MomDocs: Recent Episodes
St. Louis Children's Hospital
The MomDocs are pediatricians at St. Louis Children's Hospital. They work in a variety of specialties and share their advice and expertise on the questions we all face as parents.
When a baby is born prematurely, their lungs may not be fully developed, leading to respiratory issues. Antenatal corticosteroids, like betamethasone and dexamethasone, are administered to pregnant women at risk of preterm delivery to boost the baby’s lung maturity and reduce complications such as Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). These steroids help the baby produce surfactant, which keeps the lungs open and improves breathing after birth. Dr. Rachel Pasquesi will discuss how these medications work and their benefits.
High school football season is here. As parents and young athletes are amid another season, it's crucial to prioritize injury prevention. Dr. Terra Blatnik provides valuable insights and practical tips to help keep your young athlete safe on the field.
Autumn brings a unique set of hazards that can pose risks to children. Dr. Shobha Bhaskar can talk about how the changing season introduces specific dangers and provide practical advice on how to keep your little ones safe.
As we head into the 2024 RSV season, many parents ask how best to protect their little ones. Respiratory Syncytial Virus, or RSV, can be particularly concerning for young children, and understanding what to expect is crucial. The CDC has projected that this fall and winter, RSV, COVID-19, and flu hospitalizations may be similar to or slightly lower than last year's peak, but staying informed is key. Dr. Jamie Kondis can discuss RSV—what it is, how it impacts infants and young children, and what you can do to keep your family safe.
The first visit to the gynecologist is a crucial moment for your daughter's overall health. It paves the way for a lifetime of well-being. Dr. Rachel Pasquesi discusses how to help prepare your teen for her first gynecological appointment.
The coldest months bring along their own unique set of potential winter injuries. During winter, it's important for everyone to be extra cautious both indoors and outdoors. Not only do winter storms pose health hazards and dangers, but they can also make it challenging to reach an emergency room due to icy roads. Since most kids aren't used to dealing with winter throughout the year, their risk of getting injured may rise. Dr. Lindsay Clukies, a Washington University emergency medicine physician, discusses common winter injuries she sees in the emergency room.
Dr. Shobha Bhaskar, a pediatric hospitalist with St. Louis Children's Hospital, discusses common hazards to watch out for in your home during the holiday season.
The holiday season includes spending time with family and friends and a lot of food and desserts. Dr. Emily Hahn, a board-certified pediatric dentist at St. Louis Children's Hospital, discusses how parents can help keep their kids' teeth healthy during the holiday season.
Viruses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV are more common during winter. How can you protect your child from getting sick with a respiratory illness? And if your child does become ill, how do you know if it’s time to go to the pediatrician or emergency department?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, the obesity rate among U.S. children and teens has more than tripled since 1980. Dr. Piyush Srivastava, a pediatrician whose practice is a part of BJC Medical Group and is also board-certified in Obesity medicine, discusses the various causes of obesity in kids.
Cold and flu season is here. When your child gets sick, you want to make them feel better and stop the illness from spreading to other family members. Antibiotics may come to mind. Dr. Jamie Kondis, a pediatrician at St. Louis Children's Hospital, discusses how antibiotics work and what types of illnesses require antibiotics.
While rare, pediatric strokes occur, affecting one in every 1,100 newborns and an additional 2,000 older children each year. The cause of a stroke is either a blood clot or bleeding in the brain. If left untreated, it can lead to damage or death of brain tissue. Dr. Kristin Guilliams, a pediatric neurologist with St. Louis Children's Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, discusses stroke in children.
Whether kids fall off their bikes or play a sport, their risk for head injuries rises. Parents, teachers, and caregivers should know the differences between mild head injuries and concussions and when to seek medical help.
Dental anxiety is an abnormal fear or dread of visiting the dentist for preventive care or therapy and unwarranted anxiety over dental procedures. Many children worry about going to the dentist. They may have had a poor experience or learned this anxiety from a family member. Emily Hahn, a board-certified pediatric dentist at St. Louis Children's Hospital, discusses why some children have dental anxiety and tips for dealing with your child's anxiety.
