Monday, February 4, 2013

Home Remedies for Pregnancy Complications - Safe Effective and Economical


Pregnancy period is the most exciting period of a woman's life which with excitement also brings some complications, but today there are many home remedies available for these pregnancy complications. These pregnancy problems can be in the form of nausea, stretch marks, fatigue, swelling or undesired pains.

Nausea or morning sickness during pregnancy is the initial symptom of pregnancy. It can prove to be troublesome when out for some work. This pregnancy complication can be cured by taking some medicines prescribed by the doctor. But, when a home remedy is available for curing a problem then why should one go for medicines.

Yes, there are many Home remedies available for overcoming this pregnancy complication. These are briefly mentioned as below.

  • One should have frequent meals and never keep her stomach empty. Try taking fruits, leafy-vegetables or fat-free snacks instead of taking fried and fatty food. It is advisable that a pregnant woman should take food with high fiber content.

  • Drink water frequently as possible.

  • When a pregnant woman is feeling nauseous she can have fresh lime soda and if soda isn't available at that time then she can sniff a fresh lemon peel.

  • Try staying away from strong odors.

    Another pregnancy complication that can be faced by a pregnant woman is stretch marks. During pregnancy, a woman usually gains weight but sometimes they gain excess weight which results in stretch marks. It is advisable to start taking preventive measures against stretch marks as soon as pregnancy is confirmed. Few of the home remedies for facing pregnancy complications are listed below,


  • Application of a moisturizing agent like cocoa butter helps in regaining the elasticity of the skin.

  • Almond oil and lavender oil are considered a good source of Vitamin K and Vitamin E. Massaging with these oils on the affected areas reduces and even prevents stretch marks. Therefore, every expected mother should regularly have an oil massage.

  • Ground coffee beans into powder and mix it with any hand lotion. Rub the mixture on the stretch marks for about 60 seconds and then wipe off using warm water. Do it twice a day and this will surely help in reducing stretch marks.

  • Another home remedy to reduce these unwanted stretch marks is to apply a mixture of turmeric and curd to your stomach and waist before going for a bath. Leave it for fifteen minutes and then wash off.

  • Since an important reason of getting stretch marks is uncontrolled weight gain. Therefore, you should regularly exercise or do yoga because exercises not only tones but also keeps the muscles firm.

  • Another remedy for countering pregnancy risk of stretch marks is application of Vaseline intensive care lotion (which is available in almost all the houses).

  • Another home remedy for this pregnancy complication is to rub apricot scrub on the affected area. It helps in reducing stretch marks easily.
  • As can be seen, pregnancy is a stage where a woman faces various complications relating to her health. However, most of these pregnancy complications can be cured easily by some home remedies.

    Sunday, February 3, 2013

    The Benefits of Massage For Infants


    As a new parent it is daunting knowing exactly what activity to introduce to your baby and what value it will bring to your baby's life. You want to give your baby the best, the best love care and attention. Yet it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information available to you. I remember when my daughters were new-born I was so confused about the array of baby products available...do you buy this gadget, feed your baby this formula or take her to every mother-baby group....It was all too much. I wanted something, simple, affordable, and brought joy to the parenting process. That is why I started baby massage.

    What Is Baby /Infant Massage?

    Baby massage consists of a series of gentle simple stroking movements over your baby's body. You can undress your baby and massage her as part of her daily care routine or you can slip in a quick massage during the day when she is wearing her clothes.

    What Are The Benefits Of Baby Massage?

    If you have ever received a massage you will know how relax, energised and stretched you feel afterwards. Baby massage has the same benefit for your baby.

    There are many physical and psychological benefits from giving your baby a gentle massage.

    Five Main Benefits of Baby Massage

    1. Improves Confidence. Baby massage helps you to get used to touching your baby. If you are apprehensive or unsure how to handle your baby, giving her a simple massage can help you feel more confident and assured in your ability to carry and touch your baby.

    2. Enhances Communication. Every time you massage your baby, you pick up non verbal and verbal cues about how they feel and what parts of their body like stroking. This information is useful if your baby feels distressed, unhappy or cold. You learn how to respond quicker to their needs.

    3.Eases Parental Stress. Parenting is stressful and hard work. Giving your baby a massage allows you time to sit down, relax and enjoy quiet time with your baby. The more relaxed and comfortable you are it becomes easier for your baby to settle and enjoy a good nights sleep. A definite boom for you.

    4.Stimulates Circulation and Digestion. As you massage your baby you help to stimulate all her bodily systems especially the digestive and nervous system. This makes it easier for your baby to settle and be contented. Feeding and sleeping play a central role in your baby's life. So the easier it is for your daughter to digest her food and sleep the happier she grows.

