Do Women With Gestational Diabetes Need to Prepare for C-Sections?

About three to twelve percent of all pregnant women develop gestational diabetes, a condition which means high blood sugars that begins with pregnancy and often resolves itself after the mother gives birth. It is diagnosed between weeks twenty-four and twenty-eight of the pregnancy. Symptoms of gestational diabetes (GDM) are:

• extreme thirst


• hunger, or


• fatigue

but many women do not notice these symptoms. GDM is a common pregnancy-related health problem, and is in the same league as other pregnancy-related conditions that develop during the second or third trimesters, such as high blood pressure.

Gestational diabetes is associated with a number of complications, and women who have this form of diabetes are very likely to be asked to schedule a Caesarian section. In fact, some obstetricians won't even consider letting a mother with GDM deliver on her own schedule. They only offer induced labor or a pre-planned Caesarian delivery. But what are the risks?

Women who have C-sections compared to women who have normal delivery are:

• much more likely to suffer injury to the bladder and uterus, and up to 50 times more likely to suffer postpartum infections and blood clots in the legs or lungs


• twice as likely to be readmitted to the hospital


• much more likely to suffer pelvic adhesions, which are scar tissue causing problems with urination, defecation, and sexual intercourse


• at much greater risk in their next pregnancy to suffer placenta accreta, where the placenta forms an abnormally deep attachment to the wall of the uterus... requiring an abortion to save the life of the mother

And women who have C-sections have a one in four chance of still having pain at the surgical site six months after surgery.

About one in four babies is delivered by cesarean section, or C-section, which is a surgical procedure that is essentially "abdominal delivery".

Babies delivered by cesarean are more likely to:

• suffer accidental cuts by the surgeon


• have low Apgar scores and require admission to intensive care, and


• develop either pulmonary hypertension or type 1 diabetes later in life

A normal delivery is the goal for both mother and child. For mothers who have gestational diabetes, the best way to be able to deliver the baby without surgery is to keep blood sugar levels below 90 mg/dL (5 mmol/L) essentially all the time. It's a real challenge, but it confers a lifetime of rewards, the lifetime of the child.

Gestational diabetes usually takes the form of Type 2 diabetes in that it can be managed through diet and close monitoring of blood sugar levels.

Pregnancy Massage - Why Should You Bother?

Pregnancy massage, also called "prenatal massage" has a series of benefits that pregnant women should not ignore, since this massage can help them overcome the less pleasant aspects of pregnancy such as stress. Prenatal massage is not only very healthy, but it works as a pain reliever as well. It helps future moms deal with the physical and emotional changes that occur during pregnancy.

One of the most important benefits of pregnancy massage is that it can reduce the pain caused by pressure around the knee area. In addition, it also eliminates headaches and any pain associated with weight gain. It is known that most medications are contraindicated for expecting mothers due to their possible side effects and this is why alternative pain relievers such as massages are better and do not affect the child in any way.

A good pregnancy massage can also regulate the hormone levels, which is an essential aspect for a pregnant woman. This happens provided that the woman gets massages on a regular basis. Proper hormone levels can not only regulate a woman's mood, but they also promote cardiovascular health. This way, it is important to lower the levels of stress-related hormones and increase the levels of the hormones associated with happiness (serotonin).

Circulation is increased as well and digestion is significantly improved, provided that the massage is done by a professional. If digestion is improved, mothers no longer experience unpleasant symptoms such as bloating or stomach aches. Besides this, the child is well-nourished and can develop properly.

Besides the benefits of pregnancy massage that were mentioned above, mothers also get the chance to relax, which is very important for both them and the child. If an expecting woman is seriously stressed (as it usually happens with pregnant mothers) this can have a very negative impact. With a prenatal massage, future mothers can feel relaxed and less stressed throughout the pregnancy. It is certainly a well-deserved treatment in a period when a woman experiences great amounts of stress and anxiety, since it is known that although pregnancy is one of the most beautiful moments in the life of a woman, it can also be one of the most difficult.

Even though the pregnancy massage has numerous advantages, it must be mentioned that it may be contraindicated for some women. For instance, the massage may be contraindicated for women who have a high-risk pregnancy or suffer from hypertension. All pregnant women must consult their doctor before starting the massage sessions. The healthcare provider is the only one who can give accurate advice regarding prenatal massage.

