Meet the Physician: Dr. Shraddha Strestha

Dr. Shraddha Shrestha has recently come to the Athens Limestone Pediatric Center which opened at the end of October. A native of Katmandu, Nepal, Dr. Shrestha finished medical school at Katmandu Medical College. She came to the US to complete her residency in pediatrics at Texas Tech in Lubbock, TX. Her husband of a year and a half, whom she met at medical school in Nepal, is doing his Family Practice residency at UAH. Recently Valley Babies was able to sit down with her for a few moments.

VB: Why did you decide to specialize in pediatrics?
Dr. Shrestha: I’ve always been comfortable around kids. When I was studying medicine, my cousins would call me regarding their kids. I found out that in pediatrics you aren’t just treating the kids, but also educating the parents, as well.

VB: What kind of services can the Pediatric Center provide?
Dr. Shrestha: We provide all basic pediatric services . We will see 20 to 30 patients a day – ages birth to 21. I really focus on asthma and asthma education. Educatimg the parent is very important to me.

VB: What advice do you give parents with fussy babies?
Dr. Shrestha: Fussy babies can mean different things. I usually tell parents that babies do cry – it’s their way of telling us something is going on. It could be a wet diaper, a distended belly or pain. After the parents have checked everything out, I tell them it’s okay to let baby be by himself in the crib for 15 minutes, but go back and check frequently. If baby stays fussy, call the pediatrician. It’s always better to have baby checked out

VB: Do you have any advice for breastfeeding mothers?
Dr. Shrestha: I always tell them breast milk is the best milk you can give to babies. It has lots of immunoglobulins and lactoferrin. In the first few days mothers don’t have a lot of milk, and the baby’s stomach isn’t that big. But that milk is very important. As long as baby is peeing, they shouldn’t worry. If there’s a problem call us or talk to a lactation specialist.

VB: What is the most important advice you would give a new mother?
Dr. Shrestha: It would be about SIDS. I explain what it is and always advise the mother to make baby sleep on its back. Put baby in a crib or bassinet with a foam mattress. No fluffy blankets. No co-sleeping with baby, especially on a couch or when Mom is really tired. But baby can be in the same room. Any time baby has a temperature of 104.5, call us immediately or go to the Emergency Room.