Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

When you think about pregnancy exercise there are a few things that immediately spring to mind as safe activities  for pregnancy. Ask any pregnant woman what she would consider a safe form of pregnancy exercise and she is likely to say Yoga, Pilates or Swimming as her top answers.

In fact, swimming is recommended by practically everyone in your professional care team and for good reason. Swimming during pregnancy has several benefits for your pregnant body that you won't get from any other form of pregnancy exercise.
 
It's greatest asset is that the near weightless environment of the water provides a safe place for you to work out large muscle groups and the cardiovascular system, with very little risk of injury.
 
Swimming during pregnancy also increases maternal aerobic capacity, which in plain English, means that your body will be able to transport oxygen more effectively to working muscles, increasing their performance and giving you better results from your pregnancy workout.

A lot of women also find swimming during pregnancy provides them with a sense of wellbeing as well as relieving morning sickness.

But there are a few things you need to know before you go diving in the pool that your professional care team WON'T tell you.

Breast isn't always best

Breast stroke is commonly thought of as the best stroke for pregnancy by a lot of people, as it is the gentlest of the swimming strokes. It also encourages good alignment in the torso as it works the chest while encouraging you to pull back your shoulders.However, if you do breaststroke properly, you will notice that as you lift your head to come out of the water and breathe, you create an overly extended arch in your lower back.

Now considering the lower back is already under a LOT of pressure from your pregnancy posture, the last thing you want to do is add to this and wind up with pregnancy back pain.

Breaststroke legs are not suitable for pregnancy. During your pregnancy you pelvic ligaments become very soft, and the joints can be easily overstreched by the backstroke kick. The pubic joint at the front may begin to separate in preparation for birth and injury can lead to Pubis Symphysis Disorder and Round Ligament Pain

Back stroke

Swimming on your back for any length of time after 16 weeks could prove to be very uncomfortable as the weight of the uterus puts pressure on the vena cava.

If you do experience any discomfort you should avoid this stroke completely.

Acid indigestion and reflux

It is best not to eat anything for 2 hours prior to swimming to avoid acid indigestion and gastric reflux, especially in the third trimester.

Tumble turns will also aggravate this.

Choose a chemical free pool where possible

There has been some recent press about the dangers of uptake of chloroform by pregnant women swimming in chlorinated pools. In tests, pools were found to have "relatively high" levels of the disinfectant by-products which have been linked to reproductive problems.

A one hour swim was found to give a chloroform dose 141 times higher than a 10 minute shower.

However further research needs to be done on this and until a wide-scale population study has been conducted this is not conclusive evidence against the use of chlorinated pools by pregnant women.

How to have a great, safe pregnancy swim workout.

Choose a stroke that won't put pressure on your pregnant body. Front Crawl is great for a higher intensity pregnancy workout.

If you need a resting stroke for intervals try using a snorkel with breast stroke arms so that you don't have to keep bobbing your head out of the water and putting pressure on your lower back, whilst using front crawl legs to propel you.

Have a light snack a couple of hours before you enter the pool.

If you have access to a chemical free pool in your area then use it.

Always shower and wash your hair immediately after leaving the pool to reduce uptake of chemicals into your bloodstream.

Did you know there are centers and networks for National Women's Health in Europe, in the US, in Australia and in some countries in Asia? In lots of countries, it is an important issue as women frequently take care of so many things, but forget to take care of themselves.

Services

It can be said that it is a dedication the nation has to provide women personalized care. Those that centers play a significant part in this respect are hospitals and other organizations such as nursing homes as well as health centers. They have doctors as well as nurses on their payroll and a number of community services.

The National Women's Health Center is one such organization which has several services particularly for women. Included are maternity care, maternity outpatient services and even newborn services. Other services that are also provided here are fertility, gynecology and oncology too.

Reform Plans

Establishing universal access to health care which meets various women's needs is very important. There are some reform plans being made in the US, and the National Women's Health Network is contributing to it in a big way. It is effective in the direction of getting quality and affordable health care for every women.

There are also doctors and lawyers who are promoting women to raise their voices for the health care that they require, so that the case becomes powerful. Finally, women's concerns can be addressed because it is looking at reforms on the local and state level as well.

Changes

First off, the changes in the health care system for women should be correctly identified and advocated. The prime concern should be the health care costs for low-income women, and their health coverage has to be increased.

Be clear with more explanation in regard to National Women's Health.

How long can you pay your bills when mom is taking a 45% pay cut? California couples need to ask themselves this question before getting pregnant. You may enjoy up to eighteen weeks of paid leave in California between your pregnancy, maternity leave, and time bonding with baby. This sounds great until you realize you are getting only a fifty five percent income replacement. And many CA workers don't qualify. Know your facts before you conceive.

CA Paid Family Leave

The California Paid Family Leave Act provides up to six weeks of paid leave to take care of a sick or injured family members. California is one of only two states with such a benefit. For those concerned about maternity benefits, you get six additional weeks of paid time off to bond with your healthy baby.

An 18 Week 45% Pay Cut

Workers who pay into the California SDI program are eligible for the paid family leave benefit as well. The state short term disability program allows for up to four weeks of time prior to delivery, plus eight weeks of paid time for a c-section delivery. Add six weeks for your time to bond with baby to get eighteen weeks of total paid time for a normal pregnancy, and health baby.

This sounds great until you realize these eighteen weeks come with a 45% pay cut or more. Many families are living check to check before mom gets pregnant, gets her eighteen week pay cut, then have to face the extra bills to feed, clothe, and raise a child.

Do You Qualify for Benefits?

Not every CA worker is automatically enrolled. Know the rules before getting pregnant. And if you can't afford an extended pay cut, consider purchasing supplemental short term disability coverage to increase your maternity leave income.

