Sparks & Favor PC

As physicians we try to draw a clear line when we make recommendations to our patients. Is the treatment choice based on strict, evidence-based medical science, is it based on the doctor’s years of experience, or is there really nothing factual to support a recommendation? Is it just an opinion, or worse, part of the darker side of health care, a profit-driven option?  By explaining these differences, we help our patients to make informed choices. Recently one of the U.S.’s most prestigious medical research and teaching hospitals, the Cleveland Clinic, promised disciplinary action against the…

Now and then, most of us think about the people to whom we wish we said “thank you” much more often.  For the physicians at Sparks & Favor, it’s a long list, but the RNs who care for our patients during labor and delivery surely rank near the top.

Our nurses make an important difference for our patients every day. Sometimes they anticipate a mom’s rising need for comfort measures and offer suggestions early, allowing mom to remain in control of her labor. There are also difficult moments when a nurse’s timely recognition of a true obstetric…

Actress Kate Winslett’s recent public disclosure of a very personal problem with bladder control was, in my view, an extraordinary gesture of kindness and support for millions of women around the world who suffer with a similar condition. Past generations of women have been reluctant to discuss such problems, even with their physicians—many believing they alone endured the discomfort and embarrassment. Such openness from a celebrity like Ms. Winslett is helpful; at least, I hope that my patients find encouragement from her message.

In reality, the condition affects millions of women who usually begin to notice symptoms around…

FOR CURRENT CDC RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT ZIKA VIRUS AND FOREIGN TRAVEL–INCLUDING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN–CLICK HERE.

First things first–why did I add the subtitle? Every woman can benefit from most of these recommendations even if her pregnancy plans are uncertain or a long way off. Preconception health care focuses on improving wellness, now and for life.  Keep in mind as well that about half of pregnancies in the United States are not planned.

Your annual well-woman visit is a good time to begin this discussion with your doctor. Think carefully about your life goals and plans. If…

As daughters enter the second decade of life, moms begin to alert themselves to subtle changes that signal the beginning of puberty. You look forward—with a little hesitation–to helping your pre-teen navigate the transition to young woman. For many of you, we shared the moment of your daughter’s birth, we have enjoyed hearing about childhood milestones at your annual visits, and occasionally you bring us questions about what to expect next.

As the mother of a daughter, I have shared some of your concerns, though my medical training answers the basic questions. Your child is about…

As your pregnancy progresses, you and your partner will begin to imagine your birth experience and consider your personal choices for the special hours leading up to and immediately after your baby’s birth.

One of the most important decisions is how you will feed your newborn. Breastfeeding is best! On this point, childbirth and pediatric experts are pretty much in total agreement. Breastfeeding provides health benefits for your baby and for you that infant formula cannot. Click here for a quick review of breastfeeding basics from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. There is also a helpful infogrphic…

For us at Sparks & Favor, the last few years have been amazing! In 2008 we began our transition to electronic medical records. It took quite a while to scan tens of thousands of your charts into our EMR system. That job was just finished this year, so now even our first patients from 1991 have a complete electronic medical record.

In 2012 we overhauled our website and added a social media presence in order to expand or ability to provide up-to-date health information and educational materials.

During the same period, we gained the ability to communicate remotely…

Dr. Judi Favor was recently honored to address the Graduating Class of 2015 at her high school alma mater in Lowndes County. She enjoyed recounting for the students and their families her own fond memories of participating on the basketball and tennis teams (even while sitting on the bench!). She expressed her gratitude to her teachers and friends for making such a difference in her life. Dr. Favor’s challenge to the graduates that evening echoes our hope for all young men and women passing this important milestone! She called upon each of them to search in four directions, to…

The tiny, humble peanut has gotten considerable attention from the health news media in the last few days. The headlines are connected to the fact that peanuts allergies are the deadliest of all food allergies. Individuals who are seriously allergic to peanuts are always alert to the possibility that—each time they dine away from home or open a package of prepared food—they risk consuming peanut protein. They must carry injectable epinephrine (the EpiPen) with them to treat anaphylaxis, the life-threatening reaction that may occur when they are exposed to peanut products.

Why are peanuts so dangerous for…

Perhaps nowhere is the task of separating important, new medical recommendations from the latest hype more unsettling than for expectant parents. You can guess that, in my thirty-plus years as an obstetrician, I have watched trends come and go. Through our association with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, continuing medical education, and annual professional re-certification, your physicians here at Sparks & Favor stay informed about changes in obstetric practice. We want to help you distinguish recommendations based on new medical knowledge from fads (some harmless, but some risky).

One issue about which you may have heard…