Maternity Insurance|Maternity Care|Postpartum Care

Give an edge to you career by joining the fleet of nurse practitioners. Enjoy a highly rewarding career in healthcare where the responsibilities are similar to a doctor. Becoming a nurse practitioner does not require extensive training and education like physicians, but they are equally liable as a physician for patient care.The main difference between a registered nurse and a nurse practitioner is that latter has completed master's degree and thus can write out scripts for medications whereas registered nurse cannot. Places where there is no availability of a physician or where patients require skilled and experienced care, nurse practitioners are in high demand.Many hospitals hire their own fleet of practitioners as they are less expensive than physicians. Because of this reason, there is great opportunity for nurses in many hospitals and different healthcare settings. Furthermore, patients can get immediate care through a nurse practitioner as they do not have to wait for their primary care physician's appointment to get evaluated.A nurse practitioner is able to evaluate and provide treatment for multiple branches of medicine. They can prescribe treatment for psychiatric patients as well as for general medicine. A practitioner can be consulted for physical exam, well-child visits, vaccination shots, etc. They assist physicians in minor surgeries and emergency procedures.They provide can provide pre- and postnatal care. Like an internist, they can be consulted for any health problem whether chronic or acute. A practitioner conducts thorough physical exams and writes script for medications and/or for physical or occupational therapies.These kind of nurses are in high demand in all patient care settings, e.g., hospitals, urgent clinics, emergency rooms, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospice care, etc. Their contribution to patient's recovery is crucial because of their vast experience as a registered nurse and extensive personal skills of counseling patients.Since they are readily available and have concern for patient's recovery, patient receives focused, patient-oriented care by a nurse practitioner. If you want to become a practitioner, you have to become a registered nurse first. Therefore, you will need to do bachelor's program followed by a Master's of Science degree in Nursing.This is a two-year program which includes treatment and patient care management. Study courses which are offered through this program are anatomy, medicolegal issues, diagnosis and treatment of common diseases, and pharmacology. After completion of this program, a registered nurse becomes a nurse practitioner who is now capable of counseling patient, doing their physical examination, and writing prescriptions.Like physicians, practitioners also have specialization. For this, you have to select your choice of specialization during your master's program. There are different specialization fields available to choose from like gynecology, pediatrics, family practice, psychiatry, pulmonary, nephrology, neurology, obstetrics, podiatry, etc. Selection of specialty allows your master's program to be oriented to the specialty of your choice.

Cellulite refers to the appearance of bumps and dimples on the skin. Most women call this kind of skin texture as "cottage cheese." It is commonly seen on thighs and buttocks and most skin care experts believe that it is caused by poor skin elasticity. Fat cells often become too hefty for fiber compartments that hold the skin, causing them to bulge and develop uneven fat layers underneath.Do not be so bothered if you have cellulite as almost 90 percent of women have the same kind of skin texture. While there are different products that you can use to help yourself get rid of cellulite, it is still wise to know what are causing the skin to become lumpy. Knowing the causes of cellulite will help you not just how you will address it but also prevent having it.In contrast to popular belief, all individuals can have cellulite, both thin and overweight. In fact, a lot of slim people have this kind of skin appearance. Cellulite is all about skin elasticity and fat cells. Genes can greatly help you know if you will have cellulite. Even girls who are as young as age 14 can exhibit signs of lumpy or dimpled skin. If you wish to determine how much cellulite your skin can have, you can look at your parents, especially your mother.Since cellulite is primarily a problem of women, a lot of doctors believe that it can be caused by the degree of estrogen in female. Several postnatal women or those who are taking birth control products develop cellulite because the waste system of the body cannot get rid of the heavy estrogen flow in the body. Another cause of cellulite is about how you live your life. Having poor diet can cause you to have bad fluid retention and circulation.Cellulite can also develop following a traumatic injury once the circulatory system of the body has been agitated. Another cause is aging. As a person ages, cellulite is being promoted by the body as the layer of the skin becomes thinner. Normally, the contents of deep skin layer are restructured over time.Overall, the causes of cellulite involve metabolism physiology changes, hormonal factors, dieting, heredity, connective tissue structure alteration and slight inflammatory alterations. If you wish to get rid of cellulite, consult your doctor for effective anti-cellulite creams and treatment options you may consider undertaking.

