- Women's Health, Pregnancy & BirthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogWhether you’re just beginning to think about pregnancy or actively planning, it’s never too early to begin preparing for a baby. One of the best places to begin is by focusing on your own health. Making sure you are healthy before pregnancy can help support a smoother pregnancy and give your baby the best possible start. It’s common to feel unsure even before you start thinking about pregnancy. Taking a few proactive steps to improve your health early can make a significant difference. Start with your provider Stay up to date on regular Gyn care, including routine Pap smears Schedule a preconception checkup. Review medications and update vaccinations. Manage chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Discuss your family health history. Fuel your body Begin a prenatal vitamin with 400–800 mcg of folic acid. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, along with nutrient-dense proteins (like beans, nuts, lentils and lean meats), iron-rich foods and healthy fats. Limit caffeine (generally under 200 mg per day, about 1–2 cups of coffee). Adopt healthy habits Stop or drastically reduce smoking or vaping and avoid alcohol or drugs. Aim for 30 minutes of movement each day, like walking, yoga, swimming or dancing — and build a routine that feels sustainable for you. Aim for 7–9 hours of sleep each night. Maintain a healthy weight. Your emotional well-being matters just as much as your physical health. Address stress, anxiety, or depression with your provider, and build a strong support system with family and friends before, during, and after pregnancy. When you do get pregnant, early and consistent care is more urgent than ever. A new report from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a quarter (25%) of women delay prenatal care. No prenatal care raises the risk of maternal mortality. That’s especially concerning in Prince George’s County, where 8 out of 10 women leave the county to deliver their babies, and the maternal mortality rate for Black women is 50% higher than the national average. A new support option in Prince George’s County Luminis Health is proud to launch the Start Well: A Luminis Health Preconception Program. Led by registered nurses, midwives and doulas, these small, cohort-based groups connect participants with others navigating similar questions and experiences. Sessions include education and on-site health screenings such as A1C testing, diabetes risk assessment, nutrition counseling and blood pressure checks. Thanks to a generous grant from the Greater Washington Community Foundation, the program is free and no insurance is required. Classes begin in July, and enrollment is now open. You’re invited to a Community Baby Shower As part of Black Maternal Health Week, Luminis Health will host its third annual Community Baby Shower on Saturday, April 11, from noon until 4 p.m. at Reid Temple A.M.E. Church in Glendale. The event is dedicated to celebrating and supporting parents and those considering having children in the Prince George's County community through: Educational presentations on pregnancy, maternal mental health, and lactation. Local vendors offering baby essentials and supportive services A raffle for a car seat and stroller. Diaper and other baby giveaways. The Community Baby Shower is free and open to the public and is designed for expectant mothers and pregnant people and new moms and parents with babies up to age 2. New Women’s Health Pavilion on the way Luminis Health’s ongoing commitment to maternal health is just getting started. In the coming weeks, we will break ground on our new Women’s Health Pavilion on the campus of Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in Lanham. The pavilion will include inpatient obstetric services, including labor, delivery, and postpartum care. These expanded services are scheduled to launch in 2028. Once fully operational, we look forward to delivering 2,000 babies each year, providing families with high-quality care close to home. By expanding access to comprehensive women’s health services, we can help reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in our community and build healthier, thriving families for generations to come. Authors Kelley Robinson, CNM, PHD, CNE is lead certified nurse midwife at Luminis Health supporting CenteringPregnancy.0
- Behavioral Health, PediatricsGeneral Page Tier 3BlogRemember when you used to play on the playground as a child? Going to the playground didn’t only mean you were going to play, it meant you were going to laugh, run around, scream, fall, probably cry a little bit, just to get back up and keep laughing and running without a care in the world. It was the best thing ever. What we didn’t realize as children is that a lot more was happening. Not only were we having a great time while our parents were not watching our every step, we were also getting physically, mentally, emotionally and cognitively stronger. A playground should be thought of as an “opportunity ground.” Recent research attests to the fact that play is an essential tool in a child’s development. Actually, play is so significant