Seattle Mama Doc

Learning how to manage stress productively, and develop resilience in the face of ongoing challenges, is a set of skills all families need. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and psychologist, Dr. James McKeever discuss the science behind resiliency. “Resiliency is the ability to adapt well in the face of adversity or trauma or tragedy.”

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses the threat of antibiotic resistance and the importance of appropriate antibiotic prescribing and use. Animal agriculture uses 4x the amount of antibiotics as human medicine! One thing you can do is buy antibiotic-free meat and an antibiotic-free turkey this Thanksgiving. Here are a few quick reminders for better use in our homes knowing that up to 50% of all the antibiotics prescribed for people are not always needed.

Self-harm is used as a way to regulate intense negative emotions and puts you at an elevated risk for suicide. This can be an extremely scary situation for both parents and their children, but there are ways to work with a therapist to learn new communication strategies and skills for coping with stress & pain. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Dr. James McKeever, a pediatric psychologist explain more about self-harm.

Ahem….children and teens can be moody. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and clinical psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Hilt discuss when it’s moodiness or when it might be something more.

It’s chemical! Which is why SSRIs (i.e. Prozac) can help with anxiety and depression. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and clinical psychiatrist, Dr. Robert Hilt discuss a variety of approaches and highlight the importance of psychotherapy.

What you do today could contribute to preventing a mass shooting. Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares tips for talking to children and teens about guns and violence in age-appropriate terms. If there is a gun in your home, keep it locked, unloaded & separate from ammunition. Safe storage leads to a 75% reduction in the risk of firearm suicide & unintentional shootings.

Magnets, batteries and other small object can cause serious harm and even death. Pediatricians, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson & Dr. Julie Brown share what you need to know about what happens when toddlers and teens swallow magnets or batteries.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses what parents need to know about this year’s flu shot. Your entire family (all those over 6 months of age) should get a flu shot before Halloween. No nasal flu mist again this year, so don’t promise a no-poke visit!

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Emergency Medicine expert, Dr. Julie Brown discuss food allergies and the importance of knowing how to dose & use epinephrine. Their mantra: “epi first and epi fast.”

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson highlights the importance of extending support, compassion and understanding to children and families with food allergies. Special guest, Dr. Julie Brown who works in Emergency Medicine at Seattle Children’s provides her clinical expertise on anaphylaxis and anecdotal knowledge from parent support groups for children with life-threatening allergies.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and Dr. Mary Jennings, Director of the Odessa Brown Dental Clinic share 6 tips to keep your entire family’s teeth cleaner and healthier. Easy ways to master the mouth!

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and the Seattle Children’s Hospital Medical Director of Laboratories, Dr. Mike Astion explain what you should do if you get bad or potentially inaccurate lab results. Tip: always repeat the test if the result is surprising.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson and the Seattle Children’s Hospital Medical Director of Laboratories, Dr. Mike Astion explain when labs are medically necessary, where to get them done and what questions to ask. There are many labs and lab companies that are less reputable than others. The bottom line: when you’re not sick the less labs, the better.

Pediatrician, Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson shares tips to keep your family safe in hot weather. Here's how to avoid heat stroke, stay safe with hot cars, open windows and keep up with hydration during sports.

Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson discusses child sedation in the pediatric dental space. Child sedation is different than adult sedation and can be riskier. Ask about who will administer sedation and who will be there to rescue your child if something goes wrong. Work to ensure that there is someone administering sedation who is different than the person doing the procedure.