Maternity Leave in the USA - New Moms Around the World

I would like to discuss one very important topic: how new moms and their babies are protected in the USA. There are so many wonderful things in the USA, one of the richest countries on the globe. There are so many laws protecting this or that. Are new mothers protected as well in the USA?

The reason why I decided to talk about it, is because after having my first baby, I realized how difficult and challenging it is to be a working new Mom here in the USA. Just thinking that in 6 or 8 weeks after your baby is born, you have to go back to work and leave your baby with a care giver, would make you feel inadequate, guilty and depressed.

There is another reason why I decided to discuss this topic. Lately, on TV and other media sources, you may have heard reports that in most countries, new mothers have a lot longer maternity leave than in America. For example, in Russia, a pregnant woman has the right to leave her work for a maternity leave as early as after her 6th month of pregnancy. It is a well known fact that there is a possibility that a woman can have a baby earlier than her due date. It is also known that the last trimester in pregnancy is very difficult on a woman physically. She cannot sit for a prolonged time, her sleep at night is interrupted, and she has to eat or drink more frequently. There are some other important medical factors that a pregnant woman should consider to make sure she is safe. That is why, in some countries, women are allowed to leave their work and stay home during their last trimester. Caring? Yes! Thoughtful? Yes! Logical? Yes!

Let's continue about Russia. So, a women had a baby. How long can she stay home with her baby without worrying that she has to go back to work and leave her newborn child? Are you ready to hear it? 1.5 years! The company she works for, will hold her job for her. During her 1.5 years of maternity leave, she will receive almost the same amount of income she used to make before her pregnancy.

What does it mean for a stay-home new mom to be with a baby during his first year of life? There are countless benefits and some of them are:

1. She can fully devote herself to the baby.

2. She can enjoy motherhood by taking care of her precious baby days and nights.

3. Her baby and her are building a trust by being together all the time.

4. She doesn't need to leave her baby with a babysitter.

5. She can breast-feed her baby anytime during the day.

6. She can take a rest anytime when her baby is asleep if she feels tired or restless.

7. By staying at home, she avoids double-stress of working and worrying about her baby.

So, what is a working new Mom in America to do after giving birth to a new baby?

1. She cannot fully devote herself to the baby.

2. She cannot fully enjoy motherhood.

3. Her baby and her are not building a trust because of being separated.

4. She has to leave her baby with a babysitter.

5. If she breast-feeds her baby, she cannot do it during her work hours.

6. She cannot take a rest during the day after sleepless nights.

7. By working and taking care of the baby after her business hours, she has to deal with extra stress which would make her mental and physical health more vulnerable in the short and long run.

No doubt, it is very beneficial for everybody: a baby, a mother, the family and the society when a new mom stays at home an extended time. A woman wouldn't feel guilty leaving her baby after 6 weeks. It is better for her physical and mental health. It is very healthy for a baby to spend his most precious part of life with his loving mother.

What is the most important thing in life? Most of us would say, it is family. Why aren't new moms and their babies protected in the USA? What has to happen before our lawmakers decide to do something about it? Isn't it time to make some changes and respect new moms by protecting motherhood in the USA as the majority of the world does?

Signs & Symptoms of Stress, Anxiety & Depression

If you think that you may be suffering from stress, anxiety or depression check out these signs and symptoms and seek some professional help. Even if only one or two of these signs are familiar to you, you should read on and know what to look out for to avoid getting worse. It is a good idea to always surround yourself with friends and family and know how and where you can seek help. So without any further ado, here are some signs of depression that I have learned, from personal experience, to look out for:

Erratic Moods

If you are not properly medicated or otherwise treated for depression, you can become very irritated, moody and frustrated. Your moods may be erratic and it might even take you a few days to realize. it is highly likely that you have also been upsetting the people around you, such as your family and work colleagues, without even realizing it.

Fatigue or Restless Sleep

This is not necessarily a sign of depression, but more a contributing factor or aggravator of it. If your mind will not stop working at one million miles an hour, or your dreams are waking you up in a state of panic, then you should definitely seek some professional medical advice to help you to prevent things from getting worse. The answer may be as simple as changing your diet or getting some exercise so try this first before you outlay a lot of money on expensive medical appointments and medications.

