We’re on our journey to building healthy habits! In partnership with Saborea Uno Hoy, this week we interview Malena Perdomo, a registered dietitian and Avocado Goodness Expert for Aguacates Frescos - Saborea Uno Hoy®.Join our conversation to learn more about ways to be proactive with your health and how avocados can help!
There’s so much information out there when it comes to our children’s health. Throw COVID-19 vaccinations for infants and toddlers into the mix, and it just got a lot more overwhelming. But we’re here to help! This week we sit down with an expert: the Deputy Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases and State Epidemiologist, Dr. Erica Pan. We talk about everything you need to know about COVID-19 vaccinations for infants, toddlers and pregnancy. She answers the questions we’ve all been wondering, like how the vaccine trials for children work, vaccine dosages for our littlest ones, and even getting vaccinated during pregnancy. Dr. Pan is a mom to two teenage daughters, so she understands how some parents may be feeling uneasy with so much new information. We hope this episode helps ease your mind and get your family vaccinated!
This episode is brought to you by the CA Department of Public Health.
#VaccinesSaveLives
More about Dr. Erica Pan: Erica Pan, MD, MPH, FAAP, the Deputy Director of the Center for Infectious Diseases and State Epidemiologist, was sworn in July 13, 2020. Prior to joining CDPH, Pan served in several positions at both the Alameda County Public Health Department since 2011, and the San Francisco Department of Public Health from 2004 – 2011. She is also a Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of California, San Francisco. She maintained her clinical work at San Francisco General Hospital and at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in San Francisco and Oakland in Infectious Diseases until 2019.
What can you tell us about the latest vaccines now available for infants and toddlers over 6 months?
Are children receiving the same dosage as adults?
What does the vaccine dose schedule look like for kids?
What do the vaccine trials entail? Who are these kids? What are they looking for?
What about super mamas who are listening who are currently pregnant or thinking about conceiving? Is it safe for them to receive the vaccine? As a mom, what tips do you have for them to protect themselves and their babies?
Does it matter when you get vaccinated during your pregnancy? First trimester vs. third?
Is it true women’s periods can change after receiving the vaccine?
Does the vaccine affect fertility?
Where can parents take their children to receive their COVID-19 vaccines?
How can we continue to help our family, friends and community receive the best information regarding COVID-19?
This week Paulina is on vacation in Oaxaca, but she’s been prepping for her trip by looking for a new bug spray! She found this natural bug spray that she’s carrying in her purse and also clipped on to the girls’ backpacks so everyone can be protected at all times! Another tip she learned about keeping the mosquitoes away is that they don’t like yellow lightbulbs. What are some other tips you have for keeping the mosquitoes away?
Bricia’s pick is more of a tip, but it’s to get and use a salad spinner. It might take up a lot of space in your kitchen, but trust her, it’s essential!
Visit https://myturn.ca.gov for more information on COVID-19 and vaccinations.
Follow the California Department of Public Health on Instagram @capublichealth and like their page on Facebook.
School is almost out for summer and we can feel our children getting more excited as each school week ends! But even though it feels like things have gone back to normal with fewer masks, warmer weather and summer vacation plans of travel & family outings, it doesn’t mean that COVID-19 has left us for good. In honor of Children’s day and in partnership with Juntos Sí Podemos, this week’s episode focuses on how we can continue to protect our children and families from COVID. We interview past guest and great friend of the show, Dr. Ilan Shapiro, about the latest updates in COVID and it’s variants, getting our kids vaccinated and what we can expect in the future with this pandemic. We understand that vaccinations are a personal choice, but Dr. Shapiro says it best during this episode: “I want to be as safe as I can. That’s why I chose to be vaccinated.”
For more information on COVID, vaccinations for your kids and how to keep your family safe & healthy this summer, visit https://wecandothis.hhs.gov/.
More about Dr. Shaps: Dr. Ilan Shapiro joined AltaMed in 2016 as the Chief Health Correspondent and Medical Affairs Officer, where he oversaw an expansion of behavioral health and employee health education services. He was also involved in the creation of programs to prevent and manage chronic disease in children and adults, as well as helping patients facing economic hardship, food insecurity, and mental health challenges. Most recently, Dr. Shapiro has been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic as a leading source of education and information and a trusted media resource on both national and international news outlets, including CNN, NBC, MSNBC, Telemundo, and Univision. He also continues to have a strong social media presence averaging more than one billion unique views per year.
In his new role, Dr. Shapiro will lead strategy for external health communications, policy, and community relations to advance equity and inclusion and expand community health and wellness initiatives. He will serve as the chief physician spokesperson for AltaMed and work closely with the Public Affairs, Government Relations, and Civic Engagement departments in this capacity.
