Tuesday, December 3, 2013

You Can Get Pregnant! - Following These 4 Easy Steps Can Help You Get Pregnant


Yes, you can get pregnant. Even if you have experienced the heartbreak of having difficulty getting pregnant you can still have hope. Every woman wants to experience the joys of motherhood but unfortunately for some woman conceiving a child does not come as easy as it does for others. But take heart, you can conceive the baby you have always wanted.

Even if you have experienced miscarriages, are in your 30's or 40's, or if you think you have tried everything; try these four easy tips to increase your chances of conceiving your own baby.

Pregnancy Tip #1-Know When You are Ovulating

So every woman who is trying to get pregnant knows this one but it definitely bears repeating, know your cycles! Make sure you know exactly when you are ovulating and make sure you are sexually active at this time. This is the single most important step in getting pregnant.

Pregnancy Tip #2-Use the Right Positions

Ok, so you are ovulating and it is time to get intimate with your partner. Make sure you are using the correct sexual position to increase the chances of conception. The missionary position is the best to help you reach your goal. It allows for the greatest penetration and allows gravity to move the sperm to its ultimate destination.

Pregnancy Tip #3-Be a Health Nut

Following a healthy lifestyle during pregnancy increases your chance of conceiving. If you smoke, quit now! Avoid drinking alcohol and eat a healthy diet. Not only will it help you to get pregnant it will also to help your baby be healthy when you do get pregnant.

Pregnancy tip #4-Try Natural Methods to Conceive

Many women feel they have to turn to fertility medications if all else fails. This can be scary to a lot of women who do not want to run the risk of having multiple children. The truth is there are many natural methods that can greatly increase your chances of getting pregnant without the risks of medications. You can get pregnant using natural methods without running the risk of becoming the next "Octomom."

There is Help For Pregnancy Nausea


The majority of women have to deal with pregnancy related nausea, usually in their first trimester. Though many pregnant women cannot escape this terrible nauseous feeling, many face the suffering bravely and just grin and bear it.

If you are suffering from nausea related to your pregnancy all is not lost, you can easily learn some natural and inexpensive remedies.

All remedies are not guaranteed to solve the problem for all women, but trying some of the different options and finding out what works for you will not harm you. For a start, you should try and stay away from foods or odors that set off your reflex gag. You should also choose to eat bland food over hot foods because they have fewer odors compared to the latter.

You can also try some of the more traditional housewife cures handed down over time, like eating crackers for instance. A large number of women like to consume carbohydrates or eat something they like when they feel nauseated. Try Placing some crackers next to your bed and have a few bites before getting up in the morning.

Eating small frequent meals and sipping liquids regularly for the entire day prevents your stomach from becoming empty and helps prevent the sickness feeling.

You must always take care to drink enough liquids during your day. Drink a quart and a half of fluids a day, but be careful not to make your stomach become less hungry for food. When vomiting persists, drink sports drinks that have glucose, salt, and potassium in them to restore the lost electrolytes.

Some Eastern and Western medical practitioners suggest acupressure to relieve nausea. This procedure is done by stimulating the pressure point located two inches above the crease on the inner part of the wrist. As a substitute to acupressure, you can buy bands that are available in pharmacies and marine stores, even without doctor's prescription. The bands have a button that pushes the vomiting-sensitive pressure point on one or both wrists.

Other health care providers recommend a device that uses mild electric current to stimulate your inner wrist. Ginger is also a great option to make your stomach feel calm. You can drink commercial ginger ale or make your own ginger tea by grating fresh ginger into hot water. Before you take powdered ginger root supplements, consult your health care provider first.

Pregnancy nausea can be minimized by staying relaxed and stress-free. Spend some of your time taking naps and watching television shows or movies. Take your vitamins after having a full meal or before going to bed. Ask your health-care provider for vitamins with less iron content because iron sometimes affects your digestive system.

Monday, December 2, 2013

Postpartum Depression/Postnatal Depression - The Cause and Natural Treatment for Recovery


In society and in the media you are going to find many answers to why somebody sufferers from postpartum depression. There will be answers such as lack of money, a traumatic birth, lack of sleep, not being able to breastfeed, a relationship break up. There are millions of so called 'reasons' why somebody suffers from postpartum depression.

But here's an interesting thought. Why is it that not everyone who goes through these challenges suffers from postpartum depression? Why is it that some people can handle these events with minimal fuss, but others get depressed? Is it really about the event, or is it something else?

