Motherhood, Mayhem, & Medical Mysteries Mel & Miranda

This week, the Gal Pals are pairing two very unexpected topics into one weirdly entertaining and informative episode. First, listen in as Mel unpacks the medical mysteries of syphilis, a terrible disease which, unfortunately, is on the rise again in the United States after nearly being eradicated over twenty years ago. Then, Miranda will take us into a completely unrelated discussion of her 10 Commandments of Kids' Birthday Parties.Tune in for a dose of weirdly entertaining and informative content that'll leave you both enlightened and entertained!
Spotlights:
https://www.astda.org/ 
The American Sexually Transmitted Diseases Association mission is to foster scientific knowledge, develop leadership, and champion practice in the field of sexually transmitted infections.
www.voicesforfathers.org 
Voices For Our Fathers Legacy Foundation was organized in 2014 by descendants of the 623 men unethically and immorally treated in the United States Public Health Service Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male at Tuskegee and Macon County, Alabama 1932 - 1972. The organization is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that connects descendants across generations, provides annual scholarships to descendants, participates in the Research Project: “The Untold Story”, offers support and guidance to the Tuskegee University National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care, while pursuing all other strategic plans.
Sources:
Mel-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_Syphilis_Study 
https://www.britannica.com/science/syphilis 
https://www.npr.org/2024/01/31/1228195107/syphilis-cases-soar-in-us-cdc-says 
https://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/syphilis
Miranda-
N/A


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you smell that?? Things are getting stinky this week as Miranda plunges head-first into the dumpster of confusion that is bathing regimens. Some parents bathe their kiddo every day, while others give them a bath once a week whether they need one or not... but what does the science say about how often kids should soap up and scrub down? Also, Mel de-mystifies candida yeast-- a fungus that's among us-- and its common implications and treatments. But wait! What's that we smell? Tune in to find out what one of our Mayhem Mommas left in a trash can outside of a car wash... believe me, you won't want to miss this one!
Spotlight:
https://www.healthwellfoundation.org/
The HealthWell Foundation is a leading independent non-profit dedicated to improving access to health care for America’s underinsured. When health insurance is not enough, we fill the gap by assisting with copays, premiums, deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses. In 2023, we awarded more than $1 billion in grants through our Disease Funds, and since 2004 we have helped more than 930,000 patients afford essential treatments and medications. HealthWell is recognized as one of America’s most efficient charities — 100 percent of every dollar donated goes directly to patient grants and services.
Sources:
Mel-
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/candida-symptoms-treatment
https://www.amymyersmd.com/en/article/signs-candida-overgrowth
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22961-candida-albicans
Miranda-
https://www.healthline.com/health/baby/how-often-should-you-bathe-a-newborn#bathing-tips
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/does-your-child-need-to-bathe-every-day-202109202598
https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/care/child-bathing
https://www.parents.com/health/hygiene/an-age-by-age-guide-to-your-kids-hygiene/


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're tackling the Big D-- Depression! Yeah, we know it's not exactly the sunny-side-up topic we'd prefer, but hey, we're all about shining a light on those dark corners of motherhood! Mel will share some tips and tricks for tackling those blues without losing your sanity... or your chocolate stash. And speaking of uncomfortable feelings, Miranda uncovers a magic formula for helping kiddos learn to regulate their emotions. So grab your headphones, pour yourself a cup of lukewarm coffee (because let's face it, that's all we ever get), and join us for some laughs and a whole lot of mom camaraderie. Remember that together, we've got this parenting gig in the bag... even if that bag sometimes feels like it's full of Legos... and it's repeatedly beating you in the head. Stay strong, stay silly, and remember, you're doing an amazing job, Mama!
#motherhood #depression #emotionalregulation #parenting #anxiety #bigfeelings
Spotlight:
https://adaa.org/
 Anxiety and Depression Society of America
 ADAA works to prevent, treat, and cure anxiety disorders and depression.
 ADAA improves the quality of life for those who suffer through evidence-based educational resources, professional practice, and scientific research.
 ADAA’s promise is to raise awareness about the impact of mental health on physical health, to find new treatments, and one day prevent and cure anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and co-occurring disorders.
 
