Post Partum Care in Dogs

In most cases, the experience of accompanying and assisting your bitch through pregnancy, labor, whelping, and weaning is a rewarding and joyful experience. Sometimes, however, things do not always go as planned. Post-partum care for your dog is as important for her survival as it is for humans. For this reason, one should have an understanding of what might be expected in the event something goes wrong. Education and quick action could be the difference between life and death.

Perhaps one of the most immediate dangers to your bitch after giving birth is hemorrhaging. Most births will exhibit large amounts of watery fluid that can range in color from clear to green, and pink to black. These are typically normal. However, if your dog shows signs of bleeding- perhaps from a ruptured or prolapsed uterus, then she needs immediate emergency veterinary treatment. X-rays or ultrasounds may be used to determine what the cause of the bleeding is, and in some cases surgery or blood transfusions might be necessary.

Mastitis, an infection of milk-producing tissue, can be easily detected by hand. If the base of one or all of your dog's glands are hot and tender, this may be a sign of mastitis. Often, the bitch may be unwilling or reluctant to allow puppies to nurse- especially on that gland. Grasping the nipple by the base, gently squeeze with your thumb and forefinger. If a thick yellow substance emerges, possibly tinted with blood, then mastitis is likely. As with hemorrhages, mastitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment- especially if the bitch is vomiting. Treatment of mastitis is aggressive and needs to be initiated as soon as possible.

Eclampsia is a serious condition caused by the malfunction of the parathyroid gland. This gland regulates blood calcium levels. If your bitch is restless, nervous, distressed, suffers convulsions- especially on her side with intense leg movements, weakness, or coma, your dog may be suffering from eclampsia. This condition can progress over a period of minutes or hours. If left untreated, the bitch will almost certainly die. However, if she has not slipped into a deep coma, this condition can be reversed in just a few minutes with an intravenous calcium infusion. It is a very simple procedure and produces immediate results. It should be noted that some dogs do not respond well to this treatment if they have been suffering it for a prolonged period of time. For this reason, it is important to seek immediate treatment.

Metritis can have a number of causes, not the least of which can be poor whelping practices such as a dirty environment or bedding. It can also result from retained placentas or pups. This infection of the uterus will typically follow a prolonged labor, but not in all cases. Symptoms include a foul smelling discharge from the vulva, fatigue, vomiting, fever, and dehydration. Left untreated, this infection can spread to other areas of the body, causing the dog to become toxic. Veterinary treatment is crucial. Treatment involves surgery in most cases, although there are more conservative, but riskier, alternatives.

You know your dog. If she exhibits behaviors or other signs that are unfamiliar to you, and shows any physical symptoms that cause you concern, do not hesitate to call a veterinarian. You can't prevent all possible problems, but you can prepare for them by being educated, and having the right resources.

Trying to Get Pregnant? Discover 4 Tips to Help You Conceive Naturally Within 8 Weeks

Firstly, I would like to thank you for viewing my article - I hope that you find it informative, and i truly believe that I can save you long term pain, frustration and save you tons of money. Take just a few minutes to read this before you end up spending money on expensive drugs and unhealthy infertility treatments - i can assure you, you haven't seen anything like this before! Plan and find the best way to conceive by reading these effective tips:

Tip 1 - Try avoiding lubricants. Some kinds change the acid balance in the vagina, which can stop sperm from swimming properly. Don't douche either after sex or any other time. A survey of 840 women revealed that women who douched were less likely to get pregnant than women who didn't. The study didn't reveal why, but some doctors think douching can also change the acid balance in the vagina.

Tip 2 - One of the most important tips when trying to get pregnant is to know your fertile days. You only ovulate once a month, and you're most likely to get pregnant if your have sex shortly before you ovulate. Your fertile days are approximately in the middle of your menstrual cycle. Learn the signs of ovulation and try keeping an ovulation chart to help you plan.

Have plenty of sex, especially during your fertile days. Many people believe that having sex every day decreases a man's sperm count, and that he should take every other day off to "recharge". But for normal men, sex every day is just fine. Trying every day during your fertile days may actually increase your chance of conceiving. Don't turn it into a chore, though. Trying to make a baby should be fun and joyful!

Tip 3 - There is no firm evidence that certain positions help to get pregnant. If penetration is achieved and ejaculation occurs then there is a good chance of getting pregnant whatever the position you are adopting.

When ejaculation occurs, the sperm are shot up inside the vagina right up to the mouth of the cervix and even higher, the sperm from there will start to move upwards aided by vaginal mucus towards the moth of the fallopian tubes where most fertilisation actually takes place.