When your wife has postpartum depression (PPD), which affects about 1 in 7 women after childbirth, you might feel confused, annoyed, scared, sad, worried or any combination of these. My husband certainly did. You might be thinking, "Why can't she just be happy? What's wrong with her? Aren't new moms supposed to be happy now that the baby's finally here? What's going on?"Remember that PPD is a biochemical disorder which is no one's fault - not yours or hers. Although you can't fix it like you can a broken cabinet or leaky faucet, it's your job to support her as she recovers. Warning signs of PPD include anxiety, lack of energy, frequent crying, inability to sleep at night even when the baby's sleeping, low self-esteem, guilt feelings, appetite problems, irritability or anger, overwhelmed feelings, forgetfulness, decreased sex drive, and hopelessness. The normal Baby Blues should be gone by two weeks postpartum, so if she's still feeling weepy, she needs help. Or, if the symptoms are more severe than the mild Baby Blues even during the first two weeks, don't wait - get her help right away. You or she should call a healthcare practitioner you trust and ask for a referral to a therapist who specializes in postpartum depression.Here are some pointers that will help you to help her and your relationship: (Excerpts from Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression by Bennett and Indman)Just being there with her is doing a great deal.Letting her know you support her is often all she'll need. Ask her what words she needs to hear for reassurance, and say those words to her often. Things like, "We'll get through this. I'm here for you. I love you very much. You're a great mom. The baby loves you. You'll get yourself back. The PPD is temporary. I'm sorry you're suffering - that must feel awful. This isn't your fault."Share at-home responsibilities.Even a non-depressed new mom can't realistically be expected to cook dinner and clean house. She may be guilt-tripping herself about not measuring up to her own expectations and worrying that you'll also be disappointed with her. Remind her that parenting your child(ren) and taking care of your home is also your job, not just hers. Your relationship will emerge from this crisis stronger than ever.Let her sleep at night. She needs at least 5 hour of uninterrupted sleep per night to receive a full sleep cycle and restore her biorhythms (Chapter 11 of Postpartum Depression For Dummies* explains in detail how splitting the night can work even if she's breastfeeding or you need to leave the house early for work.) If you want your wife back quicker, be on duty for this time without disturbing her. Many dads have expressed how much closer they are to their children because of nighttime caretaking. If you can't be up at night taking care of your baby, hire someone who can take your place. A temporary baby nurse will be worth her weight in gold.

Best Pregnancy Books
There are many pregnancy books on the market and below you will find some of my favorites along with links to access them for purchase.As any pregnant mom will tell you these guides are designed to be there for reassurance that everything is OK and YOUR pregnancy is on track. If you are interested in understanding how your unborn child is developing each week or you want to know what is actually happening with the changes in YOUR own body than these books can be excellent resources along the way.Read these reviews of the best pregnancy books around and choose a guide or two that will go with you on your journey from conception through labor and eventually the welcome birthing event!What to Expect When You're Expecting, 4th edition by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon MazelA perennial New York Times bestseller and one of USA Today's 25 most influential books. It's read by more than 90% of pregnant women who read a pregnancy book. Featuring a new look, a fresh perspective, and a friendlier-than-ever voice. Filled with up-to-date information reflecting not only what's new in pregnancy, but what's relevant to pregnant women. Detailed week-by-week fetal development section in the monthly chapters, an expanded chapter on pre-conception, and a brand new one on carrying multiples. Overflowing with tips, helpful hints, and humor (a pregnant woman's best friend), this new edition is more accessible and easier to use than ever before.

