Dr. Ivy Gay Legones

28/11/2025

# salamatDOH

KUMUSTA KA?!
After earthquake and typoon hit, and other personal struggles I/ we/ you have encountered, have you ever ask that question to your selves or to those dear to you/us?💭🤔🧐😔
Filipinos are known for being resilient! Overly resilient!?! We often tell ourselves LABAN LANG!💪, cge padayon lang ta ug kasikas, kudkud kalabaw ug kabayo... But we never ask ourselves if we are truly ok. A famous line from a comercial "Para saan tayo bumabangon?" But never asked if taking one's self , self centered act or self preservation?! Or shall we say, g kapoy ka?! Pero padayon ghapon?, a Filipino culture?! Does it mean we are truely effective and logical to have , or ok not to have self care? Cge laban lang! We tolerate it! Thats why we deserve it! As a doctor, and first doctor in the family, i have often experinced high pressure environment where constant decision making, leadership responsibilities and emotional demands takes a significant impact. Based on my experiences ( sickness and death of my father where all my siblings ask and wait for my decision, sick in the family even not my specialty, they think i know it all and obligated to have answers). Maayo nalang i am rooted to my core values( which is instilled by my parents by the way), if ever i am at lost I call on to the most powerful to give me answer. Does this mean i am less of a person or less of a doctor?!
Sometimes too much pressure can cause us fatigue, stigma, stress or burnout or culture related. Are you able to handle it?! Is dealing with IT a tough call? This is where good communication comes. Wether we like it or yes, we need to experience and learn, we need to keep exposing ourselves to constant strain and opportunities. We dont have to run with it! We must be grounded by our core values. They say we cannot teach what we dont know or give what we dont have. So if your stressed out, burn out, in doubt or lost. Leave those problem behind and find your passion and what motivates you!
If you are family oriented then turn to your family and have quality time. They said we have plenty of time when we die! But no time for family.😔 We have different backgrounds, different upbringing, different culture but we find common grounds our core values!
I think i learn this somewhere, or maybe one of my conversation with my late grandfather. " Leave your crown with those papers" it means whatever achievements we have made or how many additions we have on our last name, in the house i am not a doctor, i am a child of my parents, i do chores, i do things what's being said by my parents for they are superior than me?! No because I am not what I am today if not for them! So, basically thats my core value, and maybe i dont have the kind of stress younger generation have because i know where i belong, i know where i can run to, i know my safe place even without asking and speaking🤔( my thoughts though). As my sister would say " its your choice!" Striking?! But true! its not true that we dont have a choice! We have a choice! But the effects of our choices, the chances that we are given in that specific choice, is the reflection of our responsibility! We do the right things for the right time! If choosing YOU is choosing for the better ?! Then choose you!
Do i make some sense? Or just rattling ( kay nka me time?!)
KUMUSTA KA?!👋🐕🦮💭

17/11/2025

🧠👶🏻💭

Exciting new research reveals that mothers who eat eggs during pregnancy may give their babies a powerful head start in brain development. Eggs are packed with essential nutrients like choline, proteins, and healthy fats that play a crucial role in building memory, learning abilities, and cognitive function in infants during their first year.

Studies suggest that babies born to mothers who regularly include eggs in their pregnancy diet show better early brain performance, including improved memory retention and learning capacity. Choline, a key nutrient in eggs, is particularly important for brain cell development and neural connectivity.

Nutrition experts recommend incorporating eggs as part of a balanced prenatal diet to support both maternal health and your baby’s brain growth. This simple dietary habit could have long-lasting benefits for cognitive development and early learning skills.

Mothers-to-be can boost their child’s potential with everyday foods, and eggs are an easy, affordable way to do it. A small change in your pregnancy diet today could have a lasting impact on your baby’s future.

17/11/2025

🤔👂👶🏻🧠

A new scientific study reveals something beautiful about motherhood — a mother’s song can literally shape her baby’s brain. Researchers found that when expectant mothers sing regularly during pregnancy, it stimulates the baby’s developing brain, enhancing memory, emotional regulation, and language recognition even before birth.

The study shows that babies exposed to their mother’s singing in the womb display stronger neural responses to sound after birth. The rhythm and melody of a mother’s voice help the baby’s brain form early patterns that are vital for speech and emotional bonding. These tiny brains recognize familiar tunes and voices, helping newborns feel calm and secure when they hear the same songs outside the womb.

But it doesn’t just benefit the baby — singing also boosts the mother’s mood. The release of oxytocin, the “love hormone,” reduces stress and anxiety, creating a deep emotional connection between mother and child. This shared rhythm of heartbeats and harmony becomes an unspoken dialogue of love, trust, and comfort.