The only reason for thinking that certain positions are better than others is gravity.

Some women think there is something wrong when they get up after lovemaking (even if it is the next morning), and have a flood of sperm flow out of the vagina. This is normal, but rest assured that there is still a significant amount of sperm that has already traveled right up inside towards the opening of the fallopian tubes.

Also, after lovemaking if you want you might try putting a cushion under your hips to avoid the flow of sperm out from the vagina.

Tip 4 - Eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia can cause you not to have periods. They can also disturb your thyroid function, which then disrupts your menstrual cycle.

Consider giving up caffeine. Some studies show decreased fertility among coffer drinkers, but others don't show any effect at all. However, if you can survive without your daily caffeine dose, it's worth a try.

Although it probably won't affect your fertility, you should start taking prenatal vitamins or folic acid supplements. Folic acid helps guard against a very serious neurological birth defect.

There are many ways to become pregnant. For more tips on getting pregnant, get Beth Kiley's FREE "The 7 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Trying To Conceive", report, by clicking here.

Tips to Help You Lose Weight Quickly After Pregnancy

Being pregnant is wonderful feeling which every women in the world wants to go through once in their lifetime. Pregnancy comes with all sorts of highs and lows in the life of women. You have dealt with many issues of morning sickness, cramps, swelling, indigestion, constipation and so on. The list goes on and on. However after pregnancy also you have to deal with your biggest problem which is excess weight. It's very normal for you to feel unattractive after pregnancy and you will want to achieve your original size as soon as possible. What you don't understand is that you took full nine months to get in that shape so getting back into your original shape will take time and patience.

However there are certain tips which will help you regain your attractive figure. First don't over do it keep in mind that you have to achieve healthy body and also be able look after your newborn. A good workout should leave you feeling energized and happy not tired and weak. The baby also needs you as your body but also don't make taking care of baby as an excuse for not to work-out else your goal of losing weight after pregnancy will never happen.

Diet is important:

Second ask your doctor to provide you with a suitable diet plan which provides you with all the nutrition which your body requires. If body is fit then only you can go ahead with the task of achieving weight loss else you will achieve weak body and have less energy to deal with your infants needs.

Third start slowly but with steady action plan. Plan an hour or so in which you pay attention only to your body and no one else then do those easy to do tasks which will help you lose weight such as walk for half an hour slowly and slowly take it to an hour. Fourth do gentle exercises which will help you lose weight efficiently? Also add up exercises to make your uterus return to its usual size. Fifth eat healthy food and avoid eating junk food. Eat more of fruits and nutritive food like nuts, vegetables and whole grains etc.

Sixth start eating for one process till the time the baby was in the womb it was taking his/her intake from your food intake. However now it's not like that so reduce your intake of food. Instead eat high density food which provides energy and makes you feel full such as low-fat dairy products, poultry products, green vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

Seventh breastfeeding helps in reducing weight. It burns about 500 calories per day so as much as you breastfeed you burn as much as calories. Also when you are nursing your baby you would be always on your toes which would help you keep fit. Eighth start doing different forms of exercises such as yoga- great for relaxation of mind , body and soul; aerobics - great for losing weight and walking - great for whole body. Ninth take your baby for evening strolls in the pram. Yes your baby will like to be out in the pram and this will give you to bond with him as well as provide a great workout for your body.

Tenth drink loads of water it helps in flushing your toxins also helps in making you little full which helps you cut down on excess intake of food. Eleventh avoid temptations, eat only when you're hungry and eat smaller portions. Now finally all you have to do is have full determination towards your goal of losing that excess weight. Just follow these simple but effective tips to lose weight effectively. However the weight loss will not be drastic but will certainly last longer and provide you with your original figure.

Losing weight can be achieved with a careful attention to diet and well laid out plan of action. Also if you are exercising your way to lose weight just ensure you don't over do it. Also you can make your routine fun by turning it to be constructive experience towards your weight loss agenda.

Clearing Up Confusion About Postpartum Depression

Health care practitioners find that few medical conditions are subject to more confusion and contradictory interpretation than postpartum depression (PPD). Lack of clarity about its diagnosis, causation and treatment, however, seriously affects the wellbeing of mothers and babies throughout the world, for postpartum depression is of worldwide concern, affecting about 15% of women having babies. In the United States alone, there are over three and a half million women per year giving birth, and over 400,000 of these women will experience postpartum depression. This article does not aim to summarize the broad array of knowledge and research about PPD, but rather to clarify some of the essential facts and concepts.

