Lela Davidson's blog

Poor Women Opting Out of Epidurals

Posted February 5, 2010 - 20:00 by Lela Davidson

Pregnancy, Birth

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Poor women are refusing epidurals and it's not for the reason you'd think, at least not entirely.

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Is Your Toddler Bipolar, Or Just a Profit Center?

Posted February 4, 2010 - 10:47 by Lela Davidson

Health, Diseases & Disorders

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Can doctors diagnose bipolar in toddlers? The answer may depend on what treatment options (medications) are available. The diagnosis has increased 40-fold over the last decade, thanks in part to a man who doesn't want to talk about payments he received from drug companies.

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Teaching Abstinence-Only Leads to Pregnancy

Posted February 2, 2010 - 06:00 by Lela Davidson

Pregnancy, Sex Ed, High School

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Just say no. When it comes to sex education, preaching abstinence isn't working. For the first time in a long time, teen pregnancy rates are rising. Experts agree the fault lies with abstinence only sex-ed.

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Just A Concussion? Could Be More Serious Brain Injury

Posted January 29, 2010 - 12:00 by Lela Davidson

Health

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Is it a "concussion" or a "brain injury"? What we call a child's bump on the head can affect the quality of medical care received.

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Children’s Media Consumption on the Rise

Posted January 25, 2010 - 18:26 by Lela Davidson

Culture

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Your children may be spending more time consuming media than you spending at work. With new opportunities literally at their fingertips every day, how do you limit the flow?

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Routines Build Trust

Posted January 21, 2010 - 09:36 by Lela Davidson

New Parents, Relationships

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I never realized the routines I relied on to to survive my children's earliest years would become the foundation for so much more than survival.

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High C-Section Rates Concern Doctors

Posted January 20, 2010 - 09:00 by Lela Davidson

Pregnancy, Birth

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C-section rates worldwide are up, way up. The procedure may seem safe, and even preferable, but it's not without risk.

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News Flash: Teenage Girls Are Getting STDs

Posted January 19, 2010 - 12:00 by Lela Davidson

Health, Sex Ed, Diseases & Disorders

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If your daughter is having sex, chances are she'll get an STD within two years.

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Deadly Peanut Allergies Not As Prevalent As We Thought

Posted January 18, 2010 - 14:42 by Lela Davidson

Allergies

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Not every child who is "peanut sensitive" will have a full blown peanut allergy. Trouble is, the standard tests don't distinguish the difference.

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Race to the Top, and Don’t Leave Any Child Behind Either

Posted January 12, 2010 - 10:00 by Lela Davidson

Education

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Is the Race to the Top education initiative really something new? Or just more of the old No Child Left Behind?

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Designer Babies: A Matter of Choice?

Posted January 10, 2010 - 22:43 by Lela Davidson

Planning, Conceiving, Pregnancy

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There is a big difference between testing for life threatening genetic disorders and screening out embryos that may grow into kids with crooked teeth. Experts believe the next decade will bring a huge demand in embryonic screening. At some point, we're going to have to decide how far we go down the path of genetically selecting our children. Otherwise, someone else will.

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With Apples And Cardio, Obama Sets A Healthy Example

Posted January 6, 2010 - 09:00 by Lela Davidson

Nutrition, Culture

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Pass me an apple and turn on the treadmill. I'm just trying to keep up with my president.

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Enough Already With The Vaccines

Posted January 2, 2010 - 06:15 by Lela Davidson

Vaccines

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When the chicken pox vaccine became mandatory, I thought that was overkill. Turns out there may be no end to the product drugmakers see as their "critical path to growth."

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Two Simple Resolutions For Better Living And Better Parenting In 2010

Posted December 31, 2009 - 08:23 by Lela Davidson

Home Life, Time Management, Work Balance, Culture, Wellness

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Resolutions -- I know, I hate them too, but I’m making two subjective and non-measurable resolutions this year. And my 2010 will be the better for them. I feel it!

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Strong Early Attachments Key To Lifetime Of Happiness

Posted December 29, 2009 - 15:16 by Lela Davidson

Social Skills, New Parents, Culture, Relationships

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What is happiness? And how as parents can we give our kids the best chance at achieving it later in life? It all starts with the earliest interactions.

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Begging Goes Virtual This Christmas

Posted December 17, 2009 - 10:27 by Lela Davidson

Finances, Culture

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Online begging sites are gaining popularity in this still-struggling economy. Parents hope to give kids a proper holiday, but are they sacrificing something more important?

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When Mama Ain’t Happy, Nobody’s Healthy

Posted December 10, 2009 - 09:00 by Lela Davidson

Health, Healthcare, Allergies, Wellness, Diseases & Disorders

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Moms, the science is clear: get happy! If not your family will suffer. It's not about moods, it's about health.

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Pay Attention to Teens, Keep Them Off Drugs – Duh

Posted December 9, 2009 - 09:00 by Lela Davidson

Health, Culture, Diseases & Disorders

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If you pay attention, they might not inhale. This is the groundbreaking news of the week. In the war to keep your kids off drugs, possibly the only thing more important than paying attention is getting your bluff in early.

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Most Popular Toys Still Toxic

Posted December 8, 2009 - 11:53 by Lela Davidson

Shopping, Health, Entertainment, Diseases & Disorders

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Plastic toys are still toxic. What's a good parent to do? Carefully shop, ban anything unnatural, or simply throw your hand up? More difficult decisions our parents never had to make.

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Allow Me to Scare the Snot Out of Your Toddler

Posted November 26, 2009 - 00:20 by Lela Davidson

Home Life, Discipline, Social Skills, Conflict Resolution, Culture

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Yelling is not the ideal form of communication. However, science now shows us that toddlers with a lower than average "fear response" may be genetically doomed to a life of crime. Could yelling help? If so, I'm available.

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