Jennifer Mercer Chattanooga Midwife

During pregnancy, it’s more important than ever to incorporate dynamic motion into your day to keep your hips fluid.

Dynamic sitting? What does that look like?

If you work at a computer, swap out your office chair for a firm exercise ball, keeping your knees spread apart, lower than your hips. Let your abdomen become a hammock for baby.

When driving a car, try putting a small physio ball (with just one puff of air) in between your ischial tuberosities (or “sitz bones”), so they touch the car seat. Your hips will get the dynamic motion they need, and you’ll have less pain. Win-win!

Click the link below for more tips on our recommended Daily Activities!
https://i.mtr.cool/grhuakvgta

We have some wonderful doulas in this area! Our patients are so lucky! Happy World Doula week to all

💖 Doulas, this is your moment!

To celebrate the life-changing work that doulas do every day, we are partnering with for a special 10-day event featuring a variety of FREE gifts. 🎁

You can find something special from Spinning Babies® along with many other tools designed to aid you as you bring your care, support, and wisdom to the birthing process.

Just click the link below to sign up! ⬇️
https://i.mtr.cool/dzljksjydr

Can being on all-fours (hands and knees) help a baby rotate? Actually not more than other positions. So why do so many birthie folks say it does?
This advice comes from a 1980s study that was never able to be replicated. Six more studies showed no statistical difference.
Can being on all-fours help a labor? Yes! First, it’s more comfortable compared to lying on one’s back or sometimes, one’s side. The sacrum is more mobile than lying down. A massage or therapeutic bodywork on the back and pelvis feels “great” in this position. What feels great during labor is relative to labor, right? Keep all-fours on the list of birth positions but not on the list of recommendations to turn a posterior or breech baby.

We know increased dietary sugar effects the body and now solid evidence that it effects mental health as well!
So, on the heels of Valentine’s Day guess we need to toss that candy and eat some fruit instead!

This cross-sectional study revealed a positive relationship between dietary sugar intake and depression in American adults. After adjusting for other confounding factors, this relationship was found to be linear, and the risk of depression increased with higher dietary sugar intake. In this new comprehensively adjusted model, a linear relationship was observed between dietary sugar intake and depression. The results of the threshold effect, indicating that dietary sugar intake was linearly associated with depression.

https://www.facebook.com/100063656856423/posts/865248402273714/?mibextid=cr9u03

Climb Out of the Darkness 5k Run This 5k community run will be on a paved (stroller-friendly) course along the TN Riverpark. Come walk, jog, run or stroll with us as we bring the Chattanooga community together to shine a light on a darkness we often don't speak about: Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders.

Looking to get in shape post-pregnancy? Here’s a great resource!

Grab your kids, grab your strollers, and join us for a free week of classes! With Valentine’s Day parties happening after class on Tuesday and Wednesday, it’s a perfect time to join💕

DM us to get started!

Eastern KY is still overwhelmed with the devastation the flooding caused. Here is a link if you can help out.

Dear Frontier Community,

Our neighbors in Eastern Kentucky continue to deal with the heartbreaking devastation of the massive flooding in recent days. The floods have resulted in at least 30 deaths and the loss of homes, places of work, places of worship, and more. We feel for any victims of natural disasters, but this one hits particularly close to home and our roots in southeastern Kentucky. We know many of you feel the same way and are eager to help.

We are collecting funds from all members of the FNU community. Our goal is to raise at least $5,000. Our effort will begin today and continue through August 15th. Every dollar raised will be sent to the Team Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief Fund as a gift from the Frontier Nursing University community, to aid the flood relief and recovery efforts. Please click the link below to contribute. Any donations are tax-deductible.
http://weblink.donorperfect.com/EasternKYFloodFund

If you prefer to donate by mail, please send a check payable to Frontier Nursing University to:
Kentucky Flood Relief
Frontier Nursing University
2050 Lexington Road
Versailles, KY 40383

Thank you for supporting this relief effort to aid our friends and neighbors in Eastern Kentucky.