The 4th trimester is when a new mom is recovering from pregnancy and delivery while learning to be a mom as her baby adjusts to life outside the womb. But for new moms struggling with the physical and emotional changes that follow childbirth, the 4th semester can be a period of significant adjustment.
Dr. Kelly Boland, a psychology fellow at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, discusses maintaining mental health for parents and kids during this holiday season and at all times.
While respiratory infections occur year-round, there is a significant increase in these infections during the fall and winter months (cold and flu season) when people tend to spend more time inside. It is important for parents and caregivers to understand the difference between common respiratory infections and treatment options. Dr. Tara Neumayr, a Washington University- St. Louis Children’s Hospital Pediatric Critical Care Physician and Pediatric Nephrologist, can discuss the most common winter respiratory viruses, their symptoms, and how to know when to seek help.
Women from teens to seniors should have an annual visit with their OB/GYN. But, just as women’s healthcare needs change as they age, their annual OB/GYN appointments change, too. Dr. Rosanna Gray-Swain, a BJC Medical Group Ob/Gyn affiliated with Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, talks about what to expect during an annual visit with your OB/GYN during each stage of life.
Anxiety is often a normal part of childhood and adolescence, but there’s a difference between everyday worry and chronic anxiety. According to the CDC, 9.4% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 5.8 million) were diagnosed with anxiety in 2016-2019. Dr. Jamie Kondis can add insight into the cause, diagnosis, and management of anxiety.
As a parent in summer, we hope that kids spend a lot more time outside but these activities can also lead to itchy, irritated skin. Dr. Allie Grither discusses common summertime rashes for kids and what you can do to identify and prevent them.
For many parents, having young children means negotiating to get them to eat their vegetables, taste new foods, or finish what’s on their plate. Picky eating is nothing new, but what happens when it involves many foods, never goes away, or gets worse? There are different types of restrictive eating behaviors that vary in severity. Dr. Sarah Garwood discusses these different types of restrictive eating behaviors and how you may be able to curb these behaviors.
With spring comes rain, thunderstorms, and possible tornadoes. For children who are afraid of storms and tornadoes, the unpredictability of severe weather can be especially unsettling.
The 20-week ultrasound often gives parents a detailed look at the development of their baby and allows them to see just how much their baby has grown in the first half of pregnancy. Brittani Schwartzkopf and Dr. Heather Lopez discuss what you can expect at your 20-week ultrasound appointment.
Dr. Katherine Rivera-Spoljaric explores the topic of teaching children the importance of kindness and empathy and how those teachings can be put into practice.
The CDC has approved the FDA's Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11. In this special edition episode, Dr. Jason Newland answers questions about what you need to know about vaccinating your child against COVID-19.
Dr. Jamie Kondis explores breathing issues that afflict children as the seasons change.
Dr. Amy Armstrong explains how common cancer is in children, the different types of cancer and symptoms, causes, outlook, and treatment options.
Emily Hahn D.D.S shares the importance of teeth brushing, when your children should start brushing their teeth, and how sweets and treats affect your children's teeth.
Dr. Abigail Chitwood explains if there are any risks of COVID-19 in pregnancy, what to do if you think you have it, and when to seek treatment.
Dr. Kim Sirl shares how to help your child adjust to going back to school during the pandemic.
Dr. Sarah Bauer Huang shares the different types of autism, the signs, and symptoms, what causes autism and how it's treated.
Teething can cause a fever or diarrhea in babies. Your child will get sick if they go outside with wet hair. We’ve all heard old wives’ tales about health remedies. But how much truth is in these traditional sayings? Dr. Jamie Kondis from St. Louis Children’s Hospital is here today to provide more insight on common health tales we have been told.
Dr. Sarah Garwood discusses mental health in teens as well as tips to cope with any mental health struggles during the pandemic.
Dr. Linsay Cluckies shares the alarming statistic of preventable deaths in children, the most common types of preventable deaths, how COVID-19 impacts these deaths, and tips on keeping your children safe.
