Dr. Beverly Vavricka

📣Calling all new moms! 📣 Join us at The Lactation Club (TLC) at the Love Family Women's Center this Thursday, June 13, from 1 - 3 p.m.

Drop in and connect with other breastfeeding moms, get expert guidance from our certified lactation consultants, and even weigh your little one. It's free and offered every other Thursday - just be sure to register in advance! Sign up here: https://ow.ly/t59L50S9TwE

Join us at Northwest Pediatrics to learn about newborn care at our 🍿Popcorn with Pediatricians🍿event. We have several dates available this summer! The classes are open to all expectant parents. For more information and to register, please visit our website.

https://www.nwpedsokc.com/popcorn-with-pediatricians

📣This one's for the new moms! 📣 Come join The Lactation Club (TLC) at the Love Family Women's Center tomorrow, May 30 at 1 p.m.

This class is for women who have already delivered with a newborn up to 12 weeks old. The Lactation Club is facilitated by Mercy's certified lactation consultants in a casual, come-as-you-please setting to help new moms navigate their own breastfeeding experience and find support and connection with other new and breastfeeding moms. Any mom is welcome to come for expert guidance on personal breastfeeding challenges and successes. A baby scale will also be available for an infant weight check.

The class is free and offered every other Thursday; we just ask that you register in advance so we can be sure we have space and supplies for all! Sign up here and look for the "Mercy TLC" class: https://ow.ly/emZr50S09pF

Yay!! I was privileged to help deliver this sweet baby girl, Cleo, into the loving arms of her parents, Amelia and Taylor today. She is the very first baby of my practice to arrive at the Love Family Women’s Center on the day of a solar eclipse no doubt!

Also fun is that the labor and delivery nurse, Lori, and I have known each other for 16 years having worked together when I was in residency training.

Can’t wait to welcome more babies at this beautiful facility. 🫶🏻

The Love Family Women’s Center is officially open!

Women's Center Now Open Explore our center.

👶🍼Come join us at Northwest Pediatrics on Saturday, April 6th at 10:00am to learn about baby care for your newborn! Please visit our website for more information and to register:

www.nwpedsokc.com

We are stronger together!! 🫶🏻

There are many times that I look around in the operating room and find I am honored to be working alongside an all female crew around me (anesthesiologist, nurses, scrub techs). I, at times, will stop and acknowledge these moments with the staff to remind us that this was not always this common. It’s hard to believe that at one time women couldn’t vote (1920), own land (1900), or have a credit card (1974). Let us honor the trailblazing women in our history that make the liberties we enjoy today possible.

There is just something special about Mercy Family Birthplace. Blessed to be a part of it. 💚

👶 Are you expecting a new baby soon?

👶 Come and join us at Northwest Pediatrics to learn about newborn care and what to expect.

👶 Classes are February 24th and April 6th at 10:00am. Light refreshments will be provided.

For more information visit our website www.nwpedsokc.com

So beautifully described.

"The moment a mother is born.
Many seem to forget in the midst of child birth that in that moment there is in fact an emergence of two new beings.
Two beings both entering new worlds, a world where they must grow into themselves and learn to navigate new life filled with the unknown.
A world where they are both simultaneously faced with overwhelming vulnerability and unfamiliar emotions.
The transformation a woman goes through as she moves from maiden to mother is the greatest physical, spiritual and emotional evolution of a women's life.
So this is a gentle reminder to find grace for yourself in this journey of a new life mama.
Please do not forget that you also need to be held and supported in this birth as you expand into the new, evolved version of you."

📷:

Very well written article on the history of hormone therapy and menopause.

Women Have Been Misled About Menopause Hot flashes, sleeplessness, pain during s*x: For some of menopause’s worst symptoms, there’s an established treatment. Why aren’t more women offered it?

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mommas!

Life doesn’t come with a manual, but it does come with a mother! Happy Mother’s Day to our real-world superheroes.

Yes, a thousand times! Hormone therapy is generally safe and effective. Many of the widely reported adverse study results from 2002 have been found to not apply to women who are within 10 years of menopause. Let’s talk about it.

Opinion | America lost its way on menopause research. It’s time to get back on track. Menopause is a private burden that carries a costly public toll.

It is important to be aware of this particularly in our adolescent girls. There is help and hope for those that struggle with eating disorders. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help. Oftentimes this is not something that a family or person can do on their own. A person can’t just “snap out of it”. Eating disorders can have long term health consequences. Professionals can help.

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2022/02/21/oklahoma-providers-see-rise-eating-disorders-heres-how-help/6782850001/?fbclid=IwAR1jQI8DCjA6bigbjuukvvWsqrr8MLDHwLiapLAS9iWNrhK6ELQGF2IbojM

Oklahoma providers have seen rise in eating disorders since COVID hit. Here’s how to find help The pandemic has sent rates of mood disorders like depression soaring, and eating disorders often occur alongside other mental health conditions.

Once upon a time women were not welcomed into the medical community as physicians. Now medical school classes are typically more than 50% female. Today we celebrate that progress on the day of the first female physician’s birthday, Dr Elizabeth Blackwell. It is important that we not forget how far we have come. I am grateful for those who paved this pathway for me, for my daughter, and for all the little girls out there.

This is why we don’t remove ovaries without good reason.

While removing the ovaries reduces the threat of ovarian cancer, it is not without risk and causes premature menopause and hormone disruption that may lead to heart disease and other problems. A new study suggests that having an oophorectomy may can also increase the risk of dementia. Read more at bit.ly/3s4VSBP.

