Meet the Physician: Dr. Tara Lynd

Dr. Tara Lynd has been with Marshall County Pediatrics for 4 years. Originally from Oklahoma, Dr. Lynd moved to the Tennessee Valley because her husband is from Meridianville. Between her job as a mother of four and her pediatric practice, she keeps quite busy. So Valley Babies was thrilled that she took time recently to talk with us.

VB: What led you to become a pediatrician?
Dr. Lynd: When I did my pediatrics rotation, I loved it. I didn’t even mind being on call. I loved the kids; I loved the teenagers; I loved working with the parents. I knew I wanted to go into medicine, but everyone else thought I would be a teacher. Pediatrics is a perfect marriage of education and medicine. It’s fun; I love everything about it.

VB: How does being a mother influence the way you practice?
Dr. Lynd: I think I really try to listen to the parents. Parents know their kids better than a physician does. We look at the medical facts, signs and symptoms, but parents know when their child is acting funny. My son was nine months old and he was crying all night long. He wasn’t himself at all. My husband and I were worried that he was being held too much, and we just needed to use the Ferber method. But I knew he wasn’t acting right, and it ended up he had an ear infection. You can’t fault parents for being worried about their kids.

VB: You mentioned the Ferber method. What are your thoughts about that?
Dr. Lynd: I think every parent has to do what works best for them. Personally, I feel like you need to get your baby comfortable in your arms, lay him down to sleep, and if he cries, you soothe him back to sleep. On the other hand, I have moms who come in exhausted because they’re up all night with their babies. Sometimes the mom who is resentful because she’s not sleeping may need to do what she has to do to get sleep. Each situation is different. You have to do what works for your situation. That’s where pediatricians have to listen. Every situation is different.

VB: Tell us about your personal experience with a lactation consultant after your first baby’s birth.
Dr. Lynd: With my first child I really wanted to breastfeed. I was in my third month of my residency; I wasn’t an expert at all. My mom had breastfed my sister until she was over 2. I thought it would be easy. They had a class at the hospital, but I thought, “Why would you need a class for that?” The nurse would come in and watch at the hospital, but feeds got interrupted. He wasn’t latching on at 5 days, not peeing, and he was screaming. I knew it wasn’t going well. Finally he passed out for 6 hours and slept from exhaustion. I went into the LC, and she helped me latch him on. I asked her, “Why can’t I do this at home?” She said “Well, I can’t be there every feed.” I was devastated. She told me to get a pump, so I exclusively pumped for 4 months. I didn’t realize she had just held the baby’s head differently. I kept trying to latch, but he was fighting me.

VB: How was your experience different with subsequent babies?
Dr. Lynd: By the time I had my daughter I had gone through the neonatal unit at the hospital and worked with FANTASTIC lactation consultants. I knew a lot more from helping moms. I got the special pillows I wanted, and I worked with her like crazy until it worked. My daughter had reflux and was vomiting blood from my nipples which was traumatic. I did use the pump some with her. My husband was very helpful. One of the LC’s told me, “The baby is the princess, but you’re the queen in this situation. Get yourself comfortable and relaxed!” She said it in front of my husband which made all the difference in the world! He would bring me water and make sure I had everything I needed.

VB: What is the most important advice you would give a new parent?
Dr. Lynd: As much as I am pro-breastfeeding, and I absolutely am, I do tell mothers that they are for more than just feeding! I remember being so frustrated in those first two weeks as a mother. I thought if we were in the wilderness my baby would die. So I discuss that with new moms. There is more to being a good mother than the latch. You’re loving your baby and bonding with him. It is very painful to not be able to feed. Also, you need a pediatrician who listens to you. Find someone you connect with.