to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child. Outdoor free play gives kids invaluable benefits. But not just children – everyone really. As the adventure therapy coordinator at Pathways, Anne Arundel Medical Center’s (AAMC) substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment facility, I’ve witnessed how adventure and play can help, even with individuals who are fighting the very serious issues of addiction and substance abuse. READ MORE: What do Healthy Minds Need? Adventure therapy allows folks to see that they can do something they deemed as impossible. We try to convey the lessons learned during therapy in their day-to-day lives, showing them how to trust themselves and trust others – even when those “others” are people like them going through rehabilitation. Play is an opportunity for children to use their creativity while developing other crucial life skills, according to research by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Here are some of the many benefits your child attains when playing: Physical. For children, it’s just fun to run and jump around. But research shows active play is critical for a child’s physical development. When kids are playing, they are honing their coordination, balance, space awareness and fine- and gross-motor skills. Physically active kids also tend to be leaner and healthier. In addition, physical play uses up natural stores of energy, which leads to better eating and sleeping habits – which also means better sleep for parents! Double win. Emotional. Play can be an emotional outlet, acting as therapy for some children who might be emotionally distressed from a traumatic situation. Research shows that play helps children release and “play out” their current emotional state – from fear, frustration, anger and aggression – all while teaching them how to express and regulate feelings. It’s also a chance for them to practice empathy and understanding. Social. By playing with others, children learn how to create and maintain friendships. Cooperative play helps kids sharpen their social skills while learning how to negotiate group dynamics. It gives them the opportunity to learn how to collaborate and cooperate with others, recognize and respond to different feelings, share, show kindness, resolve conflicts and follow the rules. Plus, social skills also support academic success. Cognitive. The most crucial time for a child’s brain development is from birth to age three, when the brain is developing at the fastest rate in a child’s lifetime. During this time, their brains are like sponges, quickly absorbing learning skills, like paying attention, reasoning, remembering what they’ve learned and motor skills. Play with your child to stimulate brain development and reinforce these skills! Choose brain-teasers, puzzles and strategy-based games to help strengthen their critical thinking skills. Creative. Creativity will continue to serve kids throughout their lives. Play is a chance for kids to let loose their imaginations and create their own worlds, giving them the freedom to explore new possibilities and think outside the box. Communication. By listening, observing and sometimes noticing subtle clues, such as body language or facial expressions, they’re developing this skill. Pretend play comes in handy for communication development and literacy. Role-play is also a chance to use words kids have heard from adults and other kids, improving their vocabulary. The list could go on and on. It’s not all about just fun and games, play is really an important teaching tool that can lead to developing necessary skills for the rest of a child’s life. Next time you’re out with your child or at home, join them. The benefits of play apply to everyone. Author Mark Sakraida is the adventure therapy coordinator at Pathways, AAMC’s substance use and co-occurring disorder treatment facility. Ask questions, find resources and learn more at askAAMC.org/HealthyMinds.0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogMany of us have had a Snickers bar or two and could probably eat the candy bar every day. But, we know it’s not nourishing. A candy bar is not a hearty meal with vegetables, protein and fruits. Instead, it’s a quick sugar fix that wears off. Then, we want more and more of it. If we only ate candy bars – as tasty as they are – our health would deteriorate. Digital devices are very similar. The constant connection to others, and even the sound of a ringtone, give us instant gratification. But that gratification quickly wears off – just like a sugar fix – only to leave us wanting more. As a result, our health is impacted in more than just one way. We are spending more time than ever before watching videos, browsing social media and swiping screens on tablets and smartphones. Research shows the average American adult spends more than 11 hours per day interacting with media on digital devices. We are developing a digital addiction. Technology can have a negative impact on our mental and physical health. When we are constantly connected, it can cause psychological issues, such as distraction, expectation of instant gratification and even depression. Physically, it can cause vision problems, hearing loss and even neck strain. Here