Pediatrix Clinicians in the News

In addition to the highly specialized care our clinicians provide to patients across the country every day, many also serve as go-to expert sources for top national and regional media outlets. Pediatrix® clinicians regularly contribute to news articles, sharing their expertise to help educate readers on a wide variety of popular topics related to women's and children's health, as well as unique stories of innovative patient care.

Here's a roundup of some of the latest stories:

Melissa Piepkorn, M.D., neonatologist, spoke to KAMC News, the Lubbock, Texas ABC and CBS affiliates, about the care of triplets Dutton, Rainey and Rowyn DeArmond who were born prematurely at 27 weeks and spent several months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Rainey suffered from fetal growth restriction and weighed under a pound. Today, the triplets are thriving and recently celebrated their first birthday. "They were our family, we loved having them there," said Dr. Piepkorn, speaking about the special bond the team formed with family. "They were there all the time. They were so gracious to us rolling with the punches and trusting us that we had their babies' best interest, and we talk about them a lot still after they're gone."

Santosh Pandipati, M.D., maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialist, spoke to Women's Health about the role of tech in tracking pregnancy health. Many pregnant women are relying on tech products like Apple watches to monitor cardiovascular health in addition to other important metrics related to sleep and movement. While doctor appointments increase as pregnancy progresses, women who are considered high risk may require additional monitoring. "The traditional prenatal care model means prenatal visits every four weeks for the first and second trimesters and every two weeks through most of the third trimester. That adds up to just 12 to 14 vital sign measurements," said Dr. Pandipati. "There is a vast amount of missed data opportunity across the entire pregnancy and postpartum journey," said Dr. Pandipati. "More data means more ability to obtain crucial insights, which in turn means more opportunity for early intervention."

Marci Peralto, M.D., obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN), spoke with Flow Space about uterine fibroids, which are especially common among women in their forties and early fifties as they approach menopause. "The exact reasons for development of fibroids are not well-known; much of it is genetic," said Dr. Peralto. "These benign tumors are made from uterine muscle that contains extra estrogen and progesterone receptors. So, anything that increases the amount of hormone exposure can increase the risk for fibroids." Fibroids can cause symptoms like pain and heavy bleeding for some, while others may not even know they have them. "Changes in periods and infertility are primarily affected by fibroids that are located within the wall or lining of the uterus, changing the shape of the uterine cavity," explained Dr. Peralto.

Lisa McGill-Vargas, M.D., neonatologist, spoke with KHQ Local News, the Spokane, Washington NBC affiliate, about the care of micropreemie Kane Nash who was born at 23 weeks weighing just 15 ounces. He was an unexpected blessing as mom Amber didn't think she could have children after overcoming ovarian cancer at a young age. After a long six-month journey in the NICU, Kane has defied all odds and turned one this month. "To have an opportunity for our nurses, our team, our doctors to see this kind of amazing outcome, it's something to really celebrate," said Dr. McGill-Vargas. "And to see a little boy like Kane, after all he's been through, after all his family has been through, doing so well, it makes it all worth it."

Several physicians spoke to The Bump:

Rebecca Keith, M.D., OBGYN, discussed the crowning phase in labor, which is often referred to as the 'ring of fire.' "It's called crowning because you can see the portion of baby's head that would be surrounded by a crown if you were looking down on a person's head," said Dr. Keith. "The stretched tissue or skin causes certain pain fibers to react and creates a burning sensation, hence the 'ring of fire.'"

Sasha Andrews, M.D., MFM specialist, discussed superfetation, or the possibility of getting pregnant while already pregnant. The phenomenon "occurs when an egg is ovulated and fertilized, and the resulting embryo implants during an ongoing pregnancy," said Dr. Andrews. While the chances of superfetation happening are practically nonexistent, it's occurring more in modern times. "It's becoming more common with assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization," said Dr. Andrews.

Tina Hendrick, M.D., OBGYN, discussed breast milk leakage during pregnancy, which is common as the body makes baby's first milk in preparation for breastfeeding. Leaking "may be noticed when the breast is stimulated with touch, during intercourse or a hot shower," said Dr. Hendrick. Minimal leakage can be expected, if any. "This could total about a teaspoon or so throughout an entire day."

To view additional stories, visit the Pediatrix newsroom.

Members of the media, we invite you to view our multispecialty media panel and request an expert source via [email protected].

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