tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34601919080772332982024-03-05T21:37:40.881-08:00Baby and Mother Care TipsArticle blog for Womans talking about pregnancy, babycare, health issues, tips and advicesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comBlogger149125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-28799724302896353612014-12-05T12:21:00.002-08:002014-12-08T07:35:22.128-08:00Top Ten Best Things About Being Pregnant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The Top Ten Greatest Reasons Why It's Great Being Pregnant</h3>
My experiences have to be some of the most common, but some may not be so common. Being pregnant is tough, and by far one of the hardest 9 months for a women to go through. Here, we look at the positives of being pregnant. During my nine months of pregnancy, I never gained so much knowledge and truth on how a woman really feels to be pregnant. It's more than just having a baby, it's carrying another human inside yourself, it's a miracle. Here were my top ten favorite things about being pregnant.<br />
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<b>1. The Belly</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEJF4jkQ1GhLoTKd24SjZ7iydXKZDgiXIxjaDIOZRuMxo2nWC5kMWnz5MozOVZJvLXxwIPwdhGV-6vdPZ8Fk0G2GXq1OZXC8w9UZ0xTNhGaeWo9XDMUkK3DFaUcNVg6EZeiZXUWla6k39/s1600/pregnant-woman-540175-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEJF4jkQ1GhLoTKd24SjZ7iydXKZDgiXIxjaDIOZRuMxo2nWC5kMWnz5MozOVZJvLXxwIPwdhGV-6vdPZ8Fk0G2GXq1OZXC8w9UZ0xTNhGaeWo9XDMUkK3DFaUcNVg6EZeiZXUWla6k39/s1600/pregnant-woman-540175-m.jpg" title="Top Ten Best Things About Being Pregnant" /></a>People can't resist - the belly. It's has a mind of its own, baby or no baby, the belly will attract people you never knew existed, even children. Heck, maybe cats and dogs. From my experience, it was more of an attention thing. I never had received so much attention from total (and sometimes unusual) strangers. People are definitely much more caring and considerate when they notice you have the "bump."<br />
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<b>2. The Baby's Movements</b><br />
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To feel your creation move inside of you is a feeling like no other. I guarantee when you feel your baby move for the first time, it will be of great joy to both you and your partner. As the days go by and the baby gets bigger, the movements will eventually be normal to you, and nothing weird. Being able to see their little nubs of their hands and head roll around your stomach is the greatest and proudest thing to watch, for you are the one that has made the baby grow.<br />
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<b>3. The Food</b><br />
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After the morning sickness (if any) settles down, everything edible will look good to you. I caught myself trying foods I never knew existed, my taste buds were running out of control, probably because nothing could satisfy my, or should I say, our, hunger.<br />
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<b>4. The Gifts</b><br />
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Everyone gets so generous when baby's are about to be born. Not to mention the baby shower gifts, then the hospital gifts, then more gifts when they come to visit! They seemed like they didn't stop. You have overloads of clothes because the babies grow out of them so quickly, so when it comes to yard sale time, you will always have something to sell!<br />
<b><br />5. The Waiting</b><br />
Although I must say waiting was the hardest part, it was the best part. I believe this because waiting made me have a chock full of thoughts of what my baby would feel like, look like, all the above. The best part was, I wouldn't know until she was born. When she was finally born and I got to see her for the first time, it made waiting worth every minute and second to me.<br />
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<b>6. No Work</b><br />
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Need I say more?<br />
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<b>7. Your Man</b><br />
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Your husband or boyfriend will be a whole other person with you being pregnant. You will see them do things for you that you never thought possible. (This is if you are with a winner here, folks.) He will pull a star out of a sky for you once he sees that belly start to pop. It was amazing to me how the attitude just changed over a thing that seemed so simple. It was great.<br />
<b><br />8. Your Hair, Skin and Nails</b><br />
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Those prenatal pills do more for just the baby; all the vitamins and nutrients in them make a couple parts of your body grow. I never had so many compliments on how shiny my hair looked, and also on my skin. The daily intake of the prenatal pills really did wonders for each, and also made my nails grow longer and stronger than ever before!<br />
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<b>9. Getting Ready</b><br />
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Nothing made me happier than setting up my baby's room. The bassinet was the best part, the hardest part was waking up to nothing in it, and just having to wait. I would add a new stuffed animal to it every now and then, or sometimes take on away. It was weird, the nesting process really set in about a week before I had my baby. I wanted to clean everything - if I could have vacuumed my vacuum, I would have. For that simple fact, pregnancy was great for me because I am definitely an unorganized person as it is.<br />
<b><br />10. The Hospital</b><br />
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This may be an unusual part of the Ten Best Things about Being Pregnant article, but the hospital stay was my favorite. I love hospitals, and I have no idea why. Maybe it's the treatment, maybe it's just the huge facility. But staying on the labor floor made my day. Especially enjoying the fact that I was able to visit the other babies in the nursery (look at them through the window) and get waited on hand and foot, can you ask for more? I don't think so.<br />
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So, enjoy being pregnant, it doesn't last forever. It will be over before you know it! My baby's almost two and I can't even remember her weighing 6 pounds, it's unreal to me.</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-69148730518810538182014-12-05T12:18:00.002-08:002014-12-05T12:18:48.599-08:00Thoughtful and Unique Baby Shower Gift Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7nslxxA_Qf2EdRlUlz4Z9_oy66_8T8ZWFaJYatCyUqIO1mt5tEmTQpj_fyoz2DskfF6ZWzCEmM3gvCf3WETvZbkoChJr_KUOvWvsEuOcktZ2b1cfzl_TffiQVprwfUlWahq8U1OgT5Rp/s1600/crazy-baby-1359713-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7nslxxA_Qf2EdRlUlz4Z9_oy66_8T8ZWFaJYatCyUqIO1mt5tEmTQpj_fyoz2DskfF6ZWzCEmM3gvCf3WETvZbkoChJr_KUOvWvsEuOcktZ2b1cfzl_TffiQVprwfUlWahq8U1OgT5Rp/s1600/crazy-baby-1359713-m.jpg" title="Thoughtful and Unique Baby Shower Gift Ideas" /></a></div>
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Unique baby shower gift ideas can be hard to think up. You want to give a baby shower gift that is thoughtful, useful and original. These six unique baby shower gifts are sure to delight any new mother-to-be.<br /><b><br />Unique Baby Shower Gift Idea #1: Daddy Diaper Bag </b><br /><br />A diaper bag for dad is a unique baby shower gift, that will put a smile on any mom-to-be's face. This baby shower gift takes away any possible excuses on how carrying a diaper bag is too "girlie". It also helps to reassure new mothers that diaper changing will be a shared chore. These daddy diaper bags feature simple designs, in masculine styles and colors. Daddy's MatterTM carries a line of camouflage baby overnight bags ($72.95, www.maternalyouth.com), that any new daddy can carry with confidence.<br /><b><br />Unique Baby Shower Gift Idea #2: Pee Guards </b><br /><br />Is it a boy? Then inject some humor into the baby shower by purchasing some pee guards. These are also practical, as they will protect the new mommy's clothes from any accidents. Beba Bean's Pee-pee TeepeeTM ($12.99, www.fireflydreaming.blogspot.com), is the perfect product for urine protection. The Pee-pee TeepeeTM is sold in packs of three. These cone-shaped cotton clothes are also washable.<br /><b><br />Unique Baby Shower Gift Idea #3: Massaging Onesie </b><br /><br />Another great unique baby shower gift is massage clothing for babies. This thoughtful gift allows for a deeper bond between mother and child. Touch of Love's Baby Massage Snuggie ($24.95, www.beheresoon.com), provides specific instructions on how to massage your baby, using acupuncture points. This onesie is made of 100 percent cotton.<br /><br /><b>Unique Baby Shower Gift Idea #4: Mommy Massage </b><br /><br />Speaking about massages, gift the new mom with a little pampering. This unique baby shower gift idea could be exactly what she needs. A lot of hospitals now have massages that are specifically designed to be safe for pregnant women. Find out which one she is getting her prenatal care from and purchase a massage to soothe her pregnancy aches and pains. Another way to go with this baby shower gift is to buy a massage gift certificate, for after the baby is born. Purchase her some quality alone time, at a local day spa.<br /><b><br />Unique Baby Shower Gift idea #5: Extra Car Mirrors</b> <br /><br />When thinking of baby shower gifts, think infant safety. Additional car mirrors allow new mom's to see their babies, without the driving hazard of adjusting the rear-view mirror. Sunshine Kids' Easy View Mirror ($12.95, www.happymothers.com), allows mothers to safely view their new infants. The Easy View Mirror fits in the center of their passenger seat headrest, so the mirror does not have to dangle off of the baby. This mirror rotates 360 degrees, so moms can perfectly view their new bundles of joy.<br /><b><br />Unique Baby Shower Gift Idea #6: Unusual Packaging </b><br /><br />Baby shower gifts tend to be the same old thing, because those items are what the mother needs most. Turn common gifts into unique baby shower gifts, with snazzy packaging. BabyGiftStation.com has put a new spin on the diaper cake, with their unusual gift packing. They offer Baby Clothes Bouquets ($59.95), Cupcakes ($34.95), and Flower Buckets ($69.95). Like the diaper cake, these baby shower gifts use a traditional baby shower gift, the onesie, to create a decorative display.<br /><br />With their originality and usefulness, these six unique baby shower gift ideas should give you a leg up on the gift-giving competition. Enjoy the new mommy's delight, as she opens these thoughtful gifts. Just remember to ohh and ahh appropriately, as she's opening baby shower gifts that are not as dazzling as your gift.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-12848648619978642652014-12-05T12:16:00.001-08:002014-12-05T12:16:21.849-08:00The Third Trimester of Pregnancy<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtjDfyWOGP-1fwQjBTb9xpSWKrL6J-BVZL8a1JZLKp1O2UmbGi16rpP7xB2DpB1_NGHtg3oKc_CsK3c3cKD-NZ_DZ_qCFRKj6Yd68_gUxj0xup1Ya6HL3qLRwAk31uK24eXEiK5jZJLZz/s1600/hearts-1-969796-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmtjDfyWOGP-1fwQjBTb9xpSWKrL6J-BVZL8a1JZLKp1O2UmbGi16rpP7xB2DpB1_NGHtg3oKc_CsK3c3cKD-NZ_DZ_qCFRKj6Yd68_gUxj0xup1Ya6HL3qLRwAk31uK24eXEiK5jZJLZz/s1600/hearts-1-969796-m.jpg" title="The Third Trimester of Pregnancy" /></a></div>
The third trimester of pregnancy can be the most exhausting and feel like the longest trimester of pregnancy. The third trimester of pregnancy lasts from weeks twenty-eight to forty (or beyond) of the pregnancy. By this stage of pregnancy most women are feeling tired of being pregnant and possibly bored with the situation. As the pregnancy continues these feelings may grow until they are replaced by the excitement of nesting and preparation that the last few weeks of pregnancy bring.<br />
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Sometimes women are on bed rest at this point of the pregnancy which can be very isolating and uncomfortable. Even for the woman who does not have a high-risk pregnancy simply lying in bed at night during the third trimester of pregnancy can be difficult as the baby grows and makes it hard to find comfortable sleeping positions. Extra pillows, body pillows and special pregnancy pillows can help to keep a pregnant body in a comfortable position for sleeping.<br />
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Fatigue begins to set in once again during the third trimester of pregnancy and the glorious days of the second trimester are history. Still, in a healthy, non high-risk pregnancy, exercise can help increase energy and alleviate bad moods. The mother-to-be should be careful to listen to her body and not do too much, but even getting out for a walk on a sunny day can help tremendously.<br />
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By the third trimester of pregnancy most women will be seeing their obstetrician or midwife every two weeks and then weekly in the last month of pregnancy. If the pregnancy is a high-risk one the visits may be weekly much earlier on. Around week 27-28 a glucose tolerance test will be given to analyze the mother's ability to process sugar and rule out gestational diabetes. Those who do not "pass" the test will be given a special diet to follow to protect them and their baby from the problems associated with gestational diabetes. Another test routinely given around 37-38 weeks of pregnancy is the Group B Strep swab test. The vaginal and anal areas are swabbed to check for this dangerous strain of strep that, if not treated with antibiotics during labor, can cause death to newborns.<br />