    5.Encourages Bonding.If you had a difficult birth or your baby has a medical problem or you suffer from post natal depression, it is hard to bond with your baby. Massaging encourages you to slowly get used to looking after your baby and spending quality time with her.

    Are There Are Disadvantages Of Baby Massage?

    Although massage is fine, it is best to wait till your baby has had their 6-8 weeks check before progressing on more advance massage techniques involving moving the hips. Always listen and respect your baby. if at any time they look distressed or uncomfortable, stop what you are doing and give them time to readjust and settle down.

    As your baby grows you can still give them a massage. My "babies" are now teenagers yet they still love me giving them their hand or foot massage as part of their "wind down- bedtime routine!".

    I urge you to find out more about the benefits of baby massage. Maybe there is a class near you or you can look online for in-depth articles and videos.

    Maternity Leave Short Term Disability Insurance


    Getting Short Term Disability Insurance is a smart thing to do before getting pregnant; this will cover normal labor and delivery. There are indeed benefits when one is self-employed and pregnant. Yes, this is a bit confusing. How can one get benefits when one is self-employed? With the Short Term Disability Insurance, having a maternity leave income can be generated for women who are planning and preparing for pregnancy.

    Getting the right plan is the first step in this endeavor; one should know the proper policies and the start of coverage. Considering some advantages, some Short Term Disability Insurance even covers pregnancy complications, postpartum disorders, illnesses, accidents and any similar situations. With this, getting pregnant has been made more financially sound and safe.

    Preparing for this kind of insurance is needed in order to make the most out of it. The policy should be started before getting pregnant in order to be within the qualification. Some or most have exclusion for nine months, it would be best to apply for this insurance ahead several months before conception. In this case, the delivery will be covered by the insurance.

    Women should check out the different Short Term Disability Insurance since some program do not provide or include maternity leave. Of course, insurance company though of this and they will lost a large amount of money with this kind of arrangement. In this regard, some insurance companies offer this kind of insurance coverage by groups. This is the main dilemma with this kind of insurance; women who are alone tend not to have this kind of support from the insurance. Simply put, women need to be part of a larger affiliation to achieve this kind of insurance support.

    As an example a certain insurance company will only sell a Short Term Disability Insurance with maternity and pregnancy leave to a company with a thousand and above workers. Considering that the company accepts the money from contractor checks then the support will be available to the aforementioned employees. Considering women who are self-employed, what needs to be done is to ask the insurance agency to acquire the payments from her and transfer it to the insurer.

    Overall, having a Short Term Disability Insurance is necessary in order to be financially sound during the periods of maternity and pregnancy. Even though it might be more complex to acquire this kind of insurance, coverage for self-employed women there is still a way to attain and get similar benefits. Now, it is time to do a bit of research about insurance companies that offers this kind of service. Short Term Disability Insurance provides utmost protection should one have an accident or even gets pregnant.

    Baby Cereal Feeding Schedule Should Be Properly Planned


    Behavioral changes in the baby like showing signs of hunger, even after the baby has had his regular feedings of formula bottle, indicate that the baby is ready for supplements. It is advisable to go slow as you prepare the baby food feeding schedule.

    The baby cereal feeding schedule must be designed around the feeding times, so that the child is better adapted to accepting solids in his diet. At first, the baby may just roll the cereal in the mouth before swallowing it. Therefore, one must include feedings or formula before and after giving solids to the baby.

    The newborn food feeding schedule must be very basic, where rich cereal is used to combine with formula or breast milk and it must be made in liquid form, so that the baby can swallow better.

    Some parents also like to combine infant cereal feeding schedule with bottle time, by pouring the cereal into the feeding bottle. This is not advisable, if you want to develop good eating habits in the baby.

    While administering the baby cereal feeding schedule, one must make sure that the baby is in an upright position, so that he is able to swallow better. This is done to avoid any choking during mealtime.

    The newborn cereal feeding routine must be designed to make the baby learn to accept his food with a spoon and swallow it while sitting upright. The baby cereal feeding routine is fortified with iron, and other vitamins that are essential for growth and development in your baby.

    Worrying Too Much About the Future - 3 Real Solutions To Experience Personal Peace From Anxiety


    "Worry is practical if using and affront to a loving God!" - R. H. Mounce

    Struggling With the Pain of Worry

    Billions of people are worrying too much about the future! Worrying will give the most healthy person a tendency towards all servers and other illnesses. A study has discovered that most Americans whose lifestyles include material possessions, packed refrigerators and food pantries, with extra money lying on the dresser, have a level of anxiety that is five times (5X) higher than that of Nigeria, which is overpopulated, deceased, and most of the population do not know WHERE, WHEN, and HOW they are going to find the next meal!

