November, 2015 Newsletter



Dr. Kaneen and I, Dr. Helliwell, want to start a monthly newsletter to stay in touch with you, our valued patient, and provide information that hopefully will be valuable in your health care.

We want to begin by informing you that we are open 5 days a week, 8am – 5 pm, Monday through Thursday and 8am – 1pm on Fridays.  We are eager to serve you and look forward to seeing you in our office to address your ob/gyn/cosmetic concerns.  The three doctors that are available to see patients are Dr. Kaneen, part time, seeing gynecology only patients, Dr. Helliwell, full time, seeing ob/gyn or cosmetic patients, and Dr. Accetta, full time seeing ob/gyn patients.

We have been serving Bakersfield and the surrounding area for over 10 years and 8 years in our current location on 8501 Brimhall Road, Building #300, 93312. Our phone number (661) 410-2942 (ob/gyn line), (661) 410 -5273 (cosmetic line).  Our goal is to provide excellent medical care in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology and cosmetic surgery.  We have same day appointments in ob/gyn and cosmetic surgery and take late transfers for OB care.  We look forward to providing you the best possible care in a comfortable setting at our state-of-the-art facility.  Our philosophy is to honor the Lord by serving you humbly.

During this Thanksgiving season we want to remind you to get your flu shot and whooping cough shot if you are pregnant.  This is the time of colds and flu and patients can get sick for 10-14 days. This is particularly true for pregnant patients who tend to get the flu more easily and have a worse infection than normal. So our pregnant patients really need to get flu shots to stay healthy this winter season. The flu shot can be given during any trimester in pregnancy or to those who are not pregnant wishing to protect themselves against the flu. People at additional risk for flu infection other than pregnant patients include health care workers, school workers, teachers, the elderly, or anyone who works in an environment with a lot of close contact with people. The flu shot is available in a preservative-free version (free of mercury), which we carry in our office, this is the form pregnant women should get. The flu vaccine available in our office is also the inactive injection type. The FluMist vaccine is the nasal spray and is a live virus vaccine and should not be used in pregnancy.  Additionally, everyone should be washing your hands or using hand sanitizers regularly during this flu season to prevent getting sick and passing it on to others.

The Tdap or whooping cough vaccine is important to get while you are pregnant to prevent contracting and passing on whooping cough to your newborn child. You need to get it at least 2 weeks before your expected due date and usually in the 3rd trimester in order to pass the protection onto your baby. In addition, other household members should also get the Tdap vaccine such as the father, grandparents, and other relatives who will be around the newborn. This goes for nannies and babysitters as well. The Tdap stands for tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. Pertussis is what causes the whooping cough.  The other two are also important to stay vaccinated against as well, not just during pregnancy. For example, if you step on rusty nail, a tetanus shot will protect you from getting a bad infection from tetanus. Diphtheria is a bad fever illness.

Lastly we highly recommend you get plenty of rest and eat healthy this winter to prevent illness. When the body gets run down which can happen easily during this busy time, you are more likely to get the flu, cold or something worse. Try to get 7-8 hrs of sleep each night. Try to avoid excess fat or sugar filled foods, but instead try to eat fruits, veggie, and lean meats.  Eat in small portions to avoid overeating and unwanted weight gain. Also try to drink alcohol in moderation and of course never drink and drive.

This is an exciting time of year, it is a favorite for our family, and we love the turkey, mashed potatoes, and time with our family.  We enjoy the cooler weather and love to celebrate family traditions and national pride during Thanksgiving. We know and appreciate the diversity of our community and our family looks forward to celebrating the birth of our Savior next month. We wish you and your family the best of the season.

Please let us know how we can serve you during this holiday season. Call us today at (661) 410-2942 (ob/gyn) or ( 661) 410-5273 (cosmetic surgery). Ask about the services and specials we are offering.

We accept most insurances for OB/GYN including Adventist Health, Bakersfield Family Medical Group (BFMC), Kern County plans and Kern Family Health Care. We are capable of providing services at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital, Mercy Southwest Hospital and San Joaquin Hospital.


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