Scientists now encourage mothers-to-be to sing lullabies or soft songs daily, as these sounds leave lasting imprints on their babies’ developing minds.

P.S. Fun fact: Babies can remember and respond to songs they heard months before birth — proving that love and learning begin long before the first breath.

15/09/2025

🧐💭😶‍🌫️🧠

The first 1,000 days of a child’s life are a period of extraordinary brain development, with the brain forming over a million new connections every second and completing about 80-90% of its growth before age three.

This rapid development is influenced by nutrition, safety, responsive interactions (serve and return), and a lack of toxic stress, which help to build a strong foundation for future learning, health, and well-being.

Experiences and care during this sensitive period are highly impactful due to the brain’s high plasticity, and poor conditions can lead to IRREVERSIBLE developmental impacts that affect future learning, problem-solving, and self-regulation.

Impaired brain development can manifest as poor brain connectivity, which results in deficits in motor skills, memory, and general cognition.

Poor development leads to fewer, weaker connections and impaired neural pathways, which are crucial for learning, problem-solving, and adapting to new situations.

A poorly developed brain architecture can hinder the development of executive functions and adaptive abilities, making learning and success in school and life more difficult.

Early adversity can also lead to a heightened stress response and an increased risk for mental health issues like depression and anxiety later in life.

Infants with poorly developed brains also struggle with social-emotional regulation, impacting their interactions with others and increasing the risk for behavioral problems.

PMID: 39493243, 27266965, 36381799

15/09/2025

🧐💭

A brand new study found that pregnant women consuming primarily a standard American diet (high fat and processed sugar) increase their risk of birthing a child with ADHD by a startling 66%.

A high-fat, high-sugar Western diet can increase methylation of the IGF2 gene. Methyl groups attach to DNA, acting like an “off switch” that can silence the gene, disrupting fetal brain development in critical areas like the cerebellum and hippocampus.

Diets lacking essential components like omega-3 fatty acids can impair fetal brain development. These fatty acids are crucial for building healthy cell membranes in the brain.

Ultra-processed foods found in the Standard American Diet also expose women to heavy metals. These can accumulate and negatively impact the child’s ability to metabolize and excrete them, influencing the severity of neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD.

Certain metabolites linked to the Western diet, such as those from high fat and processed sugar intake, promote inflammation and oxidative stress. These factors are known to be critical during early neurodevelopment and contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders.

The early stages of fetal development are particularly sensitive to a mother’s diet. Adopting a balanced, nutrient-rich diet during pregnancy help support brain and organ development, reducing the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders like ADHD.

PMID: 33685413

14/09/2025

🎺🎹🎸🪘🪈🪇🥁🧠😶‍🌫️🧐

Numerous studies have proven that learning to play a musical instrument significantly enhances brain development and function in children, particularly in areas related to auditory processing, language and cognitive abilities.

This is because playing an instrument requires memorizing notes, rhythms and finger positions, actively engaging the brain’s memory systems. This process helps improve working memory, the ability to hold and manipulate information.

Also, the concentration needed to learn and play music strengthens attention spans and enhances cognitive control. This is especially beneficial for children who may have difficulty focusing.

Additionally, music engages various brain regions, including those responsible for motor control, auditory processing, and visual perception. This activity strengthens connections between these areas, leading to increased brain plasticity.

Children who learn to play instruments even often demonstrate improved academic performance, including higher scores in subjects like math, science and English!

Studies also show that music can help children manage anxiety, focus, attention and regulate emotions.

PMID: 24672420, 24808819

11/09/2025

Good day!
Clinic Open:
Friday & Saturday:
9-11 am Rm 109 Mendero Clinic 3-5pm Quasi Tabuelan
See you there!

17/08/2025

Studies show that reducing sugar intake for just nine days can significantly decrease liver fat and improve insulin sensitivity, reversing damage faster than expected. This underscores the incredible power of our bodies to heal when we nurture them right. It’s a reminder that small changes can lead to monumental improvements in our health and well-being. The choices we make today shape the lives we live tomorrow. 🍏💪

16/08/2025

Mendero Clinic Open!

21/06/2025

No clinic today, instead we are open this coming Monday! Thanks

01/06/2025

Ask for more information

Whooping cough, or pertussis, can cause serious—even life-threatening—complications in newborns. The best way to protect your infant is getting the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy: recommended in the third trimester. Safeguard your infant when they’re most vulnerable. Talk to your provider about Tdap.

24/05/2025