When people are looking for a new job, applying for one that offers good benefits is at the top of the list. Families need an employer with health insurance, and if they are forced to go without, may find themselves in a situation that will be extremely hard financially on the family later. Should there be an accident of some kind and someone in the family is hospitalized, this could wipe out a family completely. This is why it is important to make sure that there is a good benefits package offered in the way of company health insurance.

Having good enough insurance to take care of anything unexpected is a good feeling. Knowing that should one of your children get injured and need to go to the hospital, it is covered. Many times families can be strapped just by trying to make the co payments that are required. If someone is having medical issues and it is ongoing, the co payments alone can be enough to make it difficult on them.

There are many times that someone will need a medial procedure performed but their medical coverage does not pay for it. This alone can cause hardship on a family. If there is an ongoing medical issue that requires someone to be seen often by their doctor, or by many doctors, the co pays can be an issue.

Sometimes, while applying for work, someone may be offered a position with a business, but because the salary is not what they expected, will turn it down. Before making a decision like this, find out what the benefits are. If you have a nice package offered, you can consider that your salary is actually greater because you will not have to pay for your own coverage. Having a coverage plan offered by a company is a huge benefit and one that needs to be considered carefully before a decision is made.

If people are considering a new job and do not have children, it is important to remember that you may want them in the future. Good medical coverage will be very important when that time comes. There will be maternity care, delivery and child health care that will be needed for years to come. This will be a huge expense, so give it some thought.

Many people who do not have coverage will utilize the emergency rooms when they become ill. This is why the emergency rooms are always so full and it takes so long to be seen. Often people will wait until they are very ill, or their child is really sick before they actually go into the emergency room to get proper care.

In some cases, people have actually died before they could seek medical care. Often, they will wait til the last minute, or not go to a doctor at all because they cannot afford it. By the time they do, if they do, many times it is too late and they will die from whatever illness they were dealing with.

Covering the family for unforeseen medical issues is the responsibility of the parent. Although some companies do not offer company health insurance as part of their packages, many of them do. Seeking out these companies would be a good idea as having your family covered in every way will be a tremendous amount of stress and worry off of you.

According to American Fertility Association a woman's fertility begins to decline in the late 20's, drops more sharply after 35 and plummets when she hits 40. After the age 30, the probability of getting pregnant naturally drops by 3%-5% per year and even faster after the age of 40! A healthy 30 year old woman has 20% chance of getting pregnant in any given month, by the time she turns 40 the chances drop to 5%.!

But don't throw the towel in just yet! There is hope. What these studies didn't tell you is the reason why the fertility is dropping with advanced age.

Women are born will all of their eggs while men start producing their sperm in puberty. We've had those eggs around for a long time and everything we've ingested or inhaled or smeared on our skin over the course of our life has either left a positive or a negative mark on all body cells including the eggs and sperm.

Most of the fertility issues arising with age have to do with accumulation of toxins due to a longer exposure and prolonged lack of necessary nutrients which in turn results in poor energy production, and faster aging and deterioration of the cells including eggs and sperm.

Aged cells are no longer plump and efficient. This means that they are slow on the uptake of nutrients and removal of toxic waists. Their membranes are no longer as efficient as they used to be and they don't communicate all too well anymore. Cells communicate with the other cells through nerve impulses and chemicals they release into the bloodstream letting the body know what they require for optimal function and cell repair. Aged cells don't do that quite as well anymore.

Even if in this poor state of health conception occurs the likelihood of miscarriages and abnormalities is higher. But when the toxins are removed and the nutritional deficiencies addressed your chance of a healthy pregnancy and conception is significantly better. In fact many couples well into their 40s use a natural fertility program successfully.

However you have to stay realistic and depending on your age, state of health and genetic inheritance you may still require other options. Just because you waited a bit longer to have babies does not mean that you should rush now and skip preconception care. Take the time to give yourself and your baby the best possible chance of a successful and healthy conception and pregnancy.

How does preconception care increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby?

1. You know exactly which foods and substances are deteriorating your fertility and are contributing to ageing and as such you know what to avoid.

2. The detox allows your body to start with cell repair and toxin removal.

3. The fertility diet ensures you are getting enough building blocks required for optimal health of your eggs and sperm, as well as to sustain a healthy pregnancy.

4. All the nutrients required for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy development and growth of your baby are present.

At this point many of my patients say:

"I already have a good diet, eat healthily and exercise"

Many people don't realize that many foods labeled as "healthy" are actually not. If you look closely at the ingredients you'll see all sorts of additives and colors and sometimes even artificial sweeteners which are very toxic to the body. This is very common among vegetarians and vegans who think they have a very healthy diet by avoiding animal products but don't pay much attention at the ingredients of the "fake ham" or "fake sausages" and similar products which miraculously taste just like the "real thing" but with no traces of animal product.

Moreover, even if you eat non processed food and where possible organic, the nutrient content of the food is not what it used to be 100's of years ago. These days food can be picked or caught today in one country and flown out to another part of the world tomorrow so that you can buy it in the supermarket.

In that short space of time that food has been either frozen, or refrigerated, packaged in plastic, gassed, X-rayed, possibly sprayed or waxed to stay fresh for longer. By the time that food is in your plate it has lost half its nutrients and possibly contains a myriad of toxins your liver will have to deal with.

Another common misconception is when people think they eat very healthily by only eating sea food. Deep sea fish which lives for long time is loaded with mercury as are all the mussels and sea creatures without scales. This does not make Cray fish and shrimps healthy either as they crawl on the bottom of the sea and eat the sediment.

Unfortunately our seas are polluted with jet fuel which is rich in heavy metals, which have been found to be a big culprit in infertility. Even the purest organic diet, with cleanest water and toxin free environment may not meet the individual requirements for nutrients and supplementation for optimal preconception care is often required.