To summarize, these are the main benefits of pregnancy massage. It decreases pain caused by increased weight, it reduces swelling, improves circulation and digestion and last but not least, it regulates the hormone levels. Besides, prenatal massage can be very helpful because it allows pregnant women to relax and feel beautiful. Another positive aspect is that stress is also reduced, since it is known that stress can have a negative impact on both the mother and the child.

Benefits of a Maternity Belt

Maternity Belts are one of the most useful, yet one of the least known pregnancy products on the market. Designed to support your bump and lower back during pregnancy, using a maternity belt or maternity band can reduce or remove pregnancy related pain and can make your entire pregnancy more comfortable - some say it can even reduce the number of stretch marks you get!

Throughout your pregnancy your body produces a hormone called Relaxin which softens the tendons and ligaments around your pelvis enabling it to widen during the labour process. However, as the Relaxin starts to enter your body, your pelvis can start to relax earlier than it should.This relaxation leads to movement in the pelvis which reduces the support your pelvis can provide to your back and, when added with the extra weight put on as your bump grows, can result in severe discomfort and pain.

In extreme cases this can cause pelvic girdle pain where the women can experience pain almost anywhere in her body, from lower back pain and discomfort in the pelvis to shooting pains up the body or down the legs and across the abdomen. In some cases, this increase in movement in the pelvis along with the increased pressure can result in the pelvis locking and the individual being unable to move for varying degrees of time. This can be distressing but, if it happens frequently, can be debilitating and result in the need for crutches for support or even incapacity.

However a maternity belt can support your back and your bump to reduce these pressures and can put a stop to pregnancy related pain altogether.

A good maternity belt sits under your bump and is designed to slightly lift your bump, taking some of the weight off your pelvis and thus reducing the movement that can cause the pain and resulting side effects. The belt also wraps around your lower spine, supporting the back to give you a more correct posture and should ensure a more comfortable position for your bump, which should make your whole maternity experience more comfortable.

But this is only one benefit of a maternity belt.

The maternity belt can provide a bra like support to any bump which is why a growing number of women who have never experienced any sort of pregnancy related pain are starting to agree that they are a vital part of your maternity underwear.

Just as we wear bras to support and define our busts, we can now provide the same support and definition to our pregnancy bumps.

As you grow during your pregnancy the maternity belt can help carry some of your increased weight in your everyday life to ensure that your pregnancy is as comfortable as possible.

When you become pregnant after already having a child you will find that your body changes and grows much quicker than it did the first time around, as if your body remembers what it needs to be doing and so gets on with the job. This means that you will probably have a larger bump for longer than you did - and that can wear on your body. The maternity belt can give you that extra lift, just to make sure you don't start getting weary and experiencing the back pain we are so keen to avoid.

Or if you having a multiple pregnancy, where you have even more to carry, then a maternity belt can sometimes be the difference in whether you can make it through the day or not!

And there is even a school of thought that says that if your bump is supported and not pulling down on your skin, then there is less stress on your skin which can cause stretch marks. This has yet to be proven, but who wants to take the risk!

The Cost of IVF - IVF Vacations Save You Money

In Vitro Fertilization or simply known as IVF is the medical process wherein healthy viable female egg cells are fertilized by male sperm outside of the female uterus. Because of some condition, such as infertility, non-viability of sperm or uterine conditions, the would-be parents cannot conceive a child in the normal manner.

The procedure involves control of the female hormonal processes and harvesting the ova from the female from the woman's ovaries. Then, the male sperm is also harvested. These two essential building blocks are introduced in a fluid medium under idealized conditions in order to foster fertilization. Once an egg is fertilized, the zygote or fertilized egg is reinserted into the woman's uterus to begin and foster a successful pregnancy.

Though the process may seem simple enough, the costs of idealizing conditions outside of the uterus to induce fertilization is quite steep. The average cost of one IVF cycle is between US$12,000 and US$20,000. Lower prices may remove some of the hormonal treatment designed to ensure better chances of successful fertilization.

While this cost for one IVF procedure may already seem steep, there are other additional IVF procedure options available at an additional cost. These include direct injection of the sperm unto the egg, which is an additional cost of at least $1,000. The genetic testing of the embryo once fertilization is successful costs an additional $3,000. If the uterus is considered as uninhabitable for the proper development of a fetus, then this is where the greatest cost for an IVF procedure can be made.

