21 Century Shapewear From Ann Chery

It is not rare to find that one does not perfectly fit into a new undergarment or outfit. This can be a frustrating event. This is especially frustrating considering that so many designs these days seem to require a perfect body. To name a few there are vests, waist cinchers, body control garments, long pants, short, panties, thongs, and the list goes on and on. Ann Chery shapewear, a Colombian manufacturer have come up with innovate designs that can assist you with this problem. With their ever improving designs and manufacturing process and state of the art fabric this renowned Colombian manufacturer can help you achieve that satisfying body that is sure to produce nothing but pride and a energized attitude to life.

These products are built to shape your body into a more pleasing figure. This magical transformation is achieved by ingenious designs that apply controlled pressure on pre-determined areas of your body, while embracing other areas with softer compression. In other words, Ann Chery shapewear does not function in the same manner as other models, where a constant compression is applied to large areas of your body. An immediate result of the technology is that your body will be molded and smoothed out naturally, along the body natural curves, yielding into a perfect into a perfect figure. Certainly not everyone is in possession of the perfect body, with Ann Chery shapewear; you can be as close as ever to having one.

As fashion trends get more sophisticated, it is not uncommon that new models are less forgiving and require an almost perfectly contoured body to wear them. Unfortunately, for most people, this is not always the case. The result is that many people can afford new models and are willing to wear them, but are only able to observe others wearing the latest fashions. This state of the art shapewear has targeted this population and have presented a real life solution, allowing everyone to enjoy the best and latest clothes available. In other words, there is no need to be left behind wanting and compromising with less than the ideal outfit for specific occasions. Instead of being left to having to wear oversized clothes or outdated fashion styles that you don't care for, Ann Chery shapewear provides you with a new found fashion freedom.

It is common for shapewear garment manufacturers to produce specialized models for particular needs, body shapes and outfit designs. Ann Chery as a front edge manufacturer has come out with dozens of models of multiple materials and multiple levels of comfort. Ann Chery shapewear for its part has risen to the occasion to meet this challenge, as they come in the form of bodysuits, corsets, brassieres, waist cinchers, postpartum garments, back support, garter belts, girdles, control slips, control briefs, body briefers, and control camisoles. These forms are commonly known in Spanish as fajas, fajas reductoras, fajas modeladoras and fajas moldeadoras, or simply put, faja.

Because the high quality of Ann Chery shapewear, they have accomplished a great degree of invisibility, effectively hiding seams and inner contours of the garment. Shapewear as an undergarment pieces, are meant to be invisible to the casual eye

You will find that Ann Chery shapewear fits comfortably under your clothes. Their shapewear products do not have very noticeable lines that would indicate its presence to the casual onlooker. Ann Chery shapewear is sure to please you with such great results.

Group Mediclaim Policy and Its Primary Benefits

Employee benefits are a core area for the consideration of the HR department of any organization. The policies that an organization's HR department makes for its staff are a reflection of the organization's attitude towards its employees. In the present scenario, employees are quite curious about the medical benefits that an organization provides.

While other benefits are mostly under the control of an organization, the mediclaim benefits are dependent upon a third party service provider, i.e., the insurance company. Hence, the medical benefits got by employees depend upon the HR department's understanding of the various insurance plans available in the market.

Lipika Verma, Head - Compensation and Benefits, Nokia India Pvt. Ltd., says "Medical security is the key thing while assessing insurance coverage and a seamless benefit on the medical side is something which an employee expects these days". In the present times, Group Mediclaim Policy provides the best option for providing a medical cover to the employee and his/her family.

This policy comes under the category of non-life insurance and takes care of an individual's hospitalization expenses up to a certain limit that is based upon the policy. Hospitalization may occur owing to ill health or on account of injuries sustained due to an accident, so long as it is for a period more than 24 hours. Hospitalization expenses generally include:

• Doctor's fees and nursing expenses.

• Surgical fees and operation theatre expenses.

• Expenses on medication.

• Room and boarding - subject to limits.

Following are some primary benefits of group mediclaim policy:

Covers Pre-existing Diseases: Group mediclaim policy provides complete cover even for pre-existing diseases while the individual policies offer no or limited cover for such diseases. Maternity benefits are an added advantage in the group policy, which were never included in individual policies.

Floater Option: This option allows a company to choose to insure an employee along with his dependents (parents and children) under a single cumulative amount. For instance, if the floater amount for an employee in an organization is Rs. 3,00,000/-, then the employee can avail hospitalization up to maximum three lakh rupees for himself and his family.

Corporate Buffer: Organizations usually choose to opt for a corporate buffer over and above the maximum limit fixed for each employee. This buffer proves very helpful for employees. Suppose, the maximum limit for an employee is Rs. 3 lakh while his hospitalization cost comes to Rs. 4 lakh; in such a scenario, the organization may provide the remaining one lakh from the buffer amount it has fixed with the insurance provider.

Manikins For Training Nursing Skills

Advanced delivery and maternal and neonatal emergency simulator is a comprehensive education system, which consists of a delivery maternal manikin and a normal newborn, according to the basic requirement of obstetrics, providing a complete birth experience and emergency skills operation. Simulator features includes automatic delivery system, fetus and placental expulsion, prenatal cervix examination and postpartum episiotomy, prenatal gravid and fetus and postpartum maternal and neonatal care, removable stomach cover, multiple fetal heart sounds auscultation and CPR operation etc.

The model is made of imported PVC material. The stomach wall is injection - molded. Perineum is made of sponge emulsion material, features soft texture, good flexibility, realistic operation, reasonable structure and durability. It is one of the ideal teaching aids for clinical obstetrics practice training.

Product Features:

1. Advanced delivery maternal manikin can practice maternal care

2. Life size maternity, soft and removable stomach cover can be replaced for a auscultation stomach cover and c-section stomach cover

3. Maternal tracheal intubation

4. Automatic birthing system to simulate the entire birthing process. This model can simulate normal delivery process via occiput right interior position; demonstrate engagement - descent - flexion - inner rotation - extension - reset and external rotation -- fetal shoulder expulsion etc. This model can also simulate difficult labor and midwifery course. Simulate normal and abnormal fetal position (head birth and breech delivery).

5. Can carry out multiple fetal heart sound auscultation

6. Provides prenatal cervix examination; simulate 6 stages of cervical dilation

7. Can measure fetal head descent and cervical dilation

8. Simulate normal placenta location, multiple placenta locations and placenta chips residue

9. Vulval incision and suturing modules can be inserted into perineum to practice perineotomy,suturing and wound nursing after perineotomy

10. Postpartum uterine bleeding and fundal massage

11. Venous injection on maternal arm, drug treatment and liquid infusion

12. Maternal carotid artery pulse

13. Maternal blood pressure measurement

14. Maternal CPR

15. Articulating normal birthing baby with umbilical cord and normal placenta, life size. Can practice umbilical cord legation and placental expulsion

16. Neonatal transfusion simulator, providing newborn baby nursing, tracheal intubation, venous injection

Does Children's Health Insurance Coverage by Medicaid Actually Cover Anything?

Do children deserve special attention when it comes to their health care needs? No, we aren't talking about charitable healthcare at all. How about children who have Medicaid coverage? Does the fact that they have free health insurance change anything about the kind of treatment they are given? Sad as it is, that's exactly what happens all over the country?as if by prearrangement. Anyone who tries to make an appointment for a child has to answer a question on the phone about the kind of coverage the child has. When the receptionist (or whoever) learns that there is no private children's health insurance involved?that it's only Medicaid, they right away schedule the child for an appointment one month away. If they don疆?簞 refuse an appointment altogether. There have been reports of how parents who call for an appointment for a child with a broken bone or a dog bite, are still given an appointment a week away.

So why should hospitals care about what kind of children's health insurance a patient comes in with? They still get paid the same whether it's private or Medicaid, don't they?

You'd think that, but as anyone knows about what it is like dealing with the government, hospitals that accept Medicaid patients find it takes them a whole lot longer to get paid (and Medicaid pays 50% less). They get a lot of grief dealing with red tape too. In general, no one is eager to deal with Medicaid. And things are only set to get worse. States all over the country are bankrupt and are planning on cutting down on their Medicaid budgets. And then, the new healthcare reform from President Obama promises to add several million people more to the Medicaid plan, further straining the program's finances.

All of this isn't mere anecdotal evidence, of course. An in-depth study on children's access to medical care published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June has all kinds of horror stories to report. The study sent researchers posing as parents of sick children to hundreds of clinics in Illinois, asking for treatment for broken bones, deep depression, diabetes, epileptic seizures, dog bites and the like. Two out of three times, these people found that they were denied appointments. People who have regular paid insurance will usually be denied treatment more than 10% of the time. In the study, anyone who sought treatment for a child with Medicaid insurance had to wait three weeks longer than any child with private medical insurance.

Most people would react with horror to how unfeeling human nature can be?denying medical care to a child with an animal bite or a seizure for three weeks. But think about it this way for a second?what would you do if you were doctor? If you spent your time treating a patient who had private children's health insurance, you would get $160 for your trouble. If you treated a child who had Medicaid, you would only get $100. You are worried about your student loans and your personal expenses. What would you do?

Fat Injections For Buttock Enhancement

Enhancement of the buttocks is most consistently done with a gluteal implant. Despite its predictable improvement in the size and shape of the buttocks, buttock implants are not without complications. Intramuscular implant placement makes recovery more uncomfortable and having to sit on the implant predisposes it to positional shifting and the formation of fluid collections and possible infection.

