Ways to Increase Your Chances of Twins

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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.

Fertility medications
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!

Folic Acid
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.

Dairy
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!

Wait
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.

Cassava
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

The Interrelationship Between Health, Safety and Nutrition in Children

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The Connection Between Health, Safety and Nutrition

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How to Deal With Your Loss After a Molar Pregnancy

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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.

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?

Allow yourself to grieve in your own way

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.

Take some time to yourself and do the things you enjoy

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.

Talk to someone you trust -- but only when you are ready

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.

Be there for your partner and allow him to express his feelings

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.

Find ways to keep yourself busy over the next year

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.

Speak with your doctor about visiting a grief counselor

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.

Women's Weight Loss After Menopause

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Menopause Changes Your Body's Biomechanics and Can Affect How You Lose Weight!

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)

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.

Women's Weight Loss after Menopause

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Why Hospital Maternity Ward Tours Are Important During Pregnancy

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Another Way for Expectant Parents to Prepare for the Birth

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.

Why Are Hospital Maternity Ward Tours Important During Pregnancy?

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.

Different Maternity Wards Operate By Very Different "Hospital Policies"

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.

Ask Lots of Questions During Pregnancy To Avoid Being Surprised

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:

What are the c-section and induction rates of this hospital?

How many people are allowed in the delivery room?

Can the expectant father or birth partner accompany the baby at all times while it's being bathed, etc.?

Is the pregnant woman allowed to move around freely and bathe or shower during labor?

Can the woman choose to give birth in the position most comfortable for her?

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!

Why Are You Supposed to Sleep on Your Left Side During Pregnancy?

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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.

Why sleeping on your back is a bad idea
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.
 
Why your left side, not your right?
 
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.

What happens if you sleep in the "wrong" position?
 
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.

If you can't sleep on your left side...
 
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.

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.

What You Really Need to Buy for Your New Baby

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It's Not as Much as You Think


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.

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.

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.

Feeding

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.

Changing

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.

Sleeping

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.

Keeping Baby Warm

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.

Safety

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.

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.