Weight Gain or Weight Loss

Stress, anxiety and depression can affect people in different ways and for different reasons. Similarly, different people will exhibit different signs. In my experience, I notice that I tend to lose my appetite and significantly lose weight in the days leading up to a really depressing mood. And I do not have much weight to lose, so small changes in my weight can be quite significant. This is also despite the side effects of my prescription medication which increases my appetite. On the other hand, other people tend to comfort eat and gain weight before becoming depressed. In either case, changes in your weight, particularly if it is weight gain, can be a cause of stress, anxiety or depression in many people.

Withdrawal

A sudden withdrawal of contact with friends, family and work colleagues is obvious. However, if this occurs gradually over time, it is possible that no-one will notice until it is too late. Remember, it is possible for a person to be physically present in a social setting but emotionally or psychologically distant. Always make sure you are surrounded by people and if you cannot interact, then it is usually a good idea to spend time with your family.

Loss of Interest in Personal Presentation

This is possibly one of the most obvious signs to see when someone is experiencing trouble in their personal life. A person who is preoccupied with their troubling thoughts will often become lazy when it comes to applying make up, re-dying coloured hair or treating acne. In some cases, even failing to bathe can be obvious!

Memory Loss and Operating on Auto Pilot

This is one of the last signs that you might acknowledge, as everyone gets weighed down from time to time with the pressures of life. You should know for yourself once you have reached the point where nothing interests you, and you are simply doing what is required of you by everyone else, and nothing more. If your demeanor is not excitable and your stare is empty, if you have trouble engaging in conversation or making eye contact, then I strongly encourage you to find a family member to just be around. If you think you are becoming forgetful, often your memory is quite fine, it is just the case that you were not listening properly because you were caught up in your own thoughts.

Even if you are medicated for stress, anxiety or depression and are under the supervision of a medical professional, if any of these signs are familiar to you, it might be worthwhile requesting a second opinion to ensure that you have been prescribed the right medication for you. If, after reading this article, you have some concerns for someone close to you be careful and tactful in how you raise them. Be prepared to listen patiently, do not push for more information then the person is willing to give you initially, and make sure that they are aware that you are there to help if they need someone. Do not take an accusatory approach or make the person feel cornered or ashamed - they are probably feeling bad enough already.

Top Ten Health Insurance Tips to Consider When Buying Health Insurance

Whether you are switching health insurer or buying health insurance for the first time there are a few points that you should consider before you make up your mind:

1. Cover for private accommodation in public hospitals in most cases does not guarantee fast access to treatment. Make sure you have a plan with some access to private hospitals. Even if it only covers a portion of the charges it's better than not having any access to these hospitals or being faced with extremely large bills for treatment you needed in a hurry.

2. Check that hospitals local to you are not excluded and don't have excesses applied to accommodation. Most people prefer to be close to home when they are sick or in hospital so that friends or relatives can visit or be close at hand should they be needed in an emergency.

3. Check that there are no shortfalls on specific treatments or procedures such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, orthopaedic. Where there is a shortfall on orthopaedic treatments consider the likelihood of you needing any of these treatments in the near future. Young people are less likely to need these treatments than older people. You may be able to upgrade in the future if affordability is an issue right now.

4. Check that you have full cover for day case treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and colonoscopies in private hospitals - these procedures account for 60 -70% of all health insurance claims.

5. Try to ensure you have cover for direct settlement MRI and CT scan centres which are local to you. This means you won't have to wait to get access and you don't need to pay if they are classified as 'direct settlement' centres.

6. Try to ensure you have cover for major cardiac procedures in all the main private hospitals and hi-tech or specialist centres

7. Check that there is a low outpatient excess, this will ensure you get more money back from your outpatient expenses.

8. If you want cover for day-to-day benefits such as GP, Physiotherapist and dentist ensure that you are getting long-term value for money - check the cover for each benefit & how many visits are covered per benefit. Do you really need this cover right now? If you have young children or you are undergoing regular treatment it may be worthwhile however if not then weigh up how much you are paying for these benefits and how much you are likely to use them. Some of these plans can cost five of six times the price of seeing a doctor so if you usually only attend a doctor once or twice a year it may not be worthwhile having this type of cover.

9. Check for any other benefits that may be of interest to you - health screening, maternity benefits, kid's benefits etc.

10. Consider the health insurance needs of all the family individually - consider different plan & levels of cover for each. You might choose to have the children on one level plan and the adults on another.

