Profile - Dr. Jacqueline Douge

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Pediatrician

Dr. Jacqueline Douge

I’m a first generation bi-racial Black woman, mom, pediatrician, writer, speaker, podcaster and child health advocate. I graduated with a B.S. in Pharmacy from Rutgers University. I earned a M.D. at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and a MPH at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Pediatrician

Dr. Jacqueline Douge

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“"Being a new parent is amazing. Everyone around you is excited about the new baby but As a parent your little one will need your love and support. But don’t forget that parents need support as well. It’s normal for new parents to feel overwhelmed from lack of sleep, parenting other children, or the new role of raising a human being."“
- Dr. Jacqueline Douge

My Mission

I want to share with other parents the knowledge and experiences that I’ve learned and continue to learn from my friends and colleagues in the fields of children’s health and social-emotional wellbeing.

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What You Need to Know About Postpartum Depression

Being a new parent is amazing. Everyone around you is excited about the new baby, and your little one will need your love and support. But don’t forget that parents need support as well. It’s normal for new parents to feel overwhelmed from lack of sleep, parenting other children, or the new role of raising a human being. For some parents, they may develop a change in mood, have severe feelings of anxiety or unhappiness or these symptoms are lasting longer than 2 weeks. If a parent is feeling this way, they may be experiencing postpartum depression.According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), postpartum depression is defined as depression that occurs after a baby is born. Many have heard about postpartum depression affecting mothers but postpartum depression can also affect dads and is referred to as paternal postpartum depression (PPD). PPD can affect from 2% to 25% of dads. According to HealthyChildren.org, risk factors for PPD include “maternal depression, lack of social support or help from family and friends, and difficulty developing an attachment with the baby.”Dads may experience a range of symptoms that may include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, overwhelmed, anger, irritability, or loss of interest in work or favorite activities.Whether mom or dad are experiencing postpartum depression, there is help. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends screening mothers for depression and many providers are also screening fathers. According to the HealthyChildren.org article about PPD,“Early identification of depressed fathers helps in accessing support and treatment so that they can remain present and positively involved with their family.”Depression is treatable. If you are feeling depressed, please tell a loved one, contact your healthcare provider or you can call the free 24/7 365 days SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357). The hotline provides treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. If you think you may harm yourself or child, please seek immediate help by calling 911 or the 24/7 National Suicide Hotline at 800-273-8255.

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How to Choose the Right Baby App

Since returning to full-time pediatric practice, I’ve learned a lot from new parents. I know when my kids were born, I just had paper and pen to record the number of dirty diapers – and that was when I even had the energy. But now, in the world of carrying a mini computer in your pocket (AKA smartphones), there are tools to help you keep track. As a pediatrician, I ask parents every day about how often their baby eats, the length of feedings, and the number of dirty diapers. Pen and paper are still great tools, but for a lot of modern parents, apps are a must-have to keep this information on hand. Many of the parenting apps available go way beyond what I ask during pediatric appointments. For pregnant moms, many allow you to keep track of your prenatal and newborn appointments, provide information about your baby’s development, and give general health information for you and your baby. I decided to try out a few of the apps for myself—here are my takeaways. I hope they can help you decide which one is right for you. 3 tips for choosing a baby app: 1. Find an app that provides credible health information from reliable sources such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2. Pick one that is easy to use and convenient for your schedule. 3. Decide if you want an app that will only focus on pregnancy or one that allows you to track through your baby’s first year. Please remember that the apps are not a substitute for talking with your doctor. Apps are great resources for parents who love tech or the convenience of a place to help you keep organized and informed during this exciting time in your life.

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How to Actually Get Sleep (For You and Baby)

Having a new infant is a wonderful experience, but it is also often a sleepless one. Here are some of my tips for how to get baby to sleep and help them stay asleep. Here's to more restful nights!