If the sought pregnancy were to be outsourced, then aside from the actual IVF procedure would add more costs. Egg donors would cost anywhere from $25,000 to $30,000 per cycle. Sperm donors are less expensive, costing anywhere from $200 to $3,0000 or anywhere between $13,000 and $17,000 per IVF procedure cycle.

As can be seen, IVF procedure seems to be simply putting an egg cell and a sperm cell in a Petri dish but there is more than that. There are the dollars cost which can easily reach the tens of thousands of dollars for each try to fertilize an egg and then return it into the uterus. This is not just the actual cost for the would-be parents. Other costs include drug therapy, stress and other intangible costs that are experienced in chasing the hope of having a child of their own. Despite the dollars and cents cost, undergoing IVF procedure in order to have a child would be well worth it once you see your bundle of joy develop inside the womb.

What is Catastrophic Health Insurance Coverage?

A major or catastrophic medical insurance plan, although being rather speculative, is fairly cheap but is also deductible. The money that you pay up from your own funds before the insurer meets the balance is the deductible.

As an example: if you have a deductible set at $5000 and your visit to a hospital results in a bill of $12, 000 your insurance provider will pay $7,000 only towards the bill and you meet the balance. On this type of cover, the larger your deductible is, the smaller the premium. By taking up this option, you will be gambling on not needing any major medical expense soon.

It would be a reasonable gamble. One survey that was conducted showed that in the US, 90% of the population has medical expenses less than $2000, and for 73%, their expenses were less than $500 per annum.

Two main groups favor the catastrophic health insurance: the young who are in their 20's who feel their health is not at risk and elderly men between 50 and 65 who would be waiting on Medicare eligibility.

The catastrophic health insurance plan is designed to cover only against major hospital expenses rather than day-to-day medical expenses. It will not normally cover doctor's visits, maternity care, or prescription drugs. The cover usually excludes mental health conditions, substance abuse and some pre-existing medical conditions.

This catastrophic health insurance plan can be bought as a group plan or on an individual basis. Of late, many organizations have started to encourage their employees to take up this type of cover. The highest lifetime limit can be as much as $3 million.

Rates do vary on age and the area in which you live. In some states the savings on premiums can be up to two-thirds. As an example: a female of 21 years, non-smoker, could have a monthly premium of only $30.

Before taking a decision to select this cover, get some professional advice from agents, insurance companies or both and compare quotes.

Covering Maternity Leave - The Virtual Assistant Option

When you hear that one of your admin staff is pregnant, your first thought is usually one of joy and congratulations, shortly followed by a realisation that you'll have to cover their maternity leave - which can be anything up to 52 weeks. You could just as easily be faced with covering a father's paternity leave, although at 2 weeks, it's no worse than a vacation. Maternity leave is much more of a problem.

If the job you have to cover is important, then you will need a solution that maintains the quality of work. Hiring a replacement on a short term contract often takes too long - hiring period, notice period and training period included - and Agency Temps are expensive and not always satisfactory. Temps have a reputation for inconsistency, being disinterested and not delivering. You need someone reliable and committed, who can slot into your business quickly and do a good job.

The third option is a Virtual Assistant. In recent years, many women have set themselves up as Virtual Assistants, a new breed of home worker equipped with Broadband, PC, Phone, and Printer/Copier/Fax. Many quickly find it too difficult, only to give up and go back to regular job, but others establish a credible business and offer an ideal solution for maternity cover.

If you are looking to cover an extended period of maternity leave, the following sections should help you to better understand the Virtual Assistant option, what questions to ask and what to expect.

What you stand to gain

Let's start with the benefits of hiring a VA. In addition to instant maternity leave cover you get:

• An experienced PA or Administrator


• A ready trained person


• New skills and ideas


• Holiday and sickness cover built-in


• Efficiency, you only pay for hours worked

What managers like most, is that an experienced VA is "ready to go". They have all the essential office and IT skills needed, and will pick up their work quickly and effortlessly. Better still, they need little supervision because they are self-motivated and take pride in the quality of their work. Managers find it refreshing that they simply give instructions and work gets done. It's how management ought to be.

An added benefit is that managers get to see what the true work content of a job really is. Because VAs time-record and only charge for the work they do, the manager instantly gets a picture of staff productivity (less the down-time, breaks and chatting). If anything, this tends to raise their expectations and the standards of permanent staff.