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Around the beginning of the ninth month of pregnancy the mother-to-be may notice that her baby's movements have slowed a bit. This is because the baby is running out of room to perform the acrobatics that were so easily done months before. Sometimes the mother will be asked to do "kick counts". If there are any concerns about the baby's movement or if the pregnancy goes past 40 weeks, a non-stress test may be ordered to check the baby's movements.<br />
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As the pregnancy nears the last few months, Braxton Hicks contractions will get stronger and maybe cause a little pain. Knowing the difference between these practice contractions and preterm labor is important. Real labor contractions will start in the lower back and radiate into the uterus. Braxton Hicks contractions will usually only involve tightening in the uterus. If contractions are accompanied by bleeding or the leakage of fluid it is important to contact the midwife or obstetrician.<br />
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Women in the third trimester of pregnancy should take the time to pamper themselves. Warm bubble baths, pedicures for toes they can no longer see or reach and trips to the masseuse or chiropractor will go a long way toward making the third trimester an easier time. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-156954055719846572014-12-05T12:13:00.001-08:002014-12-05T12:13:17.161-08:00What to Do Before You Get Pregnant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYozPrcVH2vCtjaNl-SwYjYs5Rtd8kK5pUd9D_wGtvNWhSTCjeAEAncC6Erg4B5qKjzy3RL_mZvrIcL40DxO4mxJB7f4e2sQ6XUehwxxIaKMjsG9tjzSARPh8ZVBhuvFfm3ZvkA0AlcqP/s1600/pregnancy-417065-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYozPrcVH2vCtjaNl-SwYjYs5Rtd8kK5pUd9D_wGtvNWhSTCjeAEAncC6Erg4B5qKjzy3RL_mZvrIcL40DxO4mxJB7f4e2sQ6XUehwxxIaKMjsG9tjzSARPh8ZVBhuvFfm3ZvkA0AlcqP/s1600/pregnancy-417065-m.jpg" title="What to Do Before You Get Pregnant" /></a></div>
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Each month, a healthy woman under the age of 35, has a 25% chance of getting pregnant each month if she has sex during her ovulation. However, certain women are considerably more fertile than others, and their chances of each month can increase to 30-40%.<br /><br />Before a woman decides that she wants to get pregnant, she should seek her medical practitioner. There are certain medical conditions that should be treated before pregnancy, such as anemia. Also, if a woman has a mental health issue, before pregnancy is a good time to manage any issues. Many medications cannot be taken during pregnancy, such as anti-anxiety medications, certain antibiotics, etc.<br /><br />Many dental problems can complicate a pregnancy, and x-rays can be dangerous to the fetus. It is a good idea to have a dental check-up before a woman decides that she wishes to conceive. To fill a cavity or to get a root canal, many harmful medications need to be taken, but conversely, and infection can be dangerous to the mother and child as well.<br /><br />The medical practitioner should prescribe a prenatal vitamin in order to prevent certain congenital birth defects. If a medical practitioner does not prescribe a prenatal vitamin for whatever reason, or if the woman decides that the co-pay is too much, she can always go to a local store and buy a non-prescription one over the counter. Ask you medical professional if a prescription one would be more beneficial for you. At Walmart, the average cost is less than $10 for a month supply, which is not bad considering that a good prenatal vitamin can prevent so many birth defects. Make sure that you take it each single day, preferably at the same time each day.<br /><br />The woman should also change her diet in order to have a safe and healthy pregnancy such as eating wheat toast, orange juice, lots of protein. When deciding to become pregnant, this is a good time to start clearing out all the junk food in the fridge and the cabinets. A certain amount of junk food is okay, but it should be limited; think the food pyramid, use sparingly!<br /><br />The woman (and man) should stop drinking and smoking for the time being. Most women do not know their pregnant for the first 6 weeks, and this is one of the most important developmental times during the pregnancy, and any toxins during this point, can have dire consequences for both mother and child.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-37305099489357076712014-12-05T12:11:00.001-08:002014-12-05T12:11:16.708-08:00Symptoms of Pregnancy: Understand Early Signs and Conditions of Being Pregnant<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsF1VdEH7A9utt9rnMVGK1y6abxgZkZEyzzH_r86kX7YTBQqPnSnnPIbmhZCFwrEDsY4BQPb9OgA7-Cd9nCqlK4bVFCiGXE0HLMNtoXS19TVHa4yEgu48ywANapMPnUkgok8KTMk5nctd/s1600/still-waiting-749112-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsF1VdEH7A9utt9rnMVGK1y6abxgZkZEyzzH_r86kX7YTBQqPnSnnPIbmhZCFwrEDsY4BQPb9OgA7-Cd9nCqlK4bVFCiGXE0HLMNtoXS19TVHa4yEgu48ywANapMPnUkgok8KTMk5nctd/s1600/still-waiting-749112-m.jpg" title="Symptoms of Pregnancy: Understand Early Signs and Conditions of Being Pregnant" /></a></div>
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<b>Am I pregnant? Could I be pregnant?</b></h3>
These are often questions asked by women who may or may not be pregnant. While a blood test at the doctor's office is the one sure way to tell if you are pregnant, there are also signs and symptoms of early pregnancy for which you can watch. As a mother of three, my most recent family addition about to turn 1, I have experienced different signs that helped me to know that I was pregnant. If you think you may be pregnant, read about the early signs and symptoms that often indicate early pregnancy.<br /><br />One sign of early pregnancy is nausea. Not all women however will have feelings of nausea when pregnant, that is the lucky ones. I only had the feelings of nausea early on with my second pregnancy which led me to take a home pregnancy test. I didn't have nausea when eating most foods, it actually came on when I tried to take a sip of beer. It appears that nausea, or "Morning Sickness", is different for most women. Some women are extremely sensitive to food while others only become nauseous with certain food types. At any rate, if you are feeling nauseous and you may possibly be pregnant I would recommend you take a home pregnancy test.<br /><br />Another sign of early pregnancy to consider is food cravings. Many times we hear of women who have food cravings while pregnant. And while we may sometimes see them on TV with bulging bellies, the truth is that food cravings can strike during the early stages of pregnancy as well. With my third pregnancy I experienced strong cravings for something sweet. The funny thing is I never ate sweets that often before becoming pregnant. The craving for something sweet also hit me during the early stages of my first pregnancy.<br /><br />The most telling sign of early pregnancy, for me personally, was that "gut feeling" I experienced. Call it a "mother's intuition" or whatever you want but when I was pregnant with each of my three babies I just KNEW I was pregnant. For example, my second pregnancy began with unending negative home pregnancy test results which had my husband doubting me when I told him I "knew" I was pregnant. However, a woman knows her body well and it appears that the "Mother's Intuition" starts early on. I was in indeed pregnant as my tenth, or maybe twentieth, pregnancy test told me so. If you feel like you may be pregnant but receive a negative result don't give up. Wait a few days and test again. It took me almost two weeks from the first pregnancy test to finally achieve a positive result.<br /><br />I normally do not feel tired all of the time - well, at least before my baby came along. So another sign of early pregnancy that I experienced was the lack of energy and fatigue. This symptom can be a tricky one as it can be indicative of many different things such as low iron, the flu, or early pregnancy. If you do not typically have problems with low iron and are not experiencing symptoms of the flu within a few days then you may very well be experiencing an early sign of pregnancy.<br /><br />When it comes to pregnancy every woman is different. There are other signs and symptoms besides the ones listed above which can indicate early pregnancy. While I never experienced these symptoms I know of other women, from a pregnancy support group, who have. Other signs and symptoms of early pregnancy include: swollen and/or tender breasts, headaches, and even moodiness. Of the symptoms above I found that experiencing swollen/tender breasts was the most common first sign of early pregnancy shared between the women in my pregnancy support group.<br /><br />If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above for early pregnancy along with knowing you have a chance of being pregnant than I would recommend that you buy yourself a few home pregnancy tests, trust me you will need quite a few. If you receive a positive pregnancy test result then you will need to make an appointment to see your doctor for an official blood test. <br /><br />Please note that the signs and symptoms of early pregnancy listed above are also common signs of illness, such as a cold or the flu.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-85256764885510009492014-12-05T12:07:00.002-08:002014-12-05T12:07:56.545-08:00Major Health Concerns for Women After Menopause<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdVTw6uaD06jus1_oCShYYQqRqP6hI2trgQxPxQi1XZ8Jkx2w8YbJAFKAFOQj0OznCNmexmCzDT9nCVS49XiLcSAbtdmhTIeZ6UvloLrIuUq5z4tBXzxK-3qAwMws9F7dp3OsxFVelMMl/s1600/road-in-iceland-1340005-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdVTw6uaD06jus1_oCShYYQqRqP6hI2trgQxPxQi1XZ8Jkx2w8YbJAFKAFOQj0OznCNmexmCzDT9nCVS49XiLcSAbtdmhTIeZ6UvloLrIuUq5z4tBXzxK-3qAwMws9F7dp3OsxFVelMMl/s1600/road-in-iceland-1340005-m.jpg" title="Major Health Concerns for Women After Menopause" /></a></div>
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Menopause Increases Risk of Some Health Concerns</h3>
Unfortunately, I had to undergo a radical hysterectomy when I was in my mid-thirties. Because of the loss of my ovaries, I began to go through menopause almost immediately after surgery - - at least it seemed that way from the hot flashes and night sweats I started having the very next week. My doctor prescribed HRT (hormone replacement therapy) for the menopause symptoms. She also gave me pamphlets to educate myself on the health risks associated with menopause. I found that there are several major and, possibly life threatening, health concerns associated with menopause.<br /><br /><b>1. Heart Disease</b><br /><br />As a woman reaches the age of menopause (about fifty years old), her risk of developing heart disease, also known as cardiovascular disease, increases. This is because a woman's risk of heart disease increases with age and coincides with the onset of menopause. Furthermore, women who have undergone surgical menopause and who do not take estrogen are also at a higher risk for developing heart disease. Although there have been reports that taking estrogen will reduce the risk of heart disease in young women who have undergone surgical menopause, recent studies find that this may not be as accurate as once thought.<br /><b><br />2. Osteoporosis</b><br /><br />Menopause is characterized by the reduction and eventual loss of estrogen production within the ovaries. On the other hand, in my cause, surgical removal of the ovaries stops estrogen production dead in its tracks. The loss of estrogen actually increases the rate of bone loss; however, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to help protect bone mass. As a woman ages, it is important to make sure that calcium intake and/or calcium supplements are monitored to help prevent the development of osteoporosis. There are some medications on the market now, such as Boniva, Fosamax or Actonel, that claim to help prevent osteoporosis.<br /><b><br />3. Depression</b><br /><br />Women who have never experienced depression before are still at an increased risk of developing depression right before or during menopause. Of course, changes in hormones do play a role in this risk; however, the other dramatic changes that women experience during menopause also play a role in depression. Women are struggling with physical and emotional changes during perimenopause and menopause that can be difficult to handle thereby contributing to depression. Women should be aware of the symptoms of depression and report any of these to their physicians immediately.<br /><br /><b>4. Stoke</b><br /><br />Some current studies have shown that women, who experience early menopause, before the age of 42, are at a greater risk of stroke. This would lead one to the assumption that the loss of estrogen could be linked to an increase risk of stroke. Although, some experts disagree with the findings it is still prudent for women entering menopause early to seek the advice of a physician specializing in this area.<br /><b><br />5. Breast and uterine cancer</b><br /><br />Older age is a risk factor for developing uterine cancer; therefore, women who have undergone menopause should be aware of their risk and be vigilant in taking steps to prevent uterine cancer such as yearly screenings and knowing the symptoms of uterine cancer. The average age of a uterine cancer patient is 60 years old with only 10% of uterine cancer patients being under the age of 40 at the time of diagnosis. Breast cancer risks also rise with age and there are studies that suggest that HRT (hormone replacement therapy) can affect the risks of breast cancer. Women who are near or past menopause should discuss all of their options with their physicians, including other risk factors for breast cancer, to determine what steps they should take to prevent or detect breast cancer.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-716907952991095792014-12-05T12:05:00.001-08:002014-12-05T12:05:36.958-08:00Reasons for False Pregnancy Test Results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipehKfvV7WWmu5RqxOyuYwqiCgn2VzJmgprJM5SY4RbnFQA_EQU81ATw4Q5KasxsvEAPKEuTKU28T7yizh3Ngdmpk__RiNmjIrlOTUW1gEipsDLGF8JwWPDkOF48EPknYYyUI3itr0Ush_/s1600/pregnant-series-2-876112-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipehKfvV7WWmu5RqxOyuYwqiCgn2VzJmgprJM5SY4RbnFQA_EQU81ATw4Q5KasxsvEAPKEuTKU28T7yizh3Ngdmpk__RiNmjIrlOTUW1gEipsDLGF8JwWPDkOF48EPknYYyUI3itr0Ush_/s1600/pregnant-series-2-876112-m.jpg" title="Reasons for False Pregnancy Test Results" /></a>When you follow the instructions, pregnancy tests are known to be incredibly accurate. That being said, there is a chance that a woman may get either a false negative or a false positive any time that she takes a home pregnancy test. Why would this happen? Here are some of the most common reasons for false pregnancy test results.</div>
