Before the season gets too hectic, I wanted to take a moment to send warm wishes to all. This time of year can be joyful, busy, emotional, or all of the above. I hope the days ahead bring moments of rest, connection, and care — for yourself and for those you love.

Wishing you a season filled with health, peace, and happiness.


#happyholidays #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd

We’ve just passed the winter solstice, the time of year with the least daylight. As the days grow shorter, it’s not unusual to notice changes in energy, sleep, mood, or even menstrual symptoms. Many women feel these shifts without realizing how much seasonal light can play a role.


This is often a time when fatigue feels heavier, sleep feels off, or emotional ups and downs are more noticeable — especially during times of hormonal change like postpartum or perimenopause.


If these changes linger, worsen, or begin to affect daily life, it’s worth talking about. Paying attention to how you feel is an important part of caring for your overall health.


www.ruthhaskinsmd.com


#wintersalstice #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd

To clear up the confusion around the recent CDC Advisory Panel change to the newborn hepatitis B vaccine recommendation.

For over 30 years, giving every baby the first hepatitis B shot at birth has been one of the safest, most effective public-health practices we have. It helped virtually eliminate infant hepatitis B in the U.S.
The new “shared decision-making” model may sound nice, but in real life it increases the chances that a newborn slips through the cracks with missed labs, late prenatal care, chaotic births, exhausted parents, etc. Hepatitis B in a newborn is serious: 90% of infected babies become lifelong carriers and face much higher risks of liver disease and cancer. The birth-dose prevents this.
This policy change is a step backward. Universal birth-dose was simple, safe, and protected every baby equally. 


www.ruthhaskinsmd.com


#safebabies #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd #obgyn

As I shared last year, the Holiday season, though filled with lights, festivities, and joyful gatherings, can also be an incredibly lonely time for many people. While some of us look forward to full homes, familiar traditions, and the company of loved ones, others quietly move through the season feeling isolated, unseen, or overwhelmed by memories and circumstances that make this time difficult.


It’s easy to overlook how many people around us may be struggling. A neighbor who recently lost a spouse. A friend whose children live far away. Someone going through illness, heartbreak, financial strain, or simply a period of life where support feels thin. Loneliness doesn’t always look obvious, and the holidays can magnify those feelings more than any other time of year.


If you know someone who may be spending Christmas alone—or who you sense might be facing a difficult season—please consider reaching out. Even the smallest act of connection can make a profound difference.
A simple phone call or text to let them know you’re thinking of them.
A Christmas card sent to someone you haven’t spoken with in a while.
A few minutes at a neighbor’s door to offer a warm greeting.
Or an invitation to join you for dinner, dessert, a walk, or a cup of coffee.


These small gestures cost little, but they carry immense weight. They can remind someone that they matter, that they haven’t been forgotten, and that kindness still finds its way even in the hardest seasons.


As we move through the holidays, I encourage all of us to stay mindful of the people around us—friends, family, patients, coworkers, neighbors—who may need just a bit of extra compassion. A small effort on our part has the power to brighten someone’s Christmas more than we may ever know.


Wishing you all peace, warmth, and connection this holiday season.
www.ruthhaskinsmd.com


#helpingothers #obgyn #ladydocfolsom #ruthhaskinsmd