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Many people think that cannabinoids, like marijuana, are harmless during pregnancy, but research suggests otherwise.

·       “Cannabinoid” is a term to describe a group of 66 ingredients found in the flowering cannabis plant.

·       Each of these 66 chemicals affects brain receptors differently.

·       A main ingredient in marijuana is THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

At Lovelace Westside Hospital we value the relationships we establish with our patients and their families. Our recent Patient Family Centered Care (PFCC) designation supports a style of care where the needs and choices of patients and their families define the care they receive.

“Having the PFCC designation shows our dedication to continual improvement in providing compassionate, caring, quality and safe delivery of care while partnering with the people who matter most; patients and families,” says Patricia Pacheco, Medical-Surgical Department director.

Dads can have trouble adjusting to parenthood just like mom. Feeling anxious and stressed can come with being a new dad. Sadness, or blues, may occur as a result of a specific situation or event. “Daddy Blues” can improve with restful sleep, lunch with a friend, going to the gym or playing a sport. Feeling sad, or blue can be a normal part of becoming a parent for some men.

Addiction, depression and anxiety are examples of mental health conditions. One in five Americans are affected during their lifetime, which means every American is impacted either directly, or through their friends and family. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition.

I started what I like to call my “long term relationship” with Lovelace on November 10, 2013. I delivered a beautiful baby girl named Kassidy at Lovelace Women’s Hospital. The amount of support that my husband and I received from the nurses and the entire delivery and post-partum staff was so encouraging and gave me the confidence that I needed. I am forever grateful for the kind words and positive experience from Lovelace Woman’s Hospital.

Women who have never used yoga for fitness can still use yoga to prepare for childbirth. Physical movements and postures can create flexibility and strength for mom as her baby and body begins to grow and change. Breathing techniques from yoga were the inspiration for Dr. Lamaze and the creation of his natural childbirth process. Another part of yoga, beyond the physical, has to do with being focused, present and mindful. These three aspects combine to increase mom's comfort during pregnancy, labor and even breastfeeding.

Did you know that April is Occupational Therapy Month? Occupational therapy is also celebrating its centennial year as well! For these two great reasons, our Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital outpatient staff would like to share why they became occupational therapists and what they love most about their job! Let’s meet each of them:

Have you ever felt like the world is waiting for results at all hours of the day and every day of the week? Well, I have. The fast-paced world that we live in can sometimes take over our time and attention. It is so easy, as a mother or parent, to get tangled up in the web of demands. The old adage “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is actually true. If we forget to take time for ourselves, we won’t be able to perform at the peak of our abilities when our kids need us most. If you feel like the world is weighing on your shoulders:

Maria Atencio, RN, is working against the clock. When she joined Lovelace in 1999 in the emergency department at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center, she understood the urgency to assess and prepare heart attack patients for intervention as quickly as possible. Every minute mattered. As emergency department charge nurse, Maria coordinated the care for a larger number of heart patients, always mindful and aware of time. In the heart catheterization lab, she worked side-by-side with physicians witnessing the moments lives were saved. It was always a race against time.

Your life has been filled with appointments and events surrounding the arrival of your newest family member. Remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your little one. When you are well, your care of others (baby, partner) improves too. It is not a selfish obsession to care for you. It is necessary for you in order to be healthy mentally, emotionally and physically. Self care allows you to be fully present for all the sweetness life has to offer.