Because of these concerns, the alternative treatment of fat injections or free fat grafting has emerged. Fat grafting to the buttocks has numerous potential advantages such as the elimination of the need for a synthetic implant, the use of a patient's own body tissues, an easier recovery with few limitations, a simultaneous benefit of cosmetic enhancement of the donor site, and a very low risk of bleeding or infection. All of these advantages of free fat fat grafting is counterbalanced by one significant disadvantage....an unpredictability of after surgery shape and size. How much fat survives and is retained is widely variable. No plastic surgeon can guarantee or predict with 100% accuracy how much fat will survive on a consistent basis. I prefer to inject no more than about 300cc per buttock as I think much volume than that results in greater volume loss.

The burning question through the past several decades is...how to make fat grafting work better. The injection technique is, of course, important but is only half of the answer. How the fat is prepared after harvest in the operating room is the other half. Everyone agrees that concentration is very important after harvest. This is the mechanical process of removing the liquids from the more solid fat components. Whether this is done by a centrifuge or passing the fat aspirate through a strainer or sieve are two methods of which one has not been proven to be better than the other. Additives to the fat are theoretically appealing but there is no universal magical additive. Currently, I add platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to the concentrated fat prior to injection. Whether this aids fat survival is not proven but since it is a product of the patient, there is no risk in so doing. PRP is a concentrate of a patient's own blood done at the time of surgery. While there is no standardized amount of PRP to add to fat, I typically use 3cc of PRP per buttock graft site.

If a patient opts for buttock augmentation with fat injections, they must accept that the amount of fat that will survive is unpredictable. It may require more than one injection session to obtain the best result. Most fat grafting methods will not achieve the degree of volume enhancement that a gluteal implant will.

The Truth about PMS

Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? Headaches, depressions, anxiety, uncontrollable crying spells, fatigue, fluid retention, abdominal cramping, heart palpitations, weight gain, irritability, panic attacks, forgetfulness, migraines, backaches, decreased work or social performance, sleep problems, food cravings, breast tenderness, clumsiness, confusion . . . Sounds like a nightmare existence, doesn't it?

Are you one of the 40-80% of women for whom this scenario, or at least a portion of it, is everyday life for one to two weeks out of every month of their lives from puberty to menopause? What disorder could possibly result in these varied, and often dehabilitating, symptoms for so many women?

Premenstrual Syndrome! That's right! It's that old friend, PMS, the subject of so many jokes and putdowns. You know - that "catch-all" phrase that, according to "so-called comedians," covers all the "imaginary" problems that women "invent" as excuses to spend the day on the couch "watching TV and eating bonbons."

Let me assure you that, while it is true that doctors and researchers have not found a specific lab test that can identify PMS, this disorder is definitely neither "imaginary" nor is it "invented." Serious medical research has been going on for years to identify the definitions, diagnosis, causes, and cures for this disorder. Here are two of the resulting definitions:

1. Dr. Ellen Freeman of University of Pennsylvania Health System describes PMS as a "cluster of emotional, behavioral, and physical symptoms that have a cyclic pattern related to the menstrual cycle, becoming severe in the week or two preceding menses and abating with menstruation."

2. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists defines PMS as "the cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are sufficiently sever to interfere with some aspects of life, and that appear with consistent and predictable relationship to the menses."

How do you know if you or a loved one has PMS, if there is no real test for it? Across the board, researchers and doctors agree that the identifying factor overall in this disorder is the fact that the symptoms stop once the menses begin or once a woman becomes pregnant.

You should know that doctors have identified two serious forms of PMS that have effects far beyond those of normal PMS symptoms:

1. "Postpartum Depression" is a severe depression that some women experience after giving birth. Women with this disorder suffer a severe let-down from the high pregnancy-levels of hormones, and, because of the disruption to their nervous systems, they may actually harm themselves or their babies.

2. "Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder" (PMDD) brings about serious and disabling depression, anxiety, tension, and angry irritability, intense mood changes in the week or two before the onset of menses, and women suffering from this disorder exhibit at least five of PMS's physical symptoms as well. Like regular PMS, PMDD symptoms disappear with menses.

You may have heard that doctors find it helpful for women to keep a daily diary of symptoms throughout the month when they are attempting to diagnose PMS. What should you look for when keeping a daily diary or considering the possibility that you or a loved one has PMS? Well, PMS carries over 150 possible symptoms that affect women in both the physical and the emotional realms in varying degrees.

Physically, symptoms can range from light, as in headache, fatigue, and slight abdominal swelling, to severe, as in migraines, severe cramping, and an inability to function normally. Emotionally, you may experience symptoms relating to anxiety (irritability, irrational crying, or emotional swings), depression (withdrawn, fearful, or altered libido), cravings (for sweets, dairy, or alcohol), and fluid retention (headache, breast tenderness, abdominal bloating, and weight gain).

I can tell you that although doctors still have not determined the exact cause of PMS, they agree that hormones and neuro-chemical changes within the brain are prime suspects. Estrogen hormones, for example, can contribute to increased brain activity, retention of salt, and drops in blood sugar, because it has a central neurological effect on the brain.

What do you do if you realize that you or a loved one suffers from some level of PMS? Obviously, if the symptoms are severe, you should seek your doctor's advice. Doctors today may prescribe either psychiatric (psychotropic drugs, tricyclics, tranquilizers, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), medical treatments (anti-estrogenic hormonal medications), or a combination of both for severe cases.

However, if you believe that your symptoms are manageable, or if they are intermittent, here are a few tips that might help you alleviate some symptoms.

- Eat six, small, high in complex carbohydrates, low in simple sugars meals at three-hour intervals to help keep energy levels and blood glucose levels steady. Complex carbohydrates are found in foods eaten in their natural states like oatmeal, cornmeal, barley, and wheat germ, or in foods like pastas, brown rice, root vegetables like potatoes, whole grain breads and cereals, etc.

- Reduce caffeine, alcohol, salt, fats, and simple sugars to help diminish fatigue, tension, depression and water retention bloating.

- Add calcium, controlled levels of B6, B complex, magnesium, and Vitamin E to help maintain normal moods and reduce fluid retention, cramps, and back pain.

- Exercise three times a week for at least 20-30 minutes to improve mood, blood circulation, sense of well-being, and alleviate the build-up of tension and stress.

- Learn to relax with deep breathing exercises, music, quiet time alone, or yoga, to decrease symptoms and help with coping. In addition, spend time with an understanding friend, get a solid 8 hours of sleep regularly, and keep track of the menstrual cycle on the calendar to prepare for the onslaught of symptoms to help yourself cope.

- Adjust your schedule around the menstrual cycle to avoid heavy decisions, stressful appointments or events, or even arguments during PMS to help both your PMS time and your relationships.

- Investigate the use of herbs. Much research is going on in the field of herbal remedies for PMS. Evening primrose oil, chaste tree berry, dong qui and other herbs may have an effect on PMS symptoms according to personal testimonies of women who have tried them.

For best results, I recommend a combination of all of these areas. A lifestyle including a balanced diet, proper amounts of necessary vitamins and minerals, plenty of healthy exercise, proper rest and relaxation, good mental attitudes, and appropriate herbs gives you the best defense against PMS symptoms. However, if all else fails, by all means, throw in a couple of bonbons. Women for centuries have insisted that chocolate is a miraculous cure-all!

DNA Testing During Pregnancy: Looking At The Pros And Cons

There are many pregnant women who would like to find out if it is possible to get a DNA test whilst the baby it is still in the womb. The simple answer is that Yes, you can have a DNA paternity test carried out whilst the baby in still unborn. DNA testing is done for many reasons. Some of the reasons are, but not limited to, finding out about genealogy, ethnicity or race and also to determine the paternity of a child. With that said, testing during pregnancy probably has the highest incidence of risk first to the fetus and then to the mother. It is therefore imperative that you know exactly what you are getting yourself into before you go ahead with this test.

Types Of DNA Testing Whilst Pregnant
There are currently two types of tests that can be done to help you determine the DNA of your unborn child. The first is called Amniocentesis and the second is called Chorionic Villus Sampling, CVS for short. We Will take a look at each of these, including the advantages of one over the other and the accompanying risks. But before we go any further, it must be stated that the time at which this kind of testing is done is absolutely critical.

Amniocentesis: It is simply where a sample of the Amniotic fluid, the fluid surrounding the fetus, is taken and analyzed. At what stage of pregnancy can this take place? Amniocentesis can only be carried out during the second trimester, that is between weeks 14 and 20, of pregnancy. What happens during this test? The doctor or medical professional carrying out Amniocentesis uses a very thin surgical needle, guides it into the uterus, through the abdomen. An ultrasound machine is used to guide him to ensure accuracy. He then draws a little amount of the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby, with the needle. This sample is what is used to carry out the test or DNA analysis.

Risk involved with Amniocentesis include possible harm to the baby and consequently leading to miscarriage. The mother may also experience bleeding and cramping. There are also instances where there is the leakage of amniotic fluid.

Chronionic Villus Sampling (CVS): During the pregnancy, the are little finger-like tissues projecting out of the uterine wall. These are called chorionic villi. These tissues come from the same fertilized egg that produced the fetus or baby. Consequently, they have the same genetic or biological make up as that of the fetus. It is these tissues that the doctor will try to get samples of in order to carry out the test.

When can this test be done? It is done during the first trimester, between weeks 10 and 13 of gestation. The procedure for CVS is a little different from that of Amniocentesis. During CVS, the doctor, again using an ultrasound machine, would guide a surgical tube or needle through the cervix to obtain the chorionic villi tissue. Afterwards tests are carried out with the sample to determine the baby's DNA.

