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The Dance of Breastfeeding, Bonding and Sensory Stimulation

Eliza Schmidt, RN, IBCLC

Breastfeeding helps mom and baby bond, starting when baby is a fetus inside the womb

Developing senses inside the womb

A fetus’s senses start to develop in the womb in preparation for brain development and growth. We know through ultrasound that a baby experiences the sense of touch in-utero long before he/she is born. When a pregnant mom rubs her belly, her fetus can feel the vibration.

Back to School Tips to Help with Your Kids' Sleep

Mornings before school can be tough, especially at the start of the school year as kids adjust to changes in their sleep schedule. Donna Whalen, FNP-C, with Lovelace Medical Group has some tips if your kids are having trouble with healthy sleep habits after summer break: “It is so important to have basic routines for our children, including set bed and wake-up times, limiting electronics near bedtime, and eliminating naps after school.”

ER and NICU teams act quickly when the unexpected happens to first-time parents

Everything was going as planned.

A few weeks into the third trimester, Elizabeth and Jose Villar went to her regular obstetrician appointment, hoping to hear more about when their twins would be born.

“You should expect to go full-term with your babies,” said the obstetrician, “but we may induce you a week or two earlier to guard against any complications since this is your first pregnancy.”

How to Protect Yourself from Skin Cancer

By Latha Shankar, Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico

Summer in New Mexico means spending time outside enjoying activities that make New Mexico such a wonderful place to live. In moderation, sun exposure can be beneficial by enhancing bone health, improving sleep and easing mild depression. However, even after a short period of direct exposure, the sun’s rays can become more harmful than helpful.

Social worker takes cancer diagnosis, treatments in stride

It is never easy to hear the words: “You have cancer.”

For Dana Letts, 81, the words created an image she will never forget.

“When you're diagnosed with cancer,” described Dana, “you're suddenly thrust into a very dark tunnel, disoriented, scared and unable to see any light around you.”

Retired chef stays active after successful surgeries

With all surgeries, especially when multiple surgeries are expected, it is always best to have a clear plan of action.

For John Wilkinson, 61, a retired chef at an Albuquerque restaurant, the best course of action proved to be ‘one step at a time.’

“I was referred to Dr. Mario Leyba by my doctor,” said Wilkinson. “Dr. Leyba is a caring and compassionate physician. He had a great plan for my health.”

Future physicians learn with Lovelace General Surgery team

Lovelace Medical Group general surgeons don’t just care for patients in the hospital or clinic, they also invest in the long-term health of our community by mentoring New Mexico’s next generation of physicians.

Skydiver considers three joint replacements in one year “a miracle”

For 72-year-old Gary Faas, who worked underground for many years mining for coal and sometimes gold, there’s no better feeling than being out in the open air – especially 12,000 feet above a drop zone!

A Vietnam veteran, the Albuquerque resident is an avid skydiver with more than 400 jumps to his credit. After recovering from three joint replacement surgeries in 2022, he is looking forward to jumping again soon.

Lovelace Hospitals a Safe Haven for Infants

Safe Haven is a law aimed to protect babies younger than 90 days old. An individual may drop off an infant at a Safe Haven location, which includes hospitals, police stations and fire stations. The person surrendering the baby may disclose the biological father or mother’s name, date of birth, and any pertinent medical health information and if there is any tribal affiliation, but is not required to.

Each Lovelace hospital has a bright yellow Safe Haven Sign on the exterior of our hospitals to signify our hospitals are a Safe Haven location. 

Do you snore? Lovelace Sleep Center will help you and others sleep better

It was during a hunting trip with friends when Albuquerque resident Jeffrey Jesionowski, 69, realized that he may have a snoring problem.

“I was in Illinois with two buddies hunting white-tail deer for five days,” Jeffrey said. “We stayed overnight in a hunting camp and shared a room with bunk beds for all of us. When I woke up the next morning, I looked around and saw that my buddies were gone. I found one sleeping on the bathroom floor while the other was asleep on the living room couch.