More about the Juntos Sí Podemos campaign: The HHS COVID-19 public education campaign is a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. For more information, please visit https://juntossipodemos.hhs.gov/.
Dr. Shapiro’s pandemic experience
As people are getting ready for summer, many people think the pandemic is over and we’re done with this virus. What do you tell those families about the current status of the pandemic?
What do we need to do to keep our families healthy?
Kids & COVID-19
Are boosters really necessary for children 12 and older if they’ve already been vaccinated
AND have had COVID?
If a child has already had COVID, why is it necessary for them to get vaccinated, especially now that rates of infection have been declining steadily?
Medical advice for unvaccinated folks
Why do you think some parents remain hesitant to vaccinate their children?
Should parents be concerned about any long-term side effects of COVID vaccines?
Should we expect the covid vaccine to be an annual shot like the flu shot?
When will vaccines for children under 5 years old be approved and how will those vaccines be the same or different from the ones for 5 years and older?
Two pick this week from Bricia! First, Liz Hernandez’s WORDAFUL Kids Affirmation Cards. She’s going to start adding these to the kids’ everyday routine because they’re so beautiful Second, during Bricia’s dinner party this past weekend they guests all played WORDAFUL The Game and it got deep. Highly recommend for your next girls’ night.
Paulina’s pick is also staying in theme with the episode - something for the kids to keep them healthy! If you caught it on our Instagram Stories, Zixta, Paulina’s youngest daughter, got sick and made a trip to urgent care. She used these Vapo Patches on Zixta’s clothes and it helped her feel more comfortable and get a better sleep.
Follow Dr. Shapiro on Instagram and Twitter @dr_shaps
Learn more about the HHS COVID-19 Public Education campaign. Visit WeCanDoThis.hhs.gov to learn about COVID-19 vaccines and more.
The time has come… for the dreaded puberty talk! 🤭 Lucky for us, our guest is making the conversation a little easier. Dr. Marni Sommer, professor at Columbia University and co-author of “A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods” sits down to share more about her book and how parents shouldn’t be embarrassed to talk to their kids about growing up and bodily changes. For many of us growing up, the only source of information was from our girlfriends, but that doesn’t have to be the case for our daughters.She explains that the secret to talking to your daughters, nieces or whichever young girls who look up to you in life about the changes their bodies are going through is by being a source of safe, factual information. Dr. Marni also shares tips on handling big feelings, surprise periods and reassurance that these changes are normal and happen to everyone. We’re taking all the notes for the changes awaiting us with our daughters!
More about Dr. Sommer: Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN, is a Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University and co-author of A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods. Dr. Sommer has been working in global health for twenty-four years. Her areas of expertise include conducting participatory research with adolescents, understanding, and promoting healthy transitions to adulthood, the intersection of public health and education, gender and sexual health, and the implementation and evaluation of adolescent-focused interventions.
Dr. Sommer founded Grow and Know, Inc. in 2010. Her current research focuses on the intersections of gender, health and education for girls and boys transitioning into adulthood around the world. Her research with girls in Tanzania formed the basis of the original book project. She continues to conduct research and advocacy on puberty, periods, and education globally.
Fear of Change
First Period Stories
Where do we start? When does it start and what topics do we cover?
How can we include dad in on this conversation?
How to talk about sex and naming all the parts
What signs should we look for when it comes to puberty and periods?
Period Kits
A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods is a body-positive illustrated book that helps girls ages 9-14 understand what to expect about puberty and everything that goes with it. An important point of differentiation from other popular puberty books is that this new offering provides “my first period” stories and advice from diverse girls across the U.S. to help young women understand that everything they’re going through is normal. Parents will also appreciate that the book incorporates factual health content and practical tips developed by adolescent health experts at Columbia University. The goal is to empower girls to feel more confident and knowledgeable about their changing bodies. The book is available for purchase now via Amazon and other major book retailers.
You can get your copy of A Girl's Guide to Puberty and Periods on Amazon now.
Check out agirlsguide.org to learn more more about the book and check out videos like the one below!
A new month is here and so is a new episode! This week we talk to pediatric dermatologist, Dr. Mercedes Gonzalez, about all things baby skincare. We also ask her your Instagram questions about baby acne, dry skin and other skin conditions we can’t pronounce. 😂 Bricia also talks about her embarrassing deodorant moment and Paulina realizes maybe she is the cause of her girls’ skin issues. You won’t want to miss this informative episode!
What is an appropriate skin care routine for a 10 year old? When should a child have a skincare routine?
At what age is it normal to start seeing acne?
Can you prevent acne when you’re young? How?
The difference between eczema and psoriasis
Does diet affect atopic dermatitis?
Are there any natural options for treating eczema?
Does eczema ever go away? Is it something that can be cured or is it always present?