The Cost of DNA Testing During Pregnancy
This procedure is not cheap, compared to the other types of DNA testing, and also considering all the risks involved. It is estimated that DNA testing during pregnancy will cost anywhere between US$1000 to US$2000. It is not possible to tell if your health insurer would pay for this procedure, unless of course the terms of the insurance covers cases like this.

From the aforegoing, it is clear you cannot just get up and decide you want to carry these tests. Unless it is utterly necessary, it is always recommended that you wait till the baby is born before you carry out testing to determine the DNA of your baby.

Benefits of the One Plan Health Insurance Blue Plan

Health insurance is not just for those with a six figure income, and it should not be a right but rather it should be a privilege. This might not be reality in South Africa at the moment but this is the vision of One Plan Health Insurance, a newcomer to the South African health care industry.

With One Plan medical aid everyone can afford to have health care at a price that will fit their pockets. And with the most basic plan starting at R100 a month, this can truly become a reality.

One Plan Health Insurance offers valuable services and products ranging from hospital plans, to cover in case of death and also cover for dread disease and HIV/AIDS cover. This means that One Plan Health Insurance truly is a one stop shop for all your health care needs, for you and you loved ones. Here is a look at what their comprehensive and affordable Blue Plan can offer you in the time that you will need it most.

What the One Plan Health Insurance Blue Plan Offers You

With the One Plan medical aid Blue Plan as a primary member you will receive R 5?250 worth of medical cover per year, excluding hospitalization, dread disease cover, and other benefits. This means that R 5?250 will go towards your average medical needs, like visiting a doctor, receiving prescription medication, pathology, radiology and maternity care.

Besides just covering your day to day medical needs One Plan Health Insurance will cover other crucial medical needs, such as accident cover, illness in hospital, emergency illness and natural birth and emergency caesareans.

Furthermore you will also receive accidental disability cover for up to R 130?000 for the duration of the policy. You and your family, if they are members, will also be covered in case of death, both accidental and from natural causes.

Optometry needs will also be covered and you will be able to have a comprehensive eye test, frames and specially cut glasses for your frames at any Eyenet optometrist nationwide. What more could you want from a health care provider?

But there is still more. As a member of One Plan Health Insurance you will also be able to take hold of amazing deals and goodies on offer from their online shopping mall, OneLiifestyle. Through the exclusive offers on their website you will be able to get discounts on over 300 trusted brands. So what have you got to lose?

Who can benefit from the One Plan Health Insurance Blue Plan

Those looking to cover themselves and their family in case of any medical emergency that might arise will benefit from the One Plane Health Insurance Blue Plan. And with low monthly rates it is not just the rich that can afford to look after their health. And with great value added bonuses there is no reason why you should not SMS them on 31644, and they will call you back.

New Moms, Sleep Well!

Having a baby gives a woman a sense of fulfillment and enormous joy. At the same time, it has been seen that first-time mothers get overwhelmed by the changes that take place in their lives as well as their body, after the baby is born. More importantly sleep deprivation. Your baby will require many feedings a day which means less sleep for you.

BE CAREFUL! You should recognize the importance of sleep.

While some people may like to believe that they can train their bodies to not require as much sleep as they once did, this belief is false. Sleep is needed to regenerate certain parts of the body, especially the brain, so that it may continue to function optimally. After periods of extended wakefulness or reduced sleep neurons may begin to malfunction, visibly effecting a person's behavior.

According to a study conducted by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, people who sleep less than five hours per day are four to five times more likely to be involved in a sleep-related crash.

Super Mom will give you few tips on how to relax during those few first months:

"Sleep when the baby sleeps" sounds blissful in theory. In reality, not everyone could do that. For some people sleeping requires some sort of relaxations, low light, quiet environment,... etc.

Tips on how to sleep better:

1-Lie down, even if you can't sleep.

2-Have your husband or a relative do the night shift for you ( mother or mother- in-law)

3-Take turns: One option is to put the baby to bed at night after the 8 o'clock feeding and go to bed yourself. Your partner can use a bottle of expressed milk to feed the baby around 10. Afterward your partner can go to bed and you can get up for the 2 to 4 feeding. That way, each of you will have the opportunity to have an uninterrupted six-plus hours of sleep

4-Don't rely on coffee: Although gulping down a cup of coffee first thing in the morning can give you the jolt you need to be alert, overdoing it can mask your need for sleep, and may actually prevent you from falling asleep when you finally lie down.

5-Get help around the house: Every day there seems to be twice as much work and half as much time to complete it in. Try getting a housekeeper few times a week to help you around the house or at least few hours a week.

6-Organize visiting hours: Everybody wants to see the new baby, of course. And you, you conscientious person, will feel the need to make sure the house is clean and there's something to offer them when they come. Unless your family has moved in to take over such chores, ask visitors to hold off for a week or so, then have them come one or two at a time for a couple of days a week. Anyone who had kids will understand, and those who haven't will learn soon enough.

7-Keep the baby near by: Moms actually sleep better when the baby sleeps in a bassinet next to the parents' bed rather than in his or her own room down the hall. The idea is that the baby's within easy reach, the mother doesn't have to be aroused by the baby's screaming, and she doesn't have to get up, turn on the lights, and go down a hallway. That makes it easier to slide back into sleep after the feeding. Starting his second month he will start sleeping better during the night then you could move him to his own room.

Elevating Your Legs After Sex When You're Trying to Conceive - Does This Favor a Girl Or a Boy Baby?

It's common advice to tell a women who is trying to conceive or to get pregnant to hold her legs to her chest or to elevate her legs and hips after sex for about twenty minutes.  The reason for this advice is that it's assumed that the elevation of your legs increases the angle that will force the sperm toward your cervix / reproductive tract and will allow less hard working and viable sperm to escape. 

The other day, someone asked me if this practice would increase the odds of conceiving a girl or boy baby.  Specifically, she wanted to know "if I want to get pregnant with a girl, would elevating my legs after intercourse help my odds or hurt them?"  I'll tell you what I told her in the following article.

Does Elevating Your Legs After Sex Really Do Anything To Help You Get Pregnant?:  The jury is still out on this one.  I suppose if your partner had a low sperm count or his sperm were compromised in some way, then it doesn't hurt to use every advantage or to try everything that you can.  The amount of semen in a man's ejaculation varies because of many different factors, including how much time has passed since the last ejaculation and the age or your partner. 

Larger amounts are seen after longer periods of abstinence.  In general though, most men will emit between 1.5 and 5 milliliters. Typically ejaculate would contain 60 -80 million sperm chromosomes per milliliter.  So if your partner (assuming he is healthy) were about average and emitted 2 milliliters, you'd have around 120 -160 million sperm fighting to reach your egg.  This is obviously an astronomical number so unless you just had bad aim, elevating your legs may be over kill, but as I said, it's an easy, free, and noninvasive practice, so it certainly doesn't hurt to try.

So Does Elevating Your Legs / Hips Increase The Odds Having Having A Girl Or Boy Baby?:  Again, there's not a lot of documentation about this, but here is what I think based on what I know to be true about this topic.   Conventional wisdom and research tells us to use shallow penetration if we want to conceive a daughter and deep penetration if we want a son. 

The reason for this is that the Y sperm chromosomes (boy producing) are less viable and are shorter lived.  By using deeper penetration, you're giving them an easier road and a shorter trip.  I would think that elevating your legs falls into this same category.  And I would also think that the very strong girl sperm could survive and make their way toward your egg just fine without your needing to elevate your legs.

The bottom line for me would be if you want to conceive a girl, you really don't need to do this unless you're having some fertility issues.  But, this practice would not hurt if you wanted a boy.

However, I firmly believe that this practice alone would not be enough to get you the gender that you want.  You'd also need to time your conception to the letter (depending on when you ovulate and which gender you want) and you'd need to make your body / vaginal canal more alkaline for a boy conception and more acidic for a girl one.

OB-GYN - The First Pre-Natal Appointment

Your first reaction finding out that you are pregnant is probably to instantly make an appointment with the OB-GYN, and many women are surprised to find out that the first appointment will not be until possibly week eight of the pregnancy. The first appointment is mainly for your doctor to gain information about you and your health history, and typical insurance providers will not cover prenatal appointments in the early weeks of pregnancy. Keep in mind though that your gestational weeks are measured from the first day of your last menstrual cycle, and, therefore, if you are being seen at eight weeks gestation, your baby was only conceived five to six weeks ago, and there isn't a lot of prevention or intervention that can be done for a baby at that stage of development.

If you are considered "at-risk" it is important that you tell your OB-GYN during that first phone call. In this situation, you should be seen as soon as possible, and you should consider a doctor who specializes in such cases. Some high risks include previous early miscarriage, history of ectopic pregnancy, previous difficulties in carrying a baby to term, and a history of high order multiples.

Expect to fill out what will seem like excessive paper work involving your health history, your family history, and your insurance information. Nothing is too minimal to mention. You will most likely have blood drawn at your initial appointment for the purpose of checking for blood type, glucose, infection, and disease. All of these things can affect the health of your baby, so be forthcoming with information. Women with these difficulties are perfectly capable of giving birth to health babies.

A urine sample confirming your pregnancy will be given at this appointment, and expect to give a urine sample at all subsequent appointments to check for protein and glucose. Your due date will be calculated at this initial appointment, and, unless you have recently undergone one, you will have a pap smear and pelvic exam. For a lot of patients, pre-natal appointments seem too focused on the mother rather than the baby, but keep in mind that at this point in life, you are your baby's home, and, just as you will certainly child proof your home in anticipation of bringing the baby into it, your body needs to be the safest home it can be for your baby right now.