By putting simple steps into place not only will you be increasing your chances of getting pregnant naturally but you will also help turn back the hands of time on your appearance. The beauty is not skin deep and the youthful appearance doesn't come from a jar or a bottle!
It comes from modifying your diet by avoiding:

1. fast food
2. fatty food
3. simple carbs (sugary foods)
4. white flour
5. soft drinks
6. coffee
7. alcohol
8. tap water
9. smoking

And modifying your lifestyle;

1. minimum of 7-9 hours of sleep
2. regular exercise
3. reduced exposure to environmental toxins and radiation

A study by Foresight, the Association for Pre-conceptual healthcare in the United Kingdom demonstrated an astounding success rate of 81% of conceptions among couples previously diagnosed as infertile. Women who participated in the study were between 25 and 45 years old and Men between 25 and 59 years old."

So as you can see it is possible to conceive despite of advanced age as long as you give your body what it needs to do its antiageing and healing work naturally.

And remember if you want a complete guide with step-by-step instructions on how stay fertile longer, see my "Natural Fertility Prescription Program".

Medical insurance is for more than just paying hospital bills. Family medical insurance can protect your family's health. Many people call to get private health insurance quotes for policies that they only plan to use in an emergency. They rarely consider that the insurance is also created to help them maintain their health. Medical insurance comes in various flavors. Some are comprehensive and will cover a myriad of services; others are very streamlined and are created to only cover basic services. It is important to determine which type of policy you will need. While it is hard to predict exactly what may befall you or your family, it is always best to try to find a policy that will cover at least most of life's events, such as maternity care. You can also find riders, which are amendments, or additions to your medical insurance policy that will allow you to add coverage at a later date when you need it. Some companies offer policy riders for pre-existing conditions, cancer, and mental health services.

Family medical insurance can help save a life by providing coverage for preventative health care. If you have a policy that covers annual physical examinations and regular screenings, you will be more in tune with your body and will be able to sense when something is wrong. Your doctor will be able to keep regular checks on you and will be able to steer you in the right direction when something is amiss. Your doctor will be able to catch illnesses before they become too severe and can refer you to qualified specialists when or if you need it. Some policies will allow you to see a specialist without a referral and others require a referral notice from your primary care physician. By keeping regular appointments with your doctor, you will maintain good health and your insurance company will see that you are taking care of your health and may even adjust your premiums or deductible to compensate you for your efforts.

Once you get your private health insurance quotes for your new family medical insurance, remember that your insurance is to serve a greater purpose than just helping you pay the bills when you break an arm, or have a heart attack. It is also designed to help you live healthier so that you can avoid those trips to the emergency room, which are more expensive than a trip to your family doctor's office. With the variety of policies and riders that are available, you will be sure to find the policy that is just right for your family to keep them happy, safe, and healthy.

You have barely done with dealing with pregnancy issues and now you have a horde of postpartum issues to deal with.

Blood Clots - or Lochia as it is also called is different from menstrual bleeding and occurs after childbirth for a period of a month or more. It is normal to bleed although your doctor must be informed in case of any abnormality like foul smelling blood clots, feeling dizzy and having a fever above 101.2 F.

Contractions - of your uterus continues for a few days even after childbirth as it is your body's way of bringing your uterus back to its pre-pregnancy shape. Breastfeeding activates the oxytocin hormones that helps contract the uterus further.

Sore Vagina - A birth of a baby might tear your vagina on account of which your doctor would have to stitch it up. The stitches may make your vaginal passage sore and make it hard for your bowel movements too. Use an ice pack to soothe the wound or pour warm water over the wound while urinating to prevent the wound from stinging badly.

Bowel movements - may be difficult during the initial days as you may feel hesitant to push anymore after a laborious childbirth. You are likely to get constipated too, so eat fiber rich foods and drink plenty of water to allow smooth passage of waste products. A herbal laxative will also provide relief from constipation.

Urination - may also be hard to begin with, as the vaginal muscles may be swollen or the stitches may sting. However, doing the Kegels can greatly help combat urinary issues and tighten your pelvic floor as well.

Hair Loss - is a common problem after childbirth. During pregnancy, your hair gets thicker due to hormonal changes in your body but after childbirth you lose almost all the additional hair that you had. However, there is no need to despair as it is only temporary and your hair will look the way it did before your pregnancy. Eat protein rich food and hot oil massages for good hair growth.

Stretch Marks - Proper and liberal application of anti-stretch marks cream during pregnancy will greatly combat further stretch marks after childbirth. Apply vitamin E oil liberally and the stretch marks will fade in time.

Postpartum/Vaginal gas - is a common occurrence for all new mothers. You can prevent vaginal/postpartum gas by consuming the right kind of food, wearing a postpartum belt and following certain traditional postpartum methods.

You will find a detailed information on many more postpartum issues, especially prevention of vaginal/postpartum gas, on visiting http://yourkidandyou.blogspot.in/

Pregnant woman need health care in general and prenatal care in particular. Therefore, one must be careful while approaching a pregnancy doctor who can closely follow progress on various stages of pregnancy. The pregnancy expert should be able to guide the pregnant woman, who naturally has a nesting instinct, during different phases of pregnancy and fetal development.

1. Whom To Choose As A Pregnancy Doctor?

One can go in for an Obstetrician or a midwife to take care of the would-be-mother during and after pregnancy.

An Obstetrician provides medical and surgical care to women during pregnancy, childbirth and immediately after delivery. One can choose a gynecologist as well, provided he or she is also an obstetrician.

A qualified and certified midwife is a registered and trained nurse having adequate experience of providing care to women before, during and after pregnancy. Research shows that 80% of the women opt for Obstetricians.

2. How To Choose A Pregnancy Doctor?

What are the possible causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy? Should you be alarmed? Why do they occur? All these are questions that both the newly pregnant and those women who are more experienced ask. You should endeavor to be able to identify the signs and symptoms of normal and excessive abdominal pain. This is because knowing the difference between both types of cramps can potentially save your life. The aim of this article is to empower you with that ability by revealing 5 causes of pregnancy cramps.

