Physicians like SouthCoast Health endocrinologist Dr. Abby Abisogun are very familiar with the condition of Type 2 Diabetes and the best steps for ensuring patients maintain a good quality of life.

“By far the most patients I see within my department are those with type 2 diabetes,” SouthCoast Health Endocrinologist Dr. Abby Abisogun stated. “I cannot emphasize the importance of diet, weight, and exercise management alongside lifestyle changes for managing this health condition.”

Get Dr. Abisogun’s tips for managing Type 2 Diabetes here. 

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

No one ever hopes to become a family caregiver. But it’s a role you and 1.3 million others in Georgia play every day.

No matter how much you love the person you’re caring for, being a caregiver can be a lot to manage.

AARP Family Caregiving is here to help.

Join AARP Family Caregiving and SouthCoast Health this Sat. Nov. 3, 2018, 10AM-2PM in Savannah as they make it easier for you to get answers, help you connect with and learn from other family caregivers, and guide you to useful resources online and close to home.

Click here to RSVP or call 1.877.926.8300.

Family Caregivers Workshop, Savannah
Sat. Nov. 3 2018
10AM-2PM
@ Edel Caregiving Institute
Demere Center
6000 Business Center Dr.
Savannah, GA 31405

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Pooler Pediatric Dentistry  is accepting new patients and you can request an appointment online here or calling (912) 376-9296

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child’s first dental visit should be by age ONE

Dr. Carla G. Stappenbeck @ Pooler Pediatric Dentistry (pictured above) is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist with degrees from Harvard University and the University of Maryland and a certificate from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Pooler Pediatric Dentistry
120 Towne Center Drive, Suite 500
Pooler, GA 31322
912-376-9296
Email: frontdesk@poolerpd.com

Why choose a pediatric dentist versus a general dentist who treats children?

As a pediatric dentist, Dr. Carla has an extra two years of specialized training (residency) after dental school and is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teenage years, including those with special health care needs. As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, she has voluntarily undergone vigorous written and oral exams, which demonstrate specialized knowledge and skill. In order to maintain her certification, she must complete yearly continuing education requirements to stay up-to-date with developments in both technology and patient care.

Dr. Carla is fluent in both English and Spanish (Se Habla Español).

Learn more here.

Stay connected by ‘liking’ Pooler Pediatric Dentistry on Facebook here. 

Pooler Pediatric Dentistry, poolerpd.com, 120 Towne Center Drive, Suite 500 Pooler, 31322, 912-376-9296, email frontdesk@poolerpd.com, On Facebook here.     Pooler Pediatric Dentistry is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Fall means the start of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) season  

Pediatric Associates of Savannah blog focuses on RSV,  which presents as a common cold, and symptoms will include runny nose, mild cough, and low grade fever.

“However, it can be more severe in some cases and leads to about 100,000 hospitalizations a year in the United States and approximately 150,000 deaths worldwide each year,” according to Pediatric Associates of Savannah.

Read how RSV is spread & how to prevent RSV in the complete post here. 

Pediatrics Associates of Savannah locations

Pediatric Associates in Savannah
4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100,
Savannah 31404
912.355.2462

Pediatric Associates of Savannah in Pooler
110 Medical Park Drive
Pooler 31322
912.330.5010

Pediatric Associates of Savannah on Whitemarsh Is.
1001 Memorial Dr
Savannah 31410
912.898.9800

Pediatric Associates of Savannah, 4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100 Savannah, 31404-6702, (912) 355-2462, www.pedsav.com On Facebook here.  Pediatric Associates of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Dr. Christa L. Jillard, SouthCoast Health Surgery

Yearly mammograms were routine for Savannah mom Kristi Lowenthal since she was 38. She started the annual screenings earlier than most because of a family history of breast cancer.

Lowenthal also had regular check-ups, ate right, and exercised. Eventually, she admits, those yearly mammograms “became very routine, and I always felt like it was an inconvenience.”

But a perennial mammogram likely saved her life.

In February 2017, a decade after receiving her first mammogram, the staff at SouthCoast Health in Savannah Imaging noticed something suspect. After detecting a small lump, the staff scheduled Lowenthal for an outpatient needle biopsy. Due to the awkward location of the lump, the biopsy was unable to take place.

Lowenthal was then referred to SouthCoast Health surgeon Dr. Christa Jillard. The physician’s original plan was to remove some tissue for biopsy. However, once Dr. Jillard began operating, she chose to extract the entire lump. The biopsy came back positive.

“A week before my 49th birthday, I got the call I had breast cancer,” Lowenthal says. “And that’s just one of those calls you think you’re never going to get. …It was shocking, unimaginable, and a lot to take in. So that’s where my journey started.”

