Sweet Almond Oil Benefits for Pregnancy and Stretch Marks

When a woman becomes pregnant, there are many physical and emotional changes that take place, during her forty or more weeks of pregnancy. The most obvious change includes her enlarged abdomen and the stretching of her abdominal skin to accommodate the growing child that she is carrying.

Many women find that their skin becomes dry and irritated as it stretches and in some cases it even becomes hyper-sensitive to the touch. As the skin stretches during pregnancy, the condition known as "stretch marks" may occur and the condition can be very difficult to get rid of after the birth of a child.

Stretch marks are believed to be caused by a combination of hormonal changes and stretching of the skin that occurs with pregnancy and rapid weight gain. While many people are familiar with pregnancy stretch marks on the abdomen, marks on breasts, thighs and other areas of the body can occur as well.

Applying almond oil to the skin throughout pregnancy helps to alleviate general skin itching, irritations and sensitivity and can help the skin to gently expand as it stretches.This natural oil helps to moisturize and nourish the skin, keeping it supple and elastic so that it can stretch without leaving marks.

In addition, women who are having a natural childbirth may want to avoid the need for an episiotomy if at all possible as it can be very painful and at times, even dangerous. When applied on a daily basis to the perineal area, the oil helps the skin stretch more easily during natural childbirth and can eliminate the need for the procedure.

It is only natural to look for products that help to solve these problems and that are safe to use for both the mother and growing child. As it happens, sweet almond oil is used by many women to help with all of the pregnancy issues listed above.

Almond oil for pregnancy has been used by women from all around the world for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Women who choose to use the oil for pregnancy related skin issues can get the benefits of almond oil without spending a lot of money on more expensive products.

By rubbing pure almond oil, or one of the other many products made with the oil, into the skin during and after pregnancy, women can increase their comfort level and reduce or possibly even eliminate pregnancy stretch marks completely.

If you are considering using sweet almond oil for pregnancy and stretch marks, one thing to remember is you should never use any nut based oils, including almond oil, if you are allergic to them.

The Importance Of Planning In Advance For Pregnancy

Fortunately most women are blessed with the ability to give birth to at least one baby. A baby is the greatest gift a woman can give to her husband, her family and of course, to herself. Having a child automatically creates a family and many already devoted couples feel even closer in their relationship as a result.

When the pregnancy is confirmed beyond doubt, most couples enthusiastically start planning for the birth but planning well in advance of actual conception for a healthy and happy pregnancy is very important.

As a high percentage of women will give birth at some time in their lives, it is important to know about preconception issues even if pregnancy is not being considered, as should become clear later in this article.

Physical as well as mental preparation is needed for giving birth, since pregnancy brings about big changes in to woman's life and lifestyle. Midwives and doctors are normally consulted after pregnancy is confirmed but it highly advisable to get as much advice as possible as soon as a couple start to try for a baby.

To have the best possible chance of producing a healthy baby, seeking preconception advice on such issues as lifestyle changes, prenatal vitamins, and the importance of folic acid, to name just a few, can pay huge dividends for the subsequent health and wellbeing of both mother and baby.

In preparing for pregnancy, some major changes in the woman's lifestyle (and her partner's!) may be needed.

For example taking action to give up smoking far in advance of even becoming pregnant is most important, and drastically reducing or eliminating the consumption of alcohol is considered to be almost equally so. Both of these can affect the health of the mother-to-be and her unborn baby.

A woman might need to lose or gain weight, according to her present weight relative to her height and build which is now measured by her Body Mass Index (BMI). This should ideally be in the range of 20 to 25 but a medical practitioner should be consulted on this matter. Being either overweight or underweight can bring complications for both the mother-to-be and the baby.

When preparing for childbirth, it is also advisable to establish a fitness regime before becoming pregnant. Therefore, consulting a physician about nutrition and exercise is highly recommended as soon as a couple start trying for a baby.

Although pregnancy itself should be a very happy and joyous time, some anxiety and stress can also be felt by the couple since this is a very major step for the woman in particular. Even preconception stress is not unusual in women as such factors as scheduling, sexuality, and maybe even self esteem can become major issues.