are a few steps you can take for a digital detox to recharge your mind and improve your quality of life: Plan quality time with others. Before sitting down at the dinner table, put your phone away and ask others to do the same. This will make room for conversation and, if practiced frequently, it can improve your relationships and quality of life. Change your ringtones. If you have to keep your phone around due to your work or profession once you get home, change the tone of your notifications to distinguish work-related calls over calls that can wait until later. Delete unnecessary apps. You’re likely hoarding apps. You need your phone for calls, texts and emails. Do you really need all those other apps? Be selective. Keep one or two that you absolutely need. Schedule some offline time. Make sure to put your phone down to relax for a couple of hours, especially before bedtime. Multiple studies have shown that blue light from screens suppresses melatonin, a hormone responsible for controlling your sleep-wake cycle. Set your phone on sleep mode and disable any buzzing, as that could also lead to distracting emotions and thoughts. It can even cause anxiety that can interrupt your sleep. Set the example. Don’t forget, if you’re a parent or have young children around, they’re paying attention to your every move. If you put your phone down, this will teach them to do the same. If you treat your phone as a luxury item instead of a necessity, you’ll soon realize that it’s meant to be enjoyed sometimes but not lived by. And just like you wouldn’t eat a candy bar every day, you should consider putting your digital devices away more often. This will help you build meaningful relationships and take care of your physical and mental health. Plus, it’s good to detoxify once in a while! Visit Luminis.Health/BehavioralHealth to learn more about Luminis Behavioral Health Care or to schedule an appointment.0
- Behavioral HealthGeneral Page Tier 3BlogCue the shocking emoji: A staggering 90 percent of teens aged 13 to 17 are using social media. When used correctly, there are benefits to social media, but the negative impacts are contributing to this country’s historic mental health crisis. Excessive use can lead to cyberbullying, low self-esteem, addictive behavior, peer pressure and unrealistic expectations of how their body should look. Dr. Rakesh Goyal—a psychiatrist at Luminis Health—estimates that nearly 70 percent of his young patients have experienced a negative impact to their mental health because of social media. It’s become such a problem several Maryland school districts are now suing social media companies alleging their addictive platforms are contributing to mental health problems among teens. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy even issued a warning recently, calling the impacts of social media on children an “urgent crisis.” It should be a wake-up call for all of us. That’s why we’re here to help. Pros of Youth Social Media Use Let’s first begin with the positive aspects of social media. Teens can stay connected with friends, meet new ones with shared interests, find a sense of community and feel more accepted, as well as explore and express themselves. Of course, each child is different, and you know your child better than anyone. It’s important to realize the impacts of social media can depend on what they do and see online, their preexisting strengths or vulnerabilities, and their living environment. Those between the ages of 10 to 15 years old are especially vulnerable to the influence of social media because their brains and emotions are still developing. Growing Brains and Evolving Emotions The brains of preteens, typically between the ages of 10 to 12 years, undergo changes that make social rewards start to feel much more satisfying. Receptors for oxytocin and dopamine—our “happy hormones”—increase, making young teens extra sensitive to attention and admiration from others. At the same time, adolescents are passing through a stage of psychological development in which they give a lot of importance to acceptance and validation from their peers. The number of views, likes and shares are often important to social media users. It can cause small bursts of dopamine in our brains. Young people especially crave more and more of the “happy hormone” release. At the same time, a hurtful comment or being ignored by others can cause negative self-esteem and extreme sadness. Protecting Your Child There are steps you can take with your child to encourage responsible use of social media and limit some of its negative effects. Consider these tips: Delay the age at which your child can use social media to 13 and above. Educate your child about the risks, pitfalls and red flags of social media use, especially about sharing personal information online. Monitor your child’s social media accounts and let them know beforehand that you’ll be doing so. You can mute accounts that are inappropriate. Set reasonable limits on how much time your child can spend on social media each day; include parameters about what time of day they are allowed to use it. Remind them to treat others on social media the same way they would treat others in person. If they wouldn’t say something out loud, they shouldn’t say it online. Be an example of healthy social media use for your child and report problematic content. Social media is here to stay. But we must ensure teenagers enjoy the its benefits while protecting their mental health. If your teen is feeling depressed and needs immediate help, Luminis Health has a dedicated Behavioral Health Urgent Walk-In Care at our Lanham campus. It’s open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. No appointment necessary. Learn more about our services here. Author Rakesh Goyal, MD, is a psychiatrist at Luminis Health specializing in children and adolescents.0