Read this Savannah mother’s complete breast cancer success story here. 

Whether you are looking for a primary care doctor or a pediatrician, an ObGyn or another medical specialist, SouthCoast Health has you covered with its wide range of world-class healthcare services, available throughout the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry.

SouthCoast Health has 120 physicians and medical professionals in 18 locations in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Rincon, Baxley, Bluffton, Hilton Head, and Hinesville.

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

When Darkus Jenkins noticed a lump in her breast, she was a 36-year-old chemistry professor at Savannah State University who had just stopped breastfeeding her 11-month-old daughter.

The young mother learned she had triple negative breast cancer.

Dr. Elizabeth McIntosh, Savannah OB/GYN

Dr. Christa L. Jillard, SouthCoast Health Surgery

Dr. Elizabeth McIntosh, Jenkins’ OB-GYN, and breast cancer specialist and surgeon, Dr. Christa Jillard – both of SouthCoast Health in Savannah & the Lowcountry – helped Jenkin’s combat her aggressive cancer.

Read this Savannah mother’s complete breast cancer success story here. 

Whether you are looking for a primary care doctor or a pediatrician, an ObGyn or another medical specialist, SouthCoast Health has you covered with its wide range of world-class healthcare services, available throughout the Coastal Empire and Lowcountry.

SouthCoast Health has 120 physicians and medical professionals in 18 locations in Savannah, Richmond Hill, Pooler, Rincon, Baxley, Bluffton, Hilton Head, and Hinesville.

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Dread your kids’ bedtime defiance?

Check out Pediatric Associates of Savannah blog here for tips on establishing routines for children – including the importance of a bedtime routine.

Find out what benefits kids get out of daily routines & how to establish them. Like this one: “One of the main benefits a daily routine brings to family life is that it allows children to feel a sense of safety and security.” Read more here. 

Pediatrics Associates of Savannah locations

Pediatric Associates in Savannah
4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100,
Savannah 31404
912.355.2462

Pediatric Associates of Savannah in Pooler
110 Medical Park Drive
Pooler 31322
912.330.5010

Pediatric Associates of Savannah on Whitemarsh Is.
1001 Memorial Dr
Savannah 31410
912.898.9800

Pediatric Associates of Savannah, 4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100 Savannah, 31404-6702, (912) 355-2462, www.pedsav.com On Facebook here.  Pediatric Associates of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

Attention expectant Savannah parents: FREE Baby Care Basics classes are offered @ Pediatric Associates of Savannah.

Free to expectant families, come join Dr. Chintak B. Patel @ Pediatric Associates of Savannah (pictured here).

“Baby Basics” classes are offered the first Thursday of each month @ 6PM. To register, please call our office at (912) 355-2462 or send an email to babybasics@pedsav.com.

FREE to expectant families (but reservations requested). This month hosted by Dr Patel (expecting his first child soon, too.). Held after office hours, usually the first Thursday of each month, at the Waters Ave location.. Space will be limited, so to register or for more information about the class please email BabyBasics@pedsav.com.

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New to the area & in need of a pediatrician? Pediatric Associates of Savannah has offices in Savannah, the Islands and Pooler. Learn more here.

Stay connected with Pediatric Associates of Savannah & informed about children’s health news, but ‘liking’ Pediatric Associates of Savannah on Facebook here.

Pediatric Associates of Savannah, 4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100 Savannah, 31404-6702, (912) 355-2462, www.pedsav.com On Facebook here.  Pediatric Associates of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

When it comes to breast cancer care, SouthCoast Health in Savannah & the Lowcountry provides earlier detection methods and innovative treatments.

Read patient success stories here. 

SCREENING

You know well the importance that early detection plays in beating breast cancer. Learn how SouthCoast Health’s Imaging Department brings the latest technologies –including 3D Mammography Screenings — and methods to the region here. 

DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT OPTIONS

SouthCoast Health offers a High-Risk Breast Cancer Clinic that provides personalized care and oncological treatments.

Read about the various surgical treatments and 3D guided stereo breast biopsies here. 

IN THE NEWS

In addition to providing quality patient care SouthCoast Health specialists also to educate and spread breast cancer awareness to the public about the fight against this disease. See some of their spotlights in the media here.

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Need an example of strength and resilience?

You’ll find it in the parents featured on the SouthCoast Health Web site posted entitled SouthCoast Pediatrician and Wife Raise Awareness for Childhood Cancer.

The post spotlights SouthCoast Health pediatrician Dr. William Webb and wife Danielle, a clinical pediatric dietitian at Memorial Health, who are continuing to fight for childhood cancer research after the death of their son four years ago. Three-year-old William Webb II of Savannah faced a rare form of childhood cancer, stage IV neuroblastoma, with remarkable spirit.

