There are all kinds of messages in the media today touting the health benefits of milk. Many patients feel that now that they are pregnant, they must drink extra milk. But can you have too much of a good thing?  Dairy products are by far your best source of calcium, but they also tend to be high in fat.

Calcium requirements per day are as follows:
Children (4-8 years) 800mg
Teens (9-18years) 1300mg
Adults (19-50 years) 1000mg
Adults (51 and older) 1200mg
Pregnant and Nursing Women 1200mg
Postmenopausal Women 1200-1500mg

We have been working on our resolutions, making them achievable, setting goals, accountability and so on. What do I do when I have fallen short of the goals I set? Mistakes should be used as an opportunity to learn, not an excuse to quit. As we mentioned before, weight loss is a lifestyle change. We have to adjust over time to what works best for us and what works best given our lifestyle. Results are achieved by trial-and-error. Don’t be afraid to try. Ask yourself “What was it that kept me from achieving my goal?” Then make the correction and reset your course.

Some of the things our group discovered are:

The muscles of the pelvic floor are located at the bottom of the pelvis. These muscles attach to the pubic bone in the front and the tail bone in the back. The muscles are shaped like a sling and help to support the bladder and other organs of the pelvis. These muscles surround the anus, vagina and urethra and help to control urination, defecation and intercourse. The muscles of the pelvic floor are skeletal muscles and thus under voluntary control. These muscles may become weak, spastic, or tight as a result of trauma from childbirth, disease, age, or disuse. Improving control of these muscles can help stress incontinence, urge incontinence, overactive bladder, painful urination, painful intercourse, and in some women, interstitial cystitis.

Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation (PFR) is a personalized program designed to help those with bladder problems regain control. The program consists of muscle stimulation, pelvic floor muscle exercises, bladder retraining, and dietary changes.

Watch an interview with Dr. Livingston discussing the benefits of using the Practice Portal System. Access the MacArthur OB/GYN Practice Portal to submit online forms, schedule an appointment, check lab results, request prescription refills, see your chart, view your medical summary, and send secure messages to your physician.