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<br /><b>Not Reading the Pregnancy Test Directions</b></div>
<br />The first and foremost thing that you should do prior to taking a pregnancy test is read the directions. Even if you have taken one in the past, you may need to refresh your memory on what exactly you need to do. Also, never assume that one pregnancy test brand has the same exact instructions as another pregnancy test brand. Some pregnancy tests may require you to pee on the stick or dip it in a cup of urine, while others may require you to use a dropper for the urine.<br /><b><br />Taking the Pregnancy Test on the Wrong Day</b><br /><br />A very common reason for getting false negative pregnancy test results is taking it at the wrong time. The best time to take a pregnancy test is on or after the day of your first missed period. There are some pregnancy tests which can provide you with early results, but it is important to take a close look at the instructions. Pregnancy test results may not be entirely accurate days prior to your first missed period. If you do not know when your period regularly occurs, it's ideal to wait until you're sure it would have came.<br /><b><br />Taking the Pregnancy Test at the Wrong Time of Day</b><br /><br />Also keep in mind that your pregnancy test results will be the most accurate if you take the test when you first wake up in the morning because your H-hCG hormone levels will be the highest at this time. The reason that the hormone levels will be the highest then is because your urine will be much more concentrated because it is assumed that you have not urinated for several hours. You should always avoid drinking a lot of water prior to taking the pregnancy test because you may dilute the levels of this hormone.<br /><br /><b>Reading the Pregnancy Test Results Too Early or Late</b><br /><br />One of the main reasons that women get false pregnancy test results is because they do not time it accurately. If the directions for the pregnancy test box say that the results will appear within one to three minutes, this means that they will appear during this time frame. Setting a timer for two and a half minutes is ideal in this scenario. Once the three minutes are up, the pregnancy test may show a false result.<br /><br /><b>Medications or Medical Conditions Cause False Pregnancy Results</b><br /><br />It is possible for medications or medical conditions to cause false pregnancy test results. Women who are taking fertility medications, for example, may experience a false reading. There are also certain types of cancer which can lead you to experience a false pregnancy test result. The reason that medications and medical conditions cause false results is because they can cause an increase or decrease in your H-hCG hormone levels.<br /><br />The most important thing that you can do is ensure that you are following the instructions when taking a pregnancy test. If you don't, your chances of getting a false negative or positive pregnancy test are greatly increased. Also keep in mind that the best way to find out whether or not you are really pregnant is to have your doctor give you a blood test. There is always a chance that you have purchased a defective pregnancy test.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-2367945493972334752014-12-05T12:00:00.001-08:002014-12-05T12:00:23.030-08:00Ways to Increase Your Chances of Twins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_7uNUOzUChfqcJUqQRwr23Hblwgg-FPU933V-p8o9QSdTU7548ZdRiCm4YqAKHR9T6OMWvPzSzupuQEBzHtc2cW_IDsRMYBNxjP8MpUBOEkzzacBbqjbppQ-ZioiC3A7QjA2lNdwH4jm/s1600/fried-egg-1-388940-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_7uNUOzUChfqcJUqQRwr23Hblwgg-FPU933V-p8o9QSdTU7548ZdRiCm4YqAKHR9T6OMWvPzSzupuQEBzHtc2cW_IDsRMYBNxjP8MpUBOEkzzacBbqjbppQ-ZioiC3A7QjA2lNdwH4jm/s1600/fried-egg-1-388940-m.jpg" title="Ways to Increase Your Chances of Twins" /></a></div>
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The world has long been fascinated with twins. Twins are double the fun, and double the trouble, yet people from all over the world are fascinated with them. Many women who are trying to conceive a child find themselves playing with idea of having twins. Identical twins are a fluke of nature and happen randomly and can't be influenced, however, the incidence of fraternal twins can be! Here are some things you can do to increase your likelihood of getting pregnant with fraternal twins.</div>
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<b>Fertility medications</b></div>
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Using fertility medications such as Clomid or Follistim may increase your chances of getting pregnant with twins. These medications stimulate the ovaries to produce more eggs, and with this increased egg production, there is an increased chance of conceiving multiples. Be careful though, some of these medications carry a higher risk of high order multiples, such as triplets and quadruplets as well!</div>
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<b>Folic Acid</b></div>
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Women who take folic acid are much more likely to conceive twins than women who do not. Folic acid is important for women trying to conceive a child as folic acid plays an important role in preventing neural tube defects in the baby, such as spina bifida. New research, however, indicates that folic acid could increase a woman's likelihood of having twins by nearly twice as much.</div>
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<b>Dairy</b></div>
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Eating a diet high in dairy may be related to an increased likelihood of conceiving twins. Research conducted by Dr. Gary Steinman, a famous researcher in the subject of twinning, suggests that women who consume dairy and animal products, in comparison to vegan women, were as much as five times as likely to conceive twins than their vegan counterparts. Milk is a great source of calcium, but could help you double your conception!</div>
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<b>Wait</b></div>
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The older a woman is, the more likely she is to have twins. Women in their thirties and forties are much more likely to conceive twins than women in their late teens and twenties. Waiting until you're older can greatly increase your chances of having twins, however, it could also increase the risk of maternal complications and chromosomal problems such as Down syndrome.</div>
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<b>Cassava</b></div>
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A special type of yam that is abundant in west Africa known as cassava could increase a woman's chance of conceiving twins. You can't just eat any type of yam; it has to be cassava. Women living in west Africa, where cassava is a dietary staple have a twinning rate four times as high as the rest of the world. Using a cassava supplement could help boost your own chances of co</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-34378318589787966172014-12-05T11:57:00.000-08:002014-12-05T11:57:23.452-08:00The Interrelationship Between Health, Safety and Nutrition in Children<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZPhnfSwphNQ-LKeliZmG9fY8KMTyKaRblvAHVxt9n9SmDBig4qCvExOzeMGsIoTPF7SCPH9yMBMV6YV4Pw8qJ5UrlgegCNfHibmIl4Z-kHaeGsIesi1yC9s_R7VxezzjKsxFxrAV-83x/s1600/fresh-fruits-on-white-background-1436465-2-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ZPhnfSwphNQ-LKeliZmG9fY8KMTyKaRblvAHVxt9n9SmDBig4qCvExOzeMGsIoTPF7SCPH9yMBMV6YV4Pw8qJ5UrlgegCNfHibmIl4Z-kHaeGsIesi1yC9s_R7VxezzjKsxFxrAV-83x/s1600/fresh-fruits-on-white-background-1436465-2-m.jpg" title="The Interrelationship Between Health, Safety and Nutrition in Children" /></a></div>
<h3>
The Connection Between Health, Safety and Nutrition</h3>
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The interrelationship between health, safety, and nutrition regarding children is very important. Understanding certain guidelines, and potential hazardous conditions can help prevent physical and emotional incidents.<br /><br />Some preventive health care practices that people can take are avoidance of smoke and substance abuse such as drugs and alcohol, eat a healthy diet low in fat, exercise routinely, brush teeth regularly, and frequently washing your hands. To help promote good health, individuals must realize that to a certain extent, that they can prevent certain health problems. Instilling healthy habits and practices in children can help prevent accidents due to lack of proper nutrition all the way to making sure they wear a safety helmet when riding their bicycle. It has been documented by the World Health Organization that health is a state or quality of total physical, mental, and social well-being.<br /><br />Some factors that may affect childrens health are heredity and the environment. Through heredity, this is when the childs characteristics are transmitted from the parents to their children at the time of conception to determine genetic traits. Understanding a childs heredity can help determine the predisposition of health problems including heart disease, cancer, allergies, etc. Environment can play an equally important part in a childs development. The environment includes physical, social, economic, and cultural factors. These factors often influence how children think, perceive, and act on certain situations in their surroundings. There are some positive environmental factors that can affect children such as good dietary habits, recreation with regular exercise and adequate rest, an access to medical and dental care, limited stress, and a safe and clean place for children, also opportunities to form stable and respectful relationships.<br /><br />Childrens safety is very important. Safety is the behavior and practices that protect children from risks or injury. Controlling safe environments for children such as having developmentally appropriate equipment, will help prevent accidents. Even minor accidents have immediate effects on a childs health. It is imperative that adults scan the area of which children are to eliminate and put away hazardous materials out of reach of young children. So strict monitoring is needed. Another form of protection is setting rules and limitations. Rules help children to learn what is expected, and ensures safety.<br /><br />Nutrition is defined as all processes used by a child to take in food and to digest it, absorb, transport, utilize, and excrete food substances. The substances found in foods are called nutrients. Eating food is a very important component of life. Eating proper foods that ensure good nutrients increases a childs energy, growth and development, normal behavior, resistance to illness and infection, and tissue repair. The intake of nutrients affects the behaviors of children. A child who is well nourished is usually more alert and attentive, and has better physical and learning experiences. The way a child responds to resistance of illnesses, proper nutrition plays an important part. Well nourished children are less likely become ill, and when they are ill recovery is quicker.<br /><br />All in all, health, safety, and nutrition play pertinent roles with each other. The way a child feels in each role is dependant upon the others. Each role affects the other. If a child becomes physically injured, they may become disinterested in eating. When this occurs, they begin to lack in certain nutrients causing the injury to last longer. Therefore, good nutrition plays an important part in accident prevention. There may even be cases where children who lack in nutrients become increasingly accident prone because of low blood sugar. Maintaining a healthy and safe weight can also prevent accidents. Through regular exercise, eating, and safety precautions, children can ward off many illnesses. <br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-41415178339838357262014-12-05T11:54:00.003-08:002014-12-05T11:54:57.609-08:00How to Deal With Your Loss After a Molar Pregnancy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kaFvCMnYv6k2KAXCtUqTqGwrZ7dP0g6mFAf3_jQ-NQkNKYjFDjD_OemIWWE_ad0teCIEdAumh8U0e2c6a7tIXIR14GDzhENRA_1FQf75N76puYl1E6B8aDwMUtfsM7DHPl2KYLu1TQZm/s1600/haunted-1086454-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4kaFvCMnYv6k2KAXCtUqTqGwrZ7dP0g6mFAf3_jQ-NQkNKYjFDjD_OemIWWE_ad0teCIEdAumh8U0e2c6a7tIXIR14GDzhENRA_1FQf75N76puYl1E6B8aDwMUtfsM7DHPl2KYLu1TQZm/s1600/haunted-1086454-m.jpg" title="How to Deal With Your Loss After a Molar Pregnancy" /></a></div>