1. When the embryo implants itself into the walls of the uterus, it may cause abdominal pain. This happens during the first trimester and is not usually something to worry about because it is normal.

2. During your second trimester, your uterus begins to expand. This expansion of the ligaments and muscles that support the uterus is due to the fact that your baby is growing bigger. As a result of this expansion, a dull ache across your abdomen may occur. You may also experience a sharp pain on one side of your abdomen, which usually occurs when you are rising up from a sitting position.

3. If you experience pregnant cramp during your third trimester, then it is most likely due to a condition which is referred to as Braxton-Hicks contractions. This condition usually accompanies false labor which is the irregular and often painless tightening of your uterus. Ensure that you go to the hospital if this degenerates into regular cramping which is accompanied by vaginal discharges or if your water breaks because you may actually be experiencing real labor at this point.

4. Once you begin to notice that your pregnancy cramps are very strong and that they linger for awhile without abating, you should contact your health care giver because this could be a sign that there is a more serious problem tied to your abdominal pain. Sometimes you may also notice that you are bleeding through your vagina or experiencing fainting spells. Conditions that may be responsible for this include, but are not limited to, the following; ectopic pregnancy, preeclampsia, and so on.

5. Pre-term labor is another common cause of pregnant cramps. It is characterized by the presence of pelvic pressure, regular contractions, vaginal discharge and period-like clamps prior to your 37th week of pregnancy. It is advised that you contact your health care provider if you notice these signs.

While you are pregnant, you should try to get as much rest as you can. You must realize that you are now responsible for someone else besides just yourself. Moreover, lying down and relaxing is one of the best ways to relieve pregnancy cramps.

These types of insurance are common. They can include hospitalization, medical and dental care, surgical benefits, maternity care, and beyond this, major medical insurance, for the individual and his family.

Employee benefit plans that require part payment by the employee should be examined carefully to see if they provide worthwhile benefits for the employee at comparatively low cost.

In general, however, this type of insurance carries the same advantage as many other employee insurance plans; being group rather than individual, it is usually cheaper than the individual policy and does not require a physical examination.

Moreover, it can either be fully paid for by the employer (to whom it is a tax-deductible expense) or partly paid for by him and contributed to by the employee.

The inclusion of these types of insurance coverage in the compensation package can be of substantial value to the employee. If the benefits were not available through his company, he would have to arrange for them on his own. To the extent the cost is borne by his employer, it does not have to be paid for by him. The savings he thus enjoys are therefore equivalent to a tax-free raise in pay. These days, it is rare for employers to pay for more than the employee's premium on health insurance. With the costs of health insurance rising, some employers pay only part of the employee's premium. It is common for employees to pay the cost of insuring spouses and children under the company's insurance plan.

A Tax Saving Opportunity: Cafeteria Plans: Fortunately, these out-of-pocket costs can be paid for with pretax dollars if the employer offers a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan. Depending on the plan, premiums, deductibles and co-payments can be set aside at the beginning of the year to be paid out of pretax salary dollars. Employees who are offered such plans would do well to seize the opportunity to take advantage of this tax savings.

Cafeteria plans may also be known as premium-only plans or flexible spending plans, depending on their complexity. Simple plans, known as premium-only plans, allow employees to use before-tax dollars for plan contributions such as their share of medical plan premiums. Flexible spending plans allow employees to select from a "menu" of benefits. They can choose those most meaningful to their needs and pay for them with before-tax dollars. These include such choices as dependent care expenses, insurance deductibles, coinsurance payments and eye care (exams, glasses).

Health Spending Accounts (HSAs): A tax-advantaged way to pay for health insurance deductibles and premiums has been introduced. It established Health Spending Accounts (HSAs) that were created as part of the Medicare Prescription & Modernization Act in 2003. They offer employers, the self-employed and individuals the opportunity to purchase high deductible health plans (lower premiums for all concerned) and allow the insured to establish a Health Savings Account in which they can save and invest 100 percent of the plan's annual deductible up to $5,150 for a family. (For a single person it is up to $2,600.) Employer matches to these accounts are also allowed, but the combined contributions cannot exceed the maximums allowed. Money in HSAs can be distributed tax-free for "qualified medical expenses" that are not covered by the health plan (deductibles, co-pays, excess fees). They can also be used to reimburse the insured for premiums paid on qualified long-term care insurance policies. The health insurance plans that qualify for this program must have at least a $2,000 annual deductible and annual out-of-pocket expenses of no more than $10,000 for families. For individuals the deductible must be at least $1,000 with out-of-pocket expenses of no more than $5,000. Premiums are fully deductible for employees. Contributions made by employers are not included in the employee's income, nor are they subject to social security taxes. If some funds in the HSAs remain unused during any given year, they can be left to accumulate tax-free until needed in subsequent years, or may be withdrawn tax-free due to a disability, death or upon reaching the age for Medicare eligibility. A beneficiary can be named for HSAs in the event of the death of the account holder. If a spouse, it passes tax-free. If a nonspouse, the account is included in their taxable income for the year.

Every person has the right to insure oneself. Whether you have an employer who is happy to give you a choice of insurance plans or that you may need to purchase one for yourself, it is crucial that you understand and have considered the type of insurance that is best for your situation.

The following are a few strategic questions that insurance policy seekers should know while in the process to choose a health insurance plan.

Affordability of the care expense

• How much is the monthly insurance bill?


• Are there penalties in cases of delays in the payment?


• How can I track my payments?


• Should I include in the health insurance all the medical needs even the simple basic ones (cough, fever, medical check-ups, etc) or just the serious conditions only?


• How much is my insurance limit?


• Which medical services should I include in the health insurance?


• Only the expensive medical services should be taken into the plan?