    True Worry (anxiousness) is something outside and beyond our own control. For example, being anxious about your love one's surgery or getting that long awaited promotion is considered True Worry. However, being anxious that you will fail your next school exam or overdraw your bank account is merely poor stewardship...NOT true worry.

    When I worry too much about the future, it's usually because I feel "torn apart inside," from him and him experiencing a WAR within, causing an Inferno of Internal Emotion. Thus, I will often make things that do not genuinely matter...to suddenly MATTER!

    The fact remains that so many people in this world are struggling with the pain of unnecessary worry and are clueless as to HOW to find a solution towards peace...a Serenity...a peaceful calm within their being. If you are one who is seeking that kind of solution, then here are three (3) truthful solutions, taken from Matthew 6:25-34, that will help you to overcome worrying too much for the future and begin to experience and enjoy personal peace in your life!

    1. Choose To Trust God

    A first step and real life solution to comfort your pain about worrying too much about the future is to be aware and realize that each of us have a choice to either trust in God's provision and strength or to worry (vrs. 25). Having the ability to make this choice is a luxury we often take for granted because it's a freedom that allows us the personal privilege and opportunity to make the difference in the world.

    Worry takes our focus away from God and places it on the challenge or trial you may be facing. Therefore, the challenge appears bigger than our God! Jesus warns us that worrying too much about the future and for the things in this life is a distraction, which disturbs our joy in God and becomes a barrier to the true unhindered relationship that he desires to have with us. You cannot genuinely help people if you are worrying too much about the future.

    Therefore, choose to place your trust in the ONE who can help ( Proverbs 3:5-6) instead of worrying.

    2. Consider God's Provisions

    A second step and real life solution to comfort your pain about worrying too much about the future is to ask God, through faith and believing, to help you rely on his provision for all your needs (vrs. 26, 28-30). God wants to provide for your need and promises to provide you a future of goodness and hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

    The Birds of the Air (vrs. 26)

    God provides for the birds of the air by providing food to eat, materials for nesting, and navigation to fly thousands of miles from one continent to another (vrs. 26). God also provides a hurting bird with a Community of Birds that help to carry the burden as the hurting bird heals. You must become aware and realize that being involved in a Community of Support is imperative for your success if you want to conquer worrying too much about the future.

    The Flowers of the Field (vrs. 28-30)

    God also provides for the flowers of the field, every petal in every leaf. He provides for the right amount of sunlight and the correct season in order for flowers, trees, plants, grass and other vegetation to prosper and provide Oxygen and nutrients for our lives. So, are you not more precious, treasured, and valuable than the birds and flowers? Of course you are!

    Casting all your anxieties on Him, because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7

    Unfortunately, when you are unnecessarily worrying too much about the future, you create more stress and anxiety for your life. Here are just three (3) reasons worrying too much about the future is unhealthy.


    • worrying claims that God cannot be trusted and doesn't care

    • worrying just doesn't work (vrs. 27)

    • worrying blinds you to see the God already knows your need (vrs. 31-32)

    6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4: 6-7 (NIV)

    3. Commit To Seek God and Believe

    A third step and real life solution to comfort your pain about worrying too much about the future is to seek God for the provisional results (vrs. 33-34)! If you want peace from worrying too much about the future, then you must seek first His Kingdom (ways, plan for your life) and his righteousness (vrs. 33).

    In order to seek first the kingdom, we must begin by seeking first the King. - Andrew Murray
    Believe that you don't have to worry about the future because God has a tremendous plan for your life (Jeremiah 29:11 & Matthew 6:34). Have a confident assurance that you will experience true peace from anxiety because you have committed to seek God's plan and believe in His promises. When you need wisdom, ask for it! When you need answers, ask God to provide them.

    Your kingdom is a kingdom that will last forever.

    Your rule will continue for all time to come.

    The Lord is faithful and will keep all of his promises.

    He is loving toward everything he has made. - Psalm 145:13 (NIRV)

    5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. - James 1:5-7 (NIV)

    Solving Your Pain

    Because we tend to be worriers by nature, it's vital to your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health to make the CHOICE to trust God for his provisions, being keenly aware to CONSIDER His care for your needs, and to COMMIT to seeking Him and believing in Him. When you do this on a daily basis, you will discover that worrying too much about the future is not very beneficial for your immediate or future success.

