Dr. Brittany Mitchell, MD

Dr. Brittany Mitchell, MD 🩺 Board-certified pediatrician & mom • Doing parenthood with you 💕
Opinions my own & content is not medical advice

On day one, your baby's stomach is very small and only holds about 5 to 7 milliliters. That is the size of a marble! Thi...
05/26/2026

On day one, your baby's stomach is very small and only holds about 5 to 7 milliliters. That is the size of a marble! This is normal, and the very small amount of colostrum produced aligns with what your baby needs at this age.

By day three, the stomach grows to about the size of a ping pong ball, about 22 to 30 milliliters. Babies still have small stomachs but expect to eat frequently, and this is what tells your body to make more milk.

After a week, the stomach grows to hold about 45 to 60 milliliters; by one month, your baby can take 80 to 150 milliliters per feed, about the size of a large egg.

The stomach grows fast, but babies still want to eat frequently- every 2 to 3 hrs or sometimes more! Understanding this is honestly one of the most reassuring things for parents in the early weeks. You aren't crazy, this is just biology.

Save this for the newborn phase or send it to someone who just had a baby and feels like they're feeding around the clock. (They are, but it is completely, perfectly normal!) Hang in there!

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell

05/25/2026

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children ages 1–4… and it is almost always preventable and silent.

The “layers of protection” model is the pediatric gold standard for water safety:
- 4-sided fencing with a self-latching gate around all pools
- A designated water watcher — phone away, eyes on the water, rotating every 15–20 min
- Swim lessons — the AAP supports starting as early as age 1 - US Coast Guard-approved life jackets (not puddle jumpers)
- CPR training for every adult in your child’s life

No single layer is enough on its own, but together, they dramatically reduce risk.

Please save this before summer and share it with every parent you know who will be near water with little ones. Hit follow for more child health and safety content like this!

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Your pediatrician isn’t just measuring your child’s growth, we are also one of their first mental health provider. At ev...
05/21/2026

Your pediatrician isn’t just measuring your child’s growth, we are also one of their first mental health provider. At every well visit, we pediatricians are screening with questions and conversations, assessing for for anxiety, depression, ADHD, behavioral concerns, and trauma responses. We also ask about your family’s wellbeing, because we know that a parent’s mental health is directly connected to a child’s.
And you don’t have to wait to be in crisis to bring this up. You can call us when something feels off or hard. You can tell us you’re not doing okay or that you feel overwhelmed. You can ask what the options are, and we will help you figure out the next step together.
Mental health is not outside the scope of your pediatrician visit. Mental health is a critical part of caring for your family.
Save this as a reminder to bring up any mental health concerns at your next appointment, and follow along for more pediatric health content like this!

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell

For so many families, tooth brushing turns into tears, power struggles, or a full-on toddler protest. The good news? A f...
05/20/2026

For so many families, tooth brushing turns into tears, power struggles, or a full-on toddler protest. The good news? A few small tweaks can make brushing teeth for kids way more fun — and help build healthy dental habits early.

Here are some parent and pediatrician-approved ways to make brushing teeth more enjoyable!

If this helped, stick around — I share simple, evidence-based tips to make caring for kids a little easier every day.

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell

05/19/2026

Rotavirus used to be one of the most common reasons babies and toddlers end up in the hospital and cases are on the rise again. most parents today have never heard of it until it happened to them.
Let’s change that.
Rotavirus is a highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting, watery diarrhea, and fever. Because babies lose fluids so quickly, dehydration can become serious fast.

The good news? We have a safe, effective vaccine that has reduced hospitalizations by over 80% since it was introduced in 2006. It’s given as oral drops (not a shot!) starting at 2 months. Getting this vaccine on time is crucial, because there are age cutoffs for when it can be administered.

If your baby is in that 2–6 month window, this is on your routine schedule, but it’s always worth confirming at your next visit.

Save this one for reference, and hit follow for more pediatric health information explained simply!

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell

05/14/2026

Having reliable snacks reduces stress and keeps nutrition consistent—even on busy weeks.

When it comes to toddler nutrition and kid feeding habits, consistency matters more than perfection. Busy weeks happen. Growth spurts happen. Picky eating phases happen. Having a few go-to, reliable snack options on hand can help stabilize blood sugar, support steady energy, and reduce mealtime battles.

Here are a few of my favorite, low lift snacks for toddlers! Remember: nutrition doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.

Save this for your next grocery run, and follow for more pediatric health content!

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell

Before you start solids, it is so important to learn the difference between choking and gagging. Gagging is a normal, pr...
05/12/2026

Before you start solids, it is so important to learn the difference between choking and gagging. Gagging is a normal, protective reflex. Choking is silent and requires immediate action. Your calm during mealtime is one of the most powerful tools you have.

I also recommend families take an infant CPR class — link in bio. You can never be too prepared.

What questions do you have about starting solids? Drop them below!

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell

No one tells you that maternity leave isn’t just about caring for a newborn—it’s about caring for the new you too. I wis...
05/11/2026

No one tells you that maternity leave isn’t just about caring for a newborn—it’s about caring for the new you too. I wish I’d understood that there’s no reason to stress about a schedule, that I could ask for help, and that the very essence of motherhood was the duality of my new reality being hard and choosing it anyway.

Maternity leave can feel isolating, overwhelming, and emotional… even when everything is “going well.” And that’s normal*. Whether you’re navigating newborn sleep, postpartum recovery, breastfeeding challenges, or the mental load of becoming a parent, you’re not behind—you’re becoming.

If you’re on maternity leave right now: you’re doing enough. For those who are past this stage- forgive yourself for what you didn’t understand then. If you’re pregnant or planning ahead: remember this later, when it’s your turn.

If you’ve been there before—drop one thing you wish you’d known so another parent can feel less alone.

Presence over perfection.
Support over silence.
Grace over guilt.

đź©şDr.BrittanyMitchell


*not all postpartum emotions are normal- some are, but if you feel like this is harder than you expected/more overwhelmed/sad/angry/anxious, please talk to your healthcare team. We are here for you!

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