IVF Implantation Help With Food

In general, doctors agree that once you hit the implantation part of your IVF cycle, there isn't much that you can do to make things go your way. If your embryo is healthy and your womb is ready, you'll get pregnant, but if not, you won't. However, acupuncturists and other natural therapists seem to agree that certain foods actually can help with IVF implantation in different ways. There are different foods that are recommended for help with implantation, but walnuts, pineapples, and yams are some of the most common. While the scientific evidence behind these claims isn't too concrete, there is plenty of evidence from everyday people who have used these foods to increase their chances of getting pregnant through IVF.

Walnuts, Why Not?

Most nuts have high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids, which are helpful in treating infertility in general. In fact, in ancient Greek mythology, the walnut was actually tied to fertility in many ways, and it was used in fertility rites. The healthy fats in walnuts help boost sex hormones, and they can also help regulate the menstrual cycle. Walnuts also have a ton of other vitamins and minerals in them, so they can help boost fertility and your chances of implantation.

While we aren't exactly sure why walnuts help implantation rates, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that they do. Some people think that it's the omega 3 fatty acids and the B vitamins in walnuts that help the egg implant itself in the womb.

Pineapple - A Controversial Helper

Many women and acupuncturists swear by pineapple's ability to help with implantation. For one thing, the bromelain in pineapple, which is a nutrient that it contains in higher concentration than pretty much every other food, is said to be an anti-inflammatory and also to increase cervical mucus. The increase in cervical mucus can make the uterus more "sticky," which can lead to increased rates of implantation. The most bromelain in the pineapple is found near the core, so many acupuncturists and natural therapists recommend eating the whole pineapple including the core.

One thing to note, though, is that there is also some evidence that pineapple juice in high quantities can cause cramps and can even cause spontaneous abortion. There's pretty much no danger of this if you eat just a cup of actual pineapple each day - which will be less concentrated than the juice squeezed out of the pulp. Just be sure that you keep things in balance and don't overdo it.

Yams for Fertility

Here's an interesting fertility fact: the Ibeji tribe in Nigeria eats yams pretty much every day, and they have the highest rate of fraternal twins in the world. Wild yams - not to be confused with North American sweet potatoes, which are sometimes called yams - have chemicals in them similar to estrogen and progesterone. They can help a woman produce more eggs during her cycle, which is one reason the Ibeji tribe has such a high incidence of twins, and they can also help with implantation by boosting a woman's levels of progesterone in her first trimester.

Eating a Balanced Diet

While all of these foods have been shown to help with implantation during IVF, the most important thing that you can do is to eat a healthy, balanced diet on a regular basis. Keeping your body healthy is essential to keeping your uterus and embryo healthy. Eat plenty of brightly-colored fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins, and get your three servings of full-fat milk products a day. Plus, you should participate in healthy but low-impact exercises like yoga and qigong, both of which have been shown to boost IVF success rates.

How to Lose Weight After Pregnancy - Simple Tips That Will Help You Lose Weight Quickly

It can sometimes be difficult to lose weight after pregnancy. Especially when you're mainly concerned with the health and well being of your baby. But, now that you have some time on your hands, you're probably wanting to get rid of those pounds that gained throughout the pregnancy.

So, what I'm going to do is share with you some tips on how to lose weight after pregnancy. That way, you will know what to do right now to start losing weight quickly and safely.

The tips on losing weight are:

1. The first thing you can do to burn off those unwanted pounds is eat small, healthy meals every two to three hours a day. This will help you lose weight because it'll help boost your metabolism. Which will help your body burn off the fat. Some of the foods you should eat includes yogurt, cottage cheese, lean meats, veggies, and fruits just to name a few.

2. Another tip on how to lose weight after pregnancy is to workout. If you feel like and have the strength, you can weight train, do cardio, or take a fitness class. Pilates, yoga, and aerobics will help you take the weight off. But if you're still tired from having your baby, you can just walk around your neighborhood and stretch. This will get your muscles active, which will help your body increase its metabolism.

3. The third thing you can do to lose weight after having your baby is to breast feed your child. This will help you burn calories and is a great way to burn fat. It's also good for your baby, too.

