and even my wife. This has become commonplace in our society. We place a premium on productivity, financial gain, checking off that “to-do list” – and if we aren’t reaching these goals, we’re failing. We sacrifice health, rest and recovery, and even in many cases happiness, in order to be what we consider a “success”. It’s an impossible standard to which we hold ourselves – and it’s unsustainable.

Why can’t we keep doing this and expect to be healthy and happy? The answer lies, as it so often does, in our hormones. More specifically – our Stress Response, regulated for the most part by our Adrenal Glands.

The adrenals are small endocrine (think “hormone-producing”) glands located on top of our kidneys. The adrenal glands are responsible for producing and distributing several vital hormones, including some sex steroids (testosterone and DHEA), aldosterone (which regulates salt and water and ultimately our blood pressure), and the hormones we often associate with “fight or flight” – epinephrine (or adrenaline) and cortisol. For the purposes of this article, I’m going to concentrate on cortisol – the most troublesome “Stress Hormone”.

What happens when we’re under stress? It all goes back to our distant ancestors, early humans, and the fight for survival. When confronted with a stressor – for example, an animal attacking us – the body needs to find a way to stay alive. To put it simply, we have to either be able to run away, or fight. Adrenaline “pumps us up”, increasing our heart rate and blood pressure, helping to get oxygen to our muscles and brain, so we can move – fast. Cortisol helps the body release stores of sugar and increase fatty acids. Oxygen and sugar are two things vital for muscles to work, fatty acids are also important for the brain to function. Once the threat is neutralized (we either kill the predator or run away to safety), this stress response calms down and we go back to our baseline metabolism. The adrenal glands can recover, so they are ready to respond again when the next threat arises.

This is a good system! And it’s served humans really well, until recent history. The problem now is that our stressors have changed. No longer can we simply run away or eliminate the threat. One cannot simply stop being a parent, for a ridiculous example. For another, most of us can’t quit our jobs and expect the bills to be paid. These stressors are constant – and constant stress is NOT what our adrenal glands were designed to handle.

So what happens? When the stress starts, our adrenals do exactly what they’re supposed to do. Adrenaline and cortisol are released, and we handle the stress. But there’s no recovery. So the adrenals continue pumping out these hormones. What started out as a beneficial effect turns dangerous. Too much continuous adrenaline, and our blood pressure stays elevated, leading to chronic hypertension. Too much cortisol, and our blood sugar continues to rise, leading to diabetes.

You may be asking, “if the stress response is meant to make me capable of fighting or running away, increasing energy to do so, why do I feel tired?” Great question!

There are books written on this topic, so we can’t go into all the details here. Here’s a quick oversimplification. Adrenaline and Cortisol are not made “out of thin air”. It takes protein (for adrenaline), certain vitamins (B vitamins in particular), and cholesterol (for cortisol) – to name just a few. During the stress response, remember the goal is immediate survival. So the adrenals don’t care where they get these things to make the stress hormones – better to rob a less vital system in order to keep us alive. These same building blocks are used in almost every system of the body – protein and cholesterol are part of every cell, B-vitamins are required for pretty much everything to work. Cholesterol, which we all are taught to think of as “bad”, is where all of our sex steroid hormones come from (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone). So the body diverts production of these hormones in order to supply more cortisol – essentially knocking out our production of sex hormones. This is one way chronic stress leads to fatigue.

Chronic cortisol production also leads to a suppressed thyroid. The relationship here is remarkably more complex than that. But, suffice it to say that chronic stress adversely affects the thyroid.

Our bodies are very smart. After a prolonged period of stress, the brain recognizes that prolonged production of Cortisol is unsustainable, and even dangerous. So, the brain releases signals to shut down production of Cortisol. And it does this very well – too well. The term “Adrenal Fatigue” is used to describe this situation. But this term is a poor description of what is occurring. There is really nothing wrong with the Adrenal glands – they are still capable of making hormones. But the brain’s suppression is just too strong. The body doesn’t make the stress hormones, we’ve already depleted our testosterone, our thyroid is already suffering, and we feel all the symptoms we associate with being “stressed out” – extreme fatigue, unable to handle any new stress, irritability, brain fog, inability to concentrate, poor sleep (cortisol is needed for a restful sleep), and depression.

