Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

New born babies often sleep for hours. But, they do not sleep on schedule and mothers often do not get enough rest and are completely exhausted in caring for them.

Here are some tips for mothers of active babies to get adequate rest:

o Mothers do not have to be on "alert mode" all the time. When baby is asleep at different times of the day, take a short nap yourself when you are tired. Give yourself 30 to 40 minutes to nap. Set the alarm clock each time to wake you up before you fall into a deep sleep. Your energy level will definitely increase after a short nap.

o Train baby to feed at regular intervals for example every 3 to 4 hours after the previous feed. Wake him up to feed even if he is deeply asleep. This establishes a regular daytime feeding schedule for baby and gives you enough time to rest even if you catch up on some other work first. If you pick him up and feed him every time he awakes momentarily or for a short period, you will cause him to want to feed at short intervals and to take in small quantities each time.

o I used to give my baby his last feed at eleven pm each night without fail from the age of 3 months. From then on he slept through the night and had his next feed only at about 7am the next morning. I was able to have almost the same nightly sleeping hours as my baby after that.

o Mothers should exercise regularly. Start with gentle post natal exercises and move on to short walks, then longer ones and even swimming. These activities are good as mothers can take baby along with them.

o Ask your spouse to take charge of feeding baby at least one evening a week. Mother can then have an evening "off" and get a good night of sleep. Use ear plugs or sleep in another room if you are tempted to take over if baby cries. Be assured that your spouse is more than able to shoulder the responsibility and he will even enjoy bonding more closely with baby.

o Avoid stimulants and other food and medications that affect your ability to sleep from late afternoons if necessary. Examples are coffee, tea, alcohol, chocolates, and caffeinated beverages.

Be alert to anything that causes sleepless nights and unnecessary fatigue. Work towards getting sufficient rest and you will be able to care for baby the next day and the next and the next.

Enjoy parenting and motherhood.
Pat

Your hospital stay for the delivery of your baby will require a well planned out packing list. There are essential items you will need for labor and delivery and the few days following birth while you are at the hospital. There are things that your partner will need as well as your baby. Most of your baby's needs should be taken care of by the hospital, but it never hurts to call and ask.

For labor and delivery, there are some essential items to pack and some items that are optional depending on your birthing plan. If you are planning on giving birth vaginally and without pain medicine, you will need some items to help your labor pains.

A couple things that you may want to consider are: a Pilates ball, a rolling-pin, hard candy, music and movies, and pillows. These things could help with your labor pains, but you must keep in mind that everyone is different. Something that worked for your friend may or may not work for you.

Now if you are planning on accepting some pain management drugs, you will need much less of that gear. You may still want to bring your own pillows, or body pillow or nursing pillow. Whatever helps you get into a more comfortable position at home, you should make sure you have at the hospital during your labor.

After giving birth you will need some specialty items to make your postpartum stay more comfortable for you while you heal. You will need some oversized full underwear. The pads that the hospital will give you are quite large and you will want them to be able to go into a pair of panties easily. In addition to the pad you may also have an oversized ice pack to place in your panties.

Pants will be quite uncomfortable for these first few days. You will need a good nursing gown for this time. Nursing Gowns can be used during delivery and after. This will be loose and open for fitting your ice pack and pad into your panties, and it will also be very useful for nursing your newborn.

Your toiletries and basics such as toothbrush, hairbrush, and face wash are a must and should be packed ahead of time. These are things that are inexpensive and it will be worth it when the time comes to not have to start thinking about whether or not you are forgetting something. Just have a whole second set of this stuff packed and ready to go a couple weeks ahead of time.

As far as your clothing goes, you should pack any nursing clothing, socks and slippers, and a very loose- fitting, comfortable outfit to go home in. You may just want to buy a nicer pair of nursing pajamas that double as loungewear for that day. These are all things that you can pack ahead of time as well. It will save you stress and time to do as much ahead of time as possible, if not all. You will be much more at ease that you are ready when the time comes to go to the hospital to deliver your baby.

If you are a woman who has 'Female Hormone Imbalance Symptoms' its likely that your ovaries have not simply decided to turn against you, but that the underlying cause of your hormonal problems lies somewhere entirely different. The adrenal glands are the 'master glands' that control whether you make stress hormones or you make female hormones. Under normal circumstances, women are able to make adequate amounts of both sex hormones AND stress hormones, but so many women are under such constant stress, or at least PERCEIVE that they are under constant stress, that they are continually in a 'fight or flight' response that leads to Adrenal Gland Fatigue.

