Women – Here for Life

Vocabulary lesson: What is a doula?

March 2, 2020

Having a baby is one of the most exciting, scary, and vulnerable times in a mom’s life. You have never been more exposed or had so many questions flying around your brain. Births can be quick or slow, vaginal or surgical, calm and collected, or wild and crazy. Whether you’ve done it before or not, you can be sure that support is essential.

A doula is a labor support person. The term “doula” comes from the Greek for “woman’s servant.” Doulas come when called by the birthing person (or by the nurse upon the request of the birthing person) and remain until after baby is born. They provide continuous care for mom and anyone else mom decides to allow into her space. They provide a constant presence amid the staffing changes at the hospital, an encouraging voice, a reminder of your worth and agency. (more…)

1 in 10 Women: Endometriosis

December 13, 2019

If you have actually heard about endometriosis then you are already more informed than most about this devastating condition that effects roughly 10% of reproductive age females. This means approximately 200 hundred million women’s lives around the world are impacted by this potentially disabling condition. According to the Endometriosis Foundation of America, “Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) migrates outside of the womb, where tissue should not be.” This results in inflammation, which produces pain and sometimes infertility.

I want to focus more on what endometriosis is not, as opposed to what it is. This approach brings about a more interesting discussion by revealing the immense opportunity we have as health practitioners (and as a society) to intervene early, potentially effecting the trajectory of a young person’s life. (more…)

Breastfeeding help… even before a baby is born

November 18, 2019

Whether you’re expecting your first baby or you’ve welcomed one before, visiting with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC or lactation consultant, for short) before your baby arrives can help you prepare to breastfeed or provide expressed milk. Here are some answers to common questions about prenatal breastfeeding visits.

Why should you visit a lactation consultant before delivery?

Breastfeeding is the natural conclusion to pregnancy and birth. But “natural” doesn’t always mean “easy”! Breastfeeding is a skill that takes some time for both parent and baby to learn, and each breastfeeding pair is unique. Breastfeeding is a social skill, passed along between generations, and that link has been broken for a lot of families. Prenatal education is one way we can continue to pass along knowledge of breastfeeding and caring for a new baby. (more…)

Get your skin ready for the winter

October 8, 2019

October is National Eczema Awareness Month. Sounds like a good time to talk about winter and how the cold upcoming weather can be harsh on our skin. Dry skin and eczema are two of the most common conditions the dermatologists at Hennepin Healthcare see this time of year. Dr. Jenny Liu, from the Dermatology Clinic, shares some easy and simple gentle skin care tips that everyone can use.

Bathing tips:
1. Daily bathing is recommended. Baths are better than showers as soaking can help hydrate the skin.
2. Avoid super-hot water. Although it feels good with the cold weather, hot water can dry out the skin. (more…)

Two heart attacks – two different types of pain

September 27, 20193

Is it heartburn? Muscle strain? Pain from a heart attack can take on different forms for women – and unfortunately, it’s those subtle differences that could be making a huge difference in clinical outcomes for patients.

Coronary heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for women in the United States even though more is being done to identify and treat the disease. Ignoring the symptoms of heart attack is one of the key factors attributing to this statistic.

“Since the 1980s there’s been a steady decline in cardiovascular disease rates for women, and that’s great,” explains Dr. Michelle Carlson at Hennepin Healthcare. “Awareness of prevention efforts like reducing cholesterol, stress and smoking cessation as well as incorporating positive exercise and diet choices are making a difference. But there’s one obstacle we’re still not overcoming – and that’s the likelihood of women to dismiss symptoms until it’s too late.” (more…)

Midwife means “with woman”

March 13, 2019

by Kate Pfaff, APRN, CNM

Did you know that the word midwife means literally, “with woman”? It is a simplified but accurate description of what Hennepin Healthcare Birth Center midwives do every day. We are skilled at listening to women’s concerns and priorities, and strive to be fully present for them through important life stages.

At the heart of midwifery is the belief that labor and birth are normal life events for most women. We, therefore, try our best to maintain the “normalcy” of the situation. This might look like quiet reassurance when labor is hard, or the encouragement to continue eating and drinking to keep up energy levels. Our laboring patients can be seen meandering the hallways slowly, soaking in our large hydrotherapy tub, or creatively positioned with pillows and yoga balls in a comfortable resting state. Many of our patients choose to use pain medication in labor, and we fully support these choices too. (more…)

Go to sleep little one

November 21, 2018

Safe to Sleep® Recommendations Explained

Many people remember the “Back to Sleep” campaign that was initiated in the 1990s. Back to sleep recommends babies should always be put to sleep on their back for safety. Since the 1990s, the rate of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), initially declined and now has plateaued for several years. This prompted the National Institutes of Health to recommend the slogan “Safe to Sleep®” in order to improve upon the initial recommendations and better educate families and communities on more comprehensive safe sleep recommendations. (more…)

Celebrating ten years of breast cancer survivors

October 30, 2018

On Saturday, October 6th, almost 200 Hennepin Healthcare breast cancer patients, their friends and families and volunteers from the Comprehensive Cancer Center came together for the 10th annual Breast Cancer Survivors Celebration. Every year our clinic staff recognize women and men for their strength and commitment to fight and heal from breast cancer. We held the event in our new Clinic & Specialty Center‘s Stillman Education Room and spilled out into the atrium. Children and guests decorated pumpkins and won prizes at the fish pond. Patients and family visited information tables from our community supporters, including the African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Firefly Sisterhood, Livestrong, the American Cancer Society and Open Arms of Minnesota, just to name a few. Lunch was served and we had a raffle – all patients won a gift! This year’s celebration has been our biggest yet and we can’t wait for next year. (more…)