- Community, News & Press ReleasesGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFor nearly 120 years, we’ve been providing high-quality and personalized care for you and your loved ones. Our commitment expanded two years ago when we formed Luminis Health. In this month’s What’s Up Magazine, our CEO Tori Bayless, shares how the name came to be, and our approach to better health care. Here is the article: Anyone who has ever picked out a name—whether for a newborn baby, an adopted pet, or even a boat—knows that names help shape an identity. For Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), the name Luminis Health reflects our identity. To understand the origins of the name, it’s important to take a look at the history behind AAMC. In 1902, Annapolis Emergency Hospital was founded in Maryland’s capital city, housed in a farmhouse off Duke of Gloucester Street. Over the next 119 years, that hospital would grow and evolve in many ways, and with each evolution, the hospital’s name would change to reflect its expanded service to our community. With the growth of Anne Arundel County after WWII, the hospital expanded to meet the needs of a booming population in greater Annapolis. With an increasing number of births, a growing orthopedics specialty, and the beginning advancements of modern medicine, Annapolis Emergency Hospital changed its name to Anne Arundel General Hospital to reflect its expanded services and geography. When the hospital’s Board of Trustees voted to purchase 104 acres on Jennifer Road in 1984, the next evolution was signaled, as hospital and community leaders began to envision a new, comprehensive system of health care for family, friends, and neighbors. In 1988, the Board of Trustees voted to change the formal name to Anne Arundel General Health Care System for the “parent organization,” with the hospital name being changed to Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC) in 1989. Within three years, Anne Arundel General Health Care System would include not only AAMC, but also a new addiction treatment facility called Pathways. As pressures on health care providers increased at the turn of the 21st century, AAMC leaders recognized that growth was vital to its mission for several important reasons. First and foremost, access to quality care for all who needed it inspired AAMC to build pavilions across the region, from Easton, Centreville, and Kent Island on the Eastern Shore, to Bowie, to Pasadena in North County, and Odenton farther west. The goal was simple—bring high-quality care closer to where people live and work. The second reason was, perhaps, more complicated but equally important. As large systems absorbed smaller hospitals throughout the state, AAMC’s leadership was committed to maintaining its independence to ensure it could continue to deliver its own brand of patient- and family-centered care. In order to maintain its independence, continued growth and scale would be imperative. When Doctors Community Hospital (now Doctors Community Medical Center or DCMC for short) recognized that they needed to be a part of a larger organization to ensure they could continue to serve the Prince George’s County community, they sought to become a part of Anne Arundel Health System. In 2019, our Board of Trustees approved AAMC and DCMC coming together to form a new health system: Luminis Health. The result is easier access to more locations—from the Eastern Shore, through Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties, and well into Southern Maryland—enhanced quality, and improved health outcomes. “Luminis” supports our commitment to being a beacon of hope and healing for our communities. “Health” shares our commitment to sick care and well care, education, and healthy living. Luminis Health brings together a century-plus legacy of compassionate service to patients and families, a commitment to lighting the way to the highest quality, personalized health care for all who need it. Now, as Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, our Annapolis campus continues to be home to Maryland’s busiest emergency department, largest joint replacement and bariatrics/weight loss programs, second busiest birthing center, and world-class cancer program. The new name of Luminis Health is yet another landmark for a hospital and health system that has been an integral part of this community for nearly 120 years. Thanks to you, our community, for your support throughout the years and for making Luminis Health a part of your lifestyle.0
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