Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

To resume work after pregnancy or not is the question that many new moms have to deal with soon after giving birth. If the answer is yes then what is the right time to go back to work? Many women today have to go back to work soon after delivering to support the family. This article is to help you with the issue of resuming work after pregnancy and various factors related to this issue.

Mothers are entitled to at least six weeks maternity leave following delivery. You can use this time to bond with your baby and to get familiar with the routine after pregnancy. Taking care of a newborn is round-the-clock work and can leave you totally fatigued. Fathers are also entitled to parental leave after the child is born. Talk to your employer about it and make sure that you are clear on issues, like whether you will be paid, whether leave will be deducted from your regular leaves or not, etc.

Think Over

Now let us assume that you are thinking about going back to work. You need to think about the following-

Proper analysis of the above aspects will help you decide on the right time to resume work after pregnancy.

Let us assume that you have decided to resume work after pregnancy. Have you found a good care for your baby? If you have a relative or friend that can take care of your baby, that would be great. If you do not then you need to find a good child care program. You can contact your local social service department to help you find a good and licensed child care program.

In your post pregnancy period, you will also have to deal with other issues, like weight loss after pregnancy, breastfeeding, sex after pregnancy, taking care of your child, etc. It is best to seek out expert help, like your doctor, who can give you very good weight loss tips. You can also read pregnancy books to help you out. Knowing how to deal with issues like, when to resume work after pregnancy, etc eases the stress in post pregnancy life.

Breast-feeding the Baby. In the first two to three days after birth the mother's breasts produce a substance called colostrum. Colostrum resembles melted butter, is high in protein, and contains antibodies that protect the baby. It helps to clear the bowels easily of meconium, a substance in the bowels of all newborn babies. There is no artificial substitute for colostrum.

Breast Milk. Breast milk is easily processed by the infant's digestive system and helps to prevent allergies. Unlike cow's milk, breast milk leaves an acid residue in the bowel and prevents the growth of harmful bacteria. Breastfed babies usually do not suffer from constipation, provided there is an adequate supply of milk. For the first few weeks, bowel movements may be frequent, but these may decrease to two dirty diapers a day.

Although initially some women may experience discomfort, most women find breast-feeding a pleasure once it is established. Emotionally, it ensures a closer bond with the baby; physically, it helps the womb to return more quickly to its normal size. Successful breast-feeding depends on the mother's attitude; prenatal preparation of the breasts and nipples and their postnatal care; a good, balanced diet, with plenty of fluids; rest; and patience.

Prenatal Breast Care. A well-fitting bra should be worn both day and night from the seventh month of pregnancy onward. Starting at that time the nipples should be washed well each day and gently rubbed with a towel after a bath. Some physicians advice applying a bland ointment.

Flat nipples should be drawn out and rolled between thumb and forefinger. At about the eighth month, the breasts should be gently massaged, and a little colostrum should be pressed from each nipple. This helps to open the milk ducts.

Women with inverted nipples can wear devices popularly known as "shells" inside their bras during the last three months of pregnancy. If no improvement takes place, a natural nursing nipple shield is helpful when nursing.

Breast-feeding. Before putting the baby to the breast, clean the breast with a cotton swab dipped in warm water to remove any ointment. Start each feeding on the side opposite the last.

After the feeding, wipe the nipples with cotton dipped in warm water and apply an ointment or spray. Try to avoid using plastic-backed, milk-retaining pads inside the bra because they can make the nipples sore.

The First Week. Patience and perseverance are needed during the first week of breast-feeding when difficulties may arise. Nursing mothers should be aware that it may require a few weeks to establish a steady milk supply.

In the first two to three days the baby sucks colostrum. At this stage the mother does not experience much change in her breasts. Usually between the third and fifth day milk comes in and, as the breasts enlarge, there may be some discomfort or even pain. Should the milk come in with a rush, the baby should be allowed to nurse frequently; this will prevent engorged breasts. Different babies have different needs, and you will have to work out the best schedule for your baby by trial and error.

Is there any earliest pregnancy symptom that can help the woman to know the answer of "am I pregnant?" even before the lab or home test? If you have the same query in your mind then you must go through the following passages to find the answer.