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A molar pregnancy (hydatidiform mole) diagnosis can be devastating. One day you are expecting a baby, and the next you are told that there is an abnormal growth in your uterus. Whether it is partial (a fetus has formed) or complete (there is no fetus), a molar pregnancy is never viable.<br /><br />Between the dilation and curettage (D&C), blood tests, and clinic visits, it can feel like this will never end. On top of that, you are told that you need to avoid getting pregnant again for 12 months. How are you supposed to deal with your loss after a molar pregnancy?<br /><br /><b>Allow yourself to grieve in your own way</b><br /><br />Everyone grieves a loss in their own way, and at their own pace. One person finds herself numb, while another goes from crying to disbelief. It might take you a few days, or even a few weeks, to sink in. However you grieve your loss, as long as you are not hurting yourself or someone else, it is not wrong.<br /><b><br />Take some time to yourself and do the things you enjoy</b><br /><br />Once you have allowed yourself to grieve, you will need to start moving on. Take time to yourself, even if it means taking a day or a week off from work. Do whatever it is that makes you feel better. Some like to pamper themselves with bubble baths, massages, and manicures, while others simply curl up with a pillow and a good book. Get out and hike, garden, or do whatever you enjoy.<br /><br /><b>Talk to someone you trust -- but only when you are ready</b><br /><br />Only you can decide when you are ready to talk about what you have been through. Talking it out is good, but you don't have to share with everyone who asks. This is a very personal, and even painful, time in your life. Share your feelings with a friend or close family member when you are ready.<br /><br /><b>Be there for your partner and allow him to express his feelings</b><br /><br />In many cases, there is another person who is going through the loss of a baby. Your partner was also expecting a baby that will never arrive, and he might be going through a range of emotions, too. Make a point to ask your partner how he is feeling, and even if he doesn't have much to say right now, listen and be there for him when he is ready.<br /><br /><b>Find ways to keep yourself busy over the next year</b><br /><br />Think of ways to keep busy over the next year, whether it's planning a trip or working on a long-term project. Then do them. Before you know it, the year will have gone by and hopefully you can start planning for another baby, if that is your wish.<br /><br /><b>Speak with your doctor about visiting a grief counselor</b><br /><br />If you experience long periods of depression or suicidal thoughts, call your doctor. Ask about visiting a grief counselor so you can move on with your life.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-60614436856570430092014-12-05T11:45:00.001-08:002014-12-05T11:45:22.320-08:00Women's Weight Loss After Menopause<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70IUafcrJ66yq7y7xAeSuyxxB-Ct_mL7WdJdTQ7-IUB0M2OnphXtQ-Y9RNYMTPyTPbAycBj6112HXaR_pKgRwHCnyI7Sj7YLsg0vV56ZDk0LZoM-h70SQeYSBgbzW7-UH3ZUmm-wJOd-4/s1600/womanface-1065775-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi70IUafcrJ66yq7y7xAeSuyxxB-Ct_mL7WdJdTQ7-IUB0M2OnphXtQ-Y9RNYMTPyTPbAycBj6112HXaR_pKgRwHCnyI7Sj7YLsg0vV56ZDk0LZoM-h70SQeYSBgbzW7-UH3ZUmm-wJOd-4/s1600/womanface-1065775-m.jpg" title="Women's Weight Loss After Menopause" /></a></div>
<h3>
Menopause Changes Your Body's Biomechanics and Can Affect How You Lose Weight!</h3>
Health and diet researchers have shown that it is much more difficult to achieve weight loss as you age. It's even harder for women. Not only must women deal with the natural slowing of their metabolism as they get older, but they must also take into account how their body changes after menopause. Menopause can affect weight loss and dieting. The Mayo Clinic says that "during your 40s or 50s - usually coinciding with the menopausal transition - you may notice that maintaining your usual weight becomes more difficult. Weight gain after menopause seems to be harder to lose, and the inches tend to accumulate around your abdomen, rather than your hips and thighs." (source)<br /><br />In this health and wellness article, we'll show you how to deal with post-menopause weight loss. A woman's body is special, and the way you go about trying to lose weight is also special.<br /><br />Women's Weight Loss after Menopause<br /><br />On the average, a woman can gain a pound a year at this time. An average woman 30-40 years of age who leads an inactive lifestyle requires a rough estimate of 1,500 to 1,800 calories per day to maintain a normal weight. With older women menopause generally makes weight loss a lot more difficult to solve.<br /><br />A woman in who is going through menopause normally notices that maintaining her usual weight or realizing weight loss becomes a lot harder. Research shows that approximately 90% of menopausal women gain some weight between the ages of 40 and 55. Still it is important to keep in mind that this weight gain is normal and to be expected.<br /><br />This is not to say, however, that weight loss after menopause cannot be anticipated. It must be known that the hormones associated with menopause are not the only cause of weight gain.<br /><br />Work habits and lifestyle play a big role in her change of body composition. Menopausal women have the tendency to be more deskbound than other women that can lead to weight gain. This inactivity while dietary habits stay the same or get worse makes weight loss seemingly impossible to achieve.<br /><br />Menopause-related stress is also a contributing factor in weight gain. Struggling with your weight all throughout your menopausal years often affects your ego when you least expect it. Because of this you become anxious and frustrated, which in turn can prevent weight loss as they beckon your body to go into storage mode.<br /><br />Another factor that should be taken into account is the fact that during menopausal years, insulin resistance can occur. This happens when the body turns the calories you take in into fat, making weight loss almost impossible. It is therefore recommended that you a low-fat but high carbohydrate diet. Avoid eating processed foods as well as refined foods. This may make your body resistant to insulin and can therefore make way for weight gain.<br /><br />On the brighter side, weight gain during these years is regulated by the body. This prepares you against osteoporosis and other diseases. So try to be more accepting of new body instead of hating yourself. Strive to be healthy and more active, and not trying to fit into your old clothes.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-11653611343486028162014-12-05T11:43:00.001-08:002014-12-05T11:43:39.744-08:00Why Hospital Maternity Ward Tours Are Important During Pregnancy<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CRuV0-C1Tyb7zt4AbjYuu0eE04_H4rUZPeZO5wSVD42djMfqrVkf1vDUlVwoXhfHrqSBG5cgAneiRiviNf5Ra2v-pPDfvmZWSJBEIT0y4MFvhdHc-qtEvnkT7o8zw2VK7IQXWf1tzGsb/s1600/hospital-corridor-3-65901-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2CRuV0-C1Tyb7zt4AbjYuu0eE04_H4rUZPeZO5wSVD42djMfqrVkf1vDUlVwoXhfHrqSBG5cgAneiRiviNf5Ra2v-pPDfvmZWSJBEIT0y4MFvhdHc-qtEvnkT7o8zw2VK7IQXWf1tzGsb/s1600/hospital-corridor-3-65901-m.jpg" /></a></div>
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Another Way for Expectant Parents to Prepare for the Birth</h3>
Touring the maternity/obstetrics ward of local hospitals is an important way for pregnant women and expectant fathers or birth partners to prepare themselves for the big day. Many hospitals now offer this as an automatic part of their childbirth classes. If you sign up for Lamaze or Bradley Method classes where you plan to give birth, find out if the tours are included. Other times, hospitals offer group tours as a separate class in itself, or do them individually at the patient's request. Some women prefer to do the tours a little earlier in pregnancy as way of deciding where they want to birth before signing up for classes, in which case it is simple to call a few maternity wards and ask if someone could show them around and answer a few questions.<br /><br /><b>Why Are Hospital Maternity Ward Tours Important During Pregnancy?</b><br /><br />Not everyone recognizes how important it can be to go on hospital tours of maternity/obstetrics wards during pregnancy. My own birth partner certainly didn't--I had to drag him to the first one, but after the fact he admitted that the tours were an essential and informative part of the pregnancy experience and preparing for the birth. If nothing else, maternity ward tours allow the expectant parents to see where they will need to go and the best routes to take so that these things a huge surprise when the woman is in labor. Also, simply knowing what the maternity ward and birthing rooms look like can be comforting to the woman during pregnancy and help to alleviate some of the anxiety about the unknown.<br /><b><br />Different Maternity Wards Operate By Very Different "Hospital Policies"</b><br /><br />Beyond those basic purposes of the hospital tour, it's important to recognize that maternity practices can vary widely between different hospitals. Some are much more willing to work with expectant parents regarding decisions such as the length of the hospital stay and whether the baby rooms in or stays in the nursery than others. Some hospitals are very supportive of natural childbirth and breastfeeding, while nurses in other maternity wards are much more likely to try to talk you into getting an epidural, starting interventions, or even to give your new baby formula without your knowledge. If the expectant parents learn during pregnancy that these "small" things are important issues to them, skipping the process of researching hospitals means risking being very surprised and frustrated when they show up at one in labor.<br /><br />Ask Lots of Questions During Pregnancy To Avoid Being Surprised<br /><br />The expectant parents should prepare for maternity ward tours by writing down questions beforehand because some will inevitably be forgotten at the hospital. Nurses, who usually do the tours and are used to showing pregnant women around the floor, know what basic information most people are curious about. However, they don't always remember to mention everything, and they don't know the personal situation or preferences of every pregnant woman who comes in. If the expectant parents have prepared a birth plan, that can be taken to the tour to be reviewed and ensure that everything is acceptable according to hospital policy. Remember that there is no such thing as too many questions. Here are some examples to get started:<br /><br /><b>What are the c-section and induction rates of this hospital?<br /><br />How many people are allowed in the delivery room?<br /><br />Can the expectant father or birth partner accompany the baby at all times while it's being bathed, etc.?<br /><br />Is the pregnant woman allowed to move around freely and bathe or shower during labor?<br /><br />Can the woman choose to give birth in the position most comfortable for her?</b><br /><br />Finally, it is often a good idea to visit a couple of hospital maternity wards during pregnancy, even if the first one seems "good enough." That will give the expectant parents something to compare their preferred location to and be sure that they are making the right decision. The more comfortable they both are (especially the woman) when they show up at a hospital in labor, the better!<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-13087959881098116032014-12-05T11:41:00.001-08:002014-12-05T11:41:24.201-08:00Why Are You Supposed to Sleep on Your Left Side During Pregnancy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pregnancy is a time full of lifestyle changes and new adjustments. From the expected (no more smoking!) to the bizarre (no more hot dogs?), it can be hard to filter out the good advice from the bad. One tip you may have heard from friends, family, or your healthcare provider is that you should only sleep on your left side, but just how important is it to follow that advice, and what are the risks if you don't? Ultimately, it is good advice to sleep on your left side if you're able, but if you can't, don't sweat it.<br /><br /><b>Why sleeping on your back is a bad idea</b><br />Although sleeping on your back during early pregnancy isn't likely to cause problems, back-sleeping can be a huge pain in the butt (literally) during the late stages. The American Pregnancy Association warns that moms who sleep on their backs have a higher rate of discomforts like hemorrhoids, back pain, and stomach aches. As your belly grows, sleeping on your back also puts pressure on your aorta and vena cava, two important blood vessels that move blood to and from the placenta. As a result, sleeping on your back could reduce the amount of oxygen and nutrients that your baby receives. <br /><b> </b></div>
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<b>Why your left side, not your right? </b><br /> </div>