Office update:
Much like everywhere right now we are working hard to meet the increased needs created by the recent covid surge. We, too, are having some related staffing shortages similar to every other medical facility. Our remaining staff are working very hard to work through phone calls and keep everyone safe. We are prioritizing the most urgent of calls but please know you will receive a phone call back. If it is found to be a less urgent matter, it may be the next day due to the sheer volume of calls. In addition to our normal and expected phone calls, we are receiving an enormous increase due to covid illness among pregnant patients and are working diligently to provide the very best of care. We are limited by the lack of monoclonal antibody infusions available across the metro but will continue to work as it becomes available. If you are pregnant and are covid positive, we want to know so we can provide further instructions. This is a surge like we have not yet seen. If you are experiencing significant shortness of breath, chest pain, or decreased fetal movement please proceed to the emergency department. Please know you are very important to us and we will get through this together. Much love to you all.

Word on the street is that there were over 9000 covid positive tests in our state yesterday (and that does not include home antigen tests). If you are eligible for a booster please go get it. If you are considering being vaccinated now is the time to go. While we are seeing most infections with omicron as mild there are still those that are being diagnosed with pneumonia and requiring admission and ICU care. These are mostly unvaccinated. For pregnant patients (and really everyone right now) consider wearing a KN95 (or at minimum a surgical mask) out in public places and to our office. Every tool in our toolbox is worth utilizing for prevention right now. Please let us know if you test positive for covid during pregnancy as this does alter care. Here is evidence based information on what we know about covid in pregnancy

https://mothertobaby.org/fact-sheets/covid-19/

COVID-19 * Information on COVID-19 is rapidly evolving, and this fact sheet could become outdated by the time you read it. For the most up to date information, please call MotherToBaby at 866-626-6847. This sheet is about having COVID-19 in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. This information should not take....

Teens are some of my favorites to visit with in the office. We try our best to take the “awkwardness” out of it. There is so much to talk about and it definitely sets a nice foundation early before a pap smear is even needed (which is age 21).

Have you ever heard the phrase: "it takes a village to raise a child"? At the Center for Women's Health, we believe that's true! Let us help you guide your daughter as she makes the right decisions for her health.

The North American Menopause Society is the leading organization regarding evidence based guidance for navigating the menopausal transition.

Dr. Monica Christmas discusses what to expect during the perimenopause transition including symptoms such as changes in the menstrual cycle, hot flashes, and mood swings. She also reviews the various treatment and lifestyle options. Learn how every woman’s journey is different and how you can thrive during perimenopause. See the video at bit.ly/3qWM7VK.

Time to ditch the cloth masks for surgical mask, KN95, or N95

Heads up, if you wear cloth masks. To best protect our patients, co-workers and visitors from the highly contagious omicron variant, we’ll now be asking that you instead wear medical-grade or higher face masks. Please be on the lookout for boxes like this at entrances where we've previously been screening everyone. Many locations will provide a replacement.

For more on Mercy's updated visitor policy, visit https://bit.ly/3pTqwOT.

Listeria can be especially harmful in pregnancy. Be alert to this latest concern

Second Listeria outbreak linked to packaged salads: Do not eat recalled packaged salads produced by Dole. Investigators found Listeria in packaged salads produced by Dole.

Recalled packaged salads were sold under these brands:
• Ahold
• Dole
• Kroger
• Lidl
• Little Salad Bar
• Marketside
• Naturally Better
• Nature’s Promise
• Simply Nature

Listeria is especially harmful for people aged 65 and older, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems. Share this outbreak and recall information with your friends and family who are in these groups.
https://go.usa.gov/xeJ3F

Self care day for me:
Mammogram ✔️
Wellness labs ✔️
Covid booster ✔️

Take care of yourselves, ladies! We too often put ourselves very last.

Mercy Neuroscience Center has lots of room for easy walk up for first round covid vaccinations and boosters. I had zero wait time.

A little Grogu t shirt to add some fun to my day. 😉 Happy Halloween 🎃

I don’t normally post articles like these here but this story broke my heart. Unfortunately, there are many more just like it unfolding. This young lady like most was not “anti-vaccine”, she was just hesitant like many of our pregnant patients understandably have been. Our numbers are rising and we are seeing some of the sickest covid positive pregnant patients that we have encountered so far. The vaccine has been proven safe and effective at preventing severe disease. Please consider it. I worry about each and every one of my pregnant mommas right now. Please protect yourselves.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/5583507001

Pregnant unvaccinated nurse and her unborn 'sweet baby girl' both die of COVID Haley Richardson was almost 7 months pregnant when she died. She had not gotten vaccinated because she was afraid what it would do to her unborn baby.

We are hearing from colleagues around the country of an increase in unvaccinated pregnant patients with covid requiring admission to the ICU. Here are some known statistics. 1-3/1000 of pregnant patients with covid will have severe disease. Compared to nonpregnant individuals, pregnant women with covid are 3 times more likely to need ICU care. They are 2-3 times more likely to need advanced life support and a breathing tube. They have a small increase risk of dying. It is true that most individuals will be fine (thankfully) but as our numbers go up so does the chance of the above consequences happening in our state. Vaccination is the best way to prevent severe disease. I have attached the statement from the society of Maternal Fetal Medicine which is comprised of those OBs with advanced training in high risk obstetrics. I have seen the safety data and agree, now is the time to go get vaccinated. Stay well mommas! ❤️
https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.smfm.org/media/3040/COVID_vaccine__Patients_JULY_29_2021_final.pdf

s3.amazonaws.com

Isn’t she amazing!!

Say hello to Jessica, LPN! 👋 Jessica has 8 years of experience, including cardiology, gastroenterology, rheumatology and women's health. She enjoys building relationships with her patients and getting to see the beautiful miracles they bring into the world. She is driven by her integrity, dependability, commitment and compassion. Jessica enjoys spending her free time with her husband Cody, who owns Cowboy Chicken in OKC and her two sons Gavin (10) and Levi (6) and their beloved Goldendoodle, Charlie.