When preparing for pregnancy, the father and mother-to-be need to feel confident that they will be capable of doing the best for their precious baby.

As with most major events in anyone's life, the best preparation for pregnancy and childbirth is to get as much sound and up-to-date advice as possible, as far in advance as possible so that they are free to focus on such major issues as choosing the baby's name!

Help Pregnant Moms With Pregnancy Month Calculator

Many pregnant moms are curious about the condition of the baby in their womb. The popular guide by most moms that is being used nowadays is called the pregnancy month calculator. This calculator, upon entering the first day of a menstrual period, calculates a week by week or month by month timeline of pregnancy. If you want to know the gestational age of the fetus, the date of conception is just being entered or the estimated date and that is 14 days before the due date at your period.

When it will be due?

Typically, 14 days before the first day of your last menstrual period, your ovary releases, an egg and the sperm has 1 to 2 days to fertilize the egg. Without fertilized egg, there is no conception. If there is, then you are expecting. When consulting your doctor, the doctor will compute your EDD of Estimated Date of Delivery. The calculation, just like some online due date calculators, is counting 280 days ahead from the 1st day of the last menstrual period.

What is a fetal development?

Fetal development is the growth of your baby from embryonic stage to the fetus. It can be followed through awareness of the week by week guide of pregnancy and fetal development. If you, as a mom, see the changes happening in your body, then, you have to monitor also the exciting changes of the baby in nine months inside your womb.

Since you are pregnant, you are definitely excited waiting for the due date. You first found out the date and development through a pregnancy month calculator and feel that each trimester is a long wait. But, it will come faster than you think. Keep a relax mind and body and savor the moment of being pregnant because when baby comes out, it will be a different story of your life.

What You Need to Know About Postpartum Nutrition

Everyone knows the importance of good nutrition while pregnant, but what happens after the baby comes. Typically, new moms are exhausted, trying to figure out the baby's schedule and many times either forget to eat, or eat something quick that provides little or no nutrition. This is not the best strategy if you want to recover quickly from your delivery and help your newborn to grow and develop.

Maintaining a healthy postpartum diet is also necessary for the healing and recovery process. A good diet supplies you with the energy needed to care for your newborn. If you don't eat and drink enough, you may not produce enough milk for breastfeeding. Breastfeeding moms need to add around 300-500 additional calories to their daily intake. If you are feeding twins, double that! If you're not breastfeeding, your caloric intake should be the same as it was before you became pregnant.

Eating properly will also help with deal with fatigue. The best way to fight postpartum fatigue (in addition to getting lots of sleep!) is to eat 5-6 small meals every day. In addition to breakfast, lunch and dinner, eat a mid-afternoon snack and a late night snack. When you're tired, eat foods that require little or no preparation, like raw vegetables, fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, trail mix, broiled meats and fish.

Hydration will also keep your body nourished. Keep a pitcher of water beside your breastfeeding chair and keep drinking throughout the day. Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these will dehydrate you and negatively affect the baby if you are breastfeeding.

Ensuring your calcium intake is insufficient is vital for both your needs and those of your nursing baby. If it is not sufficient, your body will withdraw the calcium stored in your bones in order to produce the nutrient rich milk it needs. That means the future health of your bones suffers. Take the steps now to ensure your continued health.

Calcium can be found in milk products, yogurt, cheese, sardines and salmon with bones, and sesame seeds.

Iron is also an important part of postpartum nutrition. Unfortunately many women become anemic after the birth of their baby. Increasing your iron intake will combat anemia. Foods high in iron include lean red meats, egg yolks, tofu, lentils, figs, spinach and artichokes. Iron is important, but it is also important to help your body absorb the iron. Foods rich in Vitamin C help this happen. We know orange juice contains vitamin C, but you can also find it in other citrus fruits, tomatoes, baked potatoes, dark leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower and brussels sprouts.

If you are recovering from a Cesarean section, Vitamin C will help with wound healing. Proteins are also important to help your body repair itself, so make sure your diet includes high protein elements such as cheese, lean meats, seeds, tuna, salmon, lentils and peanuts.