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The vena cavae blood vessels (big veins that return blood to your heart from your abdomen) are located just to the right side of your body, so sleeping on your right side might be a bad idea. There's some evidence that, like sleeping on your back, right-side sleeping could put a lot of the baby's weight against your blood vessels. This might reduce the amount of blood pumping to and from your heart, which could have bad consequences for the baby.<br /><b><br />What happens if you sleep in the "wrong" position? </b><br /> </div>
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Hopefully, nothing. We don't yet know exactly what might happen if you don't sleep on your left side during pregnancy, since it hasn't been studied very well. In theory, it seems like babies whose moms sleep in other positions might have a lower birth weight. One very unsettling study found that women who slept on their backs during pregnancy had well over twice the risk of giving birth to stillborn babies. Even though this study had some limitations and the findings weren't conclusive, it's still safest to try to sleep on your left side if you're able.<br /><br /><b>If you can't sleep on your left side... </b><br /> </div>
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Don't worry too much. Evidence of danger to your baby from other positions is very limited. For example, the most publicized study on the issue only looked at the outcomes of a fairly small number of women, and they relied on women's self-reporting, which isn't always reliable, especially after something as traumatic as a stillbirth. So, for now, there's not enough evidence to sweat it if you absolutely can't get comfortable on your left side. However, you may want to try adjusting your sleep position by experimenting with body pillows or raising the head of your bed to see if it helps. You might be able to get a restful night's sleep in the safest position possible, but, if the discomforts of pregnancy make it too difficult, there isn't a reason to worry.<br /><br />Of course, as always, talk to your doctor or midwife about any concerns about your health that you may have during any stage of pregnancy. Your health care provider can offer reassurance or help provide personalized advice that can make it easier to sleep safely and comfortably while you await your baby's arrival. <br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-75791173579611842622014-12-05T11:37:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:37:50.989-08:00What You Really Need to Buy for Your New Baby<div style="text-align: justify;">
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It's Not as Much as You Think</h3>
<br />When in my eighth month of pregnancy, I was fretting about all the stuff I still needed to buy for the baby; my friend put everything in perspective. She had spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in a small village in Togo, and had seen first hand how the women in the village made do with the barest of essentials. She said that all you really need is food and something to keep your baby warm. I'm used to a little cushiness, so I didn't follow her advice completely, but it's something to keep in mind when you're preparing for your new baby.<br /><br />There's no doubt that the baby products industry is big business. According to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, the US market for baby products is around $7 billion a year-excluding diapers, food and clothing. With the heavy barrage of marketing, it's no wonder many first-time parents feel overwhelmed when shopping for their new baby.<br /><br />There'll be plenty of time to buy other things later if you find you need them, so to begin with, just focus on the baby essentials. When you're deciding what you absolutely need before you bring your baby home from the hospital, it's helpful to arrange your baby's needs by category. A newborn won't be playing with toys or looking at books, so instead, focus on his most basic needs-namely keeping him fed, clean, warm and comfortable. The following are things you should have well in advance of your due date.<br /><br /><b>Feeding</b><br /><br />You don't need to buy a fancy glider or rocking chair, but have a comfortable spot, with plenty of pillows handy, to feed your baby. Have a ready supply of burp rags and washcloths. Whether you're planning on breastfeeding or not, you should also have some bottles on hand, just in case. Some mothers find they need to supplement their breastfeeding with formula in the beginning.<br /><br /><b>Changing</b><br /><br />You're going to spend a lot of time changing diapers, so for the sake of your back, you'll want the changing area elevated-the top of a dresser works or you can buy a changing table. At the very least, have on hand a changing pad that you can put on the bed or floor. Make sure you have everything readily available at your changing station. Plenty of newborn-size diapers and baby wipes are a must, and you should also have a thermometer and Vaseline, which is especially useful if your baby boy has been circumcised.<br /><br /><b>Sleeping</b><br /><br />Your baby will do plenty of sleeping when you bring her home, so she'll need a safe, comfortable place to sleep, whether it's a crib, bassinet, play yard or co-sleeper. It's recommended that small babies not use blankets when sleeping, so sleep sacks are useful.<br /><b><br />Keeping Baby Warm</b><br /><br />If you have a baby shower, you'll no doubt receive plenty of blankets and outfits for the little one. The first few weeks your baby won't leave the house much, so you don't have to worry about fashion. You'll be doing countless diaper changes, so look for clothes that are easy to get on and off your baby. Stock up on onesies and jumper outfits. Side-snap shirts are useful because you don't have to struggle to pull the shirts over your baby's fragile neck. You'll likely get a knit hat from the hospital, but you may want to buy a couple more. And don't forget to pick up some baby laundry detergent to wash all of her clothes and blankets. Everything should be washed before she uses it.<br /><b><br />Safety</b><br /><br />Be sure to buy your car seat early and learn how to install it. You won't be able to take your baby home from the hospital without it.<br /><br />After your baby's arrival, you'll likely be inundated with gifts, and may be surprised by the amount of hand-me-downs that come flooding in from friends and relatives. You'll probably end up with more than your baby could possibly use. Now instead of worrying about what you need to buy, you'll be stressing over where to put everything.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-509452113779707852014-12-05T11:35:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:35:48.818-08:00What to Expect Before Having a Hysterectomy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qH-PEbizfl-bTYLcgWUju-ZUMcyUuLEdYHOAWjrZ__YX3AX_sREEdLo4DLoPAKTUSQpOSmc-7tqn45N9ZgrEb1vpT3oHqhqD8YL6gvJ2alxDnVbDUIwpddyWJSXHv7x1nZEiCbOi_E_8/s1600/krankenhaus-1303340-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-qH-PEbizfl-bTYLcgWUju-ZUMcyUuLEdYHOAWjrZ__YX3AX_sREEdLo4DLoPAKTUSQpOSmc-7tqn45N9ZgrEb1vpT3oHqhqD8YL6gvJ2alxDnVbDUIwpddyWJSXHv7x1nZEiCbOi_E_8/s1600/krankenhaus-1303340-m.jpg" title="What to Expect Before Having a Hysterectomy" /></a></div>
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Last month I had a hysterectomy. Some of what happened before the procedure was expected, but others were a complete surprise to me. If you are planning on having a hysterectomy, make sure you talk to your doctor and fully understand all that will take place before your procedure. Please note that your doctor's preparations may vary from mine, but you will likely be able to expect most of the following to occur before your hysterectomy.<br /><br /><b>Ultrasound examination</b><br /><br />One of the first things that my doctor scheduled after my yearly exam indicated that I might need a hysterectomy is an ultrasound examination of my ovaries and uterus. This is not like the ultrasound you might have had while you were pregnant. This is what's called a transvaginal ultrasound, and is performed by inserting a wand in the vagina to get clear images of the uterus, ovaries and surrounding tissue.<br /><br />Your ultrasound should be scheduled a few days after your period, so that the walls of the uterus are easier to examine. The exam itself is relatively painless, although you may feel some pressure as the technician moves the wand to get the best views needed by your doctor. On a positive note, you don't need a full bladder for this type of ultrasound.<br /><br /><b>Pre-op appointment at the hospital</b><br /><br />I recently wrote an article about what to expect at your pre-op appointment. Besides lots of paperwork, you'll need to have an EKG, give a urine sample and have some blood drawn. You may also need a chest x-ray and possibly other exams depending on your health. Make sure to take your insurance card, identification and a list of medications you are taking to the hospital for this appointment. And as I mentioned in my previous article, plan on being there a while, as pre-op appointments can take hours.<br /><br /><b>Bowel prep</b><br /><br />Oh, the worst surprise I had before my hysterectomy was the fact that I would have to perform a bowel prep before the surgery. I had no idea that would be necessary. I expected to do one sometime this year for my first colonoscopy, but thanks to the hysterectomy, I got some extra practice.<br /><br />If you have never done a bowel prep, this is what you might expect. First, you will need to fast, consuming only liquids the day before your procedure. I was allowed a light breakfast, but after that, nothing but broth, Jell-O (not red) and clear liquids were allowed. You'll need to drink lots of liquids, especially water, to stay hydrated up until about midnight, after which no food or drinks are allowed.<br /><br />In the afternoon or early evening, you will likely take a laxative, either in the form of a salty liquid or pills, depending on your doctor's instructions. This will serve to empty your colon and prep your bowel for surgery. Even though your hysterectomy will likely not involve your colon, your doctor will be working very close to your intestines and the bowel prep will help prevent infection in case of any complications.<br /><br /><b>Medicated douche</b><br /><br />After your bowel prep is complete, and trust me, you'll know when it's over, your doctor may want you to use a medicated douche to help further prevent any chances of infection. These are available over the counter. One word of warning, though: medicated douches may contain iodine. If you are allergic or sensitive to iodine, talk to your doctor about alternatives.<br /><b><br />At the hospital</b><br /><br />Once you arrive at the hospital, you'll face a flurry of activity as nurses and doctors get you ready for your procedure. Try to relax. Although everything may seem hectic, before you know it you'll be sleeping and recovering from the surgery in your hospital room. And not long after that, you'll get to eat again, and if you're lucky, maybe you can get extra bacon with your breakfast the next morning. Go ahead and ask for it. You deserve it!<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-10479512577458992982014-12-05T11:33:00.003-08:002014-12-05T11:33:41.460-08:00Unassisted Pregnancy: Designing a Prenatal Self-Care Routine<div style="text-align: justify;">
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How to Take Good Care of Yourself when Preparing for an Unassisted Birth</h3>