[Are the pimples] on baby’s cheeks due to the yeast in a hormone that is present in the baby or the mom? Is there anything you can do to prevent it or treat it?
What is keratosis pilaris? How can we prevent it and treat it?
How can I help my son with pityriasis versicolor?
What causes molluscum contagiosum?
My two year old has constant dry skin around her mouth. What can be causing this?
What are the best sunscreens for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, etc.?
I never put lotion on my son. Is that something I should be doing?
What are some chemicals or ingredients we should avoid on the skin?
What is a sulfate?
Are essential oils good for your skin?
What is the difference between antiperspirant and deodorant?
Is there a natural antiperspirant?
How often should kids take a shower? Is it necessary for kids to take a shower everyday?
My baby has a big problem with diaper rash. What’s the policy with airing out that area down there?
Should we wash baby’s butt after a poop?
Dr. Gonzalez is loving Dove’s Volume + Fullness Dry Shampoo. Her hair started shedding after her baby was born and again after weaning from breastfeeding (which can sometimes happen whenever there’s a hormonal shift) but the volumizing shampoo really makes her hair look thicker! It helps soak up the oil and smells amazing.
Since we’re talking about skin, Paulina has been dealing with dry scalp. She washes her hair once a week and uses this massaging hair brush to help stimulate her scalp. It really helps the shampoo wash her scalp evenly and has made a huge difference, plus helps provide that clean feeling.
Bricia’s pick is something she thinks every woman should have in her wardrobe: nipple covers. Bricia found this great brand on Amazon that is inexpensive and made with great material.
Apart from March being Women History month, it’s also Nutrition month! We have pediatrician Dr. Shapiro dropping knowledge on all things nutrition. We talk the 9 essentials nutrients that are essential to our kids diet, the ways we can keep our children healthy & fun ways to incorporate milk into both our and our children’s diets. Also, "Dr. Shaps" helps Paulina overcome her mom guilt and helps us all debunk old Latino health myths. This episode is brought to you by FuertesConLeche.com!
Before the interview, Paulina and Bricia debrief on the weekend and all things Eduardo’s birthday. From the food, to the balloons and of course, the Red Ranger 🤣
What made you decide on becoming a doctor?
The reason why the American Academy of Pediatrics encourages milk with most meals
The 9 essential nutrients that kids are lacking & how milk can help us supplement it
Protein, calcium, Vitamin D, phosphorus, B Vitamins, Vitamin A, Potassium- explained
Creative ways to incorporate milk into our diets to make it more nutritious- licuado de platano, overnight oats, and our all-time favorite, enfrijoladas
What happens when we stop supplementing our bodies with calcium and vitamin D
How we can combat this statistic- 1 out of 2 kids 9 years and older in the United States is not consuming enough calcium, potassium, and vitamin D
The importance of having balanced nutritious meal and tips for getting our kids moving
VERDICT- Is it Paulina’s fault that her daughter went back into the hospital?
RSV explained
Debunking old Latino myths - el aire, hot/cold showers, air conditioning
Dr. Shapiro’s tip is to continuously have family dinners & ask what 3 things you’re most grateful for to every member in the family.
Since Krista is a picky eater and doesn’t eat vegetables, Paulina has compromised with her. Krista is choosing what she has for lunch every week but Paulina gets to add all the vegetables she wants. Pizza? No problem, add more veggies. Also, Paulina recommends you all check out Village Market Place, which provides access to good food the residents of South LA.
Bricia’s tips include medicine and dance! She figured out the perfect way to give Eduardo medicine and it’s genius. We’ll upload the video to IG! & her favorite show to watch with her family is NBC’s World of Dance! Have you all watched?
This week on the show, Paulina catches us up on her past 2 weeks and her 9 days in the hospital after baby Zixta was diagnosed with pneumonia, bronchitis and RSV. She's here to unload and process what happened, how she dealt with everything, how she and Zixta are doing and what she learned from this experience.
She also shares some advice for moms going through a similar situation, advice for friends/family who know someone going through the similar situation and the value of being present in your life. It’s a cliche but things change within a split second.
During her hospital visit, Paulina learned a couple of things about mucus and diaper rashes. Here are her fav picks to ease both: Pressure Drum Massage & Boudreaux's Butt Paste Diaper Rash Ointment
Bricia recently partnered with the Milk Processor Board to create delicious recipes which you view on her website, here: Mole & More.
Also, did you know that you can know earn money by buying milk? The California Milk Processor Board launched "Moo Money", its first-ever consumer loyalty program! Through April 28, 2019, whenever you buy real milk, all you have to do is snap a picture of their receipt and submit it to www.moomoney.com to receive points into your account. Visit their website to learn more and register! Don’t leave money on the table.