Consider for a moment what your reaction would be if a spider was to crawl down the wall beside where you were sitting. Would you simply get up, grab a glass jar and take it outside, or would you freak out and run a mile because you are terrified of spiders?

If it were the latter and you feel an enormous amount of fear, you would also be feeling the chemical of adrenaline rushing through your body. But this doesn't happen to everyone who encounters spiders does it? It only happens to those that are scared of spiders. What makes you scared of spiders? Is it the spider, or is it what you believe about spiders?

Not everyone holds the same beliefs about spiders, so their reactions to a spider crawling down the wall beside them are different too. Similarly not everyone experiences the chemical of adrenaline when it comes to spiders either, because their beliefs are not creating that fear and hence the chemical response to occur.

Now let's apply this same analogy to your postpartum depression. What if the cause of your depression is not all of these troublesome events in your life? What if it's your beliefs that are causing your depression too, just like it causes you to freak out over a spider? Sure there is the chemical imbalance in the brain that is present with depression that we need to consider, but what if it is your beliefs about life that are triggering that chemical reaction to occur, just like with the spider?

This would definitely explain why one person becomes depressed about certain life events where another does not. They each perceive that situation differently.

The truth is that any type of stress never occurs because of an event. It is because of how we perceive that event and what we perceive that event to mean about ourselves. There is always a self-worth component to all stress related disorders.

As we have been raised, we have been taught to view the world in certain ways and we hold beliefs and expectations about how life is 'supposed to go'. We learn this predominantly from our parents or primary care givers, but also from other family, culture, religion, media, education, peers and other major influences in our lives. In this 'get your life right' world, we are also taught that our self-worth is dependent on what we do, are and have, so if we are not living up to these expectations then we are taught that we are not as worthy as we could be. We learnt to rate our self-worth as being more or less and we attach it to what we believe is the 'right path for our lives.

Somebody with postpartum depression believes that their worth has diminished to the point of being a complete failure and they feel like they just could not be bothered trying anymore. This is because they have perceived the events in their life to be reflective of their self-worth. They have attached their self-worth to how their life unfolds.

The answers to stopping postpartum depression, or any stress related disorder, is to change the way you view your life and to learn an accurate view of your self-worth. Understanding why you are worthy just the way you are is learning how to stop attaching your worth to getting life to go 'right', will result in the demise of your depression.

All stress is a conflict between belief (what you are thinking) and reality (what is actually happening and the correct perception of the situation). We hold onto the beliefs that are ingrained to us from childhood and when they do not match what we are experiencing, we find that we are stressed, depressed or anxious.

There is a distinct mind-body connection between what we think and how we feel, so it makes complete sense that the way to stop postpartum depression is to change the way you are viewing the challenges that arise as a mom. Why do you think therapists can be very useful in postpartum depression treatment. They aren't treating the chemical imbalance, they are treating the beliefs behind the chemical imbalance.

The reality is that there are going to be loads of ups and downs that occur in motherhood, just like there is in other aspects of our life. It won't be any of those down times that cause you to feel depressed, it will be your perception of these events and if you don't correct your mindset that is responsible for this perception, then you are likely to do depression over and over and over again, every time life doesn't go to plan.

So how do you change? The same way you learnt to hold this unproductive mindset to begin with. It was through continual exposure to your environment that taught and reinforced the very beliefs that are causing your depression right now, so it will be through this same repetition that you will be able to change the way you view life now.

Your thoughts are the answers to your postpartum depression recovery and when you get that and start actively and consciously changing your current thinking to be in alignment with reality (of life and self-worth), then you will overcome your postpartum depression and become the Happy Mum you want to be.

Change your mind and you change everything.

What You Should Learn About Preeclampsia During Pregnancy


What is preeclampsia? It is a syndrome that occurs in pregnant women who are hypertensive, that is, those who have high blood pressure. They get swollen legs and a considerable amount of protein spillage into their urine. They may even get convulsions, particularly in the second part of the pregnancy.

Preeclampsia is also known as pregnancy-induced hypertension or toxemia. It is more common in women who are pregnant for the first time and those pregnant by a new husband. However, a second or third pregnancy does not guarantee a preeclampsia-free term. According to a study in Aberdeen, Scotland, almost 1 in 150 women who has had a normal blood pressure during their first pregnancy can get preeclampsia during their second.

The risk is heightened for those who have previously experienced high blood pressure and women who also suffered from preeclampsia before the third trimester.

