Dr. Emily Lesnak

04/28/2021

Meet Jack!

Born at home on April, 6th right before big brother woke up for breakfast!

Taking my time on recovery (and catching up on sleep!), but follow along for postpartum and newborn tips as I share some of my journey with you!

02/01/2021

I’ve been keeping a couple of secrets!

First, I started at a new practice, Neighborhood Naturopathic, January 2021. Still seeing patients of all ages for primary care and specialty care for pediatrics, postpartum, and fertility. Check us out at www.neighborhood-naturopathic.com

Second, I am currently 31 weeks pregnant! How did these last few months just fly by?! I’ve been busy transitioning to the new practice and busy with life in general (haven’t we all?), but ready to share more of my pregnancy journey with you!

11/27/2020

Timing does matter when testing hormones, like estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are often testing when assessing fertility and if someone is having abnormal periods.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Estrogen is more dominant the first half of your cycle, so best tested around day 2 or 3.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Progesterone is more dominant the second half of your cycle from ovulation to your next period and is best tested about 7 days after ovulation. Testing progesterone at this time can give a sense if ovulation is actually happening.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you are having your hormones tested, make sure it is on the appropriate day of your cycle or else that information is not helpful!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

11/25/2020

TSH = thyroid stimulating hormone⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is the most basic lab test that is ordered to assess thyroid function and is a common test to do when someone is feeling tired and fatigued. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If your TSH is too high that means your thyroid is hypofunctioning and you are likely to have symptoms of fatigue, constipation, dry skin, etc...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I have many patients (especially women in the postpartum period) that come to see me with the complaint of fatigue and their doctor has run labs and their TSH has come back normal (as well as other labs). They are then told to come back in 6 months and see how their symptoms have progressed! What? So, frustrating!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
In my practice, if that TSH number is normal and fatigue is still happening I will add on other thyroid testing, like a free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies (along with other labs...). Many times I see these other thyroid numbers in the abnormal range and we talk about thyroid medication vs. natural thyroid support.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you are tired and your labs are "normal" it is time for a second opinion. You do not have to live your life tired and exhausted!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

11/23/2020

"Dr. Lesnak, should my baby have a specific sleeping and eating schedule?"⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This is one question that I get frequently during well visits and there is really no right or wrong answer.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
It is almost impossible to have your baby on a schedule in the first 3 months because they are still working on organizing their days/nights and making melatonin. Also, it takes at least 3 months for them to start to get used to their new world outside of the womb (hello 4th trimester!).⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sometimes it will be recommended that you have your newborn on a feeding schedule, say every 2-3 hours, for the first couple of weeks until they get back to their birth weight. This is mostly just reminding them that they should feed, sometimes those newborns can be quite sleepy!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Some families find that it is nice to have a routine, meaning that at certain times of the day you might go outside for a walk or do a specific play activity. Most babies aren't developmentally ready for a routine/schedule until around 6 months when they can lengthen their naps.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You do not need to have your baby on a schedule, but a routine can be helpful!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

08/11/2020

Some babies go through the 4 month sleep regression and some don't.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
You might find that your baby was sleeping well (maybe even through the night, woot!) and then waking up every hour.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I don't really like the word "regression" because this is often due to your baby continuing to develop into a new sleep cycle and probably learning how to roll over, recognize faces, and many other new skills.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Here are some tips to get you through this time:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-dark, dark room, get some blackout curtains⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-ok to continue to feed on demand⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-re-evaluate sleep and nap schedule⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-get some extra help if you can, take shifts with your partner⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
This too, shall pass. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

08/05/2020

Say "YES" to spilling chia seeds all over the kitchen counters.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Say "YES" to coloring chalk all over my legs.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Say "YES" to using all the bath bubbles.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Sometimes you have to choose your battles!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
What have you said "YES" to lately?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

08/05/2020

08/03/2020

Ugh, I have totally been there. This is a reminder that you are not defined by how you feed your baby.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Low milk supply can be due to a number of issues. I like to break it down by either issues with baby getting the milk out and with breastfeeding parent having trouble making milk. Here is what I find most commonly contributes to low milk supply.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Baby:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-shallow latch⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-tongue-tie⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-muscle tension⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Breastfeeding parent:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-stress⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-insufficient glandular tissue (not small breasts, but lack of the tissue that actually makes milk)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
-hormonal issues (thyroid, PCOS)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I definitely recommend consulting with your doc/midwife and an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) to help figure out what could be contributing.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But, remember, it is ok to supplement with formula if you need because fed is best!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