Life of Dr. Mom is a health and medical mom blog designed for the modern parent whom struggles with balancing family, work, and fun. With her experience working in women health, postnatal care, mental health, and Pediatrics, Dr. Mom works to educate the modern mom with the most relevant up-to-date medical evidence to support families and the healthy development of their children.
Myth
#1: Boys take longer to develop speech than girls. Fact: Speech and language development occurs at similar rates in boys compared to girls, typically before the age of 3 years old. Myth #2: It is normal for boys to have...
Vancouver is where I grew up and my
family still lives there so it is one of our favourite places to go on long
weekends. Our favourite time to go is during
the summer because the fall and winter can have many rainy days. One of...
Women's Medical Health
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): What is the difference between them and how do they work?
Many women
consider intrauterine device (IUD) as a form of birth control both before
having a baby, and after. This is
because the IUD is very reliable, safe, and is as effective as permanent
sterilization. These features make the
IUD a very desirable birth control option. There are two...
Breastfeeding was not intuitive for me and I struggled. After birth, mother and baby are often very sleepy, and establishing a consistent breast-feeding routine can be difficult. The lack of frequency or consistency in feeding can lead to difficulty with breastfeeding. What I found particularly difficult in the...
Trending on Dr. Mom
Mom Guilt and Self-Care
As a working mom with a toddler, I often feel guilty about not spending all day with my little one. In the morning when...
Travelling with Toddlers: What to bring when flying with a toddler
For the past 5 months, Madi and I have been commuting back and forth from Atlanta, Georgia to Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). Dining, shopping, or...
What can I do about my anxiety?
Being a new mom or a mom with small kids can come with a little (or a lot!) of anxiety. You are responsible for...
Baby sleep – Is Sleep Training Bad For My Baby?
When I went through my medical training I thought putting your baby to sleep was as simple as putting your baby in the bassinet...
Breastfeeding Struggles
As a physician, I have counselled on the benefits of breastfeeding. I always encouraged breastfeeding as it’s more affordable, helps with bonding, and has...
Screen Time Paradigm
Growing up, my parents let my brother and me watch unlimited amounts of TV. I remember growing up not understanding why other children had...
Where science meets parenting
How to increase breast milk supply during breastfeeding and improve lactation
Many new moms, including myself, worry about establishing and maintaining a good breast milk supply or how to increase breast milk supply....
What to Expect from your 6 Month Old Baby: Developmental Milestones and Baby Development
We probably took the most pictures of Madi as an infant when she was 6 months old. Madi was able to sit...
Trouble sleeping? Relaxation techniques for sleep
In my family medicine practice, I often see patients that have trouble sleeping. Particularly difficulty falling asleep. In medicine, this is known...
Setting boundaries and encouraging healthy relationships
I’m sure everybody out there has a friend or family member with whom they just can’t see eye-to-eye with, and that relationship...
Folic Acid for Pregnancy: Do I Really Need it?
With all the appointments and tests that occur during pregnancy, it’s hard to keep track of everything and easy to question, “Is all of...
Mindfulness Meditation to improve your mental health and be more present with your children.
Mindfulness is a meditative practice where you intentionally bring your
attention to experiences in the here and now.
It helps us to become more...
How Can I Prevent Cervical Cancer: Cervical Cancer Awareness Month
In Canada, 1550 Canadian women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2017 and 400 of them died from it. Patients in my medical practice...
Teen depression: depression symptoms, and signs of depression in adolescence
Depression is common in adolescence and is often underrecognized. As a parent it can be hard for us to think about our...
Botulism in Honey and the Risk for Children
“Just dip the soother in some honey”. I remember hearing this piece of advice from a well-meaning grandmother when I was struggling...
Sun Safety for Babies
Can babies wear sunscreen? How old do they have to be to wear sunscreen? Can you even take a baby into the sun? Surprisingly,...
The health benefits of coffee.
When I was going through my undergraduate training - I would have 3 cups of coffee per day. My mom and...
What medicines are safe to give a child when they have a cold?
What medicines are safe to give my child when they have a cold? How can I help my child when they have...
Anxiety in children: why saying calm down isn’t enough for anxiety attacks and anxiety symptoms (guest post)
We all experience anxiety
symptoms from time to time! It is a natural and normal part of
stress and our everyday lives. Anxiety in...
Postpartum Depression is Common and There are Resources to Help
I try my best as a physician to make sure that I ask appropriate screening questions of all of my patients who have recently...
Tips for travelling to Vancouver Canada
Vancouver is where I grew up and my
family still lives there so it is one of our favourite places to go on...
Sleep Training Baby: what to do and how?
Sleep training baby is tough! As a physician I tell patient’s that it is safe to sleep train starting at 4-6 months as long...
Does learning 2 languages at the same time cause speech problems or speech delay?
Growing up, I was fluent in Cantonese. Unfortunately my Cantonese vocabulary has slowly diminished. I try to speak Cantonese as often as...
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs): What is the difference between them and how do they work?
Many women
consider intrauterine device (IUD) as a form of birth control both before
having a baby, and after. This is
because the IUD is...
Prenatal appointments: when to see a doctor when pregnant.
Attending your prenatal appointments and going for prenatal ultrasounds and blood-work is a LOT of work! I learned that when I went through my...
Recommendations for the Flu Shot in Children
Every fall is the time of year for you and your little one to get your flu shot! As a mom, watching Madi be...
What is HPV (Human Papillomavirus) and Why am I at Risk of Cancer?
As a family doc some parents have told me that they do not want their child to get the HPV (human papillomavirus)...