“He would want us to get out there and improve the situation for others,” Dr. Webb says in the post.

William’s parents have created the nonprofit Warriors for William Foundation to raise money for childhood cancer research. The foundation’s logo is an outline of a boy in a superhero costume, a direct nod to their son.

The Warriors for William Foundation hosts fundraising events including the Warriors for William 5K. The sixth annual race returns Oct. 28 2018 at J.F. Gregory Park in Richmond Hill.

Learn more about William’s and his parents’ perseverance as well as you can get involved in Warriors for William Foundation or
register for the 2018 Warriors for William 5K here.

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

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Warriors for William 5K & Family Fun Day
JF Gregory Park, Richmond Hill GA
2PM Sun. Oct. 28 2018
100% of proceeds benefit childhood cancer research.
Stroller-friendly 5K run/walk, 1/2 mile kids fun run, bounce house, slide, food, music. Special superheroes training course for ages 3-9 that includes spider webs, shields.

Event Schedule:
Starting Price $25
Oct 1: Price changes from $25 to $30
Oct 14: Deadline to guarantee you receive a shirt with your race ticket
Oct 21: Price changes to $35 including race day.
Oct 28
12:30PM Race Day Registration opens
1:30PM Kids Run & Close of Race Day Registration
2PM 5K Start (Stroller-friendly)
Post Race Festival and Awards Ceremony immediately after the race.

Register here. 

Congratulations to Dr. Dudley Stone of Coastal Pediatrics on being voted Savannah’s Best Pediatrician in Savannah Magazine’s “Best of Savannah” September/October 2018 issue.

New to the area & in need of a pediatrician? Coastal Pediatrics has offices in Savannah & Pooler.

Call to set up an appointment with Dr. Stone: (912) 353-7744

Stay connected with Coastal Pediatrics & informed about children’s health news, by ‘liking’ Coastal Pediatrics on Facebook here. 

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Learn more about Coastal Pediatrics here.

Coastal Pediatrics- Savannah
2 Wheeler Street
Savannah, GA 31405

Coastal Pediatrics- Pooler
1000 Towne Center Blvd
Building 1000B
Pooler, GA 31322

Coastal Pediatrics is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Cardiologist Roy D. Flood Jr. (winner)

Family Medicine/General Practitioner Kristen A. Updegraff (winner)

Foot Specialist Craig K. Skalla (winner)

General Surgeon Jeffrey S. Mandel (winner)

Infectious Disease Nenad Avramovski (winner)

Nephrologist Nizar S. Eskandar (winner)

Neurologist Victor W. Rosenfeld (winner)

Nutritionist Elizabeth Hesley (winner)

Optometrist Edward D. Sammons (winner)

Physical Therapist Lisa M. Bettio (winner)

Radiologist Nathan P. Fergus (winner)

Savannah Magazine’s “Best of Savannah” 2018 winners and runner-ups were announced this month.

SouthCoast Health was honored in 18 categories related to the healthcare/ medical field and was featured in Savannah Magazine’s September/October 2018 issue. SouthCoast Health winners are pictured in this post.

Savannah Magazine conducts a yearly poll to name the city’s most influential people and ideas. The magazine emphasizes that “only reader votes” determine the winners and that votes are limited to one per person.

“We are proud of our physicians, providers, and organization for this year’s recognition by Savannah Magazine. Acknowledgment from the Savannah community for our commitment to quality health care is a great honor,” SouthCoast Health Administrator John Marrero said. “SouthCoast Health’s representation in 18 categories with the rigorous selection measures makes it more meaningful. It reflects our goal of providing Total Wellness for Life™ to our patients.”

SouthCoast Health winners (pictured above) and runner-ups were recognized in the following categories:
1.Allergist
Wasil Kahn (runner-up)
2.Cardiologist
Roy D. Flood Jr. (winner)
3.Family Medicine/General Practitioner
Kristen A. Updegraff (winner)
Leland R. Dampier III (runner-up)
4.Foot Specialist
Craig K. Skalla (winner)
5.General Surgeon
Jeffrey S. Mandel (winner)
6.Infectious Disease
Nenad Avramovski (winner)
Scott E. Rojas (runner-up)
7.Internal Medicine
Robert W. Grant (runner-up)
8.Nephrologist
Nizar S. Eskandar (winner)
Garrett White (runner-up)
9.Neurologist
Victor W. Rosenfeld (winner)
Scott D. Callaghan (runner-up)
10.Nurse
Barbara Lutz (runner-up)
11.Nurse Practitioner
Tammie E. Walz (runner-up)
12.Nutritionist
Elizabeth Hesley (winner)
13.Ophthalmologist
Stephanie D. Croll (runner-up)
14.Optometrist
Edward D. Sammons (winner)
15.Osteopathic Physician
Troy A. Murphy (runner-up)
16.Physical Therapist
Lisa M. Bettio (winner)
17.Radiologist
Nathan P. Fergus (winner)
18.Urgent/Immediate Care Clinics
SouthCoast Health (runner-up)

Learn more here. 