• What deductibles do I have to pay before I get reimbursed?


• After meeting the deductibles, how much of the medical expenses are reimbursed?


• How much will be reimbursed if I go to doctors outside of the insurance company's network?

Services covered

• Which medical facilities and services are covered by the insurance?


• Will the insurance take part in the payment if I use medical services and facilities outside of the insurance company's network?


• How easy and fast can it be if I change primary physicians?


• Is permission needed every time I see a medical specialist?


• Will the plan cover my pre-existing medical condition?


• Are the prescription medicines covered by the plan?


• Are my maintenance medications covered by the plan?


• Are certain diagnostic procedures included in the insurance plan?


• Does the plan consider and reimburse on alternative medical therapies like chiropractic treatment and other conventional or innovated methods?


• Will chronic conditions be catered by the health insurance plan?


• Does the plan consider delivering a baby and maternity care?


• Does the plan consider disability or hospice care?


• Does the plan consider health emergency situations?

There are many questions that a policy insurance seeker should throw before finally landing on a certain insurance plan. To choose a health insurance plan is not that easy. You are investing on something which will make a difference later on. It is your responsibility to make sure that the insurance you are choosing is the right one for you and your family. Certain considerations are to be followed and should be bear in mind.

One of the first steps to complete when commencing down the path to registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is to determine exactly which service-type your particular organisation falls within. Once you have determined your service-type you can then begin to gather all of the necessary evidence to allow you to demonstrate compliance with the CQC's essential standards

One of the possible service-types that your company or organisation could fall within is Acute Services. This heading encompasses a wide range of diverse and complex care provisions, however, in general they relate to those services that provide medical and/or surgical investigations, diagnosis and treatment for a physical illness, condition, injury or disease. Within this definition Acute Services can be delivered to the whole population thus including adults, children or indeed both.

The CQC's definition of acute services dictates that these healthcare provisions can see patients on an outpatient basis as well as take admissions of inpatients and day case patients. Additionally, these admissions can be made at short notice or in an emergency, rather than long term planned admissions. Acute Services may also provide services such as:

- Surgical operations
- Specialist medical treatments
- Emergency investigations or treatment
- Maternity and neonatal care
- Termination of pregnancy
- Complex dental procedures
- Liaison psychiatry

The range of healthcare provisions delivered and the numbers and types of clinicians employed within an Acute Service can be extensive, and this is often the necessary situation in order to ensure that the needs of all service users are met adequately and conveniently within one location. Service users of Acute Services are generally referred or admitted as a result of the actions of another medical professional or clinical practitioner, for example a GP referring a patient on for immediate specialist treatment.

Types of providers that are classed as Acute include:

- Acute NHS hospitals
- Acute independent hospitals
- NHS Community hospitals
- Independent Sector Treatment Centres
- Cosmetic surgery clinics
- Haemodialysis units
- Minor Injury units

This is just a small sample of some of the healthcare types that fit into the Acute Services (ACS) category but there are many other ways in which a service can be deemed to be delivering Acute Services. Once you have correctly identified your provision's service type, whether it be ACS or an alternative, you can then review the requirements placed upon you by the Care Quality Commission in relation to the evidence you must present to demonstrate compliance with the CQC's regulatory standards. As each CQC outcome has specific prompts relevant to each service type, you must ensure you get the correct categorisation for you service before you commence your preparation for registration.

The joy of taking your child home can be offset by many challenges. Several years ago, to minimize costs, health insurance companies began limiting the hospital stay for new infants and mothers to less than 24 hours. Although studies have differed in their findings on how these "drive-through deliveries" affect patient health, legislation has been passed prohibiting this practice.

Nevertheless, families should not expect to be in the hospital for more than a couple of days. Most hospitals have developed sensible criteria for discharge. Criteria for the baby would include, for instance, full-term healthy baby, normal exams, normal lab values, and sufficient parent skills and confidence to care for the parent.

While early discharge unquestionably causes problems for some infants and is frustrating for many parents, it remains an option. If you feel that you would like to leave early, discuss this with your physician. Although there are better places to be than a hospital, the support provided by maternity care nurses is a valuable service.

With the advent of earlier discharges, we have seen a disturbing number of emergency room visits. Not because of more health problems but because of the greater parental anxiety that comes with having had less time learning how to look after their infant before going home.

If you leave the hospital early, inquire about home nursing visits. Many hospitals and health plans offer such visits. They save money for you and your health plan while providing valuable services. Following are some of the things you should prepare for when leaving the hospital.

In the hospital, paperwork must be completed. Generally the father attends to this, but many hospitals now have someone from the financial office drop by the hospital room so that the mother can make the arrangements herself

Most hospitals permits unlimited visiting by fathers, but young children are usually not allowed on maternity wards. The mother is usually provided with a wheelchair when leaving the maternity ward (like it or not) and generally is not allowed to have contact with her older children.

Although there are many compelling arguments against these rules, your hospital may enforce them, and you should be prepared to deal with their effects on your other children.

Many hospitals provide a package of goodies for the parent to take home for their new child. These goodies are supplied by the companies making the products and not by the hospital or your doctor. They are advertising samples.

Some of them may be useful, but many are not. Although they are free, they can cost you money inn the long run and get you started on some bad habits. A typical package will include the following:

Infant formula: this is very often a prepared liquid or liquid concentrate and is fine if fine if you're going to bottle-feed. These are handy and have a long shelf life. If you do choose to use it, remember that powdered formulas are more economical than liquid.

Check at your local supermarket to see which is most cost-efficient. There are no clinically significant differences between the major commercial products now on the market.

Lotions, creams and oils: use these on yourself if you wish, but most infants do not need such preparations. It is not recommended the routine use of any skin preparation for children

Powders: these have been used for centuries to keep babies dry, but the best way to dry a baby's bottom is to dry it. As soon as the child urinates, the effect of the powder is gone. Powders do help dry the perspiration that occurs underneath a warm diaper.