Sources:
Mel-
https://news.gallup.com/poll/505745/depression-rates-reach-new-highs.aspx
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9290-depression
https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression
https://adaa.org/sites/default/files/ADAA%20Depression%20Brochure%20Final.pdf
 
Miranda-
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/emotion-regulation#:~:text=Emotion%20regulation%20is%20the%20ability%20to%20exert%20control,focusing%20on%20reasons%20to%20feel%20happy%20or%20calm.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534819/
https://childmind.org/article/can-help-kids-self-regulation/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week's episode, we're diving headfirst into the whirlwind of hormones and tears that accompany the "magical" journey of childbirth. Miranda tells us about the 4 hormones that play an important role in labor and delivery, from the highs of oxytocin-induced euphoria to the lows of...well, let's just say it's not for the faint of heart. Mel will share about something 90% of women who deliver vaginally experience, but yet no one talks about-- vaginal tearing. Yes, pushing out a human most often results in a few stitches. Get ready to laugh, cry, and maybe even cringe a little as we tackle topics like perineal massage, the joys of postpartum hormonal fluctuations, and the unexpected perks of "padsicles"... IYKYK. So grab your favorite cup of tea (or glass of wine, we won't judge), settle in with your little bundle of joy (or chaos, depending on the day), and join us for a candid, relatable, and above all, hilarious discussion about hormones, tears, and the beautiful chaos of childbirth. Because hey, if you can't laugh about it, you'll probably end up crying – and there's plenty of time for that later.
Spotlight:
www.vday.org
V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against all women (cisgender, transgender, and those who hold fluid identities that are subject to gender-based violence), girls and the Earth. V-Day believes that when art and activism come together, they have the power to transform systems and change culture. Founded by V (formerly Eve Ensler), activist and author of the The Vagina Monologues, V-Day has inspired women all over the world and raised collective consciousness about how violence and gender intersect. V-Day is a movement and an example of how the power of art can be used as a liberating tool for transformational holistic education and social justice.
Sources:
Mel-
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23097-vaginal-delivery
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21212-vaginal-tears-during-childbirth
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/births.htm
Miranda-
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/22464-hormones
https://www.nct.org.uk/labour-birth/your-guide-labour/hormones-labour-oxytocin-and-others-how-they-work#:~:text=You%E2%80%99ll%20in%20fact%20have%20four%20major%20hormonal%20systems,%28the%20hormones%20of%20excitement%29%20prolactin%20%28the%20mothering%20hormone%29.
https://nationalpartnership.org/childbirthconnection/maternity-care/role-of-hormones/



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's face it, we all struggle with anxiety from time to time, but did you know that the rates of anxiety among kiddos is higher than it has been in years?? Mel peels back the layers of the current pediatric mental health crisis and provides insights from recent studies about the current trends of this sobering topic. We certainly have our work cut out for us, but Miranda shares some tips to help kids deal with some of those anxious feelings, so you can feel more equipped when your child experiences these emotions. Put some lavender oil in that diffuser, take some deep breaths, and let's get started!! #mentalhealth #anxiety #pediatricmentalhealth #parenthood #motherhood
Spotlight:
www.jedfoundation.org 
The Jed Foundation is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive today…and tomorrow.
Sources:
Mel-
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2023/01/trends-improving-youth-mental-health 
https://www.webmd.com/children/news/20230315/pediatric-mental-health 
 Miranda-
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202310/how-to-help-your-anxious-child
https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-and-not-do-when-children-are-anxious/
https://www.verywellfamily.com/strategies-to-help-an-anxious-child-4177327

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ouch! If you're a parent, there will surely come a day when your child injures herself. How you respond in the moment is important! Tune in to hear some tips from Miranda about keeping your kiddos (and maybe yourself) calm in the heat of a *painful* moment. And, speaking of painful moments, Mel shares about how a beer chicken gave her a full-on Zombie arm... weird right?? But the weirdness doesn't stop there (it never does!) because Mel teaches us about the unusual history of Band-Aids! Mel tells us the things we never needed to know about the product we never knew we needed... until we did! So throw a wine cooler in your first aid kit (it doubles as an ice pack, right?) and let's get going!
Spotlight:
PROJECT CURE (Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment) 
Since 1987, Project C.U.R.E has been delivering life-saving medical equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics throughout the under-resourced world. We are the world’s largest distributor of donated international medical relief—touching the lives of children and families in more than 135 countries. On average, each week Project C.U.R.E. delivers three to five semi-truck-sized containers packed with the medical equipment and supplies so desperately needed by local hospitals and clinics.
www. projectcure.org 
Sources:
Mel-
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3601883/ 
 
https://www.jnj.com/our-heritage/18-facts-about-the-history-of-band-aid-brand-adhesive-bandages 
https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-the-band-aid-1991345
Miranda-
https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrijmvCf8Zl0TwBwjpXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1708717250/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.aftertheinjury.org%2f/RK=2/RS=mWbuC4L476ctW7Ds56kMnX8UG.k-
https://www.todaysparent.com/family/4-ways-to-comfort-your-injured-child/
https://www.fatherly.com/parenting/how-to-calm-down-injured-kid-teach-bravery



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.