Do you know what a midwife does—and why more women are choosing midwifery care?
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While many people associate midwives solely with delivering babies, they actually provide comprehensive healthcare for women at every stage of life, from puberty through menopause. At Open Door Family Medical Center, midwives have been supporting Westchester families for over three decades, offering expert care during pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. With over 10,000 babies delivered and counting, their midwifery team is making a lasting impact on maternal health in our community.

“I think most people understand that midwives deliver babies,” said Judy Dalton, who has worked as a midwife for nearly 30 years, the last 18 at Open Door. “But not everyone realizes that we’re full-service healthcare providers. We guide women through pregnancy and birth, but we also offer care throughout their lives, including cancer screenings, family planning, and menopause support.”

The Benefits of a Midwife
Midwifery care is associated with better outcomes for both mothers and babies. Studies show that with midwives, there is a decrease in Cesarean births, a lower risk of preterm labor, reduced need for anesthesia, and higher breastfeeding success rates. Midwives take a personalized approach, listening to patients’ needs and helping them create birth plans that align with their goals.

“They really get to know you,” said Michelle Uzhca, whose son Noah was Open Door’s 10,000th birth. “I didn’t know much about midwives before, but it’s really worked out well each time.”

While some assume midwives only deliver at home, they actually practice in various settings, including hospitals. Open Door midwives are hospital-based and on call 24/7 at Phelps Hospital, ensuring access to both midwifery care and medical interventions if needed.

Midwives vs. Doulas
Many people confuse midwives and doulas or use the terms interchangeably. While both provide support during pregnancy and childbirth, midwives are licensed healthcare providers with advanced clinical training, whereas doulas focus on emotional and physical support.

In New York, midwives must complete graduate-level education and obtain certification. Dalton, for example, was a labor and delivery nurse before earning a Master’s degree and post-graduate certification in midwifery.

A Growing Profession with Deep Roots
Midwifery has seen a resurgence since the 1970s, and today, there are approximately 12,000 certified nurse-midwives in the U.S. The profession continues to grow, offering women more choices in their reproductive healthcare.

For Dalton, midwifery is more than a career—it’s a calling. “It’s a privilege to be there when families welcome their babies into the world,” she said. “To witness the miracle of life every day is something truly special.”

To learn more about midwifery care and how it can support you through pregnancy, birth, and beyond, visit reputable health organizations like the American College of Nurse-Midwives or speak with a healthcare provider about your options. Whether you're expecting a baby or seeking holistic women’s healthcare, midwives offer compassionate, personalized care at every stage of life.

Mental health is just as important as physical health, yet access to quality mental health care remains out of reach for many. Disparities in resources have led to generational inequities, leaving countless individuals and families struggling without the support they need. But change is possible—by raising awareness and sharing accessible, high-quality resources, we can help bridge the gap.

Whether you're seeking help for yourself or a loved one, the following guides offer valuable support:

• Family Resources for Understanding Addiction – The non-profit MARR has spent over 40 years helping families navigate addiction. This comprehensive guide includes over 30 resources and literature recommendations to support those facing substance use challenges.
• A Guide for Addressing the Loneliness Epidemic – Loneliness is a growing public health crisis. The Summit Wellness Group has compiled an insightful guide featuring dozens of mental health and substance use resources to combat isolation and promote well-being.
• Live Another Day – Founded to ensure equal access to life-saving support, Live Another Day provides a wealth of resources for those seeking help with mental health and substance use.
• Detox Local – This resource hub offers extensive information on mental health and substance use, with a special focus on supporting the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community.

Additional local resources in Westchester County:

• The Department of Community Mental Health (DCMH) online directory- Oversees and coordinates services for individuals with behavioral health issues and their families. Behavioral health includes mental illness, developmental/intellectual disabilities and substance use disorders.
• NAMI Westchester -  Has been the premier organization in Westchester County that supports the families of the individual living with mental illness, and provides resources, help and hope to those in need of direction and support.
• Family Services of Westchester- Seven Family Mental Health Centers are licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health to offer comprehensive mental and behavioral health services at convenient locations throughout Westchester County.
• You can also call the Westchester Crisis Prevention & Response Team at 914-925-5959.

No one should have to navigate mental health challenges alone. By sharing these resources, we can take meaningful steps toward a world where support is available to all who need it.

Know someone who could benefit from these links? Share this post and help make a difference.

The arrival of football season – professional, amateur, and school-based – unfortunately brings with it a rise in concussion and suspected concussion cases. But it’s not just on the gridiron that such injuries can occur: any contact sport, including hockey, soccer and lacrosse (and even baseball, wrestling and basketball), understandably sees higher incidences of concussions than non-contact sports.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a concussion as “a type of traumatic brain injury – or TBI – caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.”
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The statistics are sobering. According to the CDC:

• 1.6-3.8 million sports- and recreation -related concussions occur each year in the U.S.
• 10% of all contact sport athletes sustain concussions yearly
• Brain injuries cause more deaths than any other sports injury. In football, brain injuries account for 65% to 95% of all fatalities. Football injuries associated with the brain occur at the rate of one in every 5.5 games. In any given season, 10% of all college players and 20% of all high school players sustain brain injuries
• 87% of professional boxers have sustained a brain injury
• 5% of soccer players sustain brain injuries as a result of their sport
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Concussions can occur at any age; various studies estimate that as many as 1.9 million sports- and recreation-related concussions occur every year among kids 18 and younger. Last year, a Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) report estimated that girls’ chances of sustaining a concussion is 1.88 times higher than boys, with one reason being that the circumference of a female’s neck is generally about 30% smaller than a male’s.