If you choose to powder your child's bottom, place the powder in your hand and then place it on the child's bottom. Shaking powder from a distance will spread a cloud of dust and the baby can inhale it. Powders containing talc have been cited as a course of serious lung disease. Use these powder cautiously or avoid them.

Cotton-tipped swabs: these can be used to clean a newborn's umbilical stump with alcohol, but should never be used to clean inside of children's ears. Wax is produced within the ear canal for a purpose. It usually becomes a problem only when it's pushed into the ear canal with a swab. Never put anything smaller than your elbow in a child's ear

Vitamins: all infant formulas are supplemented with the vitamins needed for your child's proper growth and development. Infant's who are breast-fed need only vitamin D supplement

Liza Janda has valuable experience as a Certified Fitness Instructor for 27 years, Bradley Method Certified Childbirth Educator for 11 years, and Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga Instructor for 5 years. Her dedication to helping women during pregnancy, labor, birth and post-partum is a top priority. Liza is a wife and mother of two children, born naturally, one in a hospital, and one at home with a midwife. http://www.yogajanda.com

You and your baby deserve to have a midwife for your prenatal care, labor support, and postpartum care. The Midwives Model of Care is a fundamentally different approach that includes safe, health-promoting and effective "natural" maternity care that avoids harmful and unnecessary drugs and interventions. Midwives believe in allowing women to make informed decisions regarding their pregnancies. Midwives are trained to view childbirth as a natural process and not as a medical problem.

1. Women have shorter labors.

According to the World Health Organization women who give birth with a midwife often have shorter labors.

2. Women:

o Have fewer Cesarean sections,

o Receive less anesthesia,

o Have a much lower rate of episiotomy

As a result, low-risk patients who choose nurse midwives for their obstetrical care experience fewer complications. This is safer for both mother and baby.

3. Birth is less expensive.
Because there are fewer interventions, women incur less expense, compared to similar women who choose physicians for their care.

4. Women are successful breastfeeding past the first six weeks. One major focus of midwives is to provide the mother with individualized education, counseling, and postpartum support.

5. Mothers are satisfied with their maternity care and their birth experiences.
Only 1.7% of the mothers who experienced midwife-attended homebirths said they would choose a different type of caregiver for a future pregnancy.

Returning to work after maternity leave can be one of the hardest times you will face. You will probably go through the stages of feeling guilty about leaving your child, feeling despair about the changes in the coming weeks and feeling anger at the fact that you have to go back. Although balancing work and your baby will eventually become the norm, here are a few steps you can take to make returning to work after maternity leave a little easier on both of you.

Returning To Work After Maternity Leave: 4 Steps To Make The Transition Easier

1. Set Priorities: This sounds like a no brainer, but many people find it hard to accomplish. Getting back into the swing of things at your workplace is not easy. Time will make this transition easier, but in the beginning your priorities at work and home are very important. At work, make your priority work. Don't focus on your guilt or anger and try not to spend too much time "checking in" on your little one or worrying. At home, make family your priority. Leave work at work and dedicate time off to your family. If you have to bring work home, save it for after your baby goes to bed. When you are home and baby is awake, make that your priority. Bottom line: work is work, home is home.

2. Teamwork: If you have a spouse or significant other, ask for help. Divide up household chores and mealtimes. It can make a huge difference when everything doesn't fall on you. If you are a single mom don't be afraid to ask for help from family when you need it.

3. Self Care Time: This goes hand in hand with setting priorities. Always make sure to set some time aside for yourself. This is so important when returning to work after maternity leave. The busy life you are about to lead will leave no time for you, unless you schedule it in. Just an hour or two here and there can make a significant difference in your mood and the way you interact with your family.

4. Strive For Work Flexibility: Before returning to work after maternity leave check to see if your employer can offer you a more flexible working situation. This can be done through flextime, telecommuting or a compressed workweek. All of these options will allow you to maintain your full time income and be home with your baby more.

What If You Really Don't Want To Go Back To Work?

Returning to work after maternity leave is difficult no matter how you look at it. If you are having a hard time getting motivated to go back to work why not look into other options like working from home. It has never been as easy as it is now to work from home thanks to the Internet. Many are choosing to run an online home business which allows them to work when they like and as much as they like. An Internet home business leaves you and only you in charge of your time and income. Not to mention you get to be home with your baby all day long!

During pregnancy, people will give you all kinds of advice about what to do--some of it good, some of it not-so-helpful. While the list of things you have to get organised is long and detailed--everything from nappies to maternity wear and birthing classes--it's important to take this time to reflect, relax, and take care of YOU. After all, the next 18 years are going to be dedicated to taking care of an extra little person, so enjoy the time you have with yourself. Here are three ways in which you can get in touch with some inner peace and remain positive and content throughout your pregnancy.

Yoga

Yoga not only has a multitude of health benefits for the practitioner, but it has proven time and time again to help with stress and focus. There are specific prenatal Yoga classes you can attend, or otherwise just choose a very gentle and relaxing kind--Hatha is great--and do as much as feels comfortable. This isn't about becoming the most flexible person in the class or even keeping your figure--it's about learning to connect with your mind and body, release tension, and take a much-needed break from the stresses of daily life. If you prefer, you can do Yoga in the comfort of your own living room, making sure of course that you and your baby are comfortable throughout.

Meditation

You may or may not have had a lot of experience of meditation in the past but pregnancy is the perfect time to embrace this practice. There's no hard or fast way to meditate--you need to find what works for you, but one suggestion is to light some candles, play some relaxing music and sit still for about 10-15 minutes. Try to clear your mind of all the worries and stresses that have been running through your mind and watch your thoughts come and go. This takes a bit of practice--'watching' our thoughts is difficult to do without letting them sweep us up in shopping lists and daily chores--but if you can learn to detach a little bit from your thoughts you'll experience a profound relaxation, and your mind will be rejuvenated for the rest of the day.