And whenever we perceive that we under a stressful situation, our adrenal glands produce stress hormones such as cortisol. But cortisol and ALL other hormones, including thyroid hormones, male hormones and female hormones, share a precursor hormone called pregnenolone that is the 'limiting factor' for production of these hormones.

But because stress hormones are designed to be released in the event of an EMERGENCY, cortisol ALWAYS take precedence over thyroid and sex hormone production. So, in the case of women who constantly perceive themselves to be under stress, a condition called 'Pregnenolone Steal' will occur. When cortisol takes the lion's share of precursor hormones, then all other hormones take the back seat, leading to hormone imbalance symptoms.

In true emergency conditions, this condition lasts for minutes to hours at the most, but when people today are in CONSTANT states of perceived stress, it's no wonder that there is an epidemic of female hormone imbalance symptoms and thyroid hormone imbalances that cause so many women to be fatigued, have PMS, infertility, fatigue and other hormonal disorders.

Yet, if balance is restored by easing the stress on the adrenal glands through the reduction of emotional stress, inflammatory stress and dietary stress, then the excessive load can be taken off of the adrenal glands and diverted back to their rightful place in the hormone lineup and the epidemic of hormonal imbalance symptoms can be corrected.

If you have never had a baby before, the first time you visit the OB can be an exciting and scary event, especially if you don't know what to expect. The exact procedures and routines vary from practitioner to practitioner, but there are a few things that are standard across the board.

As with visiting any new medical doctor, you will first be given a gaggle of forms to fill out while you wait in the waiting room. You will fill out paperwork that gives basic information, your name, address, date of birth, social security number, marital status, spouse's name, insurance information, date of your last period, etc. You will also probably fill out a medical history form, where you will be asked about past illnesses, injuries, surgeries, and hospitalizations. You will also be asked about your family history as well, and maybe even for some of your spouse's information too, so it is a good idea for him to come along to this first appointment. Some practitioner's will also ask questions about your sexual history, as well as talk to you about testing for sexually transmitted diseases. Don't be offended, it is routine with every pregnant patient, and some STD tests are required by law.

Once you have filled out all of your paperwork, you will probably first meet your practitioner in his or her office, where you will go over the forms that you filled out, find out some background information about your practitioner, and be allowed to ask any questions that you may have. When this is over, you will be ushered into either the waiting room, or a patient examination room, depending on what is available.

A member of the staff will check your weight, blood pressure, pulse, and will likely have you give a urine sample, which will be done at every prenatal visit, to check for signs of protein or sugar, which could be a sign of a potential problem. Once this is done, you may have blood drawn for routine lab work, or may be given forms to take to another site, if your practitioner doesn't do labs.

You will be asked to disrobe, and your practitioner will do a routine pelvic exam, and will also check your uterus, to try to get a more accurate idea of how far along you are. This can also be confirmed in other methods, blood tests, ultrasound, and amniocentesis as well. You may also get to hear the baby's heartbeat at this time as well, which can be very exciting, especially for first-time parents. When the exam is complete, your practitioner may talk to you about exercise, diet, and answer any questions that you have. You will be instructed on when to come back in for your next prenatal checkup, and will likely either be given samples or a prescription for prenatal vitamins, which you should take everyday.

You get a lot of information at your first prenatal visit, and it can be overwhelming, so if you think of questions or concerns after you have left, don't hesitate to call. In fact, your doctor probably expects you to, particularly if this is your first pregnancy.

Individual and family health insurance rates have been steadily increasing. If you pay for individual health insurance, then you have noticed the increase in recent years. But there are some specific steps you can take to make your health insurance more affordable.

o Increase your major medical deductible. Since this portion of your policy is the least likely coverage to be used, often changing to a higher deductible will reduce the rate by hundreds of dollars per year. If you have more than three persons insured on the policy, the savings could possibly be thousands of dollars per year.

o Consider a Health Savings Account (HSA). Premiums are lower than most plans, and the tax-deduction of current medical expenses makes this option worth considering. Qualified dental and vision expenses will also be tax-deductible. In many parts of the country, UnitedHealthOne (formerly UnitedHealthCare), Aetna and Anthem offer extremely affordable rates.

o Notify your health insurer if any covered dependent is no longer living in the household and has obtained their own coverage. Often, the insurer does not know unless you tell them. The reduction in premium is likely to be between $40 and $90 per month.