Selecting the right VA

Finding the right VA for maternity leave cover requires careful consideration, but once you've found her you have her for this and any other situation that arises in future - you'll be an important client, so she'll always be there when you need her.

Here are a few things to consider during the selection process:

Web Search:- Finding a VA is easy using Google - there are 100s of them - you find them in online Business Directories like Free Index, and specialist VA Directories.

Long List:- Qualify 5-10 possible VAs by assessing their credentials, based on the quality of their website, qualifications, clients and the strength of their online presence

Short List:- Aim for 3-5 good candidates, but first, start your assessment by speaking to them personally by phone, and look for hidden clues in the conversation;

• Are they confident and comfortably knowledgeable?


• Do they exhibit the telephone skills you'd expect?


• Do they listen and ask intelligent questions?


• Are they tuned-in to "clients" or "tasks"?


• Are they on-the-ball and organised?

Proposals:- Only if they tick all your boxes, ask for a proposal. Focus your evaluation on their understanding, approach, skills, IT support, team and capacity to deliver.

Charges:- Most VAs will charge around 瞿20-25 per hour pay-as-you-go, but you should look for a discounted Retainer Rate, if you can predict the workload.

When looking specifically for maternity leave cover, take a moment to think about where else they might fit when the employee returns to work. This may prompt you to look for a wider set of skills.

For more information on selecting a Virtual Assistant, I can recommend an online article about "Hiring Virtual Assistants" by Alex Shalman, Personal Development Coach.

If you would like to find out more about Office Lifeline cover for maternity leave and other long term absences, feel free to pitch a question at the author.

The Difference Between Athletic Therapists and Physiotherapists

Physiotherapists, the Athletic Therapist, and Their Differences

In the healthcare profession, there are many specialties and expertise. In the field of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular science, physiotherapists are considered as one of the highly skilled technicians in this area. Physiotherapy, otherwise known as physical therapy, specializes in the study of the musculoskeletal system. Disorders found in the muscles, bones, joints, and other parts of the body that causes physical disabilities and movements are the main focus of physiotherapy.

There are many types of physical therapy, and athletic therapy is definitely one of them. While most physiotherapists focus on a wide variety of clients, from post-surgery patients to individuals with lifelong disabilities, athletic therapists mainly specialize in the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of people who suffer from sports related injuries. The bulk of an athletic therapist's list of clients is mostly individuals with a rather active lifestyle, as well as professional athletes.

Unlike physiotherapists that employ a wide range of treatments depending on what is appropriate for their patients, athletic physical therapists normally have targeted treatment programs specially developed for specific types of injuries that were sustained from various activities, whether it's sports related, occupation related, injuries incurred in an accident, while doing recreational activities, or even injuries acquired while doing day-to-day stuff.

Even if it's just an ankle sprain that has rendered you unable to walk properly, an athletic physiotherapist can make you an accurate treatment program to help your ankle recover quickly and healthily. He may even provide you with some tips to minimize the risk of that injury from happening again. But don't get me wrong, general physical therapists can treat such types of injuries as well. It's just that these types of injuries are the main cuisine of sports therapists, so to speak.

One major difference between a physiotherapist and an athletic therapist is the fact that sports therapy is mainly based on a sports medicine standard of treatment and rehabilitation, unlike physiotherapy where the study of neurological and cardiovascular rehabilitation are key factors. However, physiotherapists and athletic therapists often work hand in hand, along with other healthcare professionals, to achieve a mutual goal, which is to get the best results and the speedy and healthy recovery of the patient, or client.

As far as education is concerned, physiotherapy is normally a general practice as it covers a variety of healthcare aspects such as geriatrics, pediatrics, cardiac and respiratory care, as well as musculoskeletal and neurological injuries. It is upon graduation that most physiotherapists tend to go on their separate ways as they pick and choose the specialties they one to focus on. Only then will they be able to develop their sports therapy skills through various professional development courses and experiences.

If you were to venture into the field of athletic therapy, the scope of your practice would include the immediate care, rehabilitation and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries. But you don't just treat injuries; you are responsible as well for the prevention of such injuries, especially when it comes to your highly active clients. Keep in mind that a person does not have to be a professional athlete to incur sports related injuries.

Whether you are a general physiotherapy practitioner or one of the hardworking sports or athletic physiotherapists, what's important is that you do your work and you do it well in order to help others get back to their old selves, or in order to inspire them to restore confidence in themselves.