At this point, your OB-GYN should discuss protocol with you telling you how to reach him, reasons to call, how often to expect appointments, and when to expect those exciting milestones like hearing the heartbeat and getting an ultra sound. You will see your physician once a month until approximately your twenty-eighth week of pregnancy, twice a month until week thirty-six, and every week thereafter until delivery. Before you are discharged from the hospital, your doctor will see you again discussing what to expect during healing and giving you any needed prescriptions. You will see your doctor one last time for a six week post-delivery check up. OB-GYNs are available for regular gynecological care as well, and you should continue to see this or another gynecologist annually for optimal heath care.

Skin Care Tips For Pregnant Women

When a woman expects a bundle of joy, the hormones are kicked into high gear. Your body adjusts to this wonderful experience that sometimes it can cause various changes on your skin. Some women would often break out or some may experience hyper pigmentation. While this may be a little disconcerting, there are still a lot of safe and easy methods that you can do to help alleviate these problems.

SKIN CARE TIPS FOR PREGNANT WOMEN

1. Sudden Breakouts

Similar to puberty, your hormones are at a chaotic state because it is adjusting to a growing baby inside your womb. Breakouts usually happen during the first trimester. Pregnant women should especially be careful when choosing a particular product to combat acne. It is always best to approach your doctor so that he or she can recommend treatments that will be safe for you and your baby. Once you have given birth, rest assured that this will usually disappear.

2. Darker Skin

When pregnant, you may notice that certain areas of your body may have traces of hyper-pigmentation. You may also see a dark line that starts from your navel down to your pubic area. This line is called the linea nigra. This line is visible during pregnancy, but you don't have to worry because it goes away once you give birth. Try to exfoliate your skin mildly in order to remove the dead skin cells. As usual, always ask our doctor for any product that is safe to use.

3. Glowing Skin

I'm sure a lot of women may wish to get this kind of effect on their skin during pregnancy. This "glowy" effect is attributed by the increase of blood flow into the vessels, thereby giving you a pretty flush on the cheeks. Sometimes, hormones can cause the skin to emit oil glands, which may make your skin appear shiny.

4. Melasma

Melasma is oftentimes called the "mask of pregnancy". It usually looks as if you got sunburned. As with any pregnancy, this will disappear eventually after giving birth. In the meantime, protect your face with a good hat before heading out. Use a sunscreen to protect your skin from the harmful rays.

Getting pregnant is a special event in one's ?life, especially for us women. The hormones that are kicking into high gear are just signs that signify that a new life is being formed inside you. Enjoy this moment of your life and always visit your doctor regularly.

Tips on Breast and Nipple Care During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

The size and shape of breast and nipples changes during pregnancy, so an extra care is require for both. Sometimes unusual things also happen like leaking of milk, oily discharge from the nipples, etc. Here in this article, you will find useful tips on breast and nipple care during pregnancy and lactation.

1. Oily discharge from the nipples - Sometimes, there is an oily discharge from the nipples during pregnancy and after childbirth for a few days. Around the areola of the breasts there are small glands (called Montgomery's Tubercles) which secrete small amounts of a greasy material which kills the germs on the skin in this area. The greasy material is also useful in keeping the nipples supple. Do not wash nipples with soap to clean the greasy material; otherwise there will be a possibility that the nipples might become sore when the baby suckles them. All that need to be done is to splash the nipples with plain water to keep them clean.

2. Flat or inverted nipples - In case the nipples appear flat or inverted, it is advised to press the areola between the thumb and the finger to encourage the nipple to stand out. If the nipple sticks out, the baby will not have any difficulty in suckling. During the pregnancy period the shape of the nipple may be abnormal, but it improves as the pregnancy advances. This is because of the effect of hormones during pregnancy. Do not apply any ointment or a cream to the nipples. Clean the nipples by splashing water on them. Do not try to remove any secretions, since these are protective and prevent infection.

3. Leaking of Milk From Breasts - Oozing of milk from the breast is common during the first few weeks after the baby is born. This indicates that the breast is full and the mother is ready to breastfeed the baby. Keep a soft napkin or a hanky or a piece of soft cloth or a pad against the nipple in the cup of the brassiere. This will soak up the milk and prevent the blouse, bra and sheet from getting spoiled. Make sure to change this pad quite often to prevent the nipples from remaining wet. Otherwise these will become sore. Try to keep the nipples dry and clean. The secretion of milk can be stopped by pressing the nipple with the heel of your hand against the breast for about one minute. In case the milk drips from the other breast while feeding the baby, just leave the breast exposed and let the milk drip on a hanky or a clear diaper.

Hope this article will help you to find some easy solution of problem discussed above.

Disclaimer: This article is not meant to provide health advice and is for general information only. Always seek the insights of a qualified health professional before embarking on any health program.

Copyright © Nick Mutt, All Rights Reserved. If you want to use this article on your website or in your ezine, make all the urls (links) active.

Tips to Ensure a Healthy Pregnancy

The tip of the stick turned pink right on schedule as you took the home test. Congratulations! Now that you know you are pregnant, you are shouldered with the very important task of ensuring that both you and your baby stay in top health for the next nine months. If this sounds easier said than done, relax. To keep you and your baby healthy and happy until the big due date arrives, there are some simple tips that you can follow from that very first pregnancy symptom.

You are What You Eat

This may be true throughout life, but it is especially true during the months of pregnancy. Many women find that eating five or six small meals a day is much easier on an already stressed digestive system. Make sure you are loading up your plate with plenty of fresh produce and whole grains for the biggest bang for your nutritional buck. It is also important to take the prenatal vitamin that your doctor prescribes without fail, since the nutrients found in this simple pill will make all the difference in a healthy pregnancy. Don't take any type of additional supplements, medications or herbal remedies without checking with your doctor first to ensure their safety.

The List of Don'ts

For your health and the safety of your baby, yes, there are a few things you should refrain from during those important nine months. Smoking, drinking alcohol and taking street drugs are all prescriptions for disaster during pregnancy, since overuse of some of these substances can result in birth defects or a less than healthy newborn. Since accidents can and do happen, it is also important that you never ride in or drive a car without your safety belt. It is also important not to overdo physical activity during this time; when your body tells you to stop and rest, listen to it by all means. The resources that your body needs to do this job properly may not leave you with as much stamina for other things, as it is lot of work growing a baby inside your body.

Take Care

If there was ever a time to indulge in a little extra pampering and care, this is the time. Since your body needs sufficient rest to care for that little life inside, don't skimp on your sleep during pregnancy. Take time to exercise, even if it is a moderately paced walk around the neighborhood at night. This will help to keep your body in shape during pregnancy and prepare it for the work of labor and delivery that lies ahead.

Pregnancy is a wonderful and exciting time, but it should also be a healthy time. By following these important tips, you can do plenty to help ensure that both you and your baby remain happy and healthy until the big birth day arrives.

Chinese Medicine And Pregnancy

Traditional Chinese Medicine first talks about pregnancy in the ancient book, the Nei Jing, back in the 1st or 2nd century BC, other famous texts since then also cover this topic.

INFERTILITY
The success rate in treating infertility is dramatic and it does so by bringing the patients body back to health. Many couples who go the route of IVF would have benefited greatly if they had first under gone Chinese Medicine treatment of herbs and acupuncture. One set of statistics put the number of women falling pregnant in this way above 80% and those who go on to IVF would have a better result and a healthier baby.

There are several trials that have been undertaken and practitioners who have specialized in this area. They often set out protocols that have worked for them such as different herbs at different times in the cycle and acupuncture at a set time to maximize ovulation etc.

I prefer to treat the person's constitutional weakness and leave protocols behind. Nearly always their will be a specific weakness preventing a successful pregnancy. In three recent cases I have concentrated on obstruction of the middle jiao i.e. - fullness across the region of the the diaphragm area preventing energy descending to the lower jiao i.e. - pelvic area. Unlike other therapies which seek to find specifics such as hormonal balance etc if you normalize qi and blood flows, then the body will make the corrections itself.

Herbs such as lu lu tong [liquid amber] can be used to unblock fallopian tubes. There are lists of herbs not to use in pregnancy to prevent possible miscarriage but in Chinese Medicine, if the herbs match the pattern then what is inappropriate for one will in fact prevent miscarriage in another. Having said that staying on the safe side is in order so cold descending herbs would normally be avoided such as da huang [rhubarb root]
I have not known any of my patients to have an epidural if they have had acupuncture during pregnancy.

MORNING SICKNESS
Both acupuncture and herbs work on morning sickness, once again different acupuncture treatments and different herbs will be used according to the individual's constitution.

BREECH POSITION & OVERDUE CASES
Acupuncture and moxibustion are very good to correct a breech presentation, any time after 34 weeks. It can also be used to induce birth when the baby is over due.

MISCARRIAGE
Rather than putting your feet up and hoping for the best, Chinese herbs can settle a restless foetus as can acupuncture but once again the reason for this happening must be diagnosed in Traditional Chinese Medical terms.

ECLAMPSIA AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
Very good results can be achieved but these cases are best treated before we get to these symptoms which reflect a poor constitution going into the pregnancy.

LOW BLOOD PRESSURE OR HYPOTENSION
Both acupuncture and herbs can stimulate the system to normalise this symptom. It is usually the kidney and spleen energies that require tonifying.

DIABETES
Type two diabetes responds to Chinese medicine and in pregnancy is very much related to the kidney energy being insufficient.