Certainly there are few earliest possible symptoms of pregnancy. These symptoms help the woman to determine her pregnancy even before the pregnancy test. There are women who are able to detect these earliest pregnancy symptoms, the moment conception takes place. It is because they have a fair understanding of these symptoms.

Following are the earliest pregnancy symptoms. These signs of pregnancy enable the woman to spot her pregnancy before she misses her periods.

Basal Body Temperature: There are many women who know well that the basal temperature of the body increases at the time of ovulation. But only few of them are aware, that if the body temperature stays elevated, then this could be a possible sign of pregnancy. For careful monitoring of basal body temperature the woman only requires a cheap thermometer. This thermometer enables the woman to detect even minute temperature changes.

Enlarged Breasts: The level of hormones changes drastically in the early pregnancy. The body reacts to thee changes in hormonal levels by giving different symptoms. Body is not ready for these drastic changes in hormonal levels. The most evident change as a result of increased hormones takes place in the shape and size of breasts. Soon after conception there is a feeling of tenderness or fullness. Sometimes this tenderness fades away as the body gets acquainted to new levels of hormones.

Fatigue: Another earliest pregnancy symptom is lack of energy. At times it becomes hard to distinguish between general exhaustion and pregnancy related fatigue. However health professionals believe that fatigue is also linked to new levels of hormones. These fatigue feelings become normal when the body regulates itself to new hormonal level.

Having a baby could be a challenging life experience to most moms. One of them is PND that stands for Postnatal Depression. Following childbirth, it is common for women to experience a period of low mood. The severity can vary from a mild (baby blues), through to PND and to the most severe but very rare postnatal psychosis.

Statistically, around 10% of women will experience PND. It is a depressive illness that occurs after having a baby. In most cases, PND will generally start within 1 month after giving birth, but records also show that some moms experienced PND around six months or even within the first week after giving birth. For most women, it passes quickly; for others, professional help is needed and without treatment, it can last for months or rarely years.

So far, expert still cannot find the exact cause of PND. Postnatal depression is most common after the first pregnancy. PND women have symptoms that are similar with ordinary depression although two of them are not the same, they are lack of confidence, anxiety, negative thoughts, difficulty sleeping, feelings of being unable to cope or that life is meaningless, loss of appetite, and so on. Theses will be explained further below.

There are some factors that give a woman more chances to experience Postnatal Depression. However your doctor can work with you to reduce the risk of getting it. Those factors are:

• If you have previous record of PND with your previous pregnancies, you are at a very high risk of experiencing it again. Pay attention to any warning signs of depression recurring. It is the first step in preventing PND in this case.


• If you have a depression during pregnancy and being treated but then you have to stop the medication in order to avoid side effects to your fetus, you might be in a risk of getting PND. In this case, you will need to restart the depression medication process after birth to prevent PND and that would mean there is a possibility that you cannot breast feed.


• If you experienced bipolar depression in the past, you are at a high risk getting PND. Pay attention to any warning signs and by understanding what treatments to ease the bipolar depression would be important to prevent PND in this case.

Symptoms of Postnatal Depression

PND symptoms are very similar to "ordinary" depression, such as:

• Irritable. You might have sensitive and irritated feelings. Although mostly it happens with your partner, sometimes you can have irritated feelings with your baby too.


• Depressed. You may frequently feel low and unhappy during the day. It can be peak at certain times of the day. For example: in the mornings when you wake up or evenings when you are about to sleep. You may have hope from some good days but then are followed by bad days which make you despair.


• Hard to Sleep. PND women can have insomnia. No matter how tired you are, you simply can't fall asleep.


• Can't easily enjoy anything. You will find plain life. It is hard for you to enjoy or be interested in anything.


• Guilty. PND like ordinary depression, changes the way you think and makes you see things negatively. Feeling of guilty, useless is most common in PND women.


• Overloaded. PND can make you feel overloaded in everything. You may feel that you have no time in doing things and organize daily routine in your life especially with your baby.


• Anxiety. You might worry too much about your baby. You might have feared that your baby will be harmed in some way that you don't want to leave your baby alone.