You should not be concerned with weight loss in the initial postpartum period. It can take several months to lose the weight that you gained during your pregnancy. The best way to do this is not by dieting, but rather cutting out high-fat snacks and eating a balanced diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. You can safely lose 3-4 pounds a month as long as you continue to eat a healthy, balanced diet.

Walking is a great form of postpartum exercise and initially helps increase bowel activity and prevent constipation. Drinking water is also very important throughout the postpartum period.

Postpartum can be a difficult time for new moms. Let friends and family help. If they offer to bring over a meal -- let them. You'll appreciate it when you're too tired to cook, and you will need the nutrition that a home-cooked meal provides. Get rest. Eat well. Love your baby. It's just the beginning.

Hospital Cost Amongst the Insured Vs Uninsured

Most people assume that if they have to go to the hospital that it will be a costly experience. While this thought process has some merit, it becomes a bit more complicated when you consider the disparity in hospital cost amongst insured vs. uninsured.

Hospitals charge the highest fees to those who are uninsured. Fees can range from 2 times to 5 times more than those fees charged to individuals who are insured. In fact, those who are insured or those who are on Medicare typically receive discounted medical services. There are instances where hospitals provide "self pay" discounts. However, many times these discounts mean little or nothing when you consider the initial rate that a "self pay" individual is charged. When a person has insurance, the insurance companies will often negotiate bills for the insured (if the charged price seems excessive). That being the case, hospitals will typically charge a reasonable price (initially) for those who are insured. On the other hand, if you are not insured, you must negotiate the payment yourself. Unfortunately, most people do not have any education or experience in negotiating a medical bill. Think about it...how successful do you think a person would be negotiating a purchase of a new car if they had no one to refer to except the entity selling the car? Though my point is driven home by this analogy, it's truly unfair...there are many more people to turn to who have purchased automobiles than individuals who are versed in negotiating hospital bills.

In a 2005 60 minute expose, Dan rather reported on Carlos and Peggy Ferlini. The family did not make enough to purchase a health insurance plan (or chose to budget other things as a priority). Carlos installed and repaired gutters for a living. Unfortunately, during the line of work, Carlos fell off of a roof and was rushed to the hospital. Mr. Ferlini suffered from a fractured skull and ribs and punctured one lung. Mr. Ferlini spent more than 2 weeks in the hospital before he was sent home. Soon after, the Ferlini's received a bill for $246,000! Imagine a family, who has decided that their monthly budget could not withstand the cost of health insurance, receiving a bill for $246,000! The family contacted Forbes (a community activist) who stated that the charges could be equated to "price gouging". Also, that "what happened to the ferlini's is all to common".

Forbes and staff analyzed the Ferlini's bill based on info that American hospitals are required to submit to the federal government each year. The result of the findings were that "while the hospital was charging the Ferlini's almost a quarter of a million dollars, it would accept just under $50,000 as full payment from an insurance company for the same treatment." Shameful!

There is a popular misconception by many who choose to utilize county hospitals due to their lack of health insurance. Many individuals believe that they can simply go to the county hospital, get treated and "walk" on the bill. Actually, county hospitals have been known to sue individuals who have not paid. The result of losing a lawsuit could lead to court ordered payments, liens being placed on an individuals home and/or garnished wages.

Finally, there is a disparity of treatment between the uninsured vs. the insured. Treatment begins with what the uninsured is charged by no means is limited to that. The Obama health reform requires all United States citizens to have health insurance by 2014 or be penalized. Hopefully, this will help. However, if hospitals have been charging higher rates to the uninsured for years, then you can't help but assume that they have profited due to the higher charges (either by actual profit intake or the ability to write off losses of those who never pay). That begs the question..."where will they make up the difference?" The healthcare plight and debate continues to evolve. Stay tuned and stay informed! Go to http://www.texaslowcosthealthinsurance.com for the latest healthcare info.

Pregnancy and Bed Rest

A requirement of bed rest during pregnancy affects as many as one in five women. More than half a million expectant mothers each year are prescribed bed rest by their health care providers. Multiple pregnancies, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, vaginal bleeding, high blood pressure or premature labor are some of the medical conditions that put the baby's and/or mother's health at high risk.