SouthCoast Health is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

Congratulations to Savannah pediatrician Dr. Ben Spitalnick of Pediatric Associates of Savannah on another Best of Savannah award in Savannah Magazine.

New to the area & in need of a pediatrician? Pediatric Associates of Savannah has offices in Savannah, the Islands and Pooler. Learn more here.

Stay connected with Pediatric Associates of Savannah & informed about children’s health news, by ‘liking’ Pediatric Associates of Savannah on Facebook here.

Pediatric Associates of Savannah, 4600 Waters Ave, Suite 100 Savannah, 31404-6702, (912) 355-2462, www.pedsav.comOn Facebook here.  Pediatric Associates of Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

We know you’ll find your place at the Y!

Come try the Y and join the Y community.

YMCA of Coastal Georgia is hosting open houses at all locations the first Saturday of each month this fall (October through December). Come visit, explore Y programs and see why their members love being at the Y.

Join and save up to $100 with no joiner’s fee!

Learn more about the Y here.

Nine YMCA of Coastal Georgia branches: 
Effingham YMCA
Golden Isles & McIntosh YMCA
Habersham YMCA
Islands YMCA
Liberty County/ Armed Services YMCA
Richmond Hill YMCA
Tybee Island YMCA
West Chatham YMCA

YMCA of Coastal Georgia is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser 

The following is one of a series of weekly guest posts for SouthernMamas.com by Stacey McKenzie, Physical Therapist
Optim Therapy in Savannah
Pelvic Health & Wellness Program

See more of these guest posts here.

Sometimes you know it’s coming and other times it happens and you’re caught totally off guard. Urine leakage. Most women don’t like to talk about it but it’s actually more common than you might realize, and not just among postpartum women.

Urinary incontinence is defined as the involuntary leakage of urine.  This can be further broken down into stress urinary incontinence (SUI), leakage that occurs during physical exertion (ex. sneezing, coughing, or laughing) and urge urinary incontinence (UUI), leakage that occurs prior to a strong urge to void.

A study looking at 144 female athletes between the ages of 18-21 that have never had children, found that 28% suffered from SUI.  Another study (Fantl et al, 1996) states that 4 out of 10 women and 1 out of 10 men suffer from some form of incontinence.

Urinary incontinence is letting you know that something in your body is not working correctly.  It could be that you are not firing your pelvic floor muscles properly.

The good news is that physical therapy could be the answer. Yes, that’s right.  There are physical therapists who specialize in treating the pelvic floor muscles, which support your bladder, bowel, rectum and uterus. The pelvic floor is very important and plays a key role in urinary continence, core stability, and sexual health.

Optim Therapy recently launched their Pelvic Health & Wellness Program and Physical Therapist Stacey McKenzie can work with you one-on-one to make sure you are successfully activating your pelvic floor.  It can be accomplished in as little as one visit.

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Optim Therapy in Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser

The following is one of a series of weekly guest posts for SouthernMamas.com by Stacey McKenzie, Physical Therapist
Optim Therapy in Savannah
Pelvic Health & Wellness Program

See more of these guest posts here.

I am very excited to start a Pelvic Health & Wellness Program at Optim Therapy. I have gone through three pregnancies and deliveries so I’m excited that women now have a place to go for individualized treatment for their overall pelvic health.

If you suffer from pelvic pain, urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder, these symptoms could be related to your pelvic floor muscles, which are the muscles that support your bladder, bowel, rectum and uterus. The pelvic floor is very important and plays a key role in urinary continence, core stability, and sexual health.

Women need to know that they do not have to suffer or put up with pain and incontinence. There are options out there for them and physical therapy could be the answer. As a physical therapist who specializes in treating the pelvic floor, I’ll work with you to make sure you receive the most from your visit.

At your first visit, I’ll meet with you for an evaluation in a private, closed-door environment. We’ll talk one-on-one and go over all your treatment options.

Have you ever wondered if you are firing your pelvic floor muscles properly? Do you have any soft tissue restrictions that are causing you pain or preventing you from activating the muscles optimally? These are some of the things that I can assess at the initial evaluation to help you understand your pain and dysfunction better.

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Optim Therapy in Savannah is a SouthernMamas.com advertiser