Common complaints for new mothers include lower back strain, shoulder and neck and arm pain, and headaches. The good news is that all of these conditions are preventable. The aim of this article is to help you to understand the cause of these symptoms and how to prevent them. Following are some tips on posture and correct lifting techniques, along with some preventative exercises.It is important to remember that all exercises should be absolutely pain free. If you experience any pain while attempting them stop immediately. The chances are that you need some treatment so do not attempt the exercise again until you have sought medical advice.Injury PreventionThe time you are most susceptible to back injury in particular, is in the weeks following the birth. The abdominal and pelvic muscles and ligaments are stretched and weak, dramatically reducing the core stability that protects your back as you repeatedly bend to lift your babies and toddlers, and go about your normal household chores.The first thing you need to learn is how to contract your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles before you lift your child, and keep them contracted as you lift and while you are carrying them. Strengthening these muscles will protect your back and reduce the incidence of bladder problems.The ExercisesYou can do these standing, sitting or lying down, or even as you walk. You will probably remember the pelvic floor exercises from post natal care at hospital. These are the muscles which prevent the flow of urine. Squeeze these muscles now so that you can feel the contraction internally. Try and hold them in contraction for as long as possible. It is not uncommon for you to have difficulty feeling this contraction soon after birth, but it is very important that you keep trying. At first they may feel very weak and you may only be able to hold the contraction for a few seconds. Work up to holding for a full minute, this may take several weeks to accomplish. Practice the exercise several times a day.The next stage is to begin to increase your awareness of the interaction between the internal pelvic floor muscles and the abdominal muscles. Again contract internally and keeping those muscles tight, move your focus to the area between your pubic bone and navel. Slowly contract this area until you feel your naval sink towards your spine and your waist get smaller. This is called "bracing".In the weeks and months following the birth it is absolutely essential that you practice this exercise several times a day. I suggest you try to build to 10 in a row. These are the muscles that you should contract before you attempt any activity which requires bending or lifting.

Physiotherapists, the Athletic Therapist, and Their DifferencesIn the healthcare profession, there are many specialties and expertise. In the field of musculoskeletal and cardiovascular science, physiotherapists are considered as one of the highly skilled technicians in this area. Physiotherapy, otherwise known as physical therapy, specializes in the study of the musculoskeletal system. Disorders found in the muscles, bones, joints, and other parts of the body that causes physical disabilities and movements are the main focus of physiotherapy.There are many types of physical therapy, and athletic therapy is definitely one of them. While most physiotherapists focus on a wide variety of clients, from post-surgery patients to individuals with lifelong disabilities, athletic therapists mainly specialize in the evaluation, treatment and rehabilitation of people who suffer from sports related injuries. The bulk of an athletic therapist's list of clients is mostly individuals with a rather active lifestyle, as well as professional athletes.Unlike physiotherapists that employ a wide range of treatments depending on what is appropriate for their patients, athletic physical therapists normally have targeted treatment programs specially developed for specific types of injuries that were sustained from various activities, whether it's sports related, occupation related, injuries incurred in an accident, while doing recreational activities, or even injuries acquired while doing day-to-day stuff.Even if it's just an ankle sprain that has rendered you unable to walk properly, an athletic physiotherapist can make you an accurate treatment program to help your ankle recover quickly and healthily. He may even provide you with some tips to minimize the risk of that injury from happening again. But don't get me wrong, general physical therapists can treat such types of injuries as well. It's just that these types of injuries are the main cuisine of sports therapists, so to speak.One major difference between a physiotherapist and an athletic therapist is the fact that sports therapy is mainly based on a sports medicine standard of treatment and rehabilitation, unlike physiotherapy where the study of neurological and cardiovascular rehabilitation are key factors. However, physiotherapists and athletic therapists often work hand in hand, along with other healthcare professionals, to achieve a mutual goal, which is to get the best results and the speedy and healthy recovery of the patient, or client.As far as education is concerned, physiotherapy is normally a general practice as it covers a variety of healthcare aspects such as geriatrics, pediatrics, cardiac and respiratory care, as well as musculoskeletal and neurological injuries. It is upon graduation that most physiotherapists tend to go on their separate ways as they pick and choose the specialties they one to focus on. Only then will they be able to develop their sports therapy skills through various professional development courses and experiences.If you were to venture into the field of athletic therapy, the scope of your practice would include the immediate care, rehabilitation and reconditioning of musculoskeletal injuries. But you don't just treat injuries; you are responsible as well for the prevention of such injuries, especially when it comes to your highly active clients. Keep in mind that a person does not have to be a professional athlete to incur sports related injuries.Whether you are a general physiotherapy practitioner or one of the hardworking sports or athletic physiotherapists, what's important is that you do your work and you do it well in order to help others get back to their old selves, or in order to inspire them to restore confidence in themselves.