POST NATAL DEPRESSION
In Chinese Medicine this is not a psychiatric problem but the result of the physical drain of child birth. In this situation the mother needed to build her constitution up before and during pregnancy and make sure help is at hand to prevent overly stressful situation in her life.

OVERDUE BABY
Chinese medicine uses both herbs and acupuncture to bring on a delayed birth.

MASTITIS
Herbs particularly make short work of mastitis problems.

POSTPARTUM
Postpartum problems respond very well to both herbs and acupuncture

LACTATION
Foods and herbs will increase milk supply and also reduce an over supply.

Effects of Pregnancy on Circulation

Women are affected by a number of different health issues that normally do not exist until they become pregnant. One of the most common problems associated with pregnancy is swelling or edema, which affects about 75% of all pregnant women.

Added weight increases the burden on legs, feet and ankles. Swelling of the lower part of the body reduces the blood circulation. Even before it becomes uncomfortable, pregnant women should prop their legs up to reduce edema and improve circulation in the legs and feet before it becomes a risk for blood clots and other health problems.

Leg Swelling
As the natural process of gaining weight occurs, the body's gravity center changes. Rather than standing with legs together, it is easier to keep balance with the feet standing slightly apart. This puts more pressure on the feet and knees. The arches, heels and balls of the feet may be affected by this shift, causing pain and some swelling.

For those that already have circulation issues before the pregnancy and are wearing compression hose or support stockings, they may need to consider an increase in size. On the other hand, maternity pantyhose are one product that can provide relief for tired, swollen legs. Some types are available with a special, expandable panel over the abdomen. This helps to maintain general leg health and improves the flow of blood. An expandable waistband makes them comfortable to wear. Look for types that feature breathable and anti-microbial fabric.

Varicose veins
According to the American Pregnancy Association, pregnant women produce 50% more blood. This has a number of effects on the body. Extra blood flow through the body that involves the baby may cause varicose veins. These blue veins sometimes rise above the natural skin surface and are very visible to the naked eye. Wearing support stockings can reduce the chances of getting them. Propping up feet and avoiding standing for long periods of time will also help. Increasing intake of vitamin C is also effective in prevention or decreasing varicose veins.

Swollen Feet
Some pregnant women find increasing foot swelling makes it difficult to wear shoes. Rather than going barefoot or wearing flip-flops, some wear a larger shoe. Increasing a half size or whole size is helpful in putting them on taking them off, especially if they have laces.

Exercise
Changes in mobility during pregnancy can also make it difficult to maintain a proper weight. As it becomes more difficult to maneuver, some women reduce their exercise regimen. While this should be done to some degree, a woman should consult her doctor for the best types and amounts of exercise during this time.

Maternity Leave Benefits - At No Direct Cost to Employers

Creating viable maternity leave benefits is a vexing problem for many small businesses. Helping female workers fund their maternity leave is a noble goal. But funding maternity leave is very costly, and creates a favored employee class: working women in the growing family life stage. Voluntary employee benefit programs help employers create maternity leave benefits that fund maternity leave, treat all employee classes equally, and come at no direct cost to the employer.

Maternity Leave Benefits

Women in the growing family life-stage will gravitate to employers offering maternity leave benefits. Having and raising children is quite expensive, and to begin the journey with six to eight weeks of unpaid leave is a burden to many couples. Plus, there is also the chance that mom may miss additional time from work prior to delivery due to complications, after work because of postpartum problems, or to take care of a sick or prematurely delivered baby. Any employer offering solutions to this wage gap problem has a leg up on recruiting and retaining workers in this category.

But how can a small employer offer maternity benefits without driving up costs, or unfairly favoring one employee segment over another? Providing six to eight week of paid leave is an option many small employers can not afford. When you add on the need to replace income for complications and/or care of a sick infant the costs can quickly spin out of control. Plus, employers need to consider how male employees and older female employees may feel about the extra benefits provided to one small segment of the employee population. Many employees will never use maternity benefits, and may seek an alternative form of compensation - raising the stakes yet again.

Voluntary Employee Benefits are the Answer

Voluntary employees benefits provide answers to these employer dilemmas. Voluntary benefits allow working women to create maternity leave income for their normal labor and delivery, plus provide protection in case of pregnancy complications, delivery complications, and premature birth. Employees pay for the programs themselves by payroll deduction, so there is no direct cost to the employer. Make the options available to all employees, and no special favors are being done for any single employee segment. Women in the growing family life stage will have their maternity benefits, and the remaining employees will have expanded options to protect themselves and their families in case of unexpected accidents and illnesses.

The most common forms of voluntary benefits are flexible spending accounts, and supplemental health insurance. Flexible spending accounts use pre-tax dollars to help lower a variety of maternity related expenses. A healthcare flex accounts can lower the costs of infertility treatments, pregnancy expenses, and left over medical bills associated with a long NICU stay for a sick infant. Dependent care flex accounts help lower the costs of child care, making it easier for women to return to work. Supplemental health insurance helps women create maternity leave pay for their normal delivery, plus it provides additional protection in case of pregnancy complications, delivery disorders, premature birth, accidents and illnesses.

Beating Stress and Depression Through Music

Stress and depression can make a woman, especially a woman suffering from substance abuse, feel overwhelmed and anxious. Many women find it difficult to cope with the stress and depression that can be brought on by daily life. Between juggling the needs of others and their own needs, it can be hard for a woman to take time out of her busy life to deal with her own emotions.

While some women find that activities like yoga, reading, painting or exercise help them cope with stress and depression, other women don't feel like they even have the time to carve out for those activities. Music can be an incredibly powerful tool for women who find it difficult to find 15, 30 minutes or an hour for themselves each day. Although we're still learning about how music impacts the body, we know that music therapy can be effective for treating stress and depression as well as anxiety or feelings of being overwhelmed.

Combating Daily Stress and Depression With Music
We've all listened to a song on the radio that has brightened our mood, made us feel more at peace or brought a smile to an otherwise terrible day. Some songs bring to mind memories of happier times, like our school days or a particular family vacation, while others put us in a more thoughtful mood. When you listen to music to relax, here are some things to keep in mind:

Don't use headphones! Play the music through speakers, even if you aren't in the car and let your whole body feel the rhythm. Dance if you want to dance, sing if you want to sing. Let your body tell you how the music can ease your anxiety, stress and depression.

Close your eyes. If you can, listen to the music at home or in a place where it is safe to close your eyes. This helps calm our brains and get our bodies to focus on the beat or the lyrics. If you are listening to soft music or jazz, take deep breaths while you are listening and focus your mind on the notes. If you are listening to something upbeat, have a 30 second dance marathon and get physically active.

Make a mix tape. Ok, so we don't make cassette tapes anymore, but take that concept and put together a playlist of songs that will help you cope with your feelings of anxiety, stress and depression. If a certain song reminds you of a past relationship that is the root of your depression, avoid adding it to your play list, or if you must add it to the beginning of your play list and make the subsequent tracks more relaxing and uplifting. If you need to cry, cry it out and let the next song heal your heart.

Basic Rights of Pregnant Women

In California, pregnancy discrimination is another form of sex discrimination. According to California statute, women have four months of pregnancy leave and are entitled to certain office accommodations for the pregnancy. Yet, depending upon certain circumstances exclusive to the employer, such as the size of the business, these rights may differ.

Pregnant women have the rights to be treated equally and the same with other employees who are not pregnant as long as they are capable of doing their jobs very well and their tasks do not endure harm to the baby that they carry in their womb.

Thus, the Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA) or the amended Title VII of the Civil Rights of 1964 states that discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy, childbirth or other related medical conditions represents unlawful sex discrimination. Therefore, women affected by pregnancy or related conditions must be treated in the same manner as other applicants or employees with similar capabilities.

If you believe you have been a victim of pregnancy discrimination, you got to know a lot about the pros and cons regarding your pregnancy rights. Pregnant women are protected with the following employment processes (Basic Rights under the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978):

• Hiring. An employer cannot refuse to hire a pregnant individual and deprive her from working. As long as she is capable of performing her jobs, she is entitled to equality in the policies imposed by the company and fair considerations of the employer.

• Pregnancy and Maternity Leave. The employer should permit a leave to the pregnant employee as soon as needed without threatening her on the possibility of losing the job.

• Health Insurance. Any health insurance provided by an employer must cover expenses for pregnancy related situations on the same basis as costs for other medical conditions. Pregnancy related expenses should be refunded accurately as those incurred for other medical conditions. The amounts to be paid by the insurance provider can be limited only to the same level as costs for other conditions. No additional, increased or larger deductible should be required. Meanwhile, employers should grant the same level of health benefits for wives of male employees as they do for husbands of female employees.

• Fringe Benefits. The employers should not limit the pregnancy-related benefits to married employees. This type of benefit should be given to all female workers in spite of their position and rank. Hence, employees with pregnancy-related disabilities must be treated equal as other temporarily disabled workers. This is for the sake of endowing respect to everyone's rights in the company.

Does Your Community Have Good Mental Health

The community mental heath team are there to help those who are suffering from mental health problems. The first port of call for anyone who thinks that they are suffering from some kind of mental health problem is your doctor who will be able to recommend the right sort of help.