All is not lost!

The good news is there are ways to combat this problem. In an ideal world, we would eliminate the stress. But as I’ve already pointed out, this just isn’t possible in most cases. So, the first step is to take intentional steps to manage our stress.

The most important aspect of managing stress is balancing your schedule as much as possible – so that there are regular “decompression” periods. Meditating for 10-15 minutes a day can have tremendous benefits. Take a short walk when you are able (without the smart phone, if possible). Find a hobby and spend a few minutes a day doing it (for me, it’s the piano). Read a book for a few minutes before bed. Anything you can do which requires minimal thought, and allows you to “unplug” from the world, will help.

Exercise is important too. But it doesn’t have to be extensive or intense. Just get moving!

Get the right nutrition

We need to give our bodies what they need to function optimally. Make sure there is enough protein, healthy fats, and fiber in your diet. A good nutritionist, preferably one with an understanding of the relationship between food and stress, can help with this. It’s also important to pay attention to what we shouldn’t be putting in our bodies – excessive sugar, large amounts of caffeine, junk food tastes great and we may even feel more energized afterwards. But these are wreaking havoc on our adrenal glands.

Even though we are better off getting our vitamins and minerals from food sources, sometimes it can be challenging to get all the nutrition we need from food alone. Supplements can be helpful, particularly if you are on medications that can deplete nutrients, or are under significant stress. In general, almost everyone can benefit from a good daily B-Complex supplement, for example. Simple blood tests can reveal other deficiencies as well.

Herbal support

The adrenal glands can be encouraged to “heal” by the judicious use of herbal supplements. Such herbs, known as “adaptogens”, help regulate adrenal healing, and will begin to balance the production of stress hormones.

Replace missing hormones

When the adrenal glands go off kilter, so go the rest of our hormones. As mentioned before, production of sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone are sacrificed in order to make more cortisol. A deficiency of cortisol causes the body to find other ways to ramp up metabolism, so the thyroid becomes taxed and starts to malfunction. (Thyroid dysfunction can also contribute to adrenal disorders – so a vicious cycle may be created.) No hormonal system operates in a vacuum. So, while working to fix the adrenal glands, you may require supplemental thyroid medication, or extra testosterone, in order to function optimally. This will depend on the severity of your symptoms, as well as tests for hormone levels. When adrenal dysfunction is particularly severe, it may even be necessary to replace cortisol directly to support normal endocrine function. This isn’t usually necessary, but it can be done using low doses and for a limited period of time so that dependence doesn’t become an issue.

The first step

In order to return ourselves to optimal health, it is important to first recognize the symptoms that there may be a problem. We are available to help you determine if your exhaustion is due to Adrenal Dysfunction. And if so, we can help you treat it. Get started today by us for help.

Treating a cough, cold or allergy when you're pregnant

Mon, 03 Jun 2019 16:46:59 GMT

Feeling the sniffles? Congested? Let's see if we can help you feel a little bit better.

Spring is in full swing! With the changes in weather and “May flowers” blooming, also comes allergy season. Dealing with seasonal allergies can be frustrating enough, but feeling like you aren’t able to take your “usual” allergy medications once you are pregnant can make it even more frustrating.

Some natural remedies for allergies, coughs, and colds include eucalyptus inhalants (or fresh Trader Joe’s eucalyptus hanging in your shower!), using a humidifier in your room at night, saline rinses/sprays (like Neil Med Sinus Rinse or Neti Pot), increasing your fluid intake, warm liquids like soup, and rest when possible.

If your nasal congestion is causing a sore throat, gargling warm salt water 3-5 times a day is usually helpful.

If these natural remedies just aren’t enough, it is ok to take Allegra, Claritin, Zyrtec or Benadryl while pregnant. For congestion it is ok to use Vicks Vapor Rub or take Mucinex, Sudafed, or Tylenol cough/cold/sinus formulas. *Please do not take Sudafed if you have hypertension*.

