Craniosacral therapy or chiropractic adjustments in the field of pediatrics is a relatively new treatment modality. But is this practice safe? How much evidence is there to support musculoskeletal adjustments in infancy? Honestly, not much. The Baby Doctor Mamas discuss this week on the podcast. As always – these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to share their experience, knowledge and views.

* General Movements in Preterm Infants Undergoing Craniosacral Therapy: A Randomised Controlled Pilot-Trial – BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016* Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Showed Reduction of Length of Stay and Costs in Preterm Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis – Medicine, 2017* Varieties of Alternative Experience: Complementary Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2001* Massage for Promoting Growth and Development of Preterm and/or Low Birth‐Weight Infants – Cochrane Systematic Review, 2004* Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment for Pediatric Conditions: A Systematic Review – Pediatrics, 2013* Chiropractic Care for Children: Controversies and Issues – Paediatr Child Health, 2002* The Role of Subluxation and Chiropractic Care in Hypolactation – Journal Of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics, 2007

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Dr. Melissa Bright PhD does research on maternal and child health and development. She joins the Baby Doctor Mamas to discuss what is going on in a baby’s brain. What stimulation do they really need? Are there certain gadgets and gizmos that are must haves? What’s the best way to support your infant’s brain growth? Is screen time really that bad? All these questions and more are discussed in this episode! As always – these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to share their experience, knowledge and views.

* The Basics of Brain Development – Neuropsychology Review, 2010* Newborn Reflexes – HealthyChildren.org* Reading with Children Starting in Infancy Gives Lasting Literacy Boost – AAP News, 2017* The Relentlessness of Modern Parenting – NYTimes.com* Social Class, Gender, and Contemporary Parenting Standards in the United States: Evidence from a National Survey Experiment – Social Forces, 2019* Babies and Toddlers Should Learn from Play Not Screens – AAP, 2011

A galactogogue is either a drug or a food that could increase breast milk supply. Dr. Natasha K. Sriraman MD MPH FAAP FABM is an Associate Professor Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters/Eastern Virginia Medical School. As a lactation consultant, she talks to the Baby Doctor Mamas about different foods, herbs, and medications that may influence a mother’s milk output. Remember, these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to present their knowledge and views.

* Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy and the Use of Prescription Medication: A Pilot Study – Obstetrics and Gynecology International, 2012* The Use of Galactogogues in the Breastfeeding Mother – Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2012* Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Herbal Galactogogues – Journal of Human Lactation, 2013* Effect of Domperidone on Insufficient Lactation in Puerperal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials – Obstetrics and Gynecology International, 2012

The cloth diaper is making a comeback! Once the cotton diaper was the only option for parents, but then the disposable diaper took the lead for being more convenient and toss-able. But with newer cloth diaper technology on the market – should we be thinking about swaddling our babies dirty bottoms in fabric once again? Remember, these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to present their knowledge and views. 

* Why Cloth Diapers Might not be the Greener Choice, After All – Washington Post, 2015* Don’t Pooh-Pooh My Diaper Choice: Essential Answer – Stanford Magazine, 2012* Money, Time, The Environment? What Do Cloth Diapers Really Save? – Forbes, 2014* Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK – The Environment Agency UK, 2005

Maddy Sands is the Project Director of the HelpMe Feed Foundation. HelpMe Feed is a not-for-profit charity working to improve global breastfeeding rates through app creation, communication and support. Listen to the Baby Doctor Mamas discuss breastfeeding and explore an organization aimed at helping women meet their breastfeeding goals. As always – these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to share their experience, knowledge and views.

* HelpMe Feed: The World’s Leading Breastfeeding Support App.* World Health Organization, UNICEF: Global Nutrition Targets 2025: Breastfeeding Policy Brief* CDC: U.S. Breastfeeding Rates* AAP: Benefits of Breastfeeding

On 5/14 we were able to leave our little studio in the basement of a Philadelphia Row Home and bring our podcast out to the community. We teamed up with the Delaware Valley Association of Neonatal Nurses to share our expertise with moms staying at Mothers’ Home – a residential shelter for pregnant women in crisis. Listen to our live podcast as we answer their questions and concerns on parenting – and let us know if you’d like us to come to you! Remember, these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to present their knowledge and views.

This is a topic we didn’t want to tackle alone, just like we feel mother’s everywhere shouldn’t be left to tackle postpartum depression on their own. So we invited special guest Dr. Hannah Renno an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She works both as a general pediatrician and in breastfeeding medicine and suffered from postpartum depression. She joins us to share her story and talk about resources for any mothers who suffer from depression after delivery. As always – these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to share their experience, knowledge and views.

* “Postpartum unipolar major depression: Epidemiology, clinical features, assessment, and diagnosis” – Uptodate.com* “Postpartum unipolar major depression: General principles of treatment” – Uptodate.com* “Mother and Baby: Intertwined”, Dr. Hannah Renno – Academic Pediatrics, 2015* “The pathway to care in post-natal depression: Women’s attitudes to post-natal depression and its treatment” – British Journal of General Practice, 1996

Dr. Ariel Williamson is a researcher and licensed psychologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) sleep center and also works in the hospital’s department of child, adolescent psychiatry and behavioral sciences. She also works in as a faculty member in the policy lab at CHOP. Additionally she is a sleep expert for the Pediatric sleep council and on the board of directors for beds for kids (BFK) programs. She gives some great advice on helping you and your baby catch a few zzz’s. The most important thing to stress? A REGULAR BEDTIME ROUTINE, with a rise and shine bright light in the morning! Start it at day 2 and make it work for baby and you! As always – these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to share their experience, knowledge and views.

* Pediatric Sleep Council* “Where are the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Providers and Where are They Needed? A Geographic Assessment” – Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 2016* “A Survey of Practicing Sleep Coaches” – Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 2018* What is Behavioral Sleep Medicine? – Society of Behavioral Sleep Medicine* How Much Sleep Do Babies and Kids Need? – National Sleep Foundation* Johnson’s Bedtime Baby Sleep App – Better Sleep in Just 1 Week.

Being in the NICU is tough! It’s a unique unit in the hospital and does things a little differently. If your baby does get admitted to the NICU, there are a lot of resources and personnel that can assist you through the experience – and this podcast may also help! Remember, these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to present their knowledge and views.

* “How to Handle Your Baby’s Stay in the NICU” – NYTimes, 2019* “Regional Variation in Neonatal Intensive Care Admissions and the Relationship to Bed Supply” – Journal of Pediatrics, 2018* “Admission Rates Increasing for Newborns of All Weights in NICUs” – JAMA Pediatrics, 2015* “Levels of Neonatal Care” – Pediatrics, 2004* “Newborn/Infant Intensive Care Unit” – Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Low blood sugar levels are a common reason for an infant to need admission to the neonatal intensive care unit or NICU. Listen to the Baby Doctor Mamas discuss management of sugar levels and know if you baby might be one who gets them checked. As always – these stories aren’t medical advice, but a chance for the Baby Doctor Mamas to share their experience, knowledge and views.

* “Screening for Neonatal Hypoglycemia After Fetal Exposure to β-Blockers” – Pediatrics, 2016* “Neonatal Hypoglycemia” – Pediatrics in Review, 2017* “Recommendations from the Pediatric Endocrine Society for Evaluation and Management of Persistent Hypoglycemia in Neonates, Infants, and Children” – Journal of Pediatrics, 2015* Hippo Education: Peds Rap* Fed is Best – Safe Breastfeeding and Bottle-feeding Support