PND woman have a symptom of disorder that she tends to withdraw from people including her baby. PND mother might think that she does not have good relationship with her baby. She thinks that the relationship should happen immediately within first few days or weeks after birth or it will not happen at all.

It is normal in PND and does not mean that she is a bad mother. However, once the depression has gone, the mother will be able to feel her full range of emotions and can enjoy her baby more. During this time, she just needs some help and assurance from family and friends.

So, Will PND women harm their baby?

It is very common that depressed mothers often worry that they might harm their baby. It is very normal that through tiredness and desperation, you might have feeling to hit or shake your baby. This happens to mothers and also fathers and not only to those who has PND. The fact is that most of them would never act on them. But if you do feel this, tell someone. They might help you. Your health visitor or doctor will also be able to help you with this.

However, for those who have a history of being harmed, abused, mistreated when they were young may sometimes do harm their babies (battered babies) and this case does not relate directly to PND.

Very rarely a mother with PND may harm her baby. On the other hand, mothers may kill their babies before committing suicide thinking that it is better for both of them to be dead. Fortunately it is very unusual.

Just remember that PND is treatable illness and the sooner they are treated the better it will be. Speak with your family members or professional as soon as possible.

Some tips if you have PND

The most common in PND women is they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or guilty about feeling depressed that make them reluctant to talk about their problem with somebody.

Talking about the problem with somebody, such as a health professional, can be very helpful. Most PND mother often worry that people will see them as unfit parents.

Postnatal Depression or PND can happen to any woman. You and your baby don't have to suffer and it does not mean that you are a bad mum.

Here are some useful tips:

• Rest as much as you can. Sleep when your baby sleeps.


• Do not give too much pressure on yourself. Do as much as you can and rest. You can ask your partner, parents, other family members or even your friends to help you out with looking after your baby, household or other things surround you.


• Talk about how you feel to your husband, partner, family members or trusted friends. Spend time with them.


• Talk to other mothers so you can learn from their experiences.


• Join parent group in your local community.Try not to spend a lot of time alone. You need to leave the house sometimes. Take a short walk might help you. Research says that the sun can help reduce depression.

In some cases, anti-depressants are necessary. Although this can affect breast milk, there are drugs that are safe. Talk to your doctor or midwife.

Finally, even if you have been depressed for a while, support, counseling and medication can all help you to get better. It's never too late.

Your employer's health insurance plan does not cover IVF. You are on a quest to find individual coverage to help pay for your In Vitro Fertilization treatments. You find lots of search results promising that elusive lead; to a real website offering real health insurance coverage for IVF. But you keep coming up empty, even though you keep coming across plenty of ads and links hinting at an answer. What's going on? To find the answer, and figure out what real options really exist you must FOLLOW THE MONEY.

It pays to think like an average consumer, an employer, and an insurance company when searching for that elusive answer: is there any insurance company that will provide coverage for my infertility treatments? Does your employer's insurance plan not provide IVF coverage? Have you found it impossible to find individual insurance plans to cover any portion of your infertility and/or IVF costs? Follow the money, and you will understand why you can't find coverage, why there are so many blind alleys, and what real options really exist.

Why Does Group Health Insurance Rarely Cover In Vitro

Most group health insurance plans rarely cover IVF treatments - unless they are compelled to by state mandate. The reason is simple: most employees don't need infertility treatments, but they do want to pay the lowest insurance premiums possible. Plans without infertilty coverage cost less than those that do. Health care costs are skyrocketing, and many businesses and their employees can barely afford the premiums for plans without infertiliity coverage. When given the option, most will choose a plan without IVF coverage.

That choice is made unless your state mandates that people buy health insurance with infertility and/or IVF coverage. In other words, you can get affordable coverage if your state forces your co-workers to underwrite the cost of your IVF treatments. This is the case in fifteen states. But even these laws contain loopholes which many employers elect to use; because they want to keep costs low.

Why Individual Health Plans Rarely Cover IVF

Individual plans rarely cover infertility and In Vitro Fertilization because they are subject to the same market forces noted above. Most people do not need infertility coverage, but they are looking for the most affordable plan.

