On Health for Women

Every year, over 5 million parents visit the ER because their child has a fever and they're worried.. Sometimes those visits are necessary. But more often than not, we assume that we unnecessarily fear fever, and assume we have to treat it. As a seasoned physician and mama, my goal is to empower parents to trust their instincts while providing the necessary tools to help you feel more at ease when your child does has a fever - which will happen in most kids at some time or another. And with cold and flu season officially upon us, what better time to tackle this topic and break down some of the fever misconceptions out there. So sit back, relax and trust your own beautiful, mama wisdom as I talk about:  What a fever is, and the science behind why we get them  Misconceptions about fever and whether or not it is something to fear  The risks and benefits of over-the-counter medications and when they are appropriate for use  Best practices when taking a child’s temperature  Physical warning signs and how to assess whether a visit to a doctor or hospital is truly needed  The importance of trusting your maternal instincts and advocating for your child at the doctor’s office  Natural and herbal remedies to help minimize discomfort For the accompanying article, https://avivaromm.com/natural-fever-treatments/. Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.  

What do sleep, mucus, and, plant diversity have in common? They're all important aspects of a healthy gut and immune system, which is what I connect the dots on today with my guest-friend and sister MD, Dr. Robynne Chutkan. In this episode, Robynne and I dive deep into gut health with some very important and actionable takeaways. Right in time for cold and flu season, and all year round. You'll walk away from this episode with so much knowledge and insight into keeping you and your family's microbiome and immune system healthy!   Robynne and I discuss:  Dr. Chutkan's experience in medical school and how she became excited to enter the field of gastroenterology  Dr. Chutkan's experience having a sick baby and finding the root cause of her ailments by digging into her medical history  Advice for mothers wanting to support their children's microbiome  Why sleep is SO important for gut health and immunity  How the gastrointestinal system works and why it is truly the centre of your immune system  Why diet diversity may be one of the most important contributing factors to gut health  6 tips to truly optimize your gut starting today!    Dr. Chutkan is an integrative gastroenterologist and the author of Gutbliss, The Microbiome Solution, The Bloat Cure, and The Anti-Viral Gut. A former chair of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), she’s authored dozens of scientific articles and lectured globally on the role of the microbiome in health and disease. She's appeared on The Today Show, CBS This Morning, and other media outlets and is passionate about introducing more dirt, sweat, and vegetables into her patients’ lives!  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow Robynne @gutbliss and find her new book The Antiviral Gut at robynnechutkan.com  

Human brains do a lot of thinking - to the tune of about 6200 thoughts per day! Most of these are just passing thoughts, but according to researchers, a lot of those that reach our consciousness can be classified as negative thoughts. This week, I’m sharing the science behind the phenomenon that explains this: negativity bias - because it’s a way of thinking that can affect our health, our well-being, and determine whether we live our lives to the fullest. I talk about: Where these kinds of negative thoughts come from  How they affect our health, relationships, and the choices we make—including whether we take big leaps on our dreams!  How to recognize negativity bias in the form of Automatic Negative Thoughts (or ANTS) And I share how you can transform this thinking so that you can reframe inhibiting, fear-based, unhelpful thought patterns into courageous action in your life. If you want to live your life more optimistically and effectively, check out this episode. For the accompanying article, visit http://avivaromm.com/negativity-bias.  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.  

Every time you're fuelling your car or walking into your home and don’t have to worry about lead exposure, it’s thanks to my guest today, no less than one of my heroes, Dr. Phillip Landrigan. But the question still remains— how can you protect your children from environmental toxins? Chemicals are everywhere in today’s world, and it’s impossible to protect your child completely from the risks that they pose...but don’t panic! Dr. Landrigan and I discuss the 3 biggest hazards to your child’s health and what you, your community, and policymakers can do—starting today—to keep families safe.   Dr. Landrigan and I discuss:  How to detect lead poisoning symptoms in your child and how often they should be screened for lead exposure  The two negative developments in today’s society that threaten to undo all the progress made in lowering lead exposure   How you can test for lead in your home and what you can do to protect your family  The known (and unknown) risks of manufactured chemicals  Pesticides in our food and the truth about GMOs  Keeping your baby safe from toxins during pregnancy  What's it going to take to make changes to public policy across the board  Philip Landrigan is an American epidemiologist and pediatrician and one of the world's leading advocates of children's health. Dr. Landrigan was the first to document the effects of lead poisoning on American children, which led to the US government’s decision to remove lead from paint and gasoline. Dr. Landrigan has published over 500 scientific papers and has written several books for parents, including his latest, co-authored with his wife Mary Landrigan, Children and Environmental Toxins: What Everyone Needs to Know.  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.    