Postnatal Herbal Remedies For Expulsion and Delivery of the Placenta and Production of Breastmilk

Giving birth is quite an experience! The joy, the anticipation, the bonding... For most women it is exhilarating, but it is also exhausting. Even after you deliver your baby, you still need to deliver the placenta, and care for your newborn child. Of course, there are several chemical options to assist you during this stage of delivery in the hospital, if you're considering that route, but there are natural alternatives too. There are several natural herbs that you can use to assist in the expulsion and delivery of the placenta and production of breast milk.

Unlike harsh conventional treatments, natural herbal remedies will not cause side effects. Take Black Cohosh (also known as Cimicifuga racemosa), for example. While never recommended during pregnancy, if taken after you give birth, it helps to relieve the pain of uterine contractions and calms emotional stress. Black Cohosh is also excellent for speeding up the third stage of labor (delivery of the placenta) because it produces endometrial stimulation by increased blood flow to the pelvic area. (Parsley, Juniper, and Mugwort, as well as Angelica Root, are other herbs that can be used to promote uterine contractions and expel the placenta.)

Taken with a fennel seed compound, tea or tincture, it is a wonderful combination to also very effectively promote breast-milk production. Fennel also helps to relax the intestines and reduce bloating caused by digestive stress, also common during pregnancy. It also works as an antispasmodic and has anti-inflammatory properties. Another well-known use for Fennel is to make "Gripe Water" for your baby's colic, utilizing those wonderful intestinal relief properties. (Fenugreek, Caraway and Milk Thistle may also be used to promote milk production after delivery.)

You may also consider Cramp Bark (also known as Viburnum prunifolium) to relax the tension and ease the stress of childbirth. Cramp Bark also relieves pain, specifically in the pelvic area and originating from the uterus. But as a muscle relaxant, it also affects other organs, including the intestines and the skeletal muscles. Cramp bark is considered the most potent uterine antispasmodic of the various Viburnum species because it contains more of the antispasmodic constituent scopoletin.

Other wonderful additions to your postnatal herbal apothecary are Pasque Flower (also known as Pulsatilla vulgaris), which is widely used for relief of nervous tension, and Red Raspberry Leaf. Pasque Flower has analgesic properties known to be particularly useful during childbirth and it is highly effective in treating pain and exhaustion in women. Pasque Flower also improves mood and is helpful for preventing post-natal depression. Red Raspberry Leaf is high in vitamins and minerals and will also help the uterus to recover and regain its size and shape quickly.

You may find various postnatal products on the market that contain these wonderful herbs in therapeutic measures. Always remember to consult your OB/GYN, midwife or doula before adding supplements to your pregnancy regimen. And NEVER take Black Cohosh or Cramp Bark prior to the date of delivery.

IUI Pregnancy - The Right Solution For Infertility

The idea of them having kids is one thing that makes couples always excited. It is said that kids are not just the fruits of a couple's love for each other but they also benefit a lot out of that love. Besides this, for a lot of couples starting a family is usually the next step in the relationship. However, some may still have problems in having kids. These may be because of two main reasons: one is infertility and the other one is sexual dysfunctions brought about by psychological concerns. Of course, the major step to take is to ask for medical help from a specialist.

Thanks to the advancement in modern science, there are now a couple of options for treatment for couples who have been having infertility concerns. Most of these actually fall under the category of artificial insemination. Of all the artificial insemination methods, however, the most commonly used and the most effective is called the intrauterine insemination or IUI. A safe and sure approach, IUI pregnancy has provided many happy couples with kids, the top option of those who cannot make children in the natural way.

IUI is recommended to couples who have been working to have kids for more than a year now. Before the female starts with the treatment, the couple must first subject themselves to examinations. This is done to make sure who among them has the infertility concern. With these tests that they go through, the man is tested if his sperm has normal functions. This involves finding out the sperm count, mobility, and sperm morphology. On the other hand, the female is also tested if she has the regular ovulation cycle, has open fallopian tubes, and if her uterine cavity is normal.

The process of having an IUI pregnancy is actually simple and quick. What can take time are the tests and complying to other requirements to avail of it. Basically, it just involves injecting sperm into the uterus. By directly injecting the sperm there, the chances of not being able to conceive with the female egg is greatly minimized. This method can be or can be not complemented by the use of infertility drugs. Taking these medicines would raise the chance of your getting pregnant. However, the heightened fertility can also make multiple pregnancies possible. It is suggested that a couple should first consult a doctor on the safety of taking in fertility drugs prior to an IUI treatment.