The only people likely to buy an individual plan with fertility coverage are couples who need it. The insurance carrier wants to make a profit and charges accordingly. The costs are so high that nobody buys it.

Why So Many Blind Alleys?

You type "Health Insurance for IVF" into your search engine and lots of listings pop up. When you click on the link, you find an informational site with lots of ads promising coverage. You click on the ads, and complete a web form for insurance coverage. An agent contacts you, but when you explain that you are looking for IVF coverage, they can't help. Sound familiar?

Internet marketers know what you are looking for. Insurance agents want to make a sale, and pay internet marketers for leads; not always knowing you want coverage for IVF. So the agents pay for leads they can't fulfill, and you get frustrated by a blind alley. Only the marketer comes out ahead.

What Options Really Exist

Sorry but there are not many programs that will cover your direct IVF costs. There are rebate programs that will refund a portion of your costs if you fail to conceive and/or deliver. You can deduct a portion of your costs on your taxes, or use your flexible spending account at work for larger savings.

You can also use supplemental health insurance. Your benefit for normal delivery may greatly exceed the premium you pay. Use the surplus to offset your IVF costs. You also are protected in case of complications, and multiple births. You do need to purchase coverage before getting pregnant.

There are many ways to get pregnant faster with one way to make this happen is by having trying to conceive before the female ovulates. Many think that a couple should have sex after ovulation but that is not necessarily true. Once a woman ovulates, the egg will only survive for a day. That is why some feel that having sex one to three days ahead of ovulation will increase your chances of getting pregnant.

Another way to get pregnant is not to depend on the calendar method for predicting when ovulation may occur. This is not an accurate way to measure ovulation. In addition, before you begin to try and get pregnant, talk with your gynecologist first. There are many reasons why women have a hard time getting pregnant such as having an infection, being in poor health or having a sexually transmitted disease.

It is important to note that smoking, abusing drugs or drinking alcohol also can impede a woman's chances of becoming pregnant. If you drink, smoke or use drugs, stop and talk with your physician on the methods you can safely use to stop these harmful habits.

Another tip that will help you get pregnant quicker is to enjoy having sex. Often when a couple wants to have a child they will try too hard, meaning having sex is not enjoyable but only a stressful way to produce a child.

Also, many say that having sex in the missionary position - that is when a woman is lying down and the man on top - is the best way because the angle of your pelvis will help keep the sperm in longer. In addition, some women have found success in getting pregnant by staying on their back after sex as to keep the sperm from escaping. It is believed by some to boost the chances of a sperm fertilizing the egg.

To help boost the pregnancy, talk with your partner about cutting back on alcohol and smoking. The healthier the sperm is, the better chances of a woman's egg getting fertilized. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and taking a daily multivitamin will certainly help in the production of healthy and active sperm.

It is important to note that the chances of getting pregnant quickly are more apt to happen the younger a woman is. Women in their twenties and early thirties have a much higher chance of getting pregnant than those who want to get pregnant and are over the age of 35. To get pregnant fast is not difficult; it just requires a plan and a desire to have children.

Gestational diabetes warning signs normally appear somewhere between twenty-four and twenty-eight weeks of one's pregnancy. It's the effect of having higher than normal levels of glucose inside of your body which affects the pregnancy and your baby's well-being.

No person likes any sort of problem while they are expecting. Having said that, pregnant women can control their diabetic issues with regular exercise, eating healthier foods and by taking their medication. If you take good care of yourself you'll be able to make sure of a healthy maternity for you, as well as a healthy start for the little one.

In the case of gestational diabetes an individual's sugar level usually goes back to normal after delivery, nonetheless you will have a significantly greater potential risk of acquiring diabetes type 2 sometime in the future. You have to continue to work together with your health care provider to regulate your blood glucose.

Gestational Diabetes Symptoms

Generally there are no kind of symptoms to speak of. Normally diabetes is detected at the time of routine medical tests which are done during a pregnancy. Under rare circumstances, for example in case your blood sugar level has gone through the roof, chances are you may suffer with a few of the common symptoms of diabetes, for instance:

* Urinating with greater regularity
* Persistently being thirsty
* Consistent hunger

Once you're expecting a baby, your personal doctor will incorporate a diabetes check as part of your prenatal care. For those who are discovered to actually have gestational diabetes, or if you should encounter any one of the aforementioned warning signs, you will definitely have to have even more check-ups.

