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Prenatal Yoga and Childbirth

Women who have never used yoga for fitness can still use yoga to prepare for childbirth. Physical movements and postures can create flexibility and strength for mom as her baby and body begins to grow and change. Breathing techniques from yoga were the inspiration for Dr. Lamaze and the creation of his natural childbirth process. Another part of yoga, beyond the physical, has to do with being focused, present and mindful. These three aspects combine to increase mom's comfort during pregnancy, labor and even breastfeeding.

Occupational Therapy Month: Meet the Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital outpatient staff

Did you know that April is Occupational Therapy Month? Occupational therapy is also celebrating its centennial year as well! For these two great reasons, our Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital outpatient staff would like to share why they became occupational therapists and what they love most about their job! Let’s meet each of them:

Project You: Making Space for Mom

Have you ever felt like the world is waiting for results at all hours of the day and every day of the week? Well, I have. The fast-paced world that we live in can sometimes take over our time and attention. It is so easy, as a mother or parent, to get tangled up in the web of demands. The old adage “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” is actually true. If we forget to take time for ourselves, we won’t be able to perform at the peak of our abilities when our kids need us most. If you feel like the world is weighing on your shoulders:

Lovelace leadership series – time is at the heart of the work

Maria Atencio, RN, is working against the clock. When she joined Lovelace in 1999 in the emergency department at the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center, she understood the urgency to assess and prepare heart attack patients for intervention as quickly as possible. Every minute mattered. As emergency department charge nurse, Maria coordinated the care for a larger number of heart patients, always mindful and aware of time. In the heart catheterization lab, she worked side-by-side with physicians witnessing the moments lives were saved. It was always a race against time.

Self-Care

Your life has been filled with appointments and events surrounding the arrival of your newest family member. Remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your little one. When you are well, your care of others (baby, partner) improves too. It is not a selfish obsession to care for you. It is necessary for you in order to be healthy mentally, emotionally and physically. Self care allows you to be fully present for all the sweetness life has to offer.

How to Calm a Crying Baby: You’re Not a Bad Parent! (We Promise)

Every parent has been there at 3 a.m.: your baby is crying and you have tried everything. Just know that you are not a bad parent! Today, we want to talk about ways to soothe your, fussy little tyke.

First, let’s go through the checklist to cover the bases:

- Is your baby hungry, wet or sleepy?

- Is your baby too hot or too cold?

The art of giving builds pride among hospital staff

“I saw some of the other nurses wearing them and I asked, ‘Where do you get those?’” Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center charge nurse, Jessica Jewell, RN, recalls of the moment she finally had to stop and ask. What began in 2013 spread like wildflowers, as brightly-colored badge clips resembling the Lovelace daisy were popping up on nurse badges everywhere. “At least half to three-fourths of the nurses have them.

Celebrating two 50-year careers in health care with Lovelace

Overtime, the highlights, influential people, unforgettable moments and pivotal turning points over a 50-year career blend together like a mosaic. Step back and you see a single image.

“I think everything has stayed the same, even though there have been many changes,” shares Jo Temer, who retired from Lovelace Medical Center in 2016 as a project coordinator with the education department.

“That’s what I enjoyed the most – the constant change,” adds Gale Hall, who retired from Lovelace Health System as the manager of accounts payable.

Lovelace nurse manager reflects on career that inspired growth

Reina Valdez, RN, didn’t expected to one day lead a team of nurses as the manager of Labor and Delivery at Lovelace Regional Hospital - Roswell. In fact, she never expected to be a nurse. “After I graduated high school,” she explains, “I became a certified medical assistant. That’s where I started a medical career, but I thought I was certain I didn’t want to be a nurse.”

Physical therapist graduate finds experienced team and opportunity to build career at Lovelace

“I grew up in Albuquerque,” shares Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital physical therapist, Lindsey Borders, DPT. “Lovelace has always been one of the big hospitals in town.” Though Lindsey didn’t think of Lovelace at the time as the place she would build her career helping people, the at-a-distance familiarity with the health system became more tangible while nearing graduation from the University of New Mexico’s doctoral physical therapy program. “Lovelace Rehabilitation Hospital team members spoke to our class. It sounded like a good opportunity.