Affirmations

Many believe that repeating positive affirmations is an excellent way to achieve happiness and a calm, relaxed outlook. Try repeating this one while you're in the shower:

"I am happy, healthy and capable. All is well and my baby is growing healthy and strong."

This is just a suggestion, you can replace this with any affirmation you like--as long as it is positive. Visualise what you want to happen--if you want more focus, don't say: "I will not get distracted", because then what you visualise is the distraction, not the solution. Instead, affirm to yourself "I remain calm and focused throughout the day" Saying your affirmation as if it is already fact tricks your subconscious into believing it--and you'll start to implement the procedures you need!

In the often frantic world of maternity dresses, baby name books and crib-shopping that is pregnancy, remember to take a little time out to work on your emotional health and well-being. You--and your child--will be grateful you did.

With the inception of health care reform, we have seen numerous changes in health care, such as full coverage of preventive care services and work has already begun to create state-based "exchange" around the country. But, how can you use one of these exchanges? How can it help consumers looking for affordable health care coverage in California?

An exchange is a marketplace where individuals and small business firms can shop and compare different California health plans online. Plans will be standardized; every plan sold by insurance companies will offer the same benefits to make it easier for consumers to shop for health coverage. Consumers will simply focus on the cost and quality of the health plan when doing comparison shopping. It's designed to make it easier than the complicated fine print we now should read, but can't always understand.

Why Would A California Health Insurance Exchange Be Controversial?

Like almost everything else, state-based exchanges are enmeshed in politics. In California and other states, lawmakers have agreed to adopt the legislation in setting up exchanges, but many Republican governors are fighting the exchanges. Some governors even refuse to implement any part of the health care reform, such as in Florida.

California, Florida and Texas contribute 40 percent of the 4.3 million uninsured children in the country and lack of coverage hurts the adults in these states, as well. The insurance exchange can give the public a better chance to get affordable health plans. However, some insurance experts predict that healthy individuals will opt out from the exchanges if they are not well planned. That would leave insurance companies insuring sicker people, which typically drives up CA plan premiums.

When Will The California Health Insurance Exchange Be Ready?

The new health insurance marketplace is required to be fully functional on January 1, 2014. By that date, all states are expected to have set up their state-based exchange. If they fail to do so, the federal government will run an exchange for that state.

The CA exchange will initially be open only for individuals buying their own health coverage and for small businesses looking for plans to cover employees. Most U.S. citizens will still get health coverage through their jobs, but there are millions of people who don't have that choice. For better or worse, immigrants without documents will be barred from buying health insurance through the exchanges. Since many illegal immigrants work in food production in the U.S., keeping them healthy sounds like it would be extremely important.

Congressional members and staff will be required to buy health plans for California through the exchange, but other federal employees can get health care coverage outside the exchange. Among the public, 11.5 million U.S. citizens are expected to use the exchanges in 2014, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that will double in 2018.

How Much Will California Health Insurance Plans Cost?

Since there are four different types of plan offered, premiums will vary depending on the level of benefits and your location. There will be a choice of bronze, silver, gold and platinum plans, and all plans will incorporate certain safeguards. For example, insurance companies will not allowed to charge premiums based on your gender or your health status. However, insurers may increase rates based on age. Seniors could be charged triple the rate for young adults.

The Obama administration has said there will be a set of "essential benefits" in every health plan sold through the exchange. The benefits are still being worked out, but will definitely include coverage for services such as emergency care, prescription drugs, hospital care, lab services, maternity care and pediatric care.

The body girdle is a very popular choice for among a majority of women looking for an instant way to shape up and get that hourglass figure that simple and easy way. But did you know that there are also girdles for pregnant women that can help them cope with body pain caused by back problems? Here are just a few things that you need to keep in mind when shopping for the perfect body girdle suited for a pregnant woman. Whether you're shopping for yourself or to give away as a gift, the experience can be a lot easier when you know what you're looking for.

For a pregnant woman who doesn't deserve to feel discomfort at the state she already is in, it's important to find a maternity body girdle that will be very comfortable for her to wear. She's not actually trying to go for the hourglass figure at her condition anyway. So this is the perfect time for comfort to trump vanity. Maternity girdles should be made of lightweight breathable cloth and material that can easily move with the wearer's body movements. It shouldn't be constraining in any way.

Next, maternity body girdles for pregnant women should be able to provide comfort by being able to alleviate the weight of the growing tummy. Check for any form of support that is built in with the girdles that will be able to lessen the stress and strain from the back. The ones with adjustable Velcro are usually good choices since they can be adjusted to accommodate growing bellies. It would also be a great idea to check if the maternity body girdle can still be used to reshape the mother's stomach after she has given birth. Talk about hitting two birds with one stone.

And lastly, price considerations. The best maternity girdles should not cost you a small fortune. You can already get a reasonably priced one for around $50. As there are so many different brands and styles of maternity body girdles available on the market today, it definitely is a buyer's market so feel free to choose which designs and features would perfectly fit an expectant mother's needs. So visit your local department store or check out the numerous online retailers that specialize in body girdles for pregnant women today.

Do you want to work as a certified nursing assistant but just can't make up your mind yet? There are so many careers in the medical field but how do you know a nursing assistant it the right career choice for you?
A CNA is a certified assistant that helps registered nurses and other members of the medical team. A nursing assistant will follow orders made by his superiors as well as proceed with his regular CNA job descriptions just like the following:

1. A certified nursing assistant will follow orders that are given by registered nurses, nurse practitioners and other members of the health team. He understands basic medical terminologies and proceeds with precise skill when it comes to taking care of patients. A registered nurse or a head nurse closely supervises a certified nursing assistant's work and he reports directly to his superiors for any questions or concerns about his job and about patients directly under his care.