There is a quote that I absolutely love: "Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign that you have been strong for too long." Unfortunately, it is anonymous because I would love to give credit where credit is due especially when it is great credit like in this case.It conveys the message that, despite the depression (and maybe even because of it), we are indeed strong; we have no reason to be ashamed because there is nothing wrong with us and our body simply needs our attention.Our body needs attention because for too long (depression is the result of extended periods of unrelieved stress), we have pushed it beyond its limits and then we pushed it some more. After all, no one wakes up one morning and decides: "Awesome! From now on, I think I will be depressed!" We build our way up to depression. And no matter what the underlying cause (or causes) for the depression, it takes time to get there. The exceptions to that are depression due to chemical imbalances in the brain and depression experienced by individuals who are taking certain medications that are creating the symptoms of depression. In these particular cases, depression just is.Today, we hear a lot about people being depressed due to the financial pressures everyone is feeling, the overall state of the economy and the fear of what tomorrow will bring. It could also be the result of some traumatic life event such as the death of a loved one or going through divorce or dealing with job loss or extended illness (among others).In all these circumstances, we have a tendency to suppress our feelings, to try to put on a brave face, to continue to place others' needs before our own, to attempt to go on as if nothing was wrong, and then beating ourselves up when we failed to do everything ourselves. So is it any wonder that after pushing ourselves and our body way beyond our limits for so long your body finally says: "enough; I can't do this anymore"? At this point we no longer have a choice and we are forced to stop and reevaluate our situation.I am a firm believer in that you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. (Ok, I am also the first one to admit that I didn't always feel this way. I had to learn it the hard way). I am also a firm believer in the fact that our bodies were created with the power to heal themselves but we have to allow them to do just that by giving them what they need to do it.So today, take the time to ask your body what it needs from you and then take a moment to stop and listen to the answer. Is it some time away from work? Is it a walk out in nature? Is it some quiet time for reflection? Maybe a massage? A good healthy meal? A great book? A fun get-together with friends? Some sleep maybe? Or maybe today it simply needs a little acknowledgment from you for everything it does for you every day?And when you have your answer, go out and do it. Then see and feel how much stronger and happier you will feel. Go on! What are you waiting for?