There are a few things that a pregnant woman can't do for herself, but usually they aren't necessary. Most of the tests professionals perform can be done at home, affordably, and certainly women are capable of measuring their vitals. Most of a prenatal visit is spent answering and asking questions about the pregnancy, but most answers can easily be found by picking up a book or doing an internet search. More and more women are choosing not to see pregnancy as a medical condition needing treatment, and they are foregoing formal prenatal care unless high risk. Some women have none at all, and many more monitor and test themselves. It's not hard to develope a prenatal self-care routine.<br /><br />In an earlier piece I discussed routine prenatal testing that may be harmful or unnecessary. First you must decide which tests, if any, you will have. STD testing includes Hepatitis B & C, Syphilis, and HIV, all blood tests. The Pap Smear checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and cervical cancer (which is usually caused by HPV.) It can also locate cervical abnormalities such as an incompetent cervix, as well as vaginal infections. Your blood work usually includes a blood type check, a Cystic Fibrosis and Tay-Sachs screening test, the Triple/Quad Screen, Anemia check, and a check for German measles and chickenpox. CVS and Amniocentesis may be done to check for deformities and defects. GBS tests for group B streptococcus, which can (rarely) cause infection in the newborn.<br /><br />Most of these tests are unnecessary. If you may have been exposed to an STD, if you may have a child with a defect or would discontinue the pregnancy if so, if you don't know your blood type or are at risk for measles and chickenpox, you may wish to have those tests performed. I recommend testing for these conditions if you can, because the more complete your home records are, the better you'll be treated when interviewing pediatricians or if you end up in the ER. Many can be performed at home, and some must be done by a doctor. The ones only available from a doctor, such as CVS and Amniocentesis, are actually the least necessary. Many women do chose to at least go in for one ultrasound, but they do as much home self-prenatal care as possible.<br /><br />Tests for vaginosis, anemia, HIV, Hepatitis C, chlamydia, GBS, and gestational diabetes can be done at home. The others must be done by a health professional, and if it's unlikely that you would have abnormal results, there is no harm in refusing them. Craigmedical.com sells a lot of home tests at very affordable prices, and froogle is another good place to search. The Gestational Diabetes test is performed around 24 weeks. Fast for 8-10 hours, drink the special beverage, and then test your blood sugar an hour later; the supplies can be bought online. You can also buy urinalysis strips to use every few weeks. A combination chlamydia and GBS screen are available at drthom.com and should be taken near the end of the pregnancy. Whether you make that part of your self-prenatal care routine is up to you.<br /><br />You need to create a schedule for monitoring your pregnancy. You may wish to check every week, every other week, or once a month. I recommend picking the same day and time for every check. At the most, you should do your routine once a week, and at the least it should be done very month--which is how often traditional prenatal routines are performed. Many useful materials are available at allheart.com at affordable prices, such as blood pressure cuffs and fetoscopes. You should start prenatal care no earlier than 8 weeks and no later than 12 weeks, which is when appointments traditionally begin. Design your self-prenatal care routine the way you want.<br /><br />Routinely monitoring yourself can give you a picture of how your pregnancy is going. It will make it easy to spot warning signs of complications. Keeping a record will be useful when dealing with doctors. If they have no clue what your pregnancy has been like, they'll be cautious and treat you as an emergency for having had no prenatal care. A diary assures them you have done your homework and are taking care of yourself. It can help them make a diagnosis and recommendations about treatment. It can also assure you and those close to you that everything is fine. A self-prenatal care routine has a lot of benefits.<br /><br />You should routinely monitor your weight, blood pressure (many pharmacies have blood pressure machines!), pulse, and symptoms. Write down how you are treating your symptoms. Begin recording the fetal heartbeat when you can hear it (10 weeks Doppler, 20 weeks fetoscope). When you can feel your uterus (16 weeks), measure your fundal height, distance from navel and pelvis in centimeters. This can help establish a due date and let you know you're growing as you should. You should record the first day of your last menstrual period, your pre-pregnancy weight, the date that you got your positive pregnancy test, and your estimated due date. In the third trimester, learn to palpitate your stomach to determine the position of the baby and placenta. Write down what you discover. I don't recommend cervical checks.<br /><br />How much prenatal care you perform or receive is up to you. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. You can do as much or as little as you want. You decide what tests are necessary and how often you need to monitor yourself. You are likely to pay far more attention to what is going on than a doctor, as this is your body, your pregnancy, and your baby. You have much more vested in your well-being. The standard of care you can give yourself, unless you are high risk, is quite high, despite the popular belief that prenatal self-care is useless. A woman recording her weight is just as good as a doctor doing it! Take good care of yourself by exercising and following a healthy diet, as well as performing prenatal care. Good luck to you in this incredibly journey to motherhood! I'm sure you will create the self-prenatal care routine that is right for you.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-17910211600156727712014-12-05T11:31:00.001-08:002014-12-05T11:31:25.673-08:00Truth About Parenting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn_OBNeKjiEnfmr-w0uMhpvVOFfu8oa-UOY7RUOIMnFzuhz7A44_cALLp6znBOi5YmYyM3HmZ8NdAWAW9canrDel6e6qskZitY_U5n2JJpR93K-syTJx5RfHVT-ZJPaJ3DWyRoV7NI8rk/s1600/family-fun-4-1078240-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAn_OBNeKjiEnfmr-w0uMhpvVOFfu8oa-UOY7RUOIMnFzuhz7A44_cALLp6znBOi5YmYyM3HmZ8NdAWAW9canrDel6e6qskZitY_U5n2JJpR93K-syTJx5RfHVT-ZJPaJ3DWyRoV7NI8rk/s1600/family-fun-4-1078240-m.jpg" title="Truth About Parenting" /></a></div>
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Pregnancy can be a wonderful thing for some, and for some, it can be slightly tiring and hard. It's a time where you finally realize just what a woman's body can really do. No textbooks can ever describe what it's really like. Especially if it's hard for someone to get pregnant. But parenthood is a whole different ballgame from pregnancy. It's an open door that leads to a lot of possibilities and exciting "first-time" moments. But it's also very hard to do, Especially if you are a single parent.<br /><br /><b>• Sleep:</b> You'll hear the, "sleep when baby sleeps" or how you will probably never sleep again. You never understand this until you do actually have a child. For some, sleeping when the baby sleeps is hard, no matter how exhausted you may be. Babies require a lot of attention and it can be hard to get some time to yourself. So when the baby actually does go to sleep, you might start to think of a million things you need to get done before the baby awakes. Such as, do the dishes, wash clothes, take a shower, EAT! And maybe even work, if you are a stay-at-home parent, like myself. If you are the lucky ones, your baby will be content in the crib or in a comfy chair and will allow you to get some stuff done. Whatever one you get, just remember to breathe. It's frustrating now to only run on 2 hours of sleep, but it will pass. <br /><br /><b>• Annoyance:</b> Let's get one thing straight, if you are a new parent, this is completely normal! Sometimes, parents will get so frustrating, that they'll feel annoyed by this little human being that's screaming and demanding to be held 24/7. It's normal and it's okay to feel this way. To wonder why you wanted to be a parent or why you even got pregnant in the first place. Parenthood is overwhelming and it takes time to get used to and familiar with. Now if you feel sad or depressed, it's probably best to talk to someone or your doctor about this. This could be "post-partum depression." Normal after you give birth, but sometimes it can drag on for too long and that's when you might need professional help. <br /><br /><b>• Unsolicited Advice:</b> Being a first time mother, you are bond to run into those few people who will sit there and try to give you unwanted advice on how to raise your own child and what you need to do. Now some advice is much welcomed and very much needed, but then there are those advices where you feel like someone is concededly trying to hint at you that you aren't doing a very good job. There isn't much you can do about this, expect tell that person that while you do appreciate their advice, you would like it very much if they would stop being so pushy on you. Not wanting to hurt those you care for, feelings, can be frustrating and a little maddening. However you handle this, just remember, they don't do it out of annoyance, but out of love. <br /><br /><b>• Hormones:</b> From personal experience, once your little one starts hitting the 5 month mark, you are going to go through so many emotions.Ranging from excitement, to sadness. But this is normal to look forward to your precious one growing, being excited for all the wonderful(and sometimes, irritating) milestones, while also feeling a sense of sadness that your little one is, indeed, growing up. And no matter how hard we may try as parents, our dear ones will continue to grow, even against our will, before our eyes. I cried a good bit of the first 7 months because whenever someone would mention how big my son was getting or how fast he was growing, it sent a wave of sadness throughout my body, because he wouldn't be my little infant, for much longer, -but now my toddler. Once he hit the one year mark, I expected to cry again, but I guess I had gotten it all out of my system beforehand, that I really didn't have many tears to spare at the time. And this is good, because I was able to enjoy my son's first birthday with true excitement in my heart for what the future held for us. <br /><br />I'm not going to lie, parenthood is hard, it's frustrating, and it can be very maddening. But at the end of the night when you put your child down for bed, you are always reminded just why you wanted to do this in the first place and why you continue to do it every single day. I became a teen mom and was not physically prepared for what was to come. And after 4 months of crying because I couldn't get the baby to calm down and needing my mother's help at times, I surely didn't think there was ever going to be an end to all this maddening! But soon came the end to a lot of things and as I grew with my son, I became used to a lot of the stuff I wasn't. I can run on 4 hours of sleep and still have energy to keep going at the end of the night. Point being; it hard times will end. And when it does, you'll look back and wonder why you got so worked up over the little things.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-66369527685563215492014-12-05T11:28:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:28:51.783-08:00Trauma and Recovery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIVt4QxgN8Wi6XQE86MBqVLF1eA7dltf-6V10m9V6Vu8fZnX8Bb11DIPb5DVOLHFWAGlUTY22hHKtoFwng1mJ9ih3IAtrwDt2l9WK3NCtCLH6CynJ7X8hWynb346etfXX8hlObZ-vi8oZ/s1600/hospital-6-230578-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIVt4QxgN8Wi6XQE86MBqVLF1eA7dltf-6V10m9V6Vu8fZnX8Bb11DIPb5DVOLHFWAGlUTY22hHKtoFwng1mJ9ih3IAtrwDt2l9WK3NCtCLH6CynJ7X8hWynb346etfXX8hlObZ-vi8oZ/s1600/hospital-6-230578-m.jpg" title="Trauma and Recovery" /></a></div>
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While most women who experience childbirth cannot call it a wonderful and easy experience, most can say it was tough but they got through it fine. For me, delivering my daughter was probably the most traumatic experience I ever had physically and emotionally. Most women would experience it as their worst nightmare. It was an experience that altered my life forever, and while I did get the wonderful benefits of having my daughter, I lost a great deal of my physical normalcy and my emotional well being.<br /><br />During my delivery, I went through a harrowing night that nearly took my life followed by another night of near death. After being in labor for 13 1/2 hours and losing nearly half my body's blood due to hemorrhaging from a severe laceration, I was fragile and weak. I felt like my the very fiber of life was torn from me. The toll it took on my sense of self was significant. As I went through the following months post delivery, I was different in so many ways. First, I was in a significantly weakened physical and emotional state because of my delivery. But my mind was now different too. I came to the brink of the gates of heaven in those long darkened hours of bleeding post delivery. Laying alone and knowing I had a new life to be responsible for felt overwhelming. I was bleeding profusely and barely conscious. In those long night hours, death creeped and knocked at my body's doorstep a few times.<br /><br />In the many months that followed, I experienced many struggles adjusting to my new body impairments,. This took a toll on my ability to enjoy the normal bonding time that a mother should have with their new child and affected my ability to get back to life . I needed special at home care for two weeks after going home from the hospital, my stay there had been 4 1/2 days. Yet three weeks post delivery, I was still struggling just to cope with the trauma I experienced and the changes that were now a part of me. Within the first year I had contemplated the benefits of death more than a few times.<br /><br />The overwhelming traumatic process that I experienced tore at me physically and emotionally. I then experienced exacerbated suffering caused by my now ex husband, and the damage cannot be explained in mere words. Because of this, the post partum depression I struggled with for over 26 months post delivery altered my views of life. I was irritable, deeply saddened, and deeply resentful. To this day, my body has never recovered from the trauma.<br /><br />However, there was a significant blessing that occurred within the trauma that August long ago. My life and my daughters life were spared. In my near death experience close to the whispers of God, I have found new meaning and new direction in my life. In the years following these horrible hours and days, I have grown much less tolerant of others who are negligent and abusive. I have found more meaning in simple things, and I have grown much closer to the one who saved me from death's door-God. My daughter is a beautiful young woman about to be married and she has been affected positively by my attention to details in life and my value based compass.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-76977297512142327472014-12-05T11:26:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:26:52.457-08:00Top Five Reasons Infertility is Hard<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKac-wEpCg2JsG2tNIH7-JemQj_eLAmDHt1wzkKyWs9craZPVoLkZKRXdQh3yILlzjuurLS8BXziuEf1CcMz2KH7K2K_UxCfqG09HNme36jhXWsoyX02oeg-r2INv9g-bYyRIoTNLuXME/s1600/egg-bowl-1416846-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKac-wEpCg2JsG2tNIH7-JemQj_eLAmDHt1wzkKyWs9craZPVoLkZKRXdQh3yILlzjuurLS8BXziuEf1CcMz2KH7K2K_UxCfqG09HNme36jhXWsoyX02oeg-r2INv9g-bYyRIoTNLuXME/s1600/egg-bowl-1416846-m.jpg" title="Top Five Reasons Infertility is Hard" /></a></div>
