Mutts - Advantages, Disadvantages and Why We Love Them!

Depending on where you live, there are a number of fascinating names for them. Here in the U.S. we refer to them as mutts, Heinz 57, Sooners, mongrels, hounds, and tykes. In Hawaii, they are known as Poi Dogs. Country folks in the South, call them feists or curs.

In Newfoundland you will hear the term a Cracky. In the Bahamas and nearby islands, they are called Potcakes. Jump over to South Africa and you will hear the people refer to them as a Pavement Special. Our Australian friends call theirs Bitzers.

No matter what they are called, for many dog owners, they are the only real dogs. To them, the more breeds in the mix, the better!

So, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a mutt? Let's start with the advantages. The fact they are less likely to be stolen is a good one! There is often a lower incident of genetic defects, as there is a larger gene pool. It's a fact, the bigger the gene pool, the less likely the odds of combining two defective genes. That is a plus for many less discriminating, yet adoring dog lovers.

Additional advantages are mutts are less expensive to purchase. Let's face it; sometimes they are free for the taking! Usually, they are also less expensive in the upkeep department as they require few, to no visits to a groomer for a fancy hairdo.

It is also a fact, mutts tend to have a higher than average natural longevity compared to pedigrees. Cars are not counted in the equation! The reason for this as studies have shown, may be mutt mothers are normally excellent moms compared to their pedigreed cousins. It's true. Documentation in many countries show, they normally provide better care, as well as more and a higher quality of milk. Because of that, infant mortality in mutt litters is noticeably lower than with purebred-bred litters. Between a diluted gene pool, and quality postnatal care, it appears a mutt pup has the advantage a healthier start and possibly a longer life.

Finally, whenever you look into their eyes, there is the sense you did the right thing. They may not be the cutest, fluffiest, most handsome, or prettiest dog in the dog park, but they are forever grateful, that you saw their "inner beauty."

So, what are the disadvantages? The disadvantages are few. Granted, you won't find a mutt participating in the AKC/Eukanuba or Westminster Dog Show, even though Eukanuba doesn't seem to mind too much that mutts are customers. Nor, will you see them at most AKC events...although that is changing a little with their AKC Partners Program.

The only other disadvantages of owning a mutt are you will never really be sure how big they will get, or what their temperament will be. Not that there is any guarantee with a pedigreed dog! Nonetheless, responsible breeders do have a general idea of the likely size and temperament of the offspring of their mating pairs.

If sharing your life, love and home with a blue-blooded pedigree is imperative to you, than this article won't make a difference.

However, if you are less discerning about your image and want to share your life, love and home with a wonderful pet, consider adopting or rescuing a mutt. At a local shelter or rescue, the perfect companion and new best friend is anxiously waiting just for you. Save a mutt's life!

Cervical Conception Cap Insemination

Many couples who are facing infertility find that there are few satisfying therapeutic options between timing ovulation and undergoing IVF. There is another lesser known category of treatment that couples can consider; cervical cap insemination. To use this technique, the semen is collected and placed into a small cap which is inserted into the vagina and onto the cervix, the opening to the uterus. The sperm are held next to the cervical mucus while being shielded from the vaginal environment. Without this protection the sperm die within minutes after intercourse. Capping the semen onto the cervix allows all the available sperm to swim up into the uterus and fallopian tubes, to where the egg will be. The cervical cap can be used for treating low sperm count, low sperm motility, tilted cervix, and other common conditions.

Cervical caps have been used by gynecologists and urologists for decades and have been documented in medical literature since the first edition of Fertility and Sterility in 1950. At that time, Dr. M.J. Whitelaw wrote about a technique for insemination by "using a plastic cervical cap filled with the husband's semen applied to the cervix for 24 hours". (1) This was done to treat oligospermia, which is low sperm count. At the time, other OB/GYNs were also doing cervical cap insemination, but with a heavier cup made of surgical steel, with the women undergoing treatment having to lie down in the doctor's exam room for six hours with their hips elevated.

Cervical cap insemination was used widely into the 1970's and 1980's. Effective for the treatment of low sperm count and tilted cervix, it was also used for unexplained infertility. In 1983, Dr. Michael Diamond and colleagues found that women with primary infertility, defined as no prior pregnancies, had a pregnancy rate of 43% in the first six months of cervical cap use. Women with secondary infertility, having a history of at least one pregnancy, had a pregnancy rate of 67% in the first six months of use. (2) Their method included a cervical cap that was placed by the patient onto the cervix then filled with semen using a catheter that fit into a small opening in the cap. The couples treated in this study generally had low sperm count and/or poor post coital test results, yet had normal evaluations of the female. The doctors in the study also offered cap insemination as an option for couples who had not completed a full evaluation which at the time included diagnostic laparoscopy. This allowed patients to continue trying to conceive and use all of their cycles, while still considering advanced options.