George Floyd, Brianna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery—these are names you know. I hope. But what about Kira Dixon Johnson, Yolanda Kadima, and Tatia Oden French? These are names that you may not have heard. They are the names of Black women who needlessly died in childbirth, several of whom reported symptoms and concerns to their medical provider prior, but who were dismissed or ignored. My guest today, Tracie Collins, is passionate about changing both the statistics and the narrative surrounding Black birthing people. As the founder of the National Black Doulas Association, she's breaking down racial disparities in the medical system and fighting against America’s unacceptable Black maternal death rate by ensuring Black women know their birthing options. She joins me on the podcast to share more about the realities, challenges, and burdens of Black women, and how change requires changing the medical system. Tracie and I discuss:  How to hold space for both having the data to change the system while not creating more anxiety and stress for black women   The story of Anarcha and how the history of pain tolerance and medical inequalities goes back to slavery     The meaning of full spectrum doula work    How midwifery led Tracie to become more radical in her personal and professional life    Tracie's current projects and sources of creative inspiration  Advice for people looking to work with a doula who may have accessibility barriers    Tracie Collins has been published in Parents, Rolling Stone, and Essence, and is a contributor to Black Love, CNN Health, and NBC Today. In honor of her work in arts and entertainment and calling attention to the human trafficking epidemic in Oakland, the mayor of Oakland deemed March 14th as Tracie Collins Day. Her work also extends beyond the birthing room, exploring women's rights and social injustice as an actor, playwright, and producer, working in television and film.   Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Learn more about the National Black Doula’s Association at blackdoulas.org and follow them on Instagram @nationalblackdoulas.  

Despite years of evidence about the incredible outcomes, safety, and cost-effectiveness of midwives, midwifery care is still not the standard for pregnancy and birth in the US, and access to birthing centers remains limited. Yet, studies show they are associated with a reduction in cesareans, preterm births, increased breastfeeding success, and an overall positive experience of birth. This is why we need birthing centers and why the work of my guests, visionaries Nashira Baril and Katherine Rushfirth, is critical for creating a sea change in how people birth in this country.  Aviva, Nashira, and Katherine discuss: Nashira’s and Katherine’s origin stories into birth work What a birthing center is and how does it differ from home or hospital birth options The advantages of birthing centers and working with a midwife  The fact that the birthing center model remains majority white-led and why this needs to change   The huge financial savings birth centers put back into the healthcare system How birthing centers are important not just for individuals, but also for building community Advice for people interested in the birthing center experience but who don’t have access to a center  Ways you can support the Neighborhood Birth Center as well as other birthing centers  Learn more about the neighborhood birth center and find their video “You Were Welcomed with Love” HERE.  Nashira Baril, MPH, is the daughter and great-granddaughter of midwives, who midwifed her children at home. Nashira is the founder and executive director of Boston’s Neighborhood Birth Center, the city’s first community birth center, poised to open in 2023. She has a master’s degree in Maternal and Child Health from Boston University School of Public Health and nearly 20 years of experience designing and implementing public health strategies. She has worked at the Boston Public Health Commission, Harvard School of Public Health, and most recently, Human Impact Partners.     Katherine Rushfirth is a Certified Nurse Midwife and the Policy Director for the forthcoming Neighborhood Birth Center. Katherine was the Associate Chief of Midwifery at Massachusetts General Hospital and among the first midwives to be named faculty at Harvard Medical School. Katherine is a past-president of the MA Affiliate of the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM) and currently serves as the Legislative Co-Chair for MA ACNM. Katherine completed her midwifery education at Yale University and her BA in Women’s Studies/Anthropology at Barnard College. "  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. Follow the Neighborhood Birth Center @neighborhoodbirthcenter. 