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Infertility and Trying to Conceive</h3>
Are you TTC?<br /><br />Infertility, it is the one thing that plagues millions of Americans. And yet, trying to conceive (TTC) pushes moms to try just about anything. No matter if it is an old wives' tale, or just some new invention to help fertility, women trying to become pregnant will try just about anything to help in the process.<br /><br />If I sound like I know something or two about this subject, it would be because I do. Yes, I am not hiding my face, I can admit my own struggles, not for myself, but for all the women that have to dealt with this painful subject of trying to conceive and the infertility that comes with this process.<br /><br />But in light of this serious subject, here are my own top reasons infertility is hard. And yes, each women or couple who have gone through this can come up with their own, as there are many reasons it is difficult.<br /><br />Top Five Reasons Infertility is Hard<br /><br />#5<br /><br />One of the hardest things that come with infertility is the frustration that usually follows a woman month to month. No, it isn't just a once a month thing. It becomes a lifestyle of trying to conceive.<br /><br />#4<br /><br />You have to watch women around you get pregnant, have babies, and you still are left with nothing. Yes, you're happy for them, but there is that little place inside you that aches for a baby.<br /><br />#3<br /><br />Did you ever hear someone say, "Just be patient. It will happen it when you least expect it." Only a woman who is TTC can understand the frustration that comes with this statement.<br /><br />#2<br /><br />Whether you know why you can't conceive or merely are struggling with the infertility on your own, there are no words to say; it is just difficult. Especially, when you've tried everything you know to try and still nothing. Sometimes, patience can be a pill to digest.<br /><br />#1<br /><br />No matter what you try yourself, it all is in the hands of Providence. All you can do is make your body the healthiest you can. Do all the things we've heard so much about: exercise, drink water, take herbs, and watch for ovulation...And Wait! In the end, it is in God's hands of when you will conceive.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-7947147081498735072014-12-05T11:25:00.000-08:002014-12-05T11:25:08.489-08:00Top 5 Must Have Items for a New Mom and Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSVExCEfdUTvO7iRKmPALDR93ABsxr4RPDH-L9AKYsop5JOPMuxjsMUSvQvYDBTPTK-_xMrJbAD8MJ1oH8GlN7Xz5lks1wQMPcscwAxqo4JfvP7STNM8uiT2e_0u3GtYlGcJ0YBSToLro/s1600/baby-hand-1439524-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeSVExCEfdUTvO7iRKmPALDR93ABsxr4RPDH-L9AKYsop5JOPMuxjsMUSvQvYDBTPTK-_xMrJbAD8MJ1oH8GlN7Xz5lks1wQMPcscwAxqo4JfvP7STNM8uiT2e_0u3GtYlGcJ0YBSToLro/s1600/baby-hand-1439524-m.jpg" title="Top 5 Must Have Items for a New Mom and Baby" /></a></div>
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I will never forget how intensely anxious I felt standing in the middle of Babies-R-Us, a first time mom, holding the registry gun, no idea what I needed and didn't need. Close to two years later I've complied a list of my absolute favorite top 5 baby items. All but one item is still in daily use today.<br /><b> </b></div>
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<b>Sofie the Giraffe</b><br /><br />My sons first toy! Sofie is soft, squeeks, and is made from 100% natural rubber and non toxic paint. She has a distinctive smell so she plays on more senses than other teether toys. Her shape is perfect for small hands just learning to grasp. My son loved her. She went everywhere with us for the first year of his life.<br /><b><br />Coconut Oil</b><br /><br />This one really confused my family and may confuse you as well if you don't already know some of the amazing benefits that coconut oil offers. I do not put anything on my son's skin except coconut oil. I also use it on myself and take it internally. The benefits of coconut oil are seriously close to endless so I'll just touch on the few that drew me to it.<br /><br />Affordable, increases milk supply for breastfeeding mamas, keeps morning sickness at bay, comforts a rashy baby bum, and eases teething pain.<br /><br />I kept a plastic lidded container of coconut oil in my diaper bag. That was the only 'product' ever inside my bag for baby. I give coconut oil and properly airing out his bottom credit for the reason my son has only had a handful of diaper rashes that never lasted longer than a few hours.<br /><br /><b>Pregnancy Chime</b><br /><br />This favorite goes by many names, Pregnancy chime, Mexican bola, angel caller, and belly chime. No matter which name you prefer this necklace is brilliant. When worn during pregnancy baby can hear the soft chimes of the ball. It's said to sooth and calm baby in and outside the womb. After birth, your baby will recognize that sound (along with your own sound and smell.) It's just another added familiarity in a big brand new world. It's also great during feedings; your little will enjoy playing with and hearing the sound of the necklace.<br /><br />I ordered mine from eBay, it was very reasonably priced. The necklace string it came with wasn't quiet long enough to reach down to my belly button where it should be worn so I just replaced it with some leather cord I had left over from a previous craft. At 20 months, my son still loves to shake it and hear the sound.<br /><b><br />Twilight Turtle</b><br /><br />I added this to my registry without really knowing much about it and it turned out to be one of the very few items I still use almost 2 years later. The turtle has three different color settings, blue being our favorite and projects real constellations over the entire room. It gave off just enough light in the early postpartum months so I could easily see what I was doing during night nursing without disturbing my significant other.<br /><br />The stars do not spin or twist or move. At first I was slightly bummed, but now I could care less. My son still loves to "star gaze" before bed and the fact they are stationary helps him look for and point out the crescent moon.<br /><br /><b>Baltic Amber Teething Necklace</b><br /><br />Slightly skeptical, my son started wearing his around 4 months old. When he started teething around 6 months old I noticed a huge difference when he was wearing the necklace versus when it was off. He wasn't as fussy and the drool wasn't overflowing.<br /><br />Not only is this great item for baby, but mama could benefit from one during and after pregnancy. Baltic Amber is a completely natural and drug-free way to relieve pain. When worn against the skin, the skin's warmth releases tiny amounts of healing oils containing succinic acid. This oil is then absorbed into the body. Despite what some believe, baby does not need to chew or suck on the necklace. Simply wearing around her neck, wrist, or ankle is enough.<br /><br />Make sure to click the hyperlinks I've provided for more information.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-59355195937265878412014-12-05T11:22:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:22:40.976-08:00Tips for Buying Baby Clothes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJphB8KwHDX7pd810KkqhIFteLUPNKx3jbmToqFO_yMt0QKJT1sEuTRPF9zS4eFqKp39aVX8qZlzTATJ_NIESBkTVlv3BTWlBMbQ8M1BC8Bhs3R5bFqSXR8ETriGUF7uz-hM3jWTPxwzt/s1600/girl-in-the-wardrobe-937760-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJphB8KwHDX7pd810KkqhIFteLUPNKx3jbmToqFO_yMt0QKJT1sEuTRPF9zS4eFqKp39aVX8qZlzTATJ_NIESBkTVlv3BTWlBMbQ8M1BC8Bhs3R5bFqSXR8ETriGUF7uz-hM3jWTPxwzt/s1600/girl-in-the-wardrobe-937760-m.jpg" title="Tips for Buying Baby Clothes" /></a></div>
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The minute you find out you are pregnant, the first thing you want to do is go out and buy some baby clothes. Buying baby clothes can be a really fun experience, but you need to do know some essentials before you buy anything. You want to be able to buy clothing that you can actually use and you don't want to spend all your money on baby clothes when they out-grow them in a couple of weeks. Here are some tips that I have learned on buying baby clothes.<br /><br />To decide how much baby clothes that you will need, figure out how often you want to do laundry. For a newborn baby, buy enough clothing for three changes a day and times that by the number of days that you want to go in between doing laundry. So, if you are going to do laundry every four days, you would multiply 4x3. You would need at least 12 changes of clothes for your baby.<br /><br />Buy outfits that are easy for diaper changes. I realized that if you buy an outfit that does not make for easy diaper changes, you will not put your baby in the outfit. Look for onesies, overalls that snap at the crotch, sleepers that zip up, and easy pull on sweatpants and leggings.<br /><br />Buy clothing that will give your baby plenty of room to move their legs, such as leggings and sweats. Save the jeans and dress pants for special occasions.<br /><br />Look for clothing that is made out of soft, durable material. Soft knits stretch more and can be changed more easily. Look for cotton and not something that will be itchy on your baby's skin such as wool.<br /><br />Buying multi-piece outfits can save you money because the one piece of the original outfit can still be worn when the other piece does not fit. Many times babies, will need longer pants or bigger shirts and will need two different sizes on the top and bottom.<br /><br />Look for booties that fit snugly so that your baby can't easily kick them off. You'll save yourself the time of constantly putting them back on.<br /><br />Don't buy that many newborn size clothing for your baby. They will likely outgrow that size within the first few days to weeks. Some babies are even born too big for newborn size. Buy a 0-3 months and you can roll the pants and sleeves for awhile if they are too large.<br /><br />Avoid buying any clothing that requires hand washing or dry-cleaning. Only buy these items for very special occasions, and even then it may not be worth it. If a daily article of baby clothing can't be machine washed, do not buy it or return it if it was a gift.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-54984147857499060762014-12-05T11:20:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:20:44.173-08:00Three Things You Should Do Before You Conceive<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNJdKYSucg3sHbOsomPw2eibbbd75f9T8UVIhU6PmuoxyM_9Ja885mR3zv8wHJOEKTCBY9Ca34a2VRhKLMTXgexq6s87xphyzK-ZuOXbpbOoQT0tKCSOkji6rGumS-lw1rtGAt-SPpOkI/s1600/biberon-1-1393141-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXNJdKYSucg3sHbOsomPw2eibbbd75f9T8UVIhU6PmuoxyM_9Ja885mR3zv8wHJOEKTCBY9Ca34a2VRhKLMTXgexq6s87xphyzK-ZuOXbpbOoQT0tKCSOkji6rGumS-lw1rtGAt-SPpOkI/s1600/biberon-1-1393141-m.jpg" title="Three Things You Should Do Before You Conceive" /></a></div>
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So you're ready to take the plunge into parenthood - congratulations! You're probably finding the prospect super-exciting and super-scary, in almost equal measures. Getting pregnant is a big step. And while you may be thinking a lot about how a baby will change your life, you might not realize there may be changes you should make even before you even get pregnant to give that baby the best possible healthy start. It's important to look after your own health too.<br /><br /><b>Check your weight and the quality of your diet.</b><br /><br />Women who are under or overweight may have difficulty conceiving and are at higher risk for certain pregnancy complications. This is not a time for crash diets or stuffing yourself with junk - you and your baby need healthy food! If you have a history of eating disorders, major weight issues or significant food restrictions because of allergies, intolerances or your beliefs, you may want to consult a dietitian for advice.<br /><br /><b>Start taking a daily prenatal vitamin with folic acid</b><br /><br />Incorporate prenatal vitamin with folic acid in your diet as soon as you start trying to become pregnant. Most drug-stores carry at least a couple of different formulations, and all are safe - but talk to a pharmacist or health-care practitioner if you'd like advice. If you currently use other vitamin or herbal supplements, stop taking them until you can discuss their safety with your doctor.<br /><b><br />Clean up your act</b><br /><br />You're probably already planning to quit smoking and avoid alcohol once you're pregnant, but do your baby a favor and start now. You want to plant that fertilized egg in a body that's already as healthy as it can be.<br /><br /><b>Smoking has been shown to decrease fertility and increase the chances of having a small-birth weight or premature baby</b>, not to mention increase your baby's chances of a number of health risks after he is born. It takes a while to "clear" the residue built up from smoking in your system, so the sooner you quit, the better. If your partner will quit with you, all the better: smoking can affect the quality of his sperm. Avoid second-hand smoke whenever possible, too. If you drink, it's a good idea to stop or at least cut back to light drinking.<br /><br />If you or your partner uses recreational drugs, you should definitely stop before becoming pregnant. Regular use of marijuana carries similar risks to tobacco smoking, including reduced fertility. And THC, the chemical in pot that gets you high, can cross the placenta and affect your unborn baby. Harder drugs have more serious risks. <br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-4887947811082041902014-12-05T11:18:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:18:50.788-08:00Five Safety Gift Ideas for Baby Shower Gifts<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHgkimFCQs5INhBcA2mkI9EXWoCUpz45I1B2RZyP3Jwa3Bzdkzf2gAcxBJ-drRb90Nu9u36PT5pbUPzrISYoPwVhJ56SOOiEwhW6O94cSUipLoaFpehXEdrQyMp2muLWKK2H6DJ_mvZEb/s1600/innocence-grace-2-1394374-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHgkimFCQs5INhBcA2mkI9EXWoCUpz45I1B2RZyP3Jwa3Bzdkzf2gAcxBJ-drRb90Nu9u36PT5pbUPzrISYoPwVhJ56SOOiEwhW6O94cSUipLoaFpehXEdrQyMp2muLWKK2H6DJ_mvZEb/s1600/innocence-grace-2-1394374-m.jpg" title="Five Safety Gift Ideas for Baby Shower Gifts" /></a></div>