What is PPD?

Postpartum depression is one of six major categories of postpartum mood disorders: postpartum depression, postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder (including obsessive thought disorder); postpartum panic disorder, postpartum post traumatic stress disorder, postpartum bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis. "Baby blues", lasting a transient few days to up to two weeks, is not considered a disorder. Fifty to eighty percent of new mothers report these mild "Blues" symptoms of mood swings, crying, and feeling overwhelmed. Confusing PPD with "Baby blues" may lead to absence of treatment for the mother who is suffering. Confusing "Baby blues" with PPD may result in unnecessary treatment for the mother who is experiencing normal hormonal and life adjustment feelings.

Postpartum depression occurs on a continuum of severity, but for ease of rating or classification it is often referred to as having three levels of severity -- mild, moderate, and severe. Symptoms range from mild sadness in the least severe to a complete inability to care for oneself or the baby in the most severe. The most common symptoms include anxiety, lethargy, insomnia, irritability, confusion, frequent crying, decreased libido, eating disorders, obsessive thoughts, guilt feelings, night sweats, feeling overwhelmed, forgetfulness, and hopelessness.

Onset and duration of symptoms

The onset of symptoms occurs any time up to one year postpartum. The duration of the symptoms can be days, weeks, months, or years, depending upon a number of factors. These factors include the severity of the symptoms, the timeliness of the intervention(s), how the individual's body chemistry reacts to a medication (if used), other life stressors, and the strength of the woman's support system (caring family, friends, professionals).

PPD - A Distinct Illness

It is now generally recognized that PPD is a defined disorder and not the same as other conditions that may give rise to similar psychological symptoms. The prevailing view is that, at its core, PPD reflects the mother's physiological changes, particularly shifts in endocrine balance, during the first few weeks after delivery. Psychological and emotional factors, such as poor partner support or over-optimistic expectations of life after hospital discharge are very significant. They can affect the likelihood of onset of the disorder and its severity. Both the central organic factors and contributing psychological elements have to be understood.

One major distinction that postpartum illness has in comparison with other disorders is that it is highly labile both in the array of symptoms and level of severity, with frequent changes. For instance, with a depressive episode in a man who loses his job, the symptoms of depression are fairly constant. In a postpartum depression, however, the woman's symptoms can range from high anxiety one moment to a mild depression the next, and she could even feel relatively normal during another part of the day.

Complexity of the Disorder

Although PPD may appear to the lay observer as if it were the same in every case, it is not. Two new mothers may live next door to each other, both with PPD, but with entirely different causes and requiring different kinds of treatment. One may have had a previous history of depression reactivated by postpartum factors and the other has chronic sleep deprivation plus a poor support system. For each woman there are different pieces to the puzzle. The growing body of research is making it more possible to distinguish among these different elements, to assess accurately the basis of the problem, and therefore to begin the appropriate course of treatment for each individual woman. That is why, when a woman seeks help, she should get a complete well-rounded assessment, covering all aspects of her current life as well as pertinent past psychological and physiological events.

Giving Information to Postpartum Women

When helping depressed postpartum women, health practitioners should neither minimize nor over-dramatize the condition. The women should expect to be told their diagnosis without ambiguity, have it explained matter-of-factly, and the severity level should be estimated as accurately as possible. They should be told that at least the primary cause of the condition is related to the adjustments of body chemistry after delivery, and the process of readjustment may take a while. Each woman and her family members should also be reassured that, especially when treated early, the eventual outcome is expected to be total recovery. All medical therapeutic actions should be explained as efforts to facilitate the body's return to the equilibrium that existed before pregnancy.

Risk factors

Any new mother may get PPD, after any birth, regardless of how uneventful her mental health history or life stressors have been. No one is immune. We do know, however, that a personal and/or family history of depression or anxiety automatically places the woman at high risk for postpartum depression (This includes experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety during pregnancy). As a result, authorities stress the importance of obtaining a thorough personal and family mental health history while the woman is still pregnant. If she is assessed as being high risk, a plan of action can be devised which could be effective in at least minimizing, if not preventing, a postpartum depression.