o Utilize preventive coverages on your policy. Most individual health insurance plans include preventive benefits that may not be subject to a deductible. Mammograms, pap smears, Ob/Gyn visits and routine physicals are often provided. By utilizing these benefits, you may be reducing the risk of using other benefits that may have a higher out-of-pocket cost.

o Compare prices of other similar medical plans. If you have been with the same company for more than five years, it's possible that your rate has substantially increased. Assuming you do not have any major medical health conditions, it may be a good time to view online individual health insurance rates.

o Eliminate unneeded coverages. For example, if maternity benefits are no longer needed, and you are paying for the coverage, your individual health insurance rate could substantially reduce by dropping the coverage. Anthem, Humana and UnitedHealthOne offer maternity coverage, so it may be worthwhile to check that you are not paying for this benefit. Dental and vision riders, if not used, should also be eliminated.

o Lose weight or stop smoking! Your initial premium on your policy was based on overall health (including height/weight) and smoking status at the time you originally applied. If you have lost weight and/or stopped smoking, notify your current insurer. It's possible you may be able to reduce your current rate.

o If you are receiving Medicare benefits, then you should remove yourself from the policy. The monthly premium savings should be substantial.

Most people routinely lose between 70 and 150 hairs from their scalp each day, mainly through washing, brushing, and combing. But there is tremendous variation in the number of hairs that people shed each day, depending on the number of scalp hairs and the length of the growth cycle. As people age, their rate of new hair growth slows down, resulting in a gradual thinning.

Scalp hair starts to thin when more hairs are lost through normal shedding than the scalp is able to renew. About 40% of the density of scalp hair has to be lost before thinning of the hair becomes noticeable.

Hair loss can be caused by:

o Heredity issues. Most balding is caused by a genetic predisposition - in other words, it's part of a person's genetic makeup. This is called male pattern baldness, or hereditary balding or thinning. It is the most common cause of thinning hair.

o Illness, certain physical conditions, or their treatments. This can include high fever, thyroid disease, childbirth, inadequate protein in the diet, iron deficiency, cancer treatments, the use of certain medications, and other causes.

Hair may be lost in two ways:

o In patchy hair loss, well-defined areas of hair are lost while the remaining scalp retains a good covering of hair.

o In generalized hair loss, there is a uniform thinning over the entire scalp with no areas of normal hair growth.

The medical term for hair loss is alopecia. There are different classifications of alopecia:

o Alopecia areata is a disease in which well-defined bald patches occur. It usually clears completely within 6 to 12 months without treatment.

o Alopecia totalis is an uncommon condition in which all hair on the scalp is lost. The cause is unknown, and the baldness is usually permanent.

o Alopecia universalis is a total loss of hair on all parts of the body.

o Androgenetic alopecia is balding caused by heredity. It can affect both men and women, although women with this inherited tendency do not become totally bald. The condition can start in a person's teens, twenties, or thirties.

If you notice you are shedding hair excessively after combing or brushing, or if your hair is becoming thinner, you should consult with your primary care provider or a dermatologist (a physician who specializes in treating skin and hair problems). A doctor can determine if disease is present and whether or not the hair loss will respond to medical treatment.

The essentials element of payroll administration in the UK is to accurately calculate the income tax and national insurance contributions deducted from the employee each pay period, produce payslips for each employee and account to the tax office for the payroll deductions.

Running a payroll system is natural for medium and large companies who may employ specialist payroll staff to perform these functions. Many medium companies may still choose to outsource the payroll function leaving many of the technical issues that might be encountered to a specialist payroll service.

Small businesses may choose to outsource the payroll function because they are not familiar with the paye system although HMRC do run seminars to assist employers. The payroll system not only calculates the tax and national insurance deductions but also has to deal with tax code changes, new employees and changes to existing employees plus taxable benefits and allowances such as statutory payments for sickness and maternity leave, contracting out of the state pension scheme and student loans.

The main benefit of manually producing the employee payroll is the reduced cost although the time spent on the payroll function by the proprietor may be better spent running the business. The cost may not be the cheapest option if an employee is required to produce the payroll. Purchasing payroll software can save significant time and costs for the small business that chooses to prepare and control its own payroll function. Although time is more important as the payroll production cost is not usually a big issue.

Outsourcing payroll adds a small additional cost to running the business but would normally carry worthwhile benefits in reducing the time spent on the function and reduces the paye administrative burden.

Main benefits outsourcing the payroll function.

1. Frees up time in calculating the payroll deductions and dealing with different and sometimes complex employee circumstances.