There are some positive benefits of bed rest, some of which include a decrease in physical and emotional stress, lower blood pressure, a reduction in vaginal bleeding and a slowing down or stopping of premature contractions and more. Since every woman and pregnancy is different, so is her bed rest experience. While some women are required to spend their entire pregnancy in bed, others only require bed rest during their early pregnancy. If your health care provider recommends bed rest, get all the details and requirements of what you need to do for a healthy pregnancy. Mild health conditions probably will allow more flexibility than a severe condition that may require strict bed rest.

Be sure to ask questions so you know the severity of your condition and how much bed rest you need. You may want to ask your health care provider the following questions: Are you allowed to get out of bed for a shower and to use the bathroom? Can you prepare meals for yourself or for your family? Is there a particular position you should lie down in? Is sitting up allowed in a chair or on a couch? Will you be able to drive to appointments or other places? Is it safe to participate in sexual activity? Is it OK to pick up small children while sitting?

To help make the most of your bed rest experience, find out exactly what your limitations are and come up with a plan to manage it. Bed rest can be boring and frustrating. However, you can keep busy with a few activities to pass the time. Some activities you may want to try:

Reading - Whether you brush up on parenting skills or a romance novel, this is a great time to get lost in a book.

Scrapbook - This is a good time to catch up on scrap booking if you're behind. If you're caught up or have never scrap booked before, start a book or album for the new baby. If you don't have the right supplies, order online and have them shipped to you.

Baby Preparation - Order everything you need for your bundle of joy online. Compare prices, read product reviews, make lists and have an online baby shower.

Online Chat rooms - Other bed rest moms are out there to share ideas, stories, parenting skills and more. Make new friends while passing the time away.

Some other tips to help are:

- Have water, snacks and the TV remote close by.

- Keep a list of items you need for a family member to gather for you.

- Household tasks can be accomplished by creating a support group of family and friends. Neighbors and church members may also be willing to help.

- Keep books and magazines nearby.

- Always get dressed and keep up with daily hygiene routines.

- Write a journal about your experience.

Remember you are not only on bed rest for yourself but for your unborn baby as well. Focus on a healthy pregnancy and delivery. At the end of it all is the reward of a beautiful baby.

Using Maternity Compression Panty Hose to Ease the Discomfort of Swollen Legs and Ankles

One of the best things that you can do to minimize the swelling that you have on your legs, especially if you are pregnant, is to slip on a pair of maternity compression panty hose and other pieces of sports compression garments. Dealing with swollen legs and ankles is perhaps one of the worst things to do when you are carrying a baby, mainly because there is no sure fire solution to the condition. Most of the time, pregnant women go into bouts of depression when they can't even wear the shoes that they want. Fortunately, with the use of the right compression garments, you would no longer have to deal with this problem yourself.

Because the maternity compression panty hose will exert just the right amount of pressure on the different portion of the legs, there will also be a significant decrease in the level of discomfort that your swollen legs and ankles will cause you. This means that it will be much easier to maintain your desired level of comfort and mobility even if you are carrying your baby. With all the other considerations that you would have to tend to, it will be good to have one less thing to worry about.

Using different types of post op recovery garments also helps you minimize the risk of the different physical problems that usually comes with swollen legs and ankles. Most of the time, pregnant women experiences cases of varicose veins because of the additional amount of weight the legs have to carry. Putting an even amount of pressure throughout the legs minimizes the possibility of this problem and helps women do away with the various symptoms of the condition as well. You will be able to maintain the pleasing shape and form of your legs during the months of your pregnancy.

Maternity compression pantyhose and other types of post op body shapers are also available for very affordable prices in basically any clothing store. This means that you would not have to worry about getting your hands on the pieces that you need. Just make sure that you invest your money on good pieces that will be able to last you for as long as you will need them as well as help with your swollen legs and feet. It will also be a good idea to start buying other pieces of compression garments as well, for they will do you well when you begin to gain back your pre-pregnancy body after you give birth.