Lastly, it is ok to use throat lozenges/cough drops or take Cepacol, Cepastat, or Dimetapp if you have a cough.

In the event that NONE of these natural and over the counter options are helping or if your mucus starts to change from clear to a green or yellow color, please come into the office so we can treat you appropriately!

Baby Moves - Fetal Kick Counts

psteiner29@gmail.com (Paul Steiner) — Fri, 31 May 2019 19:19:15 GMT

Fetal movement counting, often called kick counting, is a way a mother can help monitor the movements of her unborn baby by counting the number of kicks in a certain time period.

The first feeling of fetal movements occur between 16 and 24 weeks; this is called "quickening." Whenever it happens, it can be an exciting time. At first these movements may be sporadic; there may be days where you do not feel the baby move at all and others where the baby cannot seem to sit still. By around 28 weeks, however, the baby should be moving regularly every day.

If you are ever concerned about your baby "not moving enough", remember, that when you are doing other things throughout the day, you may not be able to feel some of the smaller movements. If you are having difficulty feeling your baby, try lying on your side alone in a dark room, press your hands on your belly, drink lots of fluids and eat a snack.

If you are still unable to feel 8-10 movements within the hour, go to the hospital and call the office. Most importantly, Do not panic! When you arrive at the hospital, the nurses will monitor your baby for 30-60 minutes. This will help let us know if there is any need to be concerned about your baby.

Top Five Supplements for Optimal Health

psteiner29@gmail.com (Paul Steiner) — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 14:48:04 GMT

There are tons of supplements on the market. These are the 5 supplements we always suggest our patients consider.

Supplements are everywhere. Walk into your local health food store, and you will be inundated with choices. Take this supplement to help strengthen your immune system. Take that one to help maintain energy. Take yet another to make sure your hair and nails are strong. There are supplements which claim to keep you young, keep you sharp, clear your skin, and calm your nerves. There are also, unfortunately, supplements easily available which may be detrimental to your health. Deciding which ones you should take – and which you shouldn’t – can be overwhelming. It is important to realize that everyone is an individual. Your biochemical “signature” – that which makes you unique – is different from everybody else’s. Your age, health concerns, medications that you take, environmental exposures, and symptoms – among other factors – will all play a role in determining the correct combination for you. This simple fact is often forgotten in the marketing push to sell you supplements.

Despite this, there are 5 supplements which I always encourage my patients to consider. Of course, no supplement – no matter how great the health claim – should be taken without a conversation with your health care provider about your unique health status. My list represents only the most basic supplements. In addition, there are tests that can measure your specific nutritional deficiencies. The results will help determine which supplements you specifically need so you can achieve, and maintain, the best of health.

1) Essential Fatty Acids:

This is the active ingredient in “Fish Oil” we’ve all heard so much about. Essential Fatty Acids, or EFA’s, are anti-inflammatory, help lower triglycerides, help thin the blood, are vital for heart health, and are even implicated in memory and mood. They can also help reduce the discomfort of menstrual cycles. They are called “essential” because humans cannot produce enough of them naturally – they must be consumed. Natural Sources: Fatty Fish, Walnuts, Eggs, Edamame.

2) Vitamin D:

Vitamin D’s “claim to fame” is bone health, since low levels are associated with osteoporosis. But there is an abundance of research about this vitamin’s role in supporting the immune system, prevention of diabetes, and decreasing the risk of cancer – including breast and colon cancer. It is extremely difficult to get enough Vitamin D from foods or sun exposure, so supplements are often needed. Levels should always be measured before starting, since everybody’s specific requirement will be different. Natural Sources: Dark green leafy vegetables, fortified almond milk, raw almonds and other nuts.

3) A Multivitamin:

Having a basic multivitamin is important. However, everyone’s needs are different – so a vitamin regimen should be customized to your individual requirements. There are ways to tell which vitamins and minerals you need. But if you are unable or unwilling to undergo such testing, a well-rounded vitamin supplement should be considered.