2. Using a professional outsourcing service to advise on potential payroll problems and difficulties.

3. The cost of outsourcing payroll should be compared against the cost of employing specialist in house payroll staff.

4. Payroll services use payroll software and are more likely to produce accurate tax and national insurance deductions and pay records reducing the prospect of problems with the tax authorities.

5. Payroll administration such as preparing the tax deductions schedules, dealing with starters and leavers, year end certificates for employees and the employer annual returns are normally all automated as part of the payroll service

6. The outsourced service company should also be responsible for producing employee payslips, advising tax and deductions liability and in larger businesses also provide a payroll analysis for accounting purposes.

Alternatives to outsourcing payroll functions.

Finding a suitable outsourced payroll service is not difficult. Local telephone directories or searching the internet would produce many potential payroll service providers.

Many accountancy firms offer payroll services to their clients and although the prices may struggle to be competitive price is always negotiable. Using the business accountant for the payroll has advantages since a substantial cost area for most businesses is already known to the accountant since they prepare the numbers.

Choosing payroll software.

The major alternative to outsourcing the payroll is for the business to acquire and use payroll software.

Larger companies require payroll software that has incorporated within it all the potential pay scenarios and also be capable of dealing with high numbers of employees. Large comprehensive packages can be complex to operate and require specialist wages staff.

Small business may choose simpler less complex payroll software packages that meet the basic needs of the business. It is important the person running the payroll within the wages function understands the payroll essentials and legal payroll administration requirements.

The advantages of choosing payroll software is basically the cost should save the business money against outsourcing the payroll, should retain control over the function and liabilities and ideally should take no more time that supplying employee details and gross wages to the payroll service.

If the business chooses to adopt a payroll software package then the complexity of the package should be considered and also the attributes and capabilities of the chosen software to produce all the payroll requirements in relation to pay and wage deductions, paye administration and employee payslips.

If you are planning to breastfeed, birthing your baby in a hospital with a Baby Friendly designation can be beneficial when compared to birthing in a hospital that is not Baby Friendly. In spite of the benefits of Baby Friendly, however, it is important to realize that this designation gives you no information about a hospital's labor and delivery practices. Many families unfortunately get lured into thinking Baby Friendly somehow translates into Mother Friendly. The truth is it doesn't. Baby Friendly does NOT mean Mother Friendly.

The focus of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative is to promote BREAST FEEDING. Nothing in the steps to becoming a Baby Friendly hospital say anything about labor or birth. Fortunately, in 1996, the Coalition for Improving Maternity Services (CIMS) along with 31 individuals and 26 organizations ratified the Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (MFCI). The CIMS "mission is to promote a wellness model of maternity care that will improve birth outcomes and substantially reduce costs."

The MFCI has identified ten steps that make maternity care Mother Friendly and promotes normal birth. These ten steps include, among other things, offering all birthing mothers unrestricted access to the birth companions of her choice; access to professional midwifery care; and the freedom to walk, move about, and assume the positions of her choice during labor and birth (unless restriction is specifically required to correct a complication).

Additionally, to be Mother Friendly, a facility would avoid routinely using practices and procedures that are unsupported by scientific evidence; they would educate staff in non-pharmacological methods of pain relief, and they do not promote the use of analgesia or anesthesia unless required to correct a complication. These are just a few of the steps, to learn more about what makes a birth center, a hospital, and/or a practitioner, Mother Friendly visit CIMS at http://www.motherfriendly.org.

It's important to recognize that even with a hospital designation of Mother or Baby Friendly, your specific birth attendant may not agree with or practice in accordance with the designation. For this reason, if you truly want care that is compassionate, caring, and safest for you and your infant, seek out a provider that is Mother Friendly and values your input and wishes. Your birthing experience depends on it.

Essential Tips for Travel During Pregnancy

General Pregnancy and Travel Factors to Think About

• How many weeks pregnant will you be when you travel?


• Where will you travel to?


• How will you travel during pregnancy?


• Is your pregnancy considered to be 'high/higher-risk'?

There may well be other factors that your doctor will need to consider during your consultation about travel during pregnancy.

Let's explore each of the factors highlighted above:

How many weeks pregnant will you be when you plan to travel?

According to the American College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the safest time for combining pregnancy and travel is during the second trimester (that's 18-24 weeks) because that's when you feel most well and the risk of complications is least. In the second trimester, any morning sickness should be over and the fatigue of the third trimester should not have set in yet!