Eventually, with the advent of Invitro Fertilization (IVF) and subsequently Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), cervical cap insemination began to fall by the wayside. During the economic boom of the 1990's, with more discretionary income, couples had access to a multitude of tests and procedures, even if their insurance did not cover them. Such tests as Hamster Egg Penetration, Hypo Osmotic Swelling Test, and Antibody Testing which were popular a few years back are not as frequently ordered by doctors today, citing the value of the results obtained compared with the money spent. ICSI, which was developed to treat low sperm count, is now used a majority of the time by clinicians with IVF. In the most recent data collected, The Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) reports that ICSI use for 2006 was 62% of all IVF cycles. In 2007, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that over a decade, the rate of use of ICSI had increased five times although the sperm quality parameters over that same time period essentially remained the same.

While the cost and use of high tech treatments has skyrocketed in recent years, the cervical cap and at home insemination is quietly making a comeback. Couples interested in more cost effective, natural methods are seeking out other options for conceiving. At home insemination by cervical cap is a treatment option that can fit into several places in a couple's fertility planning. For couples just beginning on their fertility journey, at home insemination could be used as a first step, especially when one or both of the partners are reluctant to spend a lot of time at the doctor's office. For those who have been trying to conceive for several cycles, and may be taking fertility medications to enhance ovulation, a cervical cap could add another valuable tool to the treatment plan. Lastly, couples who are undergoing IVF cycles, or who have had IVF in the past, may want to try an at home insemination method on their cycles away from the more aggressive treatments. Single mothers of choice can also benefit from this technique as an alternate insemination delivery system.

Cervical caps, which have also been used for contraception to prevent pregnancy, are part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The current term for cervical cap devices used for insemination is conception cap. The cervical cap currently available for at home insemination is a modern upgrade of the old rigid plastic or metal caps of the past. The newer version is made of soft implantable grade silicone, and has flanges in the inner rim to create a one size cap that does not need to be custom fitted. It can be worn during normal activities, allowing a woman the freedom to go about her regular daily routine.

The clinical trial done for FDA clearance in 2007 was designed using couples who had been diagnosed with infertility; most of them also had attempted other methods such as IVF and IUI. The results were that 84% of patients found that placing the cervical cap on their cervix was easy to do, and 92% of patients found that the instructions were easy to understand. Of the patients involved in the clinical trial, 24% became pregnant within the first month, including couples with failed IVF and IUI attempts. (3)

Cervical cap use has shown positive results in the past and has something significant to contribute to the future of reproductive medicine. With the cost of medical expenses rising beyond the ability of the average consumer to pay, at home cervical cap insemination may be an attractive option for continuing pursuing family building in tough economic times.

Footnotes
1. Whitelaw MJ. 1950. Use of the cervical cap to increase fertility in case of oligospermia. Fertility and Sterility. 1:33.
2. Diamond, MP, Christianson C. Daniell JF, Wentz AC. Pregnancy following use of the cervical cup for home artificial insemination utilizing homologous semen. Fertility and Sterility. 1983 April; 39(4); 480-4.
3. Conception Kit clinical trials, Conceivex. 2006-2007

Postnatal Tendonitis (AKA New Baby Painful Hand and Wrist Syndrome)

I admit, while not a medical term, new baby painful wrist and hand syndrome accurately describes what so many new mums, including me, have all experienced. Medically, it's referred to as tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome and is common among new mums. Carpal tunnel or wrist tendonitis is irritation and inflammation of the tendons of the wrist. Pain is the main symptom and there can also be swelling of the local area. The tendons get inflamed through repetitive motion such as picking up the baby and holding the baby in position while breastfeeding.

In my case, for example, sharp pain would shoot from my right thumb up my arm whenever I picked up my daughter. The pain was so intense it would make me cry out loud. In the same way you pull your hand away when you burn yourself, I began to fear dropping my baby as a reflex reaction to the pain. I purchased a wrist brace but found it way too uncomfortable so I developed a particularly ungraceful way of picking up my daughter by leaning in really close to her and scooping her up with my forearms. Using this technique I could avoid opening my hands to pick her up in the usual way under her arms. It looked really strange but it worked until I found time between feedings, exhaustion and new mum anxiety to schedule an acupuncture treatment.