Symptoms of a concussion can vary widely, from a nagging headache, dizziness, and difficulty maintaining balance to nausea and vomiting, convulsions and, if not properly treated, even death.

​Fortunately, concussions today are taken much more seriously than in the past; even as little as 10 years ago, it was not uncommon to hear that an athlete had “had his bell rung” when he appeared dazed – or was even unconscious – after an on-field collision. That perception was more or less eliminated during the 2010s, when the NFL instituted concussion protocols, wherein a player suspected of possibly suffering a concussion is immediately removed from the game and examined by a medical professional. If a concussion is confirmed, the player must undergo a five-step process before being allowed to return to the field.

Most sports played at high schools or in extracurricular leagues have their own concussion protocols in place. In the case of younger children, who may play in a park-and-recreation soccer league, for instance, there may not be a medical professional on hand. In such cases, the child should be removed from the game and, if symptoms persist, they should be taken to a healthcare facility. If the child has lost consciousness, it is imperative to get them to an emergency room immediately.

It should be noted that losing consciousness is not the only symptom of a concussion; over 90% of those who sustain one do not lose consciousness. Similarly, you do not necessarily have to take a blow to the head; any sudden jerking of the head, such as what happens in a whiplash injury, can also be a cause.

Preventing concussions can be complicated. Helmets in contact sports are usually mandatory, but while they can offer some protection, a severe hit can still result in a concussion. The NFL experimented with “Guardian Caps” during its preseason, a soft-shell, padded covering that goes on the outside of the regular NFL helmets. According to the NFL, wearing a Guardian Cap can result in at least a 10% reduction in severity of impact if one player is wearing it, and at least a 20% reduction in impact if two players in a collision are wearing it.

However, the NFL season is continuing without the cap and, as mentioned, the threat of a concussion remains even when wearing such equipment.

An untreated concussion can have significant effects, sometimes lifelong and even life-threatening. If you suspect that you or a family member has suffered one, I urge you to see a medical professional as soon as you can. As always, safety is the key.
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Dr. Steven Andelman is an orthopedic surgeon at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates who specializes in adult and pediatric sports medicine. For an appointment, call 914-849-7897. 
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A child’s pediatrician can be a valuable ally in helping parents navigate and address health and well-being issues.

Helping kids transition from summer to a new school year requires more than just rousing them out of bed the first day. And the effort parents put in now can help build routines that will help their kids succeed all year long.

Dr. Samantha Lowe, a pediatrician at White Plains Hospital Medical and Wellness in Armonk, NY, offers invaluable advice about the four “S’s”—sleep, study, schedule, and safeguards—to help ease the shift from summer days to school days, and says that for all, the most important thing in a parents’ arsenal is “knowing your own child.”

The Four “S’s” for successfully transitioning from summer to back to school, are:
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Sleep
“Creating and sticking to sleep routines is very important to ensure that children have the rest they need for both the cognitive and physical demands of their days,” Dr. Lowe says. She warns against “catch up” sleep strategies—staying up late during the week (getting less than 10 hours of sleep for kids 7-12 years-old and less than 9 hours for teenagers) and sleeping in on the weekend instead. This can lead to over exhaustion and irritability and can cause a decrease in concentration and productivity. “Consult with your child and map out his/her day, after-school activities, homework time and downtime and determine what’s reasonable. It’s very possible that something may have to give to accommodate everything and to ensure your child is getting the rest they need.”

For kids that have difficulty falling asleep, Dr. Lowe recommends avoiding sugary or caffeinated foods and drinks in the evening, shutting electronics off 30 minutes prior to bed, removing bedroom clocks, and using blackout shades or a white noise machine. For children who have difficulty waking but are getting adequate rest each night, she suggests letting natural light into their room in the morning to help regulate their circadian rhythms to improve alertness.

Study
Every child learns differently, so the best way to help your child—whether at the start of school or throughout—is to identify what works best for them. What are his/her strengths? What are his/her weaknesses? What do they get excited about? When do they hit the wall? Once parents key into their child’s study and learning style, they can help create conditions where their child will thrive. Generally, Dr. Lowe advises that children should study in a comfortable, well-lit space that is free from distractions – at a mutually agreed-upon study time for maximum productivity. Parents should also encourage children to take breaks if they are feeling overwhelmed and should let them know there is nothing wrong with asking for help when needed, which can reduce stress levels.

Schedule
Some children thrive with lots of structure and activities; others need a break from constant stimulation.  When children are experiencing increased levels of stress, they can seem tired, irritable, worried, sad, withdrawn, nervous, and disengaged. Dr. Lowe also notes that stress can affect school performance and sleep, and that parents should continually assess their children’s mood, behavior, and performance to determine if activities should be scaled back. Children today have amazing opportunities and activities at their disposal, but sometimes it’s equally important to build in unscheduled down time.

Safeguards
While peers can help motivate children to succeed, peer pressure can also foster toxic competition, or worse, can push your child towards negative and dangerous behavior. Dr. Lowe says that it is important for parents to know their children’s friends, and to encourage kids to engage a variety of friends across various “groups.” Equally important is monitoring children’s internet activity—from knowing their passwords, to insisting on “private” social media profiles, to scanning followers, comments, and posted photos. Parents should be on the lookout for warning signs of bullying that need immediate attention: behavioral changes, weight loss or weight gain, withdrawal, and changes in appearance (clothes, hair, etc.).

Dr. Samantha Lowe is a pediatrician with expertise in caring for infants, children and adolescents. To make an appointment, contact White Plains Hospital Medical & Wellness in Armonk at (914) 849-7900.