Master Gardener Plant Event
May 16th, 2014
May 17th is the sixth annual University Extension plant sale. The free event takes place at the Hopkins Pavilion. The featured seedlings are generally unavailable in local garden shops because they are winners of the statewide Master Gardener Trials. Lots of experts will be around to answer questions and offer advise about Minnesota gardening. Doors opens at 9:00AM and proceeds benefit Master Gardener community programs. For more information click here.
Photo: Dr. Bashioum plants new willow seedlings in his Wayzata garden.
Mommy Makeovers: a Popular Trend
May 12th, 2014
Women are postponing motherhood, waiting longer to have children today. What is the best age to have a baby? Many factors enter into this equation. From a purely biological viewpoint, the early twenties are best biologically, according to John Mirowsky, a sociologist at the University of Texas at Austin. Women in their twenties are least likely to have developed health problems that would put them or their babies at risk. Physically speaking, it is apparent that younger women are able to weather pregnancy and bounce back more quickly than older moms.
Perhaps the popular trend of considering a Mommy Makeover reflects the desire to erase the physical toll that later childbearing sometimes brings. Many will agree that having children at any age is one of the most rewarding experiences a mother will have. However, the physical effects of pregnancy, especially multiple pregnancies, can leave unwanted and unflattering changes to your body. Common complaints from my patients include, loss of breast fullness and/or sagging, excess abdominal skin, stretched or torn abdominal muscles and umbilical hernia. Even if you adhere to the 25-35 pound weight gain during pregnancy, it’s often more difficult to get back into shape the older you are when you have a baby. No amount of exercise or weight loss can fix some of these problems. Fortunately, cosmetic surgery is an option to help a patient return to a pre-pregnancy appearance and restore the natural feminine shape following their pregnancy. Some of my happiest patients are women of all age-ranges who have chosen Mommy Makeovers.
Be sure to watch KSTP-TV’s Twin Cities Live when we share a patient’s personal story of a tummy tuck restoration Mommy Makeover.
Photo: Our daughter, Ashley.