2. He is not allowed to make nursing or medical decisions on his own and is not allowed to give medications to patients. A certified nursing assistant however may be allowed to provide or administer medications and various treatments under the close supervision of a registered nurse like nebulization for asthma, topical medications for skin conditions, eye medications like eye drops and many more.


3. A part of a CNA job description is to take care of patient's personal needs from the time the patient is admitted to the time he is discharged. He changes bed linens, assists patients as they bathe, do personal care activities like brushing, shampooing and even dressing up when the patient is unable to do so due to his medical condition.


4. A certified nursing assistant will help patients as they are advised to visit specialists in the hospital premises or when the patient is transported to various diagnostic departments in the building. He does not leave the patient behind; he endorses the patient with care to the receiving nursing assistant or hospital employee and comes back when the procedure is over.


5. A part of a CNA job description is to support patients as they ambulate or move on their own after a major surgery or any other procedure that may impair a patient's ability to move for several days. He may also transport the patient as per order of the attending physician to rehabilitation departments or physical therapy departments for continuous support.


6. Certified nursing assistants will assist in transporting patient to other treatment facilities within the hospital like the surgical suite, maternity or delivery suite, the nursery, dialysis centers, etc. He may also be advised to accompany patients in recreational places within the hospital facility like indoor or outdoor parks, the cafeteria, the chapel, the library and many more. He is made aware of the patient's condition and he is also able to check for untoward signs and symptoms that may merit an emergency.


7. Also included in CNA job descriptions is providing excellent care and accommodation as the patient stays for a very long time in the hospital. He is compassionate especially to the less privilege and spends time comforting patients who may be disturbed or depressed about their medical condition.


8. Certified nursing assistants have different CNA job descriptions depending on where they are assigned in a hospital setting:
   Delivery or maternity suites - they are assigned to change linens, make sure that supplies and materials needed for delivery are prepared, cleaned and sterilized, accommodates mothers as they are anxious about delivery and many more.
   
   Nursery - certified nursing assistants must be able to clean, bathe, feed, burp and change newborns during their short stay in the nursery. Nursing assistants may be asked to bring newborns as they room-in with their moms.
   Surgical suite - change linens, clean and sterilize surgical equipments, pack instruments for sterilization, clean and sterilize the surgical suite, make sure all supplies are complete and in order before and after a surgical procedure is over, assist in lifting, moving and transporting patients and many more.
   
   Wards - a nursing assistant helps change linens, assist patients for primary care and instruct patients in the rules of their short stay at the hospital.
   
   Emergency room - certified nursing assistants assist nurses in cleaning patients, mobilizing patients, administering nursing procedures like inserting catheters, giving enemas, providing tepid sponge baths, getting the patients vital signs and monitoring intake and output. Patients involved in accidents, medical emergencies and acute cases need quick responses from the medical team and a certified nursing assistant's help is perfect in case there is a high volume of emergency cases coming in.
   
   Geriatric care - old patients need to be monitored closely as they move about, eat, take their medications, adhere to medical treatments and in various physical activities. Nursing homes need certified nursing assistant to help assist seniors in their daily activities as well as assess for the current state of health of their patients.
   
   Doctor's clinics - certified nursing assistants may also be assigned to doctor's clinics where they can work as medical receptionists. They will find patient's records as the patient arrives, weigh the patient, assist the patient as the nurse takes his temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure and many more. He may also prepare the doctor's office as a new patient arrives by changing soiled linens, preparing diagnostic instruments and many more.
   Pediatric area - children may be harder to manage in a hospital compared to adults and parents need the help they can get. Certified nursing assistants may help giving young patients a bath, a sponge bath, grooming and even feeding. He may also assist the nurse as the vital signs of the patient is taken as well as the intake and output for regular shift monitoring. Kids are listless and may complain as they are confined for days in the hospital. Certified nursing assistants must learn how to accommodate adult patients as well as pediatric patients to make their stay at the hospital a pleasing and relaxing one.

Pregnancy is a beautiful period so do not let the little pregnancy complications that occur to dampen your spirits. Brighten up even if you having problems like stretch marks as there are several treatments available and research has shown that after some time they generally disappear.

What exactly are pregnancy stretch marks?

Stretch marks are defined in Dermatology as scar formation on the skin with a silvery white hue. When they first appear on the skin they may be reddish or purple in color but as time passes they gradually fade to a pale white color and the skin in that area is very soft to touch.

Why and where do they occur?

The human skin includes the outer epidermal layer, the inner dermis layer and the subcutaneous stratum. The dermis is the layer that helps the skin retain its shape and the pregnancy stretch marks appear on the dermis as a result of excessive stretching and sudden weight gain. Pregnancy stretch marks may occur on breasts, belly, thighs, upper arms anywhere where fat tends to accumulate.

Various stretch mark treatments are available for stretch marks removal like ointments, the most popular of which is cocoa butter. You may also use Vitamin E oil or other ointments. If the stretch marks are really severe and these treatments do not help, consult your health care specialist, as there are laser treatments, dermabrasion, tretenoin, isotretenoin, adepalin and many such methods are being discovered. It makes sense consulting your health care specialist before applying any lotions for pregnancy stretch marks, as it may be possible that some medications such as steroids or hormones may be causing the stretch marks.

Who is more prone to getting pregnancy stretch marks?

Pregnancy stretch marks should not be seen as such a big problem that it disturbs your peace of mind and happiness. Don't worry once your baby is born, after a year or so the marks tend to disappear or may appear as light lines. In case you would like to apply ointments like Tretinoin cream it is better to do it after delivery as it may affect your unborn baby. If you are breast-feeding, please consult your doctor before using stretch mark treatments because some treatments for pregnancy stretch marks may be harmful to the breast milk or probably affect the milk supply.