A family history of diabetes is also cause for concern; women whose sisters, mothers, aunts or grandmothers got preeclampsia should also be careful. Moreover, the possibility of getting preeclampsia increases relative to the woman's age; the older she is, the higher the risk, particularly if the woman is over 40. However, early pregnancies are just as at risk as late ones. Teenage mothers--girls younger than 18--are not exempt.

Other significant factors that may complicate a pregnancy and induce preeclampsia are ovarian cysts, lupus and arthritis. Women who do not have or have never had the aforementioned illnesses should not be so complacent. If symptoms of preeclampsia start manifesting, they should consult their doctor straightaway.

While pregnant women feel all sorts of sensations that are common for their delicate situation, there are certain occurrences that may point to preeclampsia. All these symptoms should never be ignored:

- Frequent dizziness and drowsiness.

- Getting massive headaches.

- Unbearable nausea.

- Hearing incessant buzzing or ringing.

- Throwing up blood.

- Frequent and prolonged vomiting.

- Getting impossibly swollen feet and hands.

- Seldom urinating or not at all.

- Having blood mixed in the urine.

- Irregular, rapid heartbeat.

- Having a high fever.

- Getting blurred or double vision.

- Sudden loss of vision.

It is important to be on the guard because the exact causes of preeclampsia is largely unknown. It does not have one easily identifiable cause, and there is not one test that diagnoses the problem.

When women go to the doctor, the first thing their doctor will do is to take their blood pressure. A large rise is indicative of preeclampsia. Urine tests are performed to measure the protein in the urine. A blood test may also be done. If the woman is exhibiting signs of preeclampsia, the doctor will want to conduct checkups at least once every week, if not every day.

What preeclampsia does is to hinder blood going to the placenta, which is what provides air and food to the baby. Less blood in the placenta means less air and food for the baby, thus a low weight for the newborn.

A good advice to keep in mind for pregnant women is to control their blood pressure. When one is not pregnant, the way to do this is to cut down on her salt intake. If one is however pregnant, the body will need the salt to aid in the flow of fluids. Doctors may recommend aspirin and calcium for preeclampsia prevention or tell women to lie on their left side while taking rest.

If preeclampsia does occur in one pregnancy, it does not entirely spell doom for the mother and child. Women can still deliver babies with perfect health but it is rare. So all these precautions are advisable and will prove that mothers know best if they do heed both the warnings and preventive measures.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

Top 5 Very Early Symptoms of Pregnancy - Confirm Your Pregnancy Even Before Missed Periods


Are there any signs or symptoms of pregnancy that can help to detect pregnancy even before missing the periods? Yes there are. If you are also in search of some early pregnancy signs that can help you to detect conception before lab test or before missing the periods then following reading would be of great help to you.

There are few pregnancy symptoms that start to show in early days. Few women only show one or two signs of pregnancy whereas others show all 5 signs.

The fertilized egg takes around 7 - 10 days for implanting itself in the wall of uterus. After this time span there are top 5 signs of pregnancy that helps in informing the woman that finally she is pregnant.

Without delaying any further let us proceed!

Frequent Urination: This is a classic pregnancy sign. Sometimes frequent urination is the result of some other illness like diabetes or the reaction of some medication. However it is always good to keep in mind pregnancy as the probable cause.

Spotting: Spotting is of great concern if it occurs in late pregnancy and it is important to report this to doctor at the earliest. However light spotting around the days of menstrual periods signals pregnancy. Light spotting in initial days is a true sign of pregnancy. The color of pregnancy spotting varies from reddish brown to light pink.

Missed Menstrual Periods: It is the most famous sign of pregnancy. It is the clearest indicator of pregnancy; however sometimes a woman can miss her period because of some reason other than pregnancy. So it is good to think missed period only as an indicator and not the final diagnosis of pregnancy.

Intense Cramping: Another famous and next obvious sign of pregnancy is intense cramping. Again here there could be causes of intense cramping other than pregnancy. In fact intense cramping and nausea are the most misleading signs of pregnancy as well. There is not any rule of thumb that can tell that a woman is pregnant. The only rule that holds true is that more signs of pregnancy signal brighter chances of being pregnant.

Lack of energy: This pregnancy symptom is knitted with pregnancy. Exhaustion feelings are different from routine feelings of being tired. The key to identify pregnancy related tiredness is that in this case the lack of energy is dramatic as well as noticeable.

