Fear Less, Know More
Digital health platform provides puberty & health education for parents and kids BY EMILEY BAINBRIDGE
Early in her practice as an ob-gyn, Dr. Melisa Holmes was shocked by how many women didn’t understand their bodies and how they worked. She wanted to change that, not just for adults but for young girls, too, so they could grow up armed with both facts and confidence to advocate for their health. In 2003, a mom in her community asked Dr. Holmes if she would talk with her daughter’s soccer team about puberty. Dr. Holmes and her friend Dr. Trish Hutchison, a pediatrician, created an educational program for the girls and their caregivers. In addition to their professional experience, the two doctors are also mothers with five daughters between their two families. The program was such a hit, with repeated calls to present it again, that the two physicians knew they had struck a chord, and the digital health platform Girlology was born. “Most parents today didn’t grow up with great education around health and wellness, especially reproductive health,” said Holmes. “They want to do a better job for their children as well as protect them from all the misinformation and ‘noise’ out there on social media. Through Girlology, we help young people get accurate, shame-free information that builds confidence and improves their ability to advocate for their own health and wellness.” Girlology’s online community is dedicated to making girls’ lives healthier by providing medically-accurate, shame-free information and support through short video tips, on-demand classes and live-streaming events. When the Girlology program began, Holmes noticed many of the moms were learning as much as the girls, and everyone was becoming much more comfortable having conversations about puberty and sexual health. “There’s this sort of parenting cliff that we reach as moms — there’s tons of support and advice out there when our children are infants and toddlers, but suddenly as they’re heading into late childhood and adolescence, that support seems to go silent,” said Holmes. “We feel like we’re filling in that gap.” Girlology supports parents as their daughter’s most trusted guide, providing families access to hundreds of tips and classes to navigate every health and body topic that could come up during adolescence and puberty. The content is relatable with a touch of fun and humor. From bra shopping and skin care secrets to period solutions, eating disorders prevention and even friendship, Holmes and Hutchison, who call themselves the “Mom Docs,” guide families through every age and stage of girl life. “We hear from a lot of moms how we’ve improved the way they communicate and connect with their children,” said Holmes. “That’s one of the most important things we can do because there’s a lot of research confirming that parent-child connection is incredibly protective for adolescents’ health and wellness. We all want to raise informed, confident and healthy children – we’re grateful that so many families trust us to be that resource.”
Hear from Dr. Melisa Holmes at The Modern Art of Parenting virtual summit April 1-8. Get more info on reserving FREE tickets on page 8.
10 METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAR-APR 2022
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