Your second trimester is probably the best time to plan travel during pregnancy!

Where will you travel to?

#1 question here is 'Are you planning to holiday at home or abroad?'. Foreign travel is fantastic... I'm a huge fan, however, when you're planning to travel during pregnancy you do need to consider some extra travel risks carefully...

• Will you need vaccinations to travel to your destination?


• Is your destination a malaria-endemic area?
  


• What are the health-care standards in the country / countries you will visit?


• 
  Is the water safe to drink and could the food upset your tummy? Dehydration as a result of vomiting and / or diarrhoea is a very real problem for pregnant women.


• Is your destination at an altitude higher than 3,658 meters or 12,000 feet?

How will you travel?

Pregnant Traveller: On Land

Bus, car and train journeys are generally considered to be safe options for pregnant travelers... but do try to limit journey time to 5-6 hours at the most. On long journeys keep your seatbelt fastened, airbag switched on and remember to take regular breaks to keep your circulation going

Trains offer the chance to move around, which is generally safe... but do remember to hold onto seatbacks or rails when walking around. Trains often have loos which is great when traveling during pregnancy... but boy can they be small and unhygienic! Have your own supply of wipes to hand! (It's great practice for being a mom!)

Coaches worry me the most with regards to pregnancy and travel! You often can't adjust the seats which tend to be small, as are the aisles and there are no seatbelts. My recommendation is to remain seated at all times when a bus / coach is moving

Pregnant Traveller: By Air

Air travel during pregnancy is generally considered to be safe until the eighth month. As a general rule, you may be able to fly up to 36 weeks on short-haul routes and between 32-35 weeks for long-haul flights, with appropriate certification from your doctor. You will need to check with the airline you plan to fly with what their terms and conditions relating to air travel during pregnancy are... before you book!

Pregnant Traveller: On Water

Sea travel is generally safe and a cruise can be a wonderfully relaxing and romantic holiday during pregnancy. Don't forget to pack some acupressure sea-bands in case or motion sickness or morning sickness.

Is your pregnancy considered to be 'high/higher-risk'?

I'm not a doctor! You need to speak to your medical professional about any travel plans you have... and if you're aware that your pregnancy is 'high/higher-risk' make that call today!

Wherever you go... whatever you do... have a wonderful, safe honeymoon.

So a little birdie told me you're pregnant. Congratulations! Being pregnant is one of the most exciting things a woman can go through. It is amazing feeling life bloom inside of you, however, like anything it comes with a few downsides. One downside of being pregnant is constipation. Yes, I said it, constipation! I know no one wants to talk about their bowel movements, but what can I say- I'm feeling bold today!

There are a whole slew of things that can lead to pregnancy constipation including hormones and stress. Hormones and stress pretty much sums up a pregnant woman, doesn't it? Her hormones are free flowing making even little things seem stressful. Another thing that can lead to pregnancy constipation are prenatal vitamins. Yes, those nutrient rich pills are great for providing nutrients to your future little all star (even before pregnancy), but the iron in them can damper your digestive track. While I was pregnant I came across a few tips that helped get things moving "down under".

The first thing that can help pregnancy constipation is to exercise more. Yes, moving your body gets things "moving" in your intestines too. Don't go buck wild, but pregnancy yoga, swimming, or just walking around the block a few times a week can help relieve constipation.

Drinking more fluids is another way to get things moving "down under". Not drinking enough fluids can cause anyone to have constipation let alone a pregnant woman. Aiming for more than 10 cups of water (or none diuretic fluids) a day should help loosen up that knot in your stomach.

Also, eating more fiber can help pregnancy constipation. Fruit and vegetables can be a pregnant woman's best friend. Not only do they contain water which also helps constipation, they contain fiber. Fiber helps last nights dinner smoothly flow down and out. When I was really desperate I would chew some of those cherry or orange flavored prunes (I think the natural flavor is disgusting!) real fast and then swallow them with water. They seemed to help in combination with some of these other tips. Also, there are plenty of cereals and breads that are high in fiber. They usually have a big label on them saying they have fiber in them or say whole grain or bran.

Please talk to your doctor about any discomforts you may be experiencing. Your doctor may be able to suggest some things that can help relieve your pregnancy constipation. They can also give you the correct dosage for fiber supplements or possibly lower the iron content in your prenatal vitamins. One of my favorite fiber supplements is benefiber. The orange flavored chewable tablets are decent tasting and the regular powder kind mixes tastelessly into drinks.