Dr. Lindley Wall discuss the common hand and wrist injuries, how they're treated in children, and how to protect hands and wrists during physical activities.
Katie Leonard M.D discusses burns in the emergency department. She shares home treatment methods, when it is vital you take your child to the ER and great tips for what parents can do to prevent burns at home.
Dr. Tara Neumayr shares when you should start potty training, potty training methods, and other important tips.
Dr. Shobha Bhaskar explains what degree is considered a fever in babies, the signs of a fever, why your baby might have a fever, and when you should call your pediatrician.
Dr. Lisa Ryan shares the difference between heat stroke and heat exhaustion, the signs of each, treatment options, and how to keep your child cool and safe during the summer months.
Dr. Hulbert discusses Sickle cell disease. What is sickle cell disease? What are the symptoms of it? Why is the African American population more likely to have sickle cell disease?
Dr. Lindsay Clukies discusses the meaning of ASK Day and shares important gun safety information.
Dr. Rachel Orscheln shares everything you need to know about COVID-19; including symptoms, how to prevent the virus from spreading at home, if kids are more or less susceptible to getting the virus and what you should do if you suspect your child has it.
Dr. Terra Blatnik shares the proper sports equipment for young athletes to wear for each sport, why it's so important to wear protective gear, and the services Young Athlete Center offers children who have sports injuries.
Dr. Holly Hoefgen shares when you should take your daughter to the gynecologist for her first time, how to help your daughter through her period(s), and important information on the HPV Vaccine.
Learn more about St. Louis Children's Hospital and the Women & Infants Center for Adolescent Girls
Dr. Ebony Carter shares healthy pregnancy tips such as eating, exercise, vitamins and lifestyle modifications.
Learn more about having a healthy pregnancy
Dr. Ginnie Abarbanel shares how to encourage good heart health in your child, the benefits of exercise at a young age, and how your child's heart health evolves as they grow.
Learn more about St. Louis Children’s and Washington University Heart Center
Dr. Carrie Couglin shares what causes acne, if there are any lifestyle or environmental factors that affect it, and topical or oral treatments available.
Learn more about Teen Acne
Dr. Sybill Naidoo shares what causes plagiocephaly, or a misshapen head in a baby, if there is anything parents can do to prevent it, risk factors to developing plagiocephaly, and treatment options available.
Learn more about Plagiocephaly
Dr. Jennifer Strahle shares the early signs of a pediatric brain tumor, what the first appointment is like, how a treatment plan is selected, and what Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) is and why it's so groundbreaking that St. Louis Children's Hospital is a part of this.
Dr. Megan Shelton discusses how to determine if your child is overweight or obsese, how and when to address your child's weight with your child and pediatrician, and shares how parents can promote healthy eating habits as well as encourage exercise.
Dr. Judith Weisenberg explains what causes epileptic seizures, what happens during a seizure, and how the Washington University Pediatric Epilepsy Center treat seizures caused by epilepsy.
Learn more about Washington University Pediatric Epilepsy Center
Dr. Lindsay Clukies shares the alarming statistics on drowning, where most drownings happen, when your child should start swim lessons, what skills they should learn and other important water safety tips to help protect your children.
Learn more about Summer Safety
Dr. Jesse Vrecenak shares summertime safety tips; such as bicycle riding, grilling, and lawnmowers.
Dr. Susan Culican, discusses when you should schedule your child's first eye exam. She shares how often their eyes should be checked as they grow, what you can expect at your first appointment, signs indicating your child needs glasses, and other eye conditions treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Learn More about St. Louis Children's Ophthalmology Services
Dr. Alexis Elward discusses the recent outbreak of measles. She shares the important signs and symptoms, how to protect your child and what you should do if you think your child was exposed to measles.
Learn more about the latest on the Measle Vaccine
Dr. Bryanne Colvin answers your questions regarding infant sleep safety. She confirms if back is best, if bumpers, loose blankets, and stuffed animals in the crib are okay. Can you let you child sleep in Rock n' Plays and car seats? Listen for important sleep tips as your baby grows.