The community mental health team consists of a number of professionals who are trained in their specific areas and can include psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, and of course the community psychiatric nurse or CPN. Some specific problems or issues that can arise in addition to existing mental health problems or which can exacerbate or trigger mental health problems and which might need extra consideration include:

o Financial problems

o Physical disabilities

o Housing issues

o Divorce or relationship problems

o Childcare issues

Certain kinds of mental health problems may result in different needs and may therefore require some specialist help to deal with and these can include:

o Elderly depression and dementia

o Child or Teen depression

o Postnatal depression

o Bipolar disorder

o Schizophrenia

Obviously, finding one person fully qualified and skilled in all of these areas just isn't possible so the community mental health team work together in order to ensure that the best advice and support is available as many of the professionals involved will be trained in specialist areas that allow them to offer a better service to people suffering from specific problems. So who is likely to be involved in the community mental health team?

Psychiatrist

Patients can be referred to a psychiatrist by their doctor. After an initial assessment, the psychiatrist will recommend a suitable course of treatment and medication. If a mental health problem is particularly severe then they are also able to recommend that the individual be detained in hospital for a period of time. However, this is a last resort and also requires the approval of another doctor and a social worker who all agree that this is the best option for an individual concerned either for the individual's safety or for the safety of others.

Psychologist

Psychologists have an understanding of human behaviour, emotions and how the mind works and although they cannot prescribe medication they can offer various types of psychological therapies. Patients can be referred to them by the doctor or other members of the community health team.

The Key Worker

People suffering from mental health problems will usually be assigned a key worker, which can be anyone in the community mental health team. The key worker ensures that the individual gets the right kind of help that they need. They will regularly assess the progress of an individual and report back to the rest of the team.

Community Psychiatric Nurse or CPN

The key worker will often be a CPN who will usually make regular visits to people with mental health problems in their own homes. They offer an important lifeline for people who are feeling isolated and alone with their mental health problems or who are experiencing particular difficulties. They are aware of the many issues surrounding mental health and can listen as well as help people talk through their problems in a setting in which they feel comfortable.

The CPN will liaise with and work closely with other members of the team to make sure that any practical support and assistance is offered when needed. They monitor medication, make sure the individual knows how to take their medication and they also look out for additional symptoms or side effects of that medication. The family and loved ones of a person suffering from mental health problems often need additional support in order to understand mental illness and to be able to cope with it, the CPN can offer practical advice and guidance.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists help individuals to cope with practical issues on a day to day basis in areas such as dressing, toileting and feeding themselves and can help individuals regain some control of their lives.

Social workers

Social workers can ensure that an individual gets access to various social services that will improve their quality of life and that they may be entitled to such as home help, respite care and perhaps admission to day or residential centres. They can also offer assistance in dealing with housing needs, financial difficulties or other social problems.

The best care

Many other people can be involved in the community mental health team including various support workers, therapists, counsellors, and of course loved ones. Together they all make sure that the individual suffering from mental illness gets the best care possible. Each team member can make a valuable contribution to the individual's quality of life and can help them not only to cope with their illness on a day to day basis but to regain control over their lives and integrate with the rest of the community in a positive and productive way.

Help For Financing And Paying For Infertility Treatments

One of the first thing couples who have having problems with infertility discover is how expensive infertility treatments can be. Unless a couple is so fortunate as to be independently wealthy, they will probably need help for financing and paying for infertility treatments. Although advances in technology have reduced the costs of these treatments to some extent, most people will not be able to treat these as out-of-pocket costs. Some desperate couples have even taken out second mortgages on their homes in order to pay for in vitro fertilization.

It goes without saying that the simpler the treatment needed for a woman to become pregnant, the less expense is involved. If a cycle or two of Clomid will handle the problem, the cost will be minimal, but if several cycles of in vitro fertilization are called for, the expenses can mount to $30,000 or more. Unfortunately, most insurance companies tend to consider infertility issues as some sort of luxury, and will not cover them. Fifteen states have mandated that health insurance companies provide some help for paying for infertility treatments, but most will not, and the coverage is not complete. Before starting with infertility treatments, check to see if the state where you live has mandated coverage.

Anyone involved in seeking treatment for infertility will quickly become aware of how costly it is. Routine tests and examinations can run into hundreds or thousands of dollars, and once the problem is pinpointed, it may take several tries before a pregnancy occurs. Artificial insemination can cost between $300 and $800 per try, and in vitro fertilization can easily cost upwards of $20,000. Paying for in vitro can be difficult, but there are several options available to help with IVF treatment cost.

Some couples have found that fertility insurance can provide help for financing and paying for infertility treatments. As with any other kind of insurance, a monthly payment will have to be made, and there are limits to the coverage. Make certain that you understand exactly what will be covered and what will not and make a realistic determination of what you will be able to afford.

For those who are not able to get any insurance for their problem, they may be able to find help for financing and paying for infertility treatments with a loan designed just for that purpose. There are several companies that offer loans to pay for infertility treatments, and this might well be a way to finance everything from several cycles of Clomid to in vitro fertilization. Before signing on the dotted line, however, make sure that you understand exactly what the interest rate will be and how long you can expect to be making payments.

Besides loans and fertility insurance, there are now grants available to couples who otherwise could not afford infertility treatments. There is an international agency that will subsidize in vitro fertilization treatments, and other associations that will provide differing amounts of money to help with financing and paying for infertility treatments. A search on the internet will provide you with more information about these organizations.

For those of us who are not rich, it would be an excellent idea to explore every aspect of paying for infertility treatments. If the lower technology treatments are of no avail, it is good to know in advance what IVF treatment costs and exactly how you will be paying for in vitro fertilization.

Are You Putting Your Unborn Baby's Health at Risk?

If you are like most expectant mothers you want to create, design, and decorate a special place for your new baby, a place that speaks from your heart, is safe, and comfortable.

However, your good intentions could be endangering your new born. What most new mom's don't know is that redecorating means exposing your unborn child to toxic chemicals through; brand new paint, new carpet, washable vinyl, wallpaper, new crib with synthetic mattress, new no iron sheets, new easy care synthetic clothing, disinfectants, scented baby lotions, powders, synthetic fiber stuffed animals, plastic rattles all of which are made with toxic chemicals and are potential health risks to your new baby's health.

Children and babies are more susceptible than adults to the adverse health affects of toxins because pound for pound since they are growing their little bodies are metabolizing faster than adults, they breath faster, their blood brain barrier that protects adults from toxins, is not yet fully developed, their detox system, the liver and kidneys are still developing which means that their bodies have a difficult time eliminating toxins so the toxins are stored in their fatty tissue.

Furthermore, babies and small children play and crawl on the floor and ground where many toxins are found. They put their hands and toys into their mouths which increases their exposure to toxic elements in the home. They don't know what is toxic and what is safe.

Think about it. At no other time in history have there been more toxic chemicals in our environment. The most toxic environments are indoors where humans spend 65% of their time. New mom's and babies are at greater risk of long term exposure to toxic chemicals in the home because they spend 95% of their time in the home. That is why it is important to start now protecting yourself and your newborn baby. The best place to start is in the nursery.

I'm going to start with the crib because in the beginning your baby spends 90% of the time in the crib thus being exposed to toxic chemicals for prolonged periods. Some chemicals used to make synthetic mattresses are phthalates and PBDE - flame retardants, polyurethane, foam, polyester, plastic, formaldehyde. They all emit dangerous toxins that your baby breathes in or absorbs through the skin when in the crib.

Some examples of the dangerous chemicals mentioned above and the adverse health risks:

* Phthalates. Studies show they have been linked to damage of the liver, kidney and lungs, harmful to the reproductive system, and developing testicles. They are absorbed through the skin and by inhalation. Phthalates are found in plastics, flooring, cosmetics, nail polish, perfume, hair spray, to name a few.

* PBDE, fire retardant, has been linked to brain development and thyroid problems in lab rats. PBDE is found in most furniture fabrics and woods, cabinets, beds and in children's pajamas.

* According to the EPA the health effects of formaldehyde include eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin rash, severe allergic reactions and may cause cancer. In asthma suffers formaldehyde has been known to cause asthma attacks. Formaldehyde is used in many stains and other synthetic materials.

However, don't worry there are many solutions for a safe crib. Look for mattresses made of natural cotton or wool. Find blankets, sheets, clothing, and toys that are made of natural or organic cottons and wools. When buying natural buy organic, when possible.

If you can't find a natural mattress for baby then use a piece of thick cotton material to put over the synthetic mattress and under the fitted sheet. Thus, the fitted sheet for baby's mattress will go over the thick cotton fabric and the mattress. If possible use organic cotton. If you can't find organic cotton wash the thick cotton cloth several times so that you can wash out any toxins and pesticides.

Furthermore, when buying the crib be sure to buy something with a safe non-toxic finish. Maple is said to be the least toxic wood. See if you can find a crib made of maple with a non-toxic finish.

Do not ever paint the room yourself. Breathing in the toxic fumes from the paint can harm your unborn child even if the paint is no or low VOC (volatile organic compounds).

Sanding and scraping the walls while your pregnant may expose you to lead dust which can be extremely dangerous to your unborn child since their brains and central nervous system aren't yet fully developed. In addition, your unborn child may store the lead in their fatty tissue because their liver and kidney's aren't yet fully developed and able to eliminate it. Even children under the age of 6 are vulnerable to lead poisoning because their organs aren't yet fully developed. Exposure to low levels of lead have produced adverse health affects like low IQ, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, stunted growth, attention deficit disorder (ADD), impaired hearing, and kidney damage. High levels of lead exposure have contributed to mental retardation, a coma and even death.

Get someone else to paint and sand the room for you. Make sure they use water based, low or no VOC (volatile organic compound) paint. Similarly, due to increased environmental regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency paint and stain companies have been forced to reduce the VOC's in their products. However, the VOC levels are still dangerous in conventional paints so make sure that you ask for low or no VOC paint or stain. Most paint companies now have a line of no or low VOC paints.