Perfectionism. It's a common relentless inner stress that I know I'm not alone in experiencing. What you might not realize is that it's a common symptom of being stuck in mode of survival mode. In this episode I invite you to reframe Perfectionism, along with being a "Good Girl" and other traits of survival mode that can be causing us stress without our even knowing it, and take a deep dive into how we can understand our Superpowers and Shadow Sides to create a more peaceful, balanced life. Join me as I share: My personal experience with Perfectionism and how one of my patients shifted my perspective The potential health consequences of Perfectionism The meaning behind "hungry ghosts" and why you may be holding on to your past Symptoms that suggest you may be struggling with Perfectionism Seven simple practices to help shift out of Perfectionism For the accompanying article, visit avivaromm.com/perfectionism-adrenal-overdrive/ Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. 

Curious about vaginal seeding and whether it is safe and recommended for you and your baby? To date, more than 20 studies have found that the microbiome in cesarean-born babes is different than that of vaginally born infants. These differences can persist to 4 years of age and may pose lasting health consequences. I know this may sound scary but I have some great news to share: researchers and microbiologists are exploring solutions to help increase the health outcomes for mothers and babies through a technique they named Vaginal Seeding, which can be used following a cesarean. This is ground-breaking and pivotal research as the number of cesareans continues to rise on a global level. Tune in to today’s episode to learn what vaginal seeding is, the current research supporting the technique, the potential benefits and risks of vaginal seeding, and ways you can support the newborn microbiome.Let’s explore this further. For the accompanying article, go to avivaromm.com/vaginal-seeding-after-cesarean/.  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. 

We are facing what continues to be a global cesarean section crisis. The overuse of cesarean sections, especially in the United States, is not new, but it has continued to become more prevalent here and globally over the past 30 years. Joining me this week is obstetrician/gynecologist and world leader in women's reproductive rights, Marleen Temmerman, MD. Listen in as we talk about the dual problem of both the overuse and under-access of cesarean sections for women around the world, and the impact of both of these on women’s health and safety. I know you'll be as moved and inspired as I am hearing Dr. Temmerman's story and important research findings.  Aviva and Marleen discuss:  The why's behind the overuse and increase of cesareans  Misconceptions about cesarean sections, natural births, and breeches   The importance and role of midwives and why every birthing person needs one   The various impacts and long-term effects of cesareans on babies  Tools available to reduce the number of cesarean sections  The ways women can advocate for themselves during childbirth and prevent unnecessary cesareans   Dr. Marleen Temmerman has served as a senator in the Belgian parliament, as the director of the World Health Organization's Department of Reproductive Health and Research, and as the founding director of Ghent University's International Centre of Reproductive Health. After retiring from the WHO, she moved to Kenya, where she is now with the Aga Khan University in Nairobi and is Director of their Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health. Most recently, she has played a pivotal role in bringing attention to the overuse and under-access of cesarean sections to the obstetrics world internationally as senior author of a series of focus articles published in The Lancet, one of the world's oldest and most respected medical journals. " Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation. 

"It’s all in your head." "It’s normal for women to suffer." "We just don’t know what causes that." Chances are you’ve heard one of these medical myths before, and it has kept you from receiving important diagnoses and timely treatment. Medicine is, without a doubt, a cultural institution and a power structure, and like other systems, it has perpetuated myths that keep us believing in its power while disbelieving in our own. On today’s episode, I break down eight prominent medical myths that are alive, well, and profoundly—and sometimes dangerously—affecting women’s health. I also share tools to get empowered with your health and why you should stop being so damn polite when you are being ‘doctor-splained’ to. Your health may depend on you being a little bit of a badass.  Let’s explore this further. For the accompanying article, go to avivaromm.com/medical-myths  Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in to your body, yourself, and this podcast! Please share the love by sending this to someone in your life who could benefit from the kinds of things we talk about in this space. Make sure to follow your host on Instagram @dr.avivaromm and go to avivaromm.com to join the conversation.