    These three (3) solutions can comfort your pain and provide you with personal peace because, like sheep, we were not created to carry heavy and unnecessary burdens. We were created for Character, Community, and Compassion.

    In Conclusion

    Worrying too much about the future doesn't have to be your lifestyle. Although were often guilty of worrying doesn't mean it has to remain that way. Go ahead and choose to trust in God, consider His provisions, and commit to seek His plan and believe He cares for you. Be abundantly aware that there is a Community of Support for your business and for your life.

    So, don't worry, my friend! Be happy!

    Grants For Pregnant Teenagers


    Pregnant teenagers are a matter of great concern for the teen herself, her family and the community at large. The teen will need to shoulder the responsibilities of an unplanned baby without an income through a job, or a skill to do a job. A baby can be a setback to future plans of the teenager. The government and other organizations have recognized the problems of teenage mothers and the need for the baby to have stability and grants are provided to help teenage mothers to overcome obstacles in the life.

    The TOPS program is a scholarship program for teenage mothers. This program prevents teenage mothers from dropping out from school. The major part of the funding helps teenagers to pay for books and the rest is to help teenagers manage the expenses for their livelihood and for the baby. Funds are provided to establish shelters and homes for teenage mothers. Licensed day care facilities for teenage mothers to prevent them from missing out on an education are provided.

    Private grants help pregnant and parenting teens stay in school and study towards a diploma and obtain a marketable job skill through technical education. These grants are given to organizations to provide support services to the pregnant teen including health monitoring, tutoring, mentoring, enrollment and employment.

    Grants are given by religious groups to establish crisis pregnancy centers. In these centers teenagers are counseled to give birth to the child and not to undergo an abortion. Christian organizations that provide these services are Care net and Heartbeat International. Some centers are subsidized by the government. These centers also provide support to the teenager through the pregnancy. Some churches provide shelters and short or long stay homes for pregnant teenagers who are unable to get family help.

    The Government funds several support programs for pregnant teens. These programs focus on helping the teenager to stay in school till they graduate. Support services provided to the pregnant or parenting teen are healthcare, nutritional care, parenting advice and career planning. Special advice, mentoring and tutoring are provided in charter schools, technical schools and other schools to help pregnant and parenting teenagers through their education. Temporary assistance is provided for needy families. Food stamps are provided for the health of mother and child and special Medicaid benefits are provided for teenage mothers. The Women Children and Infants program provides nutritious food for teenage and parenting adolescents who are full time students in school.

    The Department of Health and Human Services of many states organizes comprehensive medical and support facilities for pregnant and parenting mothers under the age of 17. Social workers, nurses and therapists work together to help these women through their pregnancy and through the early years of motherhood. Shelters and residential schools to help these young women get an education while parenting their child are available.

    Pregnant teens are not condemned as they were in bygone times. Today, the government and society make every effort to look after the health and welfare of the adolescent mother and her child.

    How a Pregnancy Sleep Pillow Can Help You Catch Your Zzz's in Pregnancy


    One of the most precious gifts a pregnant mother can get is a good night's sleep. Unfortunately there are many factors working against the mother to be to get her much needed sleep. How can she get help? A pregnancy sleep pillow may be just what the doctor ordered.

    Many pregnant women experience sleep problems at some point in their pregnancy. It is completely natural so if the sandman hasn't paid a visit to your bedroom lately do not feel alone. There are many reasons why you may have difficulty sleeping during pregnancy. From more frequent urination, to backaches, to heartburn there are several factors working against the poor expectant mother.

    But, ironically, the biggest reason pregnant women have difficulty sleeping is because of the baby growing inside of them. As your baby grows the pressure they cause internally can make it difficult to get to sleep and stay asleep. If a woman is a natural back or stomach sleeper it can be even harder as it is difficult to sleep in either of these positions as the fetus grows.

    Doctors recommend that pregnant women sleep in the side sleeping position. There actually are a few reasons for this. Not only will it be more comfortable it actually is good for you and your baby. Specifically you want to sleep on your left side. This will keep pressure off of your liver. It also relieves pressure from major arteries that supply blood to the lower part of you body and legs. This allows better blood flow to your legs preventing swelling.

    Many women find it hard to maintain to a side sleeping position. They may toss and turn a little and find themselves on their back several times throughout the night. Then the pressure of their baby wakes them up. One of the best solutions to help an expectant mother maintain the side sleeping position and have a much more comfortable sleep is a maternity pillow, or also known as a pregnancy pillow.

    A pregnancy sleep pillow is full body pillow specifically designed to help a pregnant woman sleep comfortably by providing support to their growing tummy. They also help you to maintain the doctor recommended side sleeping position.