There are other accurate predictors of postpartum depression such as sleep deprivation, poor marital relationship, abrupt weaning, isolation, and health problems of the mother or baby. There is misinformation as well about predictors. For instance, the sex of the baby is not a predictor nor is there any evidence that bottle-feeding increases the incidence of PPD. A number of women have reported to me that their various practitioners had told them they were not at high risk of having another PPD after a subsequent delivery. These women were misinformed that it is only after the first child that PPD occurs, since they are new at taking care of babies and adjusting to motherhood. On the contrary, if she has had one postpartum depression the mother is at high risk to have another, since organically she may be "wired" that way. There are health caregivers who may provide incorrectly reassuring information, or who avoid referring to risk factors, on the premise that women may otherwise worry themselves into the disorder. Instead, the failure to deal openly with risk factors is likely to increase the women's susceptibility to severe distress by keeping her unprepared to deal with her situation effectively.

Instruction on these basic points of knowing what information to elicit from their patients and then having a plan of early intervention should be part of the OB/GYN and midwife formal training program. This should include information regarding mental health therapists, medications and herbs which can be used during pregnancy and lactation, other alternative therapies, or at least reference numbers of specialists/agencies who will know.

Terminology Confusion and Its Consequences

Both clinicians and clients can be confused by the official terminology for mood disorders following childbirth. Although postpartum depression is informally referred to frequently as a diagnosis, the term "postpartum depression" is not, regretfully, one of the official diagnostic categories in the DSM IV as of yet. At the end of the section on Mood Disorders there is a Postpartum Onset Specifier (page 386) which unfortunately blends all of the postpartum mood disorders (especially depression, panic, obsessive-compulsive, and psychosis) into one section. The Criteria for Postpartum Onset Specificer (page 387) states that there is no difference in symptomatology between postpartum and nonpostpartum mood disorders. The only difference is that postpartum mood disorders occur "within 4 weeks after delivery of a child". There is not only misinformation in this statement regarding time of onset, but more importantly, the postpartum mood disorders are not considered to warrant their own diagnoses, distinct from nonpostpartum diagnoses, as they should be. The woman who suddenly feels depressed 8 months postpartum is often not diagnosed or misdiagnosed due to this Specifier.

The ambiguities of the Specifier are quite misleading and cause numerous problems. Present terminology confuses not only those responsible for health care, but can enter the criminal justice system and distort the facts. The result is often to sacrifice the rights of women suffering from this condition. A woman, for instance, who has postpartum obsessive thought disorder, might be reported to Child Protective Services if she admits to having thoughts of harming her infant. This agency may remand her to the police if her symptoms are not recognized properly as harmless to her baby. Her baby would then be placed in protective custody. A woman with postpartum psychosis who commits infanticide may find herself in jail rather than in a hospital receiving the medical attention she needs so desperately. The technical terminology used by doctors may also deprive many patients of insurance coverage to which they are entitled.

Additionally, the medical records of women with postpartum depression or other psychiatric illness after childbirth often use different terms to describe and diagnose. The same woman may be described and diagnosed differently numerous times. Psychiatric terminology needs to be established which clearly distinguishes the postpartum women from those with chronic "functional" mental illness. This will let health professionals know that they are dealing with an acute illness which has a particular onset, duration, and termination, and that there are appropriate therapeutic options available. In addition, formally assigning a childbirth-related name to these disorders would have a positive therapeutic effect on the women, since they would understand that their condition is directly related to having had a baby.

Concluding Note

Strengthening the understanding among health care providers of the complex nature of PPD, recognizing that differential diagnosis and various treatment approaches are necessary, and seeking common terminology, will help to minimize, if not eliminate the confusion. Women in individual treatment and their families will benefit, as would the effectiveness of community health education in general.

Help to Get Pregnant - Choose the Best Food to Maximize the Chance

The fact about fertility is so stressful. Research suggest that taking care of what we put in our bodies may have a profound effect to increase the chances of getting pregnant. Balanced diet, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, drinking a lot of water, eating healthy, exercising regularly is the best way to get your body in shape for a baby. It is important to ensure that you are getting all important nutrients to get pregnant fast.

Eating lots of raw fruits and vegetables is recommended each daily, at least 2-3 cups for the first month for the detoxification period. Adding wheat germ oil, wheat germ pearls to the diets will help to increase sperm counts, motility, healthy morphology and the number of effective, fertile sperm. Studies have been shown that wheat germ has lots of zinc and selenium in it and works on the body to dilate both the fallopian tubes and the somniferous tubules.

To complete the needs of folic acid, spinach and other leafy greens are an excellent source. Folic acid is important in facilitating regular healthy egg production, optimizing sperm production and helping to prevent neural tube defects during early pregnancy. Green leafy is also a great source of vitamin C and iron; it will help to enhance sperm quality by protecting the DNA stored within it from damage.