A woman goes through great physical and emotional stress during the birthing process. Much attention is given to the pain during labor, that some females don't expect postpartum pain to cause too much discomfort. Females usually complain of the discomfort due to vaginal tearing or an episiotomy. An episiotomy is an incision that is performed by the doctor to facilitate passage of the baby. Though the incision may be small in size, it may result in too much discomfort since the perineum is an extremely tender region. The pain may intervene with a new mother's normal activities, and even maternal and child bonding. In order to promote comfort and therapy through this time, right here are some suggestions:1. Apply cold therapy after delivery. Ice packs are necessary during the first 24 hours after giving birth simply because it could reduce perineal edema. It also lessens pain and encourages healing. Be certain that you wrap the ice pack with a towel before applying, in order to avoid thermal injury.2. Administer hot therapy 24 hours after delivery. Cold therapy throughout this time is no longer therapeutic. In order to promote healing, circulation to the area must be increased. Hot pack applications promote increased flow therefore promoting comfort and healing. Again, make sure it is lined with a thin towel to stop occurrence of burns.3. Do Kegel's exercises. Most women find that if they perform perineal exercises three to four times a day greatly relieves their discomfort. The exercise requires that you contract and relax the muscle groups of the perineum as if interrupting the flow of urine. When you contract the muscle groups surrounding the vagina, you need to hold it for roughly 3 seconds before you relax. This ought to be repeated ten times every interval.4. Sit down correctly to stop further stretching. Squeeze your buttocks together as you sit down. If you feel that uncomfortable, you can use a doughnut-shaped cushion to relieve the pressure.5. Use witch hazel preparations. Though it is normally utilized to provide comfort for hemorrhoids, it additionally relieves perineal pain due to its soothing effects. The pads can be tucked between the perineum and sanitary pads to promote comfort.6. Squirt warm water over the perineum during urination. Females may find urinating after giving birth to be really painful. By squirting warm water over the perineum, it greatly lessens the burning sensation thus promoting relief.7. Stay well hydrated. That can promote proper bowel function in order to avoid straining during a bowel movement. Straining will only aggravate the problem simply because it can stretch the episiotomy scar. Adding fiber rich foods to your diet regime may additionally be helpful.8. Perineal hygiene is really important. In order for your incision or wound to heal faster,it is best to stay clean to steer clear of postpartum infections. If you notice that your pain has intensified, or if it has become swollen with pus-like discharges, notify your medical doctor right away. These are signs of infection and your doctor may prescribe treatments necessary to fight off infection.

Aromatherapy means "therapy or treatment through aromas." It is invaluable in helping us overcome stresses. A harmonious complement to your current healthcare, Aromatherapy utilizes essential oils, which are extracted from flowers, plants, and trees, and the healing properties, such as antiviral, antibacterial, antibiotic, sedative, and digestive, within the oils are then used in a safe way to assist your health. Aromatherapy creates gentle, positive changes within the health of your body.This ancient form of healthcare is safe for everyone, including pregnant and postpartum mothers on bedrest. It requires no challenging movement to inhale the aroma or to apply an aromatherapy blend. In fact, the marriage of soothing touch combined with the essential oils helps to promote a feel-good energy within the mother and baby as a type of self-love and self-nurturing.The oils may be experienced through inhalation and/or topically (combined with a variety of base oils, such as canola, olive, or almond). The added base oil helps to transport the essential oil into the bloodstream, where it can "work its magic."Essential oil preparations can also be utilized as a massage cream application, foot and body bath, perfume, compress, mouthwash and air diffusion.As an aromatherapy spray, the pleasant, uplifting aroma will positively affect the atmosphere of the bedrest room; this provides further support as frustration and upset can be common responses to being in the same environment for extended periods of time.Because there are countless therapeutic properties to each essential oil, aromatherapy is suitable to assist the variety of reasons why you are on bedrest. For instance, essential oil of sweet orange assists digestion and promotes positive attitude and mood; this oil would be helpful for a mother who may be experiencing morning sickness, nausea, loss of appetite or any other form of digestive upset, along with possible emotional upsets. An aromatherapy blend can be created for you that can be inhaled, apply on the stomach area of your body, or all over the body.A positive shift in emotions supports a healthier pregnancy and mommy and baby bonding experience.Now offered in hospitals throughout the world, aromatherapy is considered a complementary and alternative approach to healthcare. It may be used by itself or in partnership with other healthcare options. Aromatherapy can be used throughout pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, postnatal, and beyond. I recommend consulting with a certified aromatherapist to have products specially created for your specific health concerns.

Midwifery brings to mind old-fashioned home-attended births, but today certified nurse midwife training opens a door to a mixed bag of birthing options for women and comprises a variety of occupational choices for nurse midwives. Some of the employment options include:

Independent childbirth and well-woman care.
Healthcare team practice.
Hospital associated practice.
Birthing centers.
Health departments.