4) Probiotics:

These are responsible for cultivating and maintaining the beneficial microflora (“good” bacteria) in the digestive tract that work with the body in the digestive process, detoxification, elimination, nutrient production and absorption. Natural Sources: Cultured Greek yogurt (goat’s milk yogurt is better than cow’s milk yogurt), sauerkraut, miso, tempeh and other fermented foods.

5) Magnesium:

The often forgotten mineral, magnesium helps your body absorb calcium and works in partnership with that mineral to aid in growth and development of healthy bones and teeth. It is also vital for maintaining brain health. Studies indicate that this mineral reduces mood swings associated with premenstrual syndrome and may help prevent premenstrual migraines. Natural Sources: Halibut, legumes, nuts and spinach. Remember, it is always better, if at all possible, to “eat your way to better health”. That is, it is always best to try to get vitamins and minerals through food first, which is why I’ve included some natural sources of the nutrients I listed. Unfortunately, we can’t always eat the “perfect” diet. Adding these 5 supplements to your daily regimen is a great first step toward optimal health and well-being.

Wishing you the best of health!

Scaling the Pyramid: Eating Right During Pregnancy

Sat, 06 Apr 2019 18:35:38 GMT

This isn't the pyramid you learned about in grade school.

by LINDSAY LEIDER, CNM, APRN

Certified Nurse Midwife & Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

The first step toward healthy eating is to look at the foods in your daily diet. Having healthy snacks that you eat during the day is a good way to get the nutrients and extra calories that you need. You may find it easier to eat snacks and small meals throughout the day rather than three big meals a day. Pregnant women need to eat an additional 100-300 calories per day. This is not a lot of food. It is equivalent to a small snack such as one half of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and an orange.

As much as possible, you should incorporate a balance of healthy foods in your diet. The best way to do this is by following the food pyramid listed below. Note: This is not necessarily the same food "pyramid" you learned about in grade school.

The Foundation: Vegetables

At least 3-6 servings daily (1 serving is about 1 cup)

Some examples include broccoli, spinach, kale, carrots, peppers, tomatoes, zucchini and squash.

Healthy Fruits

At least 2-5 servings daily (1 serving is about 1 cup)

Some examples include berries of all varieties, bananas, pineapple, grapes and oranges.

Lean Proteins

Around 2-4 servings daily (1 serving is about ¾ cup)

Some examples include beans, edamame, chicken, turkey, eggs and fish.

Unrefined Whole Grains

Around 2-4 servings daily (1 serving is about ½ cup)

Some examples include brown rice, quinoa, sweet potatoes, oats, pita, and whole grain bread.

At the Top: Healthy fats

Around 1-2 servings daily (1 serving is about ¼ cup)

Some examples include avocado, nuts, seeds, and hummus.

What is a CNM (and what does it mean for your health)?

psteiner29@gmail.com (Paul Steiner) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 17:18:14 GMT

Certified Nurse MidWife and Women's Health

by LINDSAY LEIDER, CNM, APRN

Certified Nurse Midwife & Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

Many people associate a "midwife" as a professionally trained healthcare provider there to help women with labor, delivery and birth. Certified Nurse Midwifes (CNMs) are nurse practitioners with graduate education in midwifery. They have graduated from a nurse-midwifery education program which includes a university degree as well as hands-on clinical training by practicing CNMs.

CNMs effectively merge the midwifery and medical models by drawing from the art of midwifery, while remaining firmly planted in the contemporary evidence-based practice of maternity and women's care.

How does this benefit your health and wellbeing?

At the Women's Wellness Center, CNMs provide a variety of general women's care designed to help better serve our patients. These services include general health check-ups and physical exams; pregnancy, birth, and postpartum care; well woman gynecologic care; and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.

CNMs are able to prescribe a full range of substances, medications, and treatments, including pain control medications. CNMs work in many different settings, such as hospitals, health centers, private practices, birth centers, and homes. Most midwives in the United States are CNMs.