In my own business as an acupuncturist, I had treated many cases of tendonitis and carpal syndrome. Some were new mums, some were athletes, one was a drummer, and most were office workers spending hours on the computer. Whatever the cause of the pain, acupuncture helped all of them, quickly and effectively. So naturally I turned to acupuncture when I needed it. Since it's really difficult to do acupuncture on yourself, I turned to a colleague for help. After the first treatment, the pain was much better and by the third treatment, the pain was significantly reduced and much less frequent. A couple more treatments were all that was needed to get rid of the pain.

What are the usual options for these painful wrists? A doctor will most likely prescribe steroidal anti-inflammatory medication such as prednisolone or a cortisone injection directly into the wrist. While these can help, many prescription medications are not advisable for the mum who is breastfeeding as they can seep into the breast milk.

This makes acupuncture a great alternative as it has no side effects. And a 2009 clinical trial published in the Clinical Journal of Pain concluded that short-term acupuncture treatment is as effective as short-term low-dose prednisolone for mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome 1.

References:
1. Yang CP, Hsieh CL, et al., Clinical Journal of Pain, 2009 May; 25(4): 327-33 Acupuncture in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome: A randomized controlled trial

Several Stages to Get a Degree in Nursing

There are several ways to obtain degree in nursing. It can be done through online, full-time, part-time or by distance. Here, the full time nursing degree will then be discussed. Full-time program simply means the particular student will be occupied by the nursing studies and the duration is shorter compared to the others. Nursing degree courses comprise four branches of nursing. They are adult, child, mental and also learning disabilities. In all the higher level institutions in England, a nursing student has to undergo a three years degree program for full time degree course.

Pre registration nursing degree programs provide theoretical studies and supervised practical training which enable nurses to acquire both academic and professional qualification. The pre registration nurse education programs are now available in higher education institutions. For the degree program, it is started with a general introduction of nursing called common foundation program (CFP). The introduction is very vital to develop your communication, caring and also observation skills. In addition to that, the CFP do also provide introduction for those four branches in nursing and in maternity care.

For the practical training, it covers 50% of the overall grade of the program. This training is carried out in both hospital and community locations, with the aim of preparing nurse to face different challenges in different circumstances. The program, as mentioned earlier, is a three years program with the first year or one and a half year allocated for CFP. The rest of the duration is allocated for the four branches of nursing. Students can choose to only specialize in one of the branches, or even to study the combinations of these branches. Upon completion of the three years program, the student can now receive the degree in nursing and start serving the community, in both public places and hospitals

Am I Going to Have Fraternal Or Identical Twins?

One famous question asked by pregnant women carrying twins is if the twins are identical or fraternal. Ultrasound can only show the gender of the babies. If the gender is different then it is a fraternal twin but if the gender is similar it can either be fraternal or identical. Ultrasound might suggest that similar gender means identical twins.

A placenta is shared between two different amniotic sacs if the egg divided between the 3rd and 8th day after fertilization. This is known as diamniotic. It can also be seen as 2 embryos are formed with individual placentas and amniotic sacs when an egg splits into 2 after fertilization. When this happen, a fraternal twin can be seen through ultrasound but if the gender for two babies are the same, it could be fraternal or identical twins.

The chances of you carrying identical twins is when they share one placenta but remember that looking at the number of placenta is very difficult. Another way of seeing the types of twins also depends on the thickness of the membrane which separates the sacs. The membrane is thin if it is one placenta and if it is a separate sac then, the membrane is thicker.

Monoamniotic twins are those which share a single placenta and amniotic sacs. An identical twin can be seen through ultrasound by seeing this feature. The chances of this happening are rare as it only happen in 1 in every 60,000 pregnancies. Siamese or conjoined twin is formed when the egg is divided after thirteen days of being in the womb.

Although it is difficult to be sure about the types of twins a woman is carrying, a sonographer uses a precise signs in this process. The most common way to see if the twins are fraternal or identical is by looking at the placentas. This technique is easiest in the first trimester.

Figuring out the types of twins is important due to the fact that different twins have different risk and problems. Only by knowing the types of twins a woman is carrying enable tests to figure out what the problem is. Test done on amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or fetal blood sampling are known as zygosity studies.

I hope this article about fraternal or identical twins are useful to you. But on a personal level, I don't mind if ever I have twins - whether its fraternal or identical. The important thing is both are born healthy. How about you?