Sincerely,
Dr. Susan Stone
President, Frontier Nursing University

Donate Today: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/EasternKYFloodFund

With the weather heating up across most of the UK, here is a reminder of some pointers for breastfeeding in the heat!

☀️ In hot weather, your baby may want to feed more often or for longer than usual.
☀️ If they're under 6 months and exclusively breastfed, there's no need to give any additional water - just feed on demand to keep them hydrated and make sure you're getting plenty of fluids yourself.
☀️ Your body will generally continue producing enough milk for your baby's demand (except if you get extremely dehydrated), but keep on top of your water and ice lolly intake for your own wellbeing!
☀️ Babies over 6 months who have started eating solid foods should be offered water in a cup with meals, and throughout the day in hot weather.

More info on keeping your baby safe in the sun can be found here:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/first-aid-and-safety/safety/safety-in-the-sun/

🥰

Happy International Midwives Day to our amazing midwives at Galen Midwifery!

Join us in welcoming Carley Morgan, MSN, CNM to the Galen Family! 🎉 Carley will be joining Galen OB/GYN as a nurse-midwife.

Carley's approach to the patient experience is based upon the belief that all women deserve the right to make educated decisions regarding their health, including during pregnancy and birth. She believes midwifery allows for this education and shared decision-making to take place.

Learn more about Carley 👇
https://galenmedical.com/morgan-carley/

Jennifer Mercer Chattanooga Midwife updated their business hours.

Please be aware

More than 3 million newborn loungers recalled after 8 infant deaths WASHINGTON (WPBN/WGTU) — More than 3 million newborn baby loungers have been recalled following eight infant deaths. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, infants can suffocate if they roll, move, or are placed on the lounger in a position that obstructs breathing, or roll of...

Pain with s*x is NOT normal! Speak up and if your provider doesn’t hear you, find one that does!

If s*x is painful for you, you’re not alone. About 30% of women in the US report pain during s*x. And not just in menopause; many in their 20s and 30s say s*x hurts. Centuries of stigma keep doctors from asking about it, and many women think it’s just normal or are too embarrassed to ask. In large study, 60% of women who sought medical care had to see 3+ doctors to get a diagnosis. Most were told it’s normal or psychological, to try more l**e or different positions - with no further evaluation.

As a result most women suffer silently, assuming something is wrong with them. And the more we experience pain with s*x, the more anticipatory anxiety, shame, a sense of being broken, embarrassment, self-doubt, or relationship stress we experience.

Bottom line, it’s not just something you have to accept as normal, grin and bear, or forego s*x because of. There are root causes that can be healed including:
Endometriosis
Interstitial cystitis
Vaginitis
Vaginismus, painful va**nal spasms
Pelvic floor dysfunction
IBS
Vulvodynia
Uterine fibroids
Vaginal dryness
Retroverted uterus
Surgeries that affect nerve sensation in the pelvis or va**na, i.e. hysterectomy
Sensitivity or damage from cancer treatments
Sexual trauma

What You Can Do
🔥 Know it’s not YOU, don’t blame yourself
🔥 Speak up and keep seeking until you find a practitioner who will listen; you may have more success with a CNM or NP, especially a woman
🔥 Address root causes through a holistic approach - from a low inflammation diet to healing IBS to pelvic floor physical therapy to EMDR and other trauma healing - there are solutions

And in the meanwhile, yes, you can:
🔥 Use water-soluble lubricant for va**nal irritation/sensitivity
🔥 Set aside relaxed time for s*x when you aren’t tired or rushed; start with foreplay
🔥 Talk to your partner about where and when you feel pain, and what activities you find pleasurable
🔥 Try activities/positions that don’t cause pain
🔥 Before s*x, empty your bladder or take a warm bath
🔥 After, apply ice or a frozen gel pack wrapped in a small towel to the v***a

And check out my book Hormone Intelligence for a plan to help you find more ease - and pleasure - in your body.

https://avivaromm.com/book/

Oops! I missed it yesterday but Happy Doctors Day to all of the wonderful physicians I have had the privilege to work with over the years. A special shout out to all my wonderful Galen OBGYN physicians!