Your health care provider will look at your sugar amount soon after childbirth and again inside of about six weeks to make certain it's gotten back to expected levels. In the event you acquire diabetes, it probably would be smart to get your blood sugar levels looked at on a frequent basis.

A large number of women who have gestational diabetes have healthy newborns. Conversely, in case your diabetes has not been properly handled, it may well result in greater problems when it comes to you and your little one.

Added problems for your unborn baby

* Excessive weight: An excess of glucose inside of your bloodstream will cause your baby's pancreas to generate even more insulin. This might produce a bigger newborn at birth known as (macrosomia). In cases where the child is way too big they may suffer harm during the course of childbirth, or perhaps the expectant mother may need to have a C-section.

* RDS plus Early Childbirth: Large quantities of glucose inside of the mother's bloodstream might lead to an early delivery. Additionally, the health care professional could advise an earlier delivery date in cases where the little one has gotten pretty big. Premature babies could get Respiratory Distress Syndrome rendering it hard for these babies to breathe by themselves. They might quite possibly have to have assisted breathing until such time as the baby's lungs become much stronger.

* Hypoglycemia: In some cases the child might experience low bloodstream sugar levels since they ended up manufacturing high amounts of insulin. In a worst case scenario, one of the warning signs of hypoglycemia is usually seizures. Prompt feedings or an intravenous glucose treatment could bring the newborn's glucose level back again to normalcy.

* Diabetes type 2: Infants have a much higher risk of being overweight and also of developing the much more severe diabetes type 2 down the road.

In the event that gestational diabetes is unattended it can potentially cause the demise of the child while pregnant or shortly after delivery.

Added dangers for the mom

* Hypertension: You will have a far better chance of establishing elevated blood pressure together with preeclampsia and eclampsia. These are extremely dangerous problems which may endanger the lives of both the mom as well as the infant.

* Diabetes type 2: For those who experienced gestational diabetes, you might get it yet again during any future pregnancy. When you age you are much more likely to acquire diabetes type 2, which is a great deal more serious.

You are able to manage gestational and even diabetes type 2 by adhering to a healthy style of living. Listen closely to your physician and focus on looking after yourself by exercising on a regular basis, maintaining a healthy diet and getting to know all that is possible on handling both kinds of diabetes as well as the warning signs of diabetes type 2.

Postpartum syndrome, more commonly known as the "baby blues", is one of the most common problems linked with children and was documented as early as the 19th century. This syndrome is best identified by the depression the woman experiences within four weeks after giving birth. It affects approximately 13% of women after childbirth, with one out of every eight deliveries in the US leading to this syndrome. It can also lead to more serious type of psychosis, which affects one of every thousand women.

Sadly, only half of the people with this syndrome are detected. And those who remain undiagnosed can result with devastating outcomes not only on themselves, but also on their family. What's more, postpartum syndrome is not just exclusive to women.

Contrary to common misconception, men can also experience this syndrome as well, with 10% of new fathers reported to experience such a condition. And much like with women, the symptoms of postpartum syndrome in men is the difficulty of caring for their children on their own while suffering from depression.

The said syndrome can be harmful to one's mental and emotional health as well as those people around you, so early detection and prevention is crucial in order to keep it from ruining what should be the joyful even of childbirth.

Symptoms

The onset of postpartum syndrome usually occurs within four weeks after giving birth. These include feelings of severe sadness, emptiness, and emotional numbness. People who suffer from this psychological disturbance are also easy to cry and do so often, as well as irritable and quick to anger. There is also the tendency to withdraw from relationships with family, friends and from activities that are normally pleasurable to the sufferer, as they feel a strong sense of failure or inadequacy. The depression may also cause a constant feeling of tiredness, sleep difficulties, overeating or loss of appetite.

In addition, postpartum syndrome can also cause the sufferer to experience intense concern and anxiety about the baby or lack of interest. In the worst cases, sufferers may have suicidal thoughts or fears of harming the baby, delusions and false beliefs, hallucinations, and other severe depressive symptoms.