So if you are experiencing more than one above mentioned signs of pregnancy then it is a good time to go for a pregnancy test

Learn How To Treat Lower-Back Pain In Early Pregnancy


Congratulations! You are now on your way to have one of the greatest blessings the world may well over, giving birth to your child. One of the challenges you may face is lower-back pain in early pregnancy. The bump in your tummy may cause you to have a very bumpy ride.

Statistics show that about 50 % of pregnant women experience pain in lower parts of their back during their first trimester. Some experience it all throughout their pregnancy while some don't experience it at all. To learn how to treat this pain in early pregnancy, you must first know what causes it.

One of the major causes for back pain in early pregnancy is the growing of your uterus. You may not notice it, but the center of your body gravity changes. It shifts forward because you become heavier in front. Another reason for these pains is the hormonal changes that are happening within your body. Some hormones, such as Relaxin, cause your pelvic bones to soften and prepare you for the natural labor. In return these changes make your backache.

Of course, now that you are pregnant, you are no longer allowed to ingest pain relievers as it can potentially harm the normal development of the fetus. Here are few suggestions on how to treat lower-back pain in early pregnancy in a natural way.

1. You can combat the gravity issue by practicing your posture. The pain will worsen as your baby becomes bigger. You may start practicing good posture now to reduce further pain from lower parts of your back in the coming stages of your pregnancy.

2. Modify your wardrobe. Keep your pumps and skinny jeans away for now. Choose anything comfortable to wear especially for your feet. Don't worry you won't be jeopardizing your style because there are a lot of maternity clothes that are still fashionable and at the same time convenient.

3. When you need to lift something, make sure that you bend your knees instead of bending your upper body towards the floor. Most of all don't lift heavy things as this could lead to a miscarriage. You should learn when to ask for help. Even if you are excited to be a mom and care for everyone, this is the time that you should be well taken care off.

4. Don't sleep faced up. Sleeping on your side as well as bending your knees together will help relief the pain. There are special pillows made for pregnant women whom they can place in between their knees while sleeping in this position.

5. Be active. Being pregnant should not stop you from working out. Take long walks even when you are at work, just don't run. Stretch your body from time to time. Make sure though, that you do exercises that are allowed for the pregnant women. There are many DVDs you can watch or classes you can attend, to help you out.

There are many treatments for lower-back pain in early pregnancy. However, you must know a way to draw the line between treating yourself and seeking for help from a professional. Consult a doctor when needed.

High Blood Pressure Postpartum - Know Its Dangers


Pregnancy is a very precious thing especially for women who don't have a child yet. They take care of themselves because they know that a new life is starting to grow inside their womb. Carrying a baby for almost nine months is not an easy thing to do.

There are many things to consider because the health of the baby will also depend on that of the mother. However, certain things may be inevitable sometimes. Preeclampsia is one of the conditions a woman may suffer that can lead to a very difficult delivery.

It is a condition in which there is a constant increase in the blood pressure of the pregnant woman. Many people believe that this can only occur within the full course of pregnancy that last for nine months and the only cure is the baby's delivery.

Yet, a full blown mother can also experience high blood pressure postpartum.

Postpartum preeclampsia often starts 6 weeks after the birth of the baby and this often occurs to those women who did not suffer this condition when they are still pregnant. But in some cases it may also occur to those who already undergone this condition when they are still pregnant.

A woman with high blood pressure postpartum may experience headache, blurred vision, photosensitivity, decreased urine production, and low platelet level or blood clotting cells. In severe cases, it includes infection and multiple organ failure.

Hypertension is a very common condition suffered especially by aging people. But this can also be a significant condition that must be guarded when it comes to pregnancy. Not all women may undergo this process but a constant monitoring and prevention could be of great help. High blood pressure postpartum can endanger both the life of the mother and her baby.

But to those who are already suffering this condition, an immediate cure must be taken into consideration. The patient may take certain kinds of medications to manage this problem. Such medicines may include beta blockers and calcium channel blockers, which can help in the proper circulation of blood and lessens vasoconstriction. Anti seizures are also given because most probably preeclamptic women may experience seizure.

Steroids are also given as anti inflammatory drugs because of the swelling brought about by this certain disease process.

Life is a very valuable thing that each of us must give proper care. Raising a child is not that easy. But giving birth is more difficult because the mother's life is also placed in danger within the giving birth process. Thus, pregnant women should always conduct regular check-up to monitor any occurrence of high blood pressure postpartum.