Health Insurance Plans For The Expectant Mother

Excitement over a pregnancy can easily turn into worry and anxiety if a woman has no health insurance coverage. The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 was created to keep pregnant women from being discriminated against regarding health insurance. Unfortunately, this act does not apply to companies with less than 15 employees or individual health policies. Even if a woman has health insurance, pregnancy may not be covered unless a rider to the policy is purchased. These riders are expensive, have limited coverage and usually have waiting periods from six months to more than a year. A report by the National Women's Law Center in 2009 showed that only 13% of 3,600 national policies covered pregnancy. Even with these difficulties there are options for pregnant women who are without health insurance.

The average cost for a normal pregnancy, which includes prenatal and post partum care, can be anywhere from $10,000 to $12,000 so it is essential to find some type of health insurance. For women considered low-income there are State programs such as Medicaid and WIC that can help with medical care and nutrition. There is also a federal program called CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program). These programs are run by the Department of Health (DHS) and even if you don't qualify for Medicaid, there may be other programs available. DHS will be able to give you helpful information.

Another option is a Health Care Discount Program. This isn't health insurance so there is no waiting period, deductible, coinsurance or pre-existing clause. Some discounts can be up to 50%. You can also talk to your doctor or clinic about possible discounts they may give you, such as a cash discount or they may be able to set up a payment plan. Also, there are some clinics that provide medical services on a sliding scale which goes according to your income. These options will cut your overall pregnancy costs.

Many hospitals have their own maternity plans for women who are uninsured. These plans include prenatal care, ultrasounds, labs, hospital and delivery costs and post partum care for a flat fee. The average cost is about $2,500. The cost may be a little higher if you have a c-section. If the hospital does not have their own maternity plan, they can set up a monthly payment plan for you.

Birthing centers are available for women who do not have high risk pregnancies. These centers are staffed by midwives who have years of experience delivering babies. The centers offer package rates which include prenatal and postpartum care, birthing classes and the delivery. There is a more personal and homey feel at a birthing center and they are usually located near a hospital, in case of an emergency.

There are many options out there to take advantage of. Compare all of the options and benefits available to you before making a decision. This will help you find the best plan that fits your specific needs.

The Opportunity of Health Insurance for Single Moms

In the early days, those single mothers are required to pay the same premium for private health insurance as couples with their kids. But since 2007, there has been a change to be fair for every individual who wants to avail the health funds, the arrangement to allow one less adult per single parent policy. This will only mean that the single mother can now save enough to give way to the insurance she chooses to enroll.

This is a good time to invest on your health insurance for single moms so you can have peace of mind once you encounter an unexpected incident in the family. This will save you from all the worries you might feel if you are not prepared to secure the bills that will transpire. Here are some of the benefits:

1. With it, you can pick the hospital and doctor you prefer for treatment.
2. If you are covered with a good plan, then you are allowed to choose private hospitals and get your private room in the hospital.
3. Having a health insurance will permit you to wait shorter and have the freedom to choose the time of the surgery, in case you want to.

It is only natural that single mothers want to secure a medical care for her and her family. This is necessary for health issues can happen anytime in the family. To have health insurance for single moms can keep the family from experiencing to financial health bankruptcy.

The federal government with the cooperation of the States operates the insurance for health coverage of kids. Through the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid, to focuses on the families who are unable to afford or those who don't fit the requirements of the private health insurance coverage. The CHIP is all about giving low cost to free health insurance for single moms and others who earning much to match the requirements of the Medicaid while not enough to afford any private insurance for health. The benefits of CHIP are up to 19 years old and below.

The coverage of CHIP may depend on the states in terms of benefit packages, eligibility guidelines; payment levels needed for the coverage and the way the administrative procedures. These are the benefit packages you can avail on CHIP, immunizations, routine check- ups, inpatient and outpatient hospital care, laboratory and x-ray services and no-cost preventive care.

Another health insurance for single moms is the Medicaid. This is the program that gives supply to single mothers which are available in every state. It covers the infants and children under the age of six. Those citizens and qualified immigrants are free to do an application. The free Medicaid benefits come with immunizations, preventive care, screening and treatment for any health condition. Vision and dental care and hospital and doctor visits.

The department of health and human services of the United States is a program funded by the federal government that can be found all over the country. These are just a few of their benefit, complete care for pregnant women, immunizations and checkups for kids, checkups for mothers and metal health and substance abuse care if needed.