Prevention

If you feel that you are prone to postpartum depression or have experienced it in the past, the first recommended course of action is to get in touch with your doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, and other professional healthcare provider. If you have experienced this syndrome before and treated successfully with medication, you may want to think about taking the medication again immediately after giving birth.

It is also important that you talk with your partner and other loved ones; let them know what you might go through and what might help in dealing with you suffering this type of psychological problem. You should also establish a support plan in case you do experience postpartum syndrome. Assign someone to help you take care of your baby, for example, or get in touch with a postpartum doula to help you ease through this troubled period of your life.

Adverse effects such as suicidal tendencies and psycho-somatic impacts can be mitigated if the problems are detected early. It is always best to seek the services of healthcare professionals such as psychiatrists.

Why is gratitude the single most powerful attitude to take to come out of depression? Keeping a gratitude journal means that each morning and/or evening you list at least three small things, different things, that you were grateful for during the day.

Very often we are put off by the word gratitude because we associate it with a phrase such as "you should be grateful for what you've got". This is not what this exercise is about at all.

Grateful yes, but "should" is a word that needs deleting from the vocabulary surrounding someone in depression. The word "should" is to be replaced by the word "could", giving power back to the person thinking this thought. "Could" gives a sense of possibility and hope whereas "should" feels like an obligation.

Each time we appreciate something it appreciates in value. To be grateful for the sunrise as you watch the day dawning will allow the moment to be that much more intense, that much more important.

To be grateful for a text from a friend adds an extra layer of specialness to it.

To be grateful for hot water as you wash your face in the morning brings a more intense feel to the warmth as you splash away the soap.

Gratitude magnifies the moment. A positive moment.

It is the opposite of the usual depressive thoughts that constantly bombard the mind of someone in depression. These thoughts seem out of your control and actively deciding to be grateful counteracts this and brings more stability; more balance in the mind.

When you are out walking take note of your surroundings. Stop from time to time to touch the foliage. Bend down and literally smell the roses. Pick a stalk from a lavender bush and inhale the aroma. Be thankful as you do this. Appreciate the tiny lift it gives to your mood and watch that multiply as you say in your mind "thank you".

Buy yourself a gratitude journal. Make sure it's an attractive one and fill its pages with appreciative thoughts.

Each night, before going to sleep write down three to five different small things you were grateful for during the day. Not only will this lift your mood it will also set you in the right frame of mind for settling down to sleep.

To be grateful is the quickest, easiest way to lift your spirits just a tiny bit and that tiny bit is hugely important for someone in depression.

A hospital plan is also known by the term "Entry level medical aid plan", it is basically a much more affordable option to opt for. With a conventional medical aid plan you end up paying crazy premiums and more often than not you have minimal coverage. Many medical aid policies leave you on a lurch when you need coverage the most, as many medical aid plans have restrictive regulations to follow.

Engaging in a hospital plan also helps take care of your family needs should you be suddenly hospitalized due to either a disabling disease or unexpected accident all within an affordable monthly premium. There a numerous benefits that hospital plan packages can include such as maternity coverage, coverage of preexisting medical conditions and even a cash back bonus for individuals who do not claim over a certain period, qualify for a cash payout, there are many more benefits that other insurance houses can offer, its best you go on line and research the different types of hospital plans available out there.

A Hospital coverage Plan is designed for those who can take care of their own day-to-day medical expenses and are looking for an extensive appropriate in-hospital cover all within an economical budget and covers hospitalization and related bills 100% with annual limits, this in turn can be increased should it be exceeded. Most packages include emergency transport to a hospital. Where as a conventional medical aid plan will give you a little more extensive cover also costing you an arm and leg.

Hospital coverage is also an excellent way of taking care of your family when you are no longer able to, due to either a disability caused by preexisting disease or an accidental disability. The policy will payout a lump sum to your family and assist with all financial needs that have to be met, without having the monthly income usually generated by yourself.

So help take care of yourself and your family should you suddenly be hospitalized by finding out more about Hospital plans and hospital covers, go on line and search for what will suite you and your family best. Search in the comfort of your own home and in your own time.