<h3>
Safety Related Baby Shower Gift Ideas</h3>
Baby shower is a time to celebrate new birth, with the family's closest relatives and friends. Some women view baby showers as a great time to get their lady friends together and exchange labor stories. It is a wonderful occasion and something the new parents will always remember. The centerpiece of the baby shower is of course the gift giving.<br /><br />With so many things one baby needs, how do you choose the great baby shower gift the family will appreciate and use the most? A good choice of baby shower gifts is something that will be useful but also provide safety for the baby. Little lives are fragile, so giving a gift that can protect them is always a good idea.<br /><br /><h3>
Here are suggestions when it comes to safety related baby shower gifts;</h3>
<b><br />Munchkin Safety Bath Ducky</b><br /><br />Oh, rubber ducky, how much I love you! This is not an average bath time duck though, it comes with a safety disc on the bottom of the rubber duck that changes colors when the water is too hot. Parents are supposed to place the duck in water and leave it for a minute. It then tells them if the water is too hot for baby to be in. Munchkin Safety Bath Ducky comes in different designs, so you can choose the right one for a boy or a girl. The duck can also be used as a regular bath toy later on as the baby grows. This is a must have for all parents. Available at Target and costs less than $6.00.<br /><br /><b>Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Seat</b><br /><br />This bathtub is by far one of the best on the market. It comes with a comfy, safety hammock for newborns. The hammock allows the baby to be washed safely without putting the newborn in water. This is especially helpful for newborns that still have the umbilical cord. The bathtub grows with the baby, the hammock can be taken out and the baby can be placed in water to splash around. Fisher-Price Aquarium Bath Seat can be found at Target and Walmart, and costs around $30.<br /><b><br />A Good Health and First Aid Safety Kit</b><br /><br />There are several on the market, so I will not tell you that one is better than the other. Look for healthcare sets with thermometers and baby nail clippers. The baby nail clippers are different from adult ones as they are made for tiny fingers and prevent cuts. Nasal aspirators are always good to have around, even as the baby grows older. Most of these healthcare kits come in travel cases, so they can easily be placed in the diaper bag and available on the go. A baby safety kit for the car is also a must. No matter where the parents drive to with the baby along for the ride, the safety kit is there just in case anything should ever happen. The safety kit can also be used for adult, so a good idea all around.<br /><b><br />Innovia Earcheck Middle Ear Monitor</b><br /><br />This is something I wish I would have gotten at my baby shower. Ear infections are bothersome for both the baby and the parent. The hardest part about ear infections is that we as parents cannot immediately recognize them. For my son, as an example, sometimes his earache symptoms were just teething symptoms. A product like this could have helped distinguish those signs. The ear check monitor is used to detect early signs of ear infections. Of course, parents should always take their baby to the pediatrician in case there are signs of an ear infection. The monitor does help distinguish between general fussiness or signs of an ear infection though, so certainly a good buy. The ear check monitor is around $50, which seems pricey but it a great safety product for new parents to have.<br /><b><br />Bumbo Baby Sitter</b><br /><br />I have to admit, I found this product to be odd looking at first. The Bumbo is considered a baby seat or a booster seat. It helps babies sit up, while comfortably wrapping around their little body to prevent any falls. It is ideal for babies who are just learning to sit up and cannot quite keep their posture. The baby can safely be placed in the Bumbo on the floor, and the baby can even be fed while sitting in it. This was something my family put to great use and my son loved it, until his legs got too chunky for it. Bumbo Baby Sitter can be found at any Target and Walmart, for around $40.<br /><br />There are great baby shower gift ideas, with many options to choose from. Whatever you choose to buy for the little one, consider the health and safety of the child. A baby shower gift that keeps safety in mind can also give the parents a peace of mind.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-91180360809092138172014-12-05T11:15:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:15:36.154-08:00Then There Were Two: My Experience With Infertility<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePmGligF1Hdn1di5IkUBSApmqZOfvHZnsMK-2G96tmZIHf_W20yUcJJEYMZ0z-dipiJAuetwB1ORAF9ZeigpFv8G8RhN7BGR4Zj33_KmAbf5S5XR62_FDML1Y5YPpSYenhBLfnHi80tUU/s1600/max-and-spaghetti-1413532-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePmGligF1Hdn1di5IkUBSApmqZOfvHZnsMK-2G96tmZIHf_W20yUcJJEYMZ0z-dipiJAuetwB1ORAF9ZeigpFv8G8RhN7BGR4Zj33_KmAbf5S5XR62_FDML1Y5YPpSYenhBLfnHi80tUU/s1600/max-and-spaghetti-1413532-m.jpg" title="Then There Were Two: My Experience With Infertility" /></a></div>
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I was younger than she was. She was already a mother, and I had not fathered a child. We wanted a child together. There would one major obstacle; her tubes were tied, so we thought it would be so easy as to untie them. We quickly made an appointment with her OBGYN doctor to ask what types of options we would have to get pregnant. Then we started our journey of hopes, shattered dreams, and miracles.<br /><br />After our first doctor visit, we quickly realized that we needed to really sit down and talk about the serious nature of what we were trying to do. Untying her tubes would mean surgery and a possible reduction by 20 or more percent of my wife's fertility. This would mean I needed to be rather strong in that department, which was not even a thought for me. I was young, strong, and healthy. Per the doctor's orders, he recommended I get checked before doing any surgery on my wife, to make sure we would have the best possible environment on both sides to increase our chance of getting pregnant. Our hopes were high, we thought one more test, and we will be on our way. As it turned out, I would fail the test. I had a low sperm count, low functional sperm count, and my chances of getting anyone pregnant were slim to none. Given my Wife's condition on top of mine, our chances were literally impossible to conceive without a miracle. We were not ready to give up just yet, so we searched and studied procedures and doctors who specialized in these areas near our home.<br /><br />We discovered In-Vitro Fertilization. We thought it was worth exploring. After a consultation, things were looking up. We were perfect subjects for the process. There would be no need to untie tubes, and the doctors would pick the only few good quality sperm I could produce, fertilize my Wife's best quality eggs with it, and we would be on our way. We were excited and enrolled ourselves in the process. Then we were hit with the price. I was slapped by depression…again. I did not have $30,000 to spend, and was not making enough money to support a loan that big. Then we found out in the state of Hawaii insurance will pay in full one time for people suffering from infertility such as myself. We were finally getting somewhere. The process was long, with many doctor visits and sacrifices to get it right. We failed. They implanted two of our very best embryos, and we did not get pregnant. We had four embryos left, three of fair quality and one of poor quality. We tried another cycle with two fair embryos, and we failed again. I was at the end of my rope. I gave up. I felt like I could not meet my wife and the doctors half way due to weakness to make it happen.<br /><br />My wife, ever determined to use the last two embryos we had left, of fair and poor quality, found another IVF doctor. I did not want to do it. I could not go through another failure. My wife enrolled us anyway, without my knowledge. When I found out, I couldn't be upset; she was still fighting when I gave up for the two of us. I reluctantly agreed to try one more time, but this would be the last time. We entered the exhausting process of shots, medicines, and tests. She got pregnant from less than good quality embryos! We went to our first ultrasound, wondering if it was a boy or a girl. The doctor turned the screen toward us and said, "And then there were two." The poor quality embryo was growing also! Today I am the proud father of twins, a boy and a girl. We had hopes of conceiving, shattered dreams through failed attempts, and the miracle of what made it despite the odds.<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12701726759706914926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3460191908077233298.post-73396104580875685372014-12-05T11:13:00.002-08:002014-12-05T11:13:43.775-08:00The Top Five Things Every Guy Should Know About Pregnancy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jT_vheRtNEQhYjz_9Wti4d73XjXu-5d3cmuSMBQphG2A5kfzP53pImmToDsrRVm07eiSLkjALrUluE4mjooAWwMPO8z_bvZi3B9xc9nBWKuTIFanN8y3hLEUJsC8S5puBrs58KMTfLNr/s1600/happy-family-1389105-m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jT_vheRtNEQhYjz_9Wti4d73XjXu-5d3cmuSMBQphG2A5kfzP53pImmToDsrRVm07eiSLkjALrUluE4mjooAWwMPO8z_bvZi3B9xc9nBWKuTIFanN8y3hLEUJsC8S5puBrs58KMTfLNr/s1600/happy-family-1389105-m.jpg" title="The Top Five Things Every Guy Should Know About Pregnancy" /></a></div>
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Pregnancy is an amazing journey for both man and woman. The roller coaster is at times joyous, surreal, and even frightening. Like most men, I thought pregnancy was something that happened around men, not to them. I could not have been more wrong.<br /><br />These are the five things I wish I would have known before I saw those two blue lines:<br /><br /><b>1. Your relationship has changed.</b><br /><br />The way you view one another will never be the same. This is a good thing. She is the mother of your child and you are the father of hers.<br /><br />I found myself very protective and looking at her and the way people interacted with her in a whole new light. I would not call this jealousy, just caution. I felt an overwhelming need to protect her and my child, and yes, at times I overreacted.<br /><br /><b>2. She is pregnant, not disabled.</b><br /><br />In the beginning I wanted to do it all for her. Chores, work, errands, anything and everything I could think of to help her. It was nice at first, but after about three weeks I was worn ragged and she was often frustrated by my overbearing efforts.<br /><br />Pregnant women are capable and often energetic. Be helpful, but do yourself a favor and don't treat her like she is already in the hospital.<br /><br /><b>3. Libido fluctuations.</b><br /><br />This may be taboo, but for the first few months her desire to get intimate was insatiable. I thought I had won the sexual lottery. Don't be fooled into thinking this is your new sexual norm.<br /><br />Hormones are incredible entities, and hers will be going haywire. In my experience, there are times of great abundance and unfortunately seasons of drought. Don't take the times of scarcity personally, and make sure she knows how attractive she is to you both inside and out.<br /><b><br />4. Physical reconstruction.</b><br /><br />Her body will be changing rapidly and often painfully. Tailbones ache, hips and feet will be sore. Her breasts will look the best they ever have, but proceed with caution. These too will be severely uncomfortable (and yes, it is apparently normal for nipples to become noticeably darker).<br /><br /><b>5. Sacrifices.</b><br /><br />Consider having to become pregnant. Women have to be careful about the foods they eat, the medicines they take, and the environments they experience. Pregnancy limits a woman in a plethora of ways. They can't drink, eat a rare steak, or lift anything of significant weight.<br /><br />She can't be the only one making sacrifices. Do yourself a favor and give up the late nights with the guys, smoke-filled bars, or any of the pre-pregnancy things that you probably did when you were dating.<br /><br />Your life has changed. I'm not advocating that you spend all of your free time as one, but she will appreciate you giving up your Thursday guy's night to cook her dinner and watch a movie.<br /></div>
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