What are VOC's? For years conventional paints needed VOC's to perform. These VOC's are toxic and have contributed to indoor air pollution. Paints with high VOC's emit low levels of VOC's into the air for many years to come. Moreover, VOC's have been linked to nausea, cancer, damage to liver and kidney, headaches, nose and throat irritation to name a few. For more information go to the Environmental Protection Agency, at http://www.epa.gov.

Be sure that you finish painting at least one month before baby is born. To dry paint use a room space heater. By drying the paint you will help the paint to harden so it doesn't release toxins into the air.

Absolutely stay away from new carpet and flooring, keep what is already in your home. New carpet is among the most toxic material in your home, it is treated with many different chemicals. If you absolutely have to put down new flooring use pre-finished hardwood, re-claimed wood, natural linoleum, bamboo all with water based non-toxic finishes. The best finish is water based as it is less toxic than oil based finishes. When you are shopping ask the manufacture if the finish is water or oil based.

Toys are difficult because you want to give your child everything. However, most toys are made with plastics which can be toxic. The best bet is to do what Toucan Sam says, "Follow your nose." If the toy smells weird or toxic don't buy it. The best toys are wood or made of natural fibers like cotton or wool.

Diapers. Beware of disposable diapers. They are made of plastics and synthetic fibers. Some companies add unknown deodorizing chemicals that can be irritating to your baby's skin.

Common health problems linked to disposable diapers are diaper rash; chemical burns, noxious chemical and insecticide odors, and babies pull diapers apart and put them into their mouths and noses. The synthetic, plastic materials don't allow babies skin to breath and thus contribute to diaper rash. Because disposable diapers feel dryer than cloth to parents, many parents postpone changing the diaper longer which means the bacteria from the urine remains in contact with baby's delicate skin longer. This also contributes to increased cases of diaper rash.

Since disposable diapers don't breathe and provide proper circulation of air to baby's skin, ammonia from the bacterial breakdown of urine is unable to escape causing further irritation to your baby's delicate skin. In addition, disposable diapers that have been bleached are known to have dioxins. Studies show that dioxins can cause cancer, birth defects, liver damage, and immune system suppression. Moreover, once dioxins enter the body they are stored in the fatty tissue where they stay, because they aren't able to breakdown and dissolve in fats, they are a "rock solid" stable chemical according to the World Health Organization.

On the other hand diapers made from natural materials breathe and give proper circulation to baby's skin and parents change them more often so they contribute to your baby's health and comfort. Furthermore, the natural fabric is soft and comfortable against baby's fragile skin.

Avoid toxic nail polish, perfumes, hair spray and deodorant while pregnant. I would avoid them altogether even after your pregnant, but particularly while you are pregnant. Conventional nail polishes and perfumes contain phthalates that can be absorbed by inhaling, through the skin, and ingested when they contaminate food. Phthalates are banned from nail polish in Europe. Phthalates have been linked to liver and kidney damage, damage of the lungs and the reproductive system, especially the developing testes.

Stay away from conventional hair sprays, hair gels and deodorants they contain toxic chemicals that can harm your baby. A rule of thumb I follow is if it smells toxic it probably is. Avoid it.

Steer clear of conventional cleaning and laundry products all have toxic chemicals. The most toxic conventional household cleaning products are: air fresheners, stain removers for clothing, anything that says anti bacterial, as it contains pesticides which are intended to be toxic and kill, chlorine bleach, ammonia and anything that smells toxic and strong. Again "follow your nose" and if it smells toxic, it probably is.

Simple solutions:

Instead of air freshener open a window or find where the odor is coming from and eliminate the source. Put a few drops (about 5 to 10) of pure, organic essential oil in a spray bottle of distilled water and use it as air freshener. Another trick for freshening air is put a few drops of essential oil on a light bulb that is going to be turned on. For stains on clothing, use clear liquid non-toxic soap on the stain as soon as you notice it. Simply poor the soap right on the stain, rub it in and put it into the laundry basket until laundry time. Most times the stain comes right out when you wash it. Stains become stains when they stay on the fabric untreated not because you aren't using toxic stain remover.

To rid your home of bacteria and viruses use simple warm water and soap, if it is good enough for hospitals to kill germs it is good enough for your home. Instead of chlorine bleach try non-chlorine bleach it works great without the toxic odor.

Many people say to me, ya, ya but families have been using toxic chemicals in their homes to clean for generations and they are fine. I say to them that it might seem like they are fine, but that doesn't explain why asthma in children has increased 40% since the 80's and it is being linked to environmental toxins and dioxins. There has been a rise in non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (a type of cancer that is unpredictable), and it can be linked to toxins in the environment.

Moreover, there has been a measured increase in the presence of pesticides in human blood. Remember this is dangerous because pesticides are created to kill anything living which includes plants, animals and humans. Every 2 to 5 years levels of PBDE's, fire retardants in humans have been doubling. In North America the levels are 40 times higher than on other continents. As mentioned above PBDE's are linked to brain and thyroid problems in lab rats and are stored in fatty tissue. Furthermore, babies are being born with toxins already in their bodies and each generation is more toxic than the previous generation.

It isn't necessary to use toxic chemicals in your home when there are healthy safe alternatives, especially in a home with a baby and children. Your health is all you have and protecting yourself and your new born from toxic chemicals in your home is an added layer of health insurance as well as added peace of mind.

"Think and go green,"

TheGreenQueen

The Difference Between Major Depression and Minor Depression

Broadly depression can be classified in two categories:

Major depression:

Major depression is one of the most serious forms of depression. It is also referred to as clinical  or unipolar depression. Some Clinicians call it major depressive disorder. It is not an illness since it can be treated very easily once diagnosed. Major disorder can be cured even at the severe stage with the help of good care and medication.

Major disorder means a prolonged feeling of sadness. Sufferer doesn't show interest in any activity or pass time. Loss of appetite, loss in weight, hopelessness, lack of concentration, low self esteem and isolation are the common symptoms of this disease. The negative feelings are very common in the patient suffering from major depression. Patient is always occupied with thoughts of suicide. A person with this type of depression needs good care and attention as he can harm himself anytime. This type of disorder is not short term, it lasts for years.

Minor depression:

This type of depression is just contrary to the major depression. Minor depression means ordinary sadness which doesn't need any medication. A person himself can cure it by taking action. He has no need to be dependent on drugs and doctors. In the cases of major depression people need drugs. But mild one can be cured by being active and creative. People take prescription drugs and then lay dormant. Only drugs can not remove depression. If you have minor depression, you are suggested to take some actions like - read good books, see nature, call friends or relatives and listen to good music.

Health Insurance - International Coverage for Travelers Or Expats

Health Insurance coverage needs to travel with those who travel about the country and even when traveling internationally. If the traveler is going to a country where government run health systems is in effect, then the basic health insurance policy will be enough to take care of any medical needs that might come up while traveling there. However, when traveling to countries where health care is privately run, it is a good idea to carry a personal insurance policy that opts for the widest range and best coverage possible.

Countries with government run health systems have equal options available for everyone whereas those countries with privatized health care have levels of care where the better the insurance or ability to pay, the better the quality of care. This is why is it optimal to have a comprehensive health care plan to carry internationally in case of any as illness or injury where medical treatment is necessary.

International medical coverage can be obtained through most carriers and sometimes added to a person's current health care coverage. When applying for international health insurance coverage, applicants who have recently been seriously ill or who have a chronic illness will likely be denied international coverage. If a woman wishes to give birth in a foreign country, international health insurance can be purchased that will cover maternity medical care needs, however the woman in question cannot be pregnant at the time of the insurance plan purchase. Sometimes there is also a waiting period involved before maternity related expenses will be covered by the international health insurance plan.

Traveling abroad with full comprehensive health insurance coverage is the best way to insure there are no obstacles to the traveler receiving the best possible care when in a foreign country. In countries where the health care is privatized and good insurance is had, the hospitals are much nicer and the health care staff will always speak English. This is the level of health care travelers should strive to have when enjoying international adventures. If one decides to live in a foreign country some of the time, the health care plan can accommodate that, just talk to the company and set it up for the times abroad and the times at the primary country of residence. All of this sounds complicated and while it does take some figuring out, quality coverage can go internationally with travelers.

If you need help locating this coverage, please feel free to visit our website at http://www.health-insurance-buyer.com and leave your contact information so we can respond to your request.

Ten Things to Do Before Trying to Conceive

Have you and your companion decided to become parents? People worry all the time about the changes they have to make while being pregnant. However, there are things you should focus on before even trying. You must wait for a month or two and do these 10 things in order to prepare your routine, lifestyle and body for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.

Have a healthy diet:

Have an intake of nourishing and healthy foods in order to prepare your body with all the nutrients needed for pregnancy. Have two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables daily. If you can afford it, buy organic because it is proved to be more nutritional. In addition have an abundance of whole grain foods such as brown rice, wholemeal bread, milk, orange juice and yogurt because they will provide you with the calcium you need. Avoid high mercury fish such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel and tilefish. Methyl mercury in large amounts can damage your babys brain. However fish is still provides a great supply of protein and therefore you should have twelve ounces of low mercury fish a week. Examples include canned light tuna or salmon. Also try oily fish such as sardines and mackerel.
It is very important to have an intake of 400 micrograms of folic acid for at least a month prior to trying to get pregnant and beginning your first trimester. By doing this you will prevent the chance by 70 percent of your baby being born with neuraltube damage like spina bifida, which currently affects 1 in 1,500 babies born in the UK. Folic acid supplements may be purchased at drug stores. You may also take prenatal or standard multivitamin. However, make sure the latter does not withhold more than 770 mcg RAE (2565 IU) of vitamin A if its a type of beta-carotene, because it may cause birth defects. Foods such as leafy green vegetables, Brussels sprouts, bran flakes, black-eyed beans, papaya and broccoli are all good food sources for folic acid.