When trying to get pregnant, try to avoid processed foods, because they are less of vitamins, minerals and nutrients and there is preservative addition. Rather than processed foods, it is better to choose unprocessed foods; it pays to go for good quality.

If you are trying to get pregnant, it is safe to go easy on the caffeine. Some studies have shown a link between caffeine consumption and a womans' ability to conceive. Less than 300mg for a day will not give any effect to a' womans' fertility. Depending on the brewing method, the type of bean, and how strong its brewed, the amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee varies widely, and also depending on the size of the coffee cup.

To support infertility issues, there are over 100 herbs, homeopathic, and supplements used. Natural approach to fertility is and has been enormously successfully, there are many elements that can be at the root of your fertility problems. Diet and take nutritional supplements had an 80% success rate of getting pregnant.

Free radicals seems to affect adversely the maturing process of female eggs, and too many free radicals tearing around our bodies also speed up the natural decline in fertility as we age. Consume plenty of fruits and vegetables could help to prolong your reproductive years as well.

Panic Attacks After Pregnancy - Crucial Steps You Should Take to Avoid Post Pregnancy Panic Attack!

Woman's most obvious advantage over man is pregnancy. This is because the male gender cannot share in this nature's most awesome and intriguing miasma. So you can image the crazy joy when a woman delivers her baby safely and can now be introduced to her child face-to-face for the first time in months! It is arguably the most joyous periods in a woman's life but this joy can become marred when panic attacks begin to occur after pregnancy. This is especially scary if you did not experience these attacks before or during you pregnancy term.

Having panic attacks after pregnancy, while not an unusual occurrence, can be extremely dangerous if not handled quickly. These attacks are an offshoot of protracted stress and anxiety which you had to undergo during your pregnancy. The major reason for this condition is anticipated fear. This is actually good news because it means that there is nothing physically wrong with you. This article will reveal some steps you can take to make panic attacks after pregnancy a thing of the past.

1. Try to ensure that you get and take a lot of time to sleep. "Curing Illness by means of Sleeping" is a research that reveals the effectiveness of sleeping as a means of curing conditions that are brought about by stress; panic happens to be one of them. The fact is that there is no healing technique or method anywhere that can compete with the natural healing process of the body. Sleeping is one of the ways the body rejuvenates itself.

2. Make it a point of duty to consciously eat a healthy balanced diet that consists of foods that are high in nutrients. Although your baby is out of you, that is no excuse to go back to your poor eating habits. To help eradicate these attacks, your body needs foods that it can draw strength from; foods like cereals, fruits and fibres, eggs, milk, oatmeal cookies, vegetables, fish etc. All of these foods are essential to your health while also necessary for keeping panic at bay.

3. You should also learn and practice breathing exercises daily. Once you learn these exercises, you should automatically switch to them in the event that you begin to experience an attack. These exercises will help reduce your stress and worry levels so that you can concentrate on actually taking care of your new born baby.

4. Maintaining balance in your life is nonnegotiable. If you must avoid panic attacks after pregnancy, you must behave in a very balanced manner; thinks positive thoughts, control your emotions, abstain from eating foods or taking drinks that consists of harmful substances like; cocaine, nicotine, alcohol, caffeine and so on. Maintaining a balanced emotional attitude is very important and will aid you in combating post pregnancy panic attacks.

Pregnancy Fitness Classes - What Are My Options?

Women who are highly active and go to the gym are aware of the fitness classes that are on offer to the public. However, many women are not as savvy as to the possibilities that at out there for pregnant women.

Pregnancy fitness classes are extremely popular for women who are looking to find a supportive environment and having fun while they exercise. The social interactions allow you to share experiences and questions with other soon-to-be mothers. Not only are these type of classes fun but they are also a safe way to exercise as women are guided through all movements and the classes are specifically designed for pregnant women.

Pregnant women can join classes such as pilates, yoga, aqua aerobics and low impact aerobic exercise classes. Low impact classes incorporate activities that utilize medicine balls and weights, to give women cardio workouts. The classes will often involve stretching, pelvic floor and abdominal stability exercises and often will finish with some relaxation. All pregnancy fitness classes should have physiotherapist approval so that all of the exercises taught to the participants are suitable for pregnancy. What is even better is if the classes are run by a physiotherapist.

Before joining any fitness class, a pregnant woman should always visit her medical practitioner for them to approve the fitness choices that is chosen. There may be some activities that are unsuitable for her to do, and health care providers are able to inform pregnant women of what they should and should not be doing as it relates to their personal needs.