Refrain from consuming coffee, tea and colas. Caffeine reduces your ability to absorb the iron you require for pregnancy and enhances the danger of having a stillbirth. However if your body is too used to having these drinks on a regular basis, then cutting of suddenly may give you headaches. Switch to decaf and if thats not enough then try half decaf or half caffeinated drinks. Cut back a cup a day. Steamed milk with syrup is a good alternative because it provides your body with the calcium it needs..

Stay away from unpasteurized soft cheeses and dairy products, luncheon and deli meats, raw undercooked fish and poultry such as shellfish, and unpasteurized juices. The harmful bacteria and microorganisms in these foods can cause listeriosis, salmonella or E.coli, which lead to stillbirths and miscarriages.

Avoid Medications and Harmful Intoxicants:

Stop taking birth control. This can be easily done, however, stopping hormonal contraception needs more planning. Complete your current pack of The Pill to stop irregular bleeding.. Sometimes it takes months for your cycle to normalize, other times you become fertile the first month, most likely if you are under thirty. It will take some time for you to figure out how long your cycle is, and when you are most fertile. Contraceptive patch and ring can take up to a year.

There are many drugs that can influence sperm production, while everyday medications like anti-depressants, antibiotics, acne treatments and steroids can disturb your fertility. Some drugs remain in your system for months even after stopping use. See your doctor or health advisor to find out which prescribed drugs you need to stop using.

You must not smoke, take drugs or drink alcohol. Some drugs remain in your system long after their effects have disappeared and therefore you must stop immediately. Even second hand smoke can be harmful for your pregnancy. Indulging in these activities leads to miscarriage, untimely birth and unhealthy babies. Tobacco use also limits fertility, affects your fallopian tubes and drops the sperm count. Alcohol loads calories and weight, and does not allow you to have stable blood sugar required for hormone production.

Having a healthy weight:

Conceiving becomes much easier when you have a healthy weight. Make sure your BMI (body mass index) is between 20 and 30. A healthcare provider can show you how to best achieve your desired weight if you are not in shape.

Excess weight affects hormone production that is required to ovulate and consequently get pregnant. Oestrogen released by fat cells reduces the production of FSH, a hormone necessary for getting pregnant. Being underweight will not allow you to ovulate on a regular basis create an adequate amount of hormones to initiate pregnancy

Follow a fitness plan to have a healthy body that's ready for pregnancy. This means at least sixty minutes of physical activity like walking, jogging, cycling, weight training or yoga. By doing this you will relive the stress that accompanies the process of getting pregnant, and have a flexible, healthy body. You should continue your routine even after getting pregnant. If your body is not used to such a routine then start with a short exercise such as taking twenty minute walks. Change your activity to become more and more rigorous everyday.

Be in a healthy environment:

Be hygienic and avoid infections by washing your hands repeatedly and wear gloves when doing dirty jobs such as digging in the garden or sandbox. Avoid activities such as cleaning the litter box because the risk getting toxoplasmosis is dangerous for the baby.

Wash your hands regularly when cooking food and set your fridge at the temperature of 35 and 40 degrees F (2 to 4 degrees C) and your freezer under 0 degrees F (-18 degrees C) to make sure food does not go bad.

Make sure that your daily job is not harmful for your baby. Chemicals, radiation, cleaning products, pesticides, solvents, lean in drinking water from old pipes are hazardous for the baby. Discuss this with a doctor or midwife and see what changes need to be made.

Avoid X rays and other such treatments during this time, as they can be harmful for your baby.

Have the necessary check ups:

Hormonal changes such as increased progesterone and estrogen levels during pregnancy can make you more vulnerable to gum infections, and bring about different result to the bacteria in plaque, causing pregnancy gingivitis where the gums are bloated, bleeding or sensitive. This occurs to half the women who become pregnant. Women with the tooth condition periodontal disease are seven times more expected to give birth to underweight babies. Get a check up from a dentist to prevent these complications before getting pregnant.

Have a preconception check up with your regular healthcare advisor. You will be discussing your familys medical history, medication your are taking, diet, weight, exercise, suggested prenatal vitamin, update your immunizations, tested for immunity from the diseases you have had in the past such a rubella and chicken pox, possibly have a pelvic exam and a pap smear if it has been more than a year since your last check up, be tested for sexually transmitted diseases if at risk and possibly get genetic testing upon your wish to detect sickle cell disease, Tay-Sachs, cystic fibrosis etc.

If you see signs of depression such as loss of pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable, a change in diet, sleep pattern and loss of energy, feelings of despair and hopelessness and worthlessness then check your mental health with a therapist or psychiatrist. Women with depression are more likely to have problems with fertility. Do a mental health check before you get pregnant especially if you have a personal or family history of depression.

Do your own research:

Do some research on your family's health history. Find out if there is a history of genetic or chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome, sickle call anemia, cystic fibrosis, Tay-Sachs disease or bleeding disorders, mental retardation, developmental delays or anatomical birth defects like cardiac or neural tube defects.

Know your cycle. The average length is 28 day but it varies from 25 to 35 days in most women. Symptoms such as tender breasts, abdominal pain and increased libido can indicate when you are ovulating. You can calculate your ovulation day. You may start charting your basal body temperature and the changes in your cervical mucus. By keeping a record for several months you can figure this out. Purchase a special thermometer available at certain drugstores and record it when you wake up in the morning before getting out of bed. Ovulation predictor kits can also help but these are expensive.

Start thinking about the costs:

Contact your health insurance company and consider the cost of having a baby. Take a look at prenatal coverage, the cost of going out of network, the cost of a particular doctor or midwife, deductibles for prenatal visits and delivery, and insurance coverage of tests and procedures. Vaginal delivery costs around 7000 dollars, a cesarean section costs around 11,000 dollars and neonatal intensive care can cost around 3000 dollars per day without insurance.

Contact a financial advisor to find out the cost of raising a child and about saving. Families that make around 50,000 dollars a year are likely to spend around 200,000 dollars to raise a child.

Keep a check on your partner:

Keep a check in your partner too. Make sure that the limitations you set for yourself, you also make him follow. Caffeine, alcohol and weight have influence on the sperm as well as the eggs. A man's fertility can cause as many delays in conceiving as a woman's. Make sure he isn't stressed out and is eating healthily. Sperm production and quality is connected to a good healthy diet. Vitamin tablets such as Wellman tablets will advance his energy levels and make conception easier.

Have sex:

Have regular sex before you start trying. By getting comfortable with this activity on a regular basis, you will not have a problem when you need to have sex at certain amounts in order to conceive. Having sex with the intention to conceive can bring a lot of stress and pressure, so make sure you enjoy it. Buy some lingerie and feel sexy. It is suggested that women are more fertile when they are aroused so don't let it become a chore and have fun with it.

Mentally prepare yourself:

This is a big change in your life. There are many things you need to be sure about. Some of the things you should think about and discuss with your partner are about being equally committed about doing this, about religious differences affecting the child, giving up sleep, childcare responsibilities, balancing work and family, parenting a special needs child and hiring babysitters.
Are your prepared to dedicate yourself to these changes and responsibilities?

You may release stress by talking to a friend and confiding your emotions with them. They will support you and share your feeling of anticipation and excitement.

Have fun. Do all the crazy things you will have to avoid once you are pregnant. Ride a horse, Go on a rollercoaster. Treat yourself for this exciting journey to come.

5 Things Not To Do During Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be the happiest and also the most daunting moments in life. A woman goes through many changes physically and emotionally during her pregnancy. It is good to take good care during pregnancy so that able to make this experience a happy one. In this article, we are going to learn about 5 important tips you must be aware of when you are about to become a mother.

First is smoking. Everybody knows that smoking is not good for health. It's even more important when it comes to smoking during pregnancy. The only way the foetus receives the nutrients is from the mother, therefor as a mum it is not good to pass on toxins in tobacco to the baby. Tobacco smoke not only damages the mother's health, but also puts the baby at risk for serious health problems during and after birth.

Secondly, please avoid drugs and over the counter medicine during pregnancy. Aspirin might be useful when a headache comes but taken a lot can cause low birth weight, weaken a baby's nervous system, impair neurobehavioral development and cause other abnormalities.

Third thing to be careful is not to go for extreme sport or activities. Whether you are thinking of bungee jumping, mountain climbing, water rafting will have to wait as it is obvious that a pregnant woman's are not fit for these as well when having a bulging tummy.

Stress is harmful for pregnancy. This is another thing to look out for. Stress increases heart beat rate, raising body temperature, can cause nervous breakdown. Therefore it's a must to manage stress well during pregnancy. Sign up for yoga classes catered for pregnant ladies or meditation classes will help too. Listen to music as it soothes the soul, remember that doing happy things will chase stress away.

Lastly, junk food, fatty food and yoyo diet have to go. What is better than having a healthy, chubby, cheerful baby? Healthy diet is a must for mothers to be so if you have been eating badly all the while, its time to cut down on those fried, over processed food. Go for fresh, organic vegetables and fruits instead of the bag of Doritos if you have a tendency to snack whenever the cravings come.

Above all, enjoy the pregnancy. If you have done the right things, reward yourself by getting yourself some great maternity